Joss Whedon’s love of comic books is common knowledge to fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, having referenced them and even created a few of his own. However, a closer look at the series reveals not only what comic books influenced Whedon, but when he read those comics in creating aspects of the series. Whedon and his collaborators admit that the Alan Moore comic Promethea played a part in creating the climactic battle with Adam in Season 4 on the DVD retrospective, but other pieces of comic books can be seen as well. Elements of the DC Vertigo title Hellblazer and its main character, chain-smoking English magician John Constantine, appear in Giles’ background as revealed in "The Dark Age" (Buffy, Season 2) and "Band Candy" (Buffy, Season 3) and the personalities Ethan Rayne and Spike, particularly after Spike is defanged in Season 4. Spike, also, shares a great many qualities with the character of Cassidy from Garth Ennis’ and Steve Dillon’s Preacher. Preacher’s relationship to the Buffyverse continued through episodes like "Amends" from season 3 of Buffy through characters like Doyle on Angel and situations like Caleb and the blinding of Xander in Season 7. However, pointing out the influences of comics to the Buffyverse is no accusation of plagiarism, rather, it is a statement to Whedon’s ability to draw from all sources to create an original whole.

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