I’ve got some very big and very sad Buffy the Vampire Slayer news to pass along today. This news is real Buffy news, it has nothing to do with the bullshizz plan to remake the BtVS movie without Joss Whedon … this news has to do with the ongoing comic book series that has been carrying on the storyline from the BtVS TV series over the past few years. As you may recall, we learned back in January that the Season 8 Big Bad, known by the codename Twilight, was none other than Angel himself! That plotline development really shook things up in the BtVS world and brought much entertainment to fans all year long. When last I reported on the BtVS Season 8 comic book series back in August, I mentioned that Buffy‘s ex-boyfriend Riley Finn made his comic book debut in the series. Today, I have much sadder and very spoilery news to pass along … there has been a major death in the BtVS family:

The secret’s out … and even tho I’ve yet to read up on my comics to the very sad news about I’m about to share, I’ve been keeping my eye on where the story has been going … and I NEVER anticipated this final outcome. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 8 Issue #39 (which was released yesterday) features Buffy in battle-mode against … someone. In order to keep the news SPOILER free from those of you who don’t yet want to know what happens in the comic, I’ll leave all the reveals behind the cut. After the jump, see the full uncensored cover for Issue #39 and find out the terribly tragic news about which major BtVS character has been killed off. DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE SPOILED …

NOW … because I have not yet received my copy of Issue #39 I do not know the outcome of this battle between Buffy and Angel. Will she finally destroy him? Will he destroy her (if not physically, emotionally)? What I do know is that in the wake of this epic battle (the likes of which we have not seen since the second season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer) one of Buffy‘s closest and dearest friends will be killed.

When I found out who it was that has been killed, I actually felt like I was punched in the gut. I’m not even exaggerating, I still feel the actual pain of loss. Even tho I’ve not yet received my copy of Issue #39, I couldn’t help but find out which character has been killed.

I know … and now I wish I can un-know the sad news.

This is your last chance to avoid finding out who dies if you want to make the gruesome discovery from reading the comic book yourself.
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But if you, like me, just know who gets killed …
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It is Buffy‘s beloved watcher and father figure to all … Rupert Ripper Giles:

Fansite Whedonesque is in mourning today over the news of Giles‘s death … and rightly so. I’m still trying to wrap my head around the news. I know it may sound trite to get so worked up over the death of a fictional character … but when you have spent a lot of time getting to “know” and love a character, you will feel the pain of loss if he/she is destroyed. I still have a few comics to read leading up to Issue #39 but … man, what a sad thing to look forward to.

If anything, this highlights the absolutely unnecessary plan to reboot Buffy the Vampire Slayer with a whole new story when the ORIGINAL and vastly superior original story is STILL ONGOING! But, I’m not even gonna talk about the bullshizz Buffy reboot. Giles is dead. Not since the death of Buffy‘s mom — Joyce Summers — and Willow‘s girlfriend — Tara Maclay — has there been a death this … important.

UGH.

I’m a mess :(