From Cordelia and Xander to Clem and Spike, Buffy the Vampire Slayer was not without its curious friendships. It was not until the comics, however, that fans truly experienced some of the strangest Buffyverse friendships. Though the original Buffy comics, running from 1998 to 2004, sought to mirror the style and relationships outlined in the show, the series' canonical continuation starting with Dark Horse’s 2007 Season 8 took many creative liberties.
From unexpected lovers to even stranger friends, the comics continuously surprised fans. Whether it was turning two uniquely different characters into friends, like Harmoney and Clem, or bringing back those who fans thought were gone, like Dracula and Jonathan Levinson, all bets were off. Though it is not always a crowd-pleaser, this trend has continued with the 2019 Boom Studios! Buffy reboot.
Harmony Kendall And Clem
Harmony and Clem are two wildly different Buffyverse characters who never crossed paths on-screen but developed an unexpected friendship in the comics. In Buffy Season 8, Harmony, previously seen on Angel, exposed vampires to the world, becoming a celebrity in the process.
Clem ed Harm as a cast member on her reality show, Harmony Bites. The two hit it off and worked together to further Harmony’s career and her vampire rights platform. Clem, in particular, took a shine to Harmony. In Season 10, he used the Vampyr book to make unicorns real just to bring her joy.
Buffy Summers And Illyria
Buffy and Illyria teaming up in Buffy Season 9 was not only unexpected, but it paved the way for a friendship that many fans would consider strange. It is difficult to imagine Illyria the Merciless being friends with anyone, and when she first meets and recruits Buffy, she is all business.
However, the two develop a deep respect for one another, resulting in a bond that lasts the duration of the series. Illyria even went so far as to sacrifice herself to restore magic and save Dawn out of a sense of honor and friendship for Buffy.
Xander Harris And Dracula
Though Xander's relationship with Dracula was established in Season 5’s “Buffy vs. Dracula,” it wasn’t until the comics that they developed a strange and sort of sweet friendship. They first met up again in 2004’s Tales of the Vampires comic and again in Buffy Season 8, sharing a complicated history through Season 10.
The two spent most of a year together, with Xander once again under Dracula’s thrall. Eventually, Dracula freed Xander and they still decided to remain friends. From riding motorcycles to saving each other’s lives, their bromance was real. Xander essentially became Dracula’s best friend, first by thrall, then voluntarily.
Spike And Sebastian
By nature, Spike is mostly a loner. After the Whirlwind dissolved, he kept few people close to himself. Though Spike experienced much growth while with the Scoobies, his friends beyond that group were fairweather, if not wholly complicated. This history underscores the strangeness that was Spike’s comic book friendship with Sebastian, the leader of an alien bug race.
Following Angel: After the Fall, Spike found himself traveling through space with his new Bug crew. Sebastian stood apart as a friend to Spike, placing faith in him when other bugs considered him a lost cause. Spike came to rely on Sebastian, even giving him his earthly name.
Buffy Summers And Robert Dowling
When it comes to law enforcement, Buffy never had a great history. Perhaps that is why it was strange to see her become friends with San Francisco Police detective Robert Dowling during seasons 9 and 10.
Dowling, who eventually led the SFPD Supernatural Task Force, was thrust into Buffy’s world when he saw her stake a vampire and arrested her. Following interrogation and a manhunt, Buffy was eventually cleared of charges. Dowling then started collaborating with the Scoobies often, sharing a closeness with Buffy, that edged on the romantic.
Andrew Wells And Holo-Jonathan
During their time as part of the Evil Trio during Buffy Season 6, Jonathan and Andrew shared an antagonist relationship. After Andrew expressed remorse for murdering Jonathan, fans knew how close the two actually were. Fast-forward to Season 10, where Andrew tried to resurrect Jonathan, resulting in an even stranger friendship.
After traveling to the Sunnydale crater, Andrew collected Jonathan’s DNA and USB-stored personality. He then created Holo-Jonathan, a virtual iteration of his best friend. Andrew, thrilled to have Jonathan back, went to great lengths to procure him a physical body. Unfortunately, their friendship ended worse than the last time.
Wesley Wyndam-Pryce And Ethan Rayne
The 2019 Buffy reboot features an ongoing and strange friendship between Wesley Wyndham-Pryce, a watcher, and Ethan Rayne who, in a new twist, is a ghost. Both characters appeared in the TV show, but never crossed paths.
In their debut issue, Buffy #17, the two are not only friendly, but Ethan is incredibly ive of Wesley, a stark contrast to how fans would imagine them interacting on the show. This is partly because this iteration of Ethan is noticeably different, though he does have grudge against Giles. So far, Wes and Ethan’s adventures have taken them from England to Boston, Sunnydale, and even the multiverse.
Billy Lane And Buffy Summers
The friendship between Buffy and teenage Billy Lane was unprecedented and strange for all the best reasons. Appearing in seasons 9 and 10, Billy trained to fight bullies before using his skills to combat the zompire epidemic.
He later sought out and fought alongside Buffy, eventually gaining the visions that only Slayers get, becoming recognized as part-Slayer himself. As a member of the Scoobies, Billy trained, worked, and lived with Buffy. She mentored him in a way she was reluctant to do with Dawn for so long and often gave Billy advice on topics ranging from slaying to romance.
Rupert Giles And Faith Lehane
While it may seem odd to consider Giles and Faith's friendship in the comics strange given their teamwork in Season 7, it was still an unexpected pairing. Faith had more or less already atoned for her sins, but their awkward past is only part of the equation. Buffy Season 8 finds Rupert and the once-rogue Slayer working together sans the Scooby gang.
While traveling the globe seeking new Slayers, the two bonded over shared strained relationships with Buffy. Both also seemed to see each other as surrogates for the familial roles vacated by Buffy and the Mayor. They became so close that Giles made Faith the sole beneficiary in his will before his death.
Buffy Summers And Camazotz
Though a relatively new friendship, the connection between Camazotz and Buffy is definitely unique. Introduced in the 2019 Buffy reboot issue #2, “Welcome Back to the Hellmouth, Part Two,” Camazotz is a giant bat creature whose sole purpose is to assist and protect the Slayer. After being released by Drusilla, Camazotz quickly seeks out Buffy, expressing his desire to fulfill his role in helping her.
While Camazotz is not a Scooby Gang-level friend, Buffy quickly takes a liking to him, going so far as to endearingly refer to him as her Pegasus. In "Hellmouth, Part One," Buffy paid tribute to Camazotz with her Halloween costume.
