“Be back before Dawn.”
– Tara, Restless

Hey Scoobies 👋

So… remember that moment when Giles just randomly disappeared to England and nobody saw him for like five episodes? This is kinda like that. Except less tweed, more tea, and way fewer Watcher reunions in graveyards.

We’re hitting pause – but not Hellmouth-style pause, just a temporary slo-mo spell. The Watcher’s Guide (yup, still here, still nerding out) is taking a teeny hiatus while I handle some real-life Big Bads. Personal reasons, human stuff. Think Joyce in The Body. Think Tara packing for a family visit. It’s serious, and I appreciate every one of you who’ve sent messages, vibes, blessings, or snacks. You’re all Giles-level kind.

Now, for those of you who’ve been following our descent into Canon Comics? Thank you. You’ve embraced the cray-cray continuity with the kind of loyalty that only Buffy would understand. (“That’s me. Loyal.”) Whether it’s Season Eight or After the Fall, this fandom’s been through decades of demons, deaths, and dramatic entrances – and we’re finally giving the comics their place in the sacred Scroll of Buffy Lore.

Let’s be clear:

• The Making of a Slayer confirms comic events.
• The Buffy Encyclopedia does too.
• Watcher’s Guide: 20 Years of Slaying? Yep, it’s onboard.
  So yes – canon is canon. And this isn’t a democracy; it’s Sunnydale, and the Hellmouth never asked for permission.

Twenty-two years since Chosen, folks. The timeline’s evolved. People grow. Vampires brood. Slayers adapt. And comics? They tell that messy, magical story we didn’t get on screen.

Also? If I’d had this guide when I was knee-deep in Buffy Wiki holes at 3AM with nothing but coffee and a laptop possessed by Moloch the Corrupter, I’d have cried happy tears. So it’s here now. You’re welcome.

What’s coming up (when we’re back and caffeinated)?

🧛 Spike returns to Sunnydale’s ghost-town ruins in a five-part saga of sass, regret, and half-demons who may or may not have loitered near London recently.

🗡 Angel and Faith face off against a Season Two blast-from-the-past who’s more than just a bad memory. Redemption arcs, anybody?

📍 Over in San Francisco, Buffy finds herself toe-to-toe with a new Council. Familiar faces. Unexpected allies. And yes – one of them used to hang out with a certain souled detective (no trench coat required).

🌒 Willow? MIA. Classic Wicca chaos. We’re sending out a raven as we speak.

So until then, keep your stakes sharp, your hearts open, and remember what Buffy said:

“The hardest thing in this world is to live in it.”

And I am. With you.

See you soon.

— The Curator