Explosive publisher BOOM! Studios today announced the next part of their upcoming Buffyverse super-mega-crossover event, Hellmouth, coming to the pages of Buffy the Vampire Slayer #9 in November. But one thing that won't be in those pages is… Buffy herself? Apparently, the titular slayer will be missing by this issue, leaving her friends to try to save the day without her.

Thankfully, while there's no Buffy, there will be plenty of variant covers, so the super-mega-crossover event isn't a total loss. Read more details about Buffy the Vampire Slayer #9 in the press release below.

LOS ANGELES, CA (July 9, 2019) – BOOM! Studios is proud to continue The Road to San Diego, a ten-day spotlight on the most exciting comic book and graphic novel news in advance of Comic Con International in San Diego (July 17–21), with the announcement of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #9, in partnership with 20th Century Fox Consumer Products. Eisner Award-nominated writer Jordie Bellaire (Redlands) and acclaimed artist David López (Captain Marvel), along with series creator and story consultant Joss Whedon (the visionary writer/director behind Firefly, Marvel's The Avengers, and more) reimagine the groundbreaking pop culture phenomenon where the Slayer goes missing just as an evil force arises from the HELLMOUTH and threatens to take over all of Sunnydale, available in stores November 2019.

The events of the historic Buffy and Angel event, HELLMOUTH, have left the town of Sunnydale without its Slayer. And since Buffy's missing in action, it's up to the All-New Scooby Gang of Cordelia, Robin, Willow and Xander to save everyone in town. There's just one problem—the Hellmouth is spreading evil throughout the city, putting everyone under its thrall. As the inhabitants of Sunnydale turn on one another, will the Scooby Gang be enough to save the town from utter chaos and destruction?

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #9 features cover art by Mondo illustrator Marc Aspinall, and acclaimed artists Kevin Wada (She-Hulk), Ryan Inzana (Ichiro), and Cara McGee (Black Canary: Ignite), as well as a connecting variant cover by artist Goñi Montes (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) that connects to HELLMOUTH #2 and ANGEL #6.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer premiered on the WB Network on March 10th, 1997. The Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated series, which ran for seven seasons from 1997–2003, starred Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers. Chosen to battle vampires, demons and other forces of darkness, Buffy was aided by her Watcher, Rupert Giles, and a circle of friends known as the "Scooby Gang."

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #9 is the newest release from BOOM! Studios' eponymous imprint, home to critically acclaimed original series, including Once & Future by Kieron Gillen and Dan Mora; Faithless by Brian Azzarello and Maria Llovet; Abbott from Saladin Ahmed and Sami Kivelä; Bury the Lede from Gaby Dunn and Claire Roe; Grass Kings from Matt Kindt and Tyler Jenkins; and Klaus from Grant Morrison and Dan Mora. The imprint also publishes popular licensed properties including Joss Whedon's Firefly from Greg Pak and Dan McDaid; Angel from Bryan Edward Hill and Gleb Melnikov; and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers from Ryan Parrott and Danielle Di Nicuolo.

Print copies of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #9 will be available for sale on November 6, 2019 exclusively at local comic book shops (use comicshoplocator.com to find the nearest one) or at the BOOM! Studios webstore. Digital copies can be purchased from content providers, including comiXology, iBooks, Google Play, and the BOOM! Studios app.

For continuing news on BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER comic books, graphic novels and more from BOOM! Studios, stay tuned to www.boom-studios.com and follow @boomstudios on Twitter. And follow Buffy the Vampire Slayer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.