Stinger

Stinger is a one-shot of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Classic comic series. Written by Christopher Golden and illustrated by Hector Gomez, it was originally published on July 21, 1999, by Dark Horse Comics.

Synopsis

Xander steps into the spotlight! After getting pushed around at Sunnydale High School, Xander has to stand up to the bully and fight a demon to boot! Well, he does get a helping hand from everyone's favorite Slayer…^[1]

Summary

Continuity

• Giles mentions his grandmother was a Watcher, as he had revealed in "Never Kill a Boy on the First Date."
• Other than "The (Makeout) Point," other places in Sunnydale used with the same intention are the Lovers' Lane in "Phases" and the woods in "All the Way."
• The demon from this story resembles the Morituri demon species from the comic issue Old Demons, Part One.
• Giles reminds Xander that he's been told before to never call him "G-man" ("When She Was Bad").

Appearances

Individuals

• Joe Burgess
• Andy Bushnell
• Cordelia Chase (Only mentioned)
• Edna Giles (Only mentioned)
• Rupert Giles
• Alexander Harris
• Harmony Kendall
• Willow Rosenberg
• Buffy Summers

Organizations and titles

• Dingoes Ate My Baby (Only mentioned)
• Scooby Gang
• Slayer
• Watcher

Species

• Demon
• Human
• Vampire (Only mentioned)

Locations

• Mexico (Only mentioned)
• Sunnydale
  • Bronze (Only mentioned)
  • Hellmouth (Only mentioned)
  • Sunnydale High School
    • Sunnydale High School library

Objects

• Blood
• Cross
• Stake

Death count

• Andy Bushnell, killed by the unidentified demon.
• The unidentified demon, staked by Buffy Summers.

Behind the scenes

Production

• Stinger was first published in a Wizard Magazine special edition as issue Buffy the Vampire Slayer #1/2.^[1]
• The photo cover features a promotional picture taken for Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 3.

Collections

• Play with Fire and Other Stories
• Omnibus, Volume 4
• Classic 26: Stinger / Mall Rats / Who Made Who?
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer Legacy Edition, Book 2

Pop culture references

• Xander mentions the Rocky film series.
• Xander mentions the board games Chutes and Ladders and Pictionary.
• Buffy quotes "He's dead, Jim," a catch phrase from the Star Trek franchise.
• Harmony mentions Brillo scouring pads.
• Joe mentions the National Football League.
• Buffy refers to the fictional character Pinhead.

Gallery

Covers

Cover artwork

References

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "Buffy the Vampire Slayer #1/2 (special Wizard Magazine comic)." Dark Horse Comics. Retrieved on April 10, 2018.