"Bad Blood" is a story arc that ran through Buffy the Vampire Slayer #9–11, 13–15, and 17–19, based on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer television series. The arc was later collected into trade paperback

Trade paperback (comics)

In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...

 editions, three issues to a volume.

General synopsis

In the first three issues, Buffy thinks about pursuing a career in modeling whilst Selke, a vampire who Buffy hoped had been killed at a mausoleum fire, comes back and recruits a plastic surgeon to solve her cosmetic problems.

Over the next three, Sunnydale is becoming an increasingly dangerous place to dust the undead. Buffy must once again face her old enemy Selke. Selke has returned with 'bad blood', a supernatural ingredient that may massively increase her powers.

Over the lat three, Selke gets closer and closer to destroying the Slayer. Buffy must literally face her dark side.

"Hey, Good Lookin', part 2"

As Buffy is looking into a modeling career, Selke is getting back her strength at the local vampire coven.

"A Boy Named Sue"

Selke and her Doctor continue their evil scheming and come up with a solution to Selke's 'cosmetic' issues. Meanwhile, a dumped student at Sunnydale High learns an important lesson about relations between genders.

"Delia's Gone"

Cordelia Chase

Cordelia Chase

Cordelia Chase is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer; she also appeared on Buffy's spin-off series Angel...

 has always been proud of her beauty, popularity, and perfect fashion sense, and considers such qualities as natural to her. However, an unknown beauty is beginning to challenge Cordelia's spotlight from the men of Sunnydale. Cordelia hopes that an upcoming quiz-show contest can put her back in the spotlight.

"Love Sick Blues"

Sunnydale is becoming an increasingly dangerous place to dust the undead. Buffy begins to suspect something is wrong. Spike and Dru, having just returned to Sunnydale, are not happy to find Selke set up as the local 'big bad'. Meanwhile, Buffy starts to question her relationship with Angel. Also Selke and her Doctor have plans for an ancient Slayer relic.

"Lost Highway"

Whilst Buffy is doing her best to try to obtain her Driver's License, Selke and the Doctor are planning disaster for the town. Meanwhile it seems the super-vampires that have been plaguing the town have not yet gone. Buffy does her best to balance driving and slaying.

"She's No Lady, part 1"

Puzzlingly, it appears that Buffy and Xander kiss. Sunnydale must try to comprehend such an event and its connection with the super vampires. Meanwhile Selke walks the sewers of the town.

"She's No Lady, part 2"

Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras

The terms "Mardi Gras" , "Mardi Gras season", and "Carnival season", in English, refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after Epiphany and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday...

 is approaching. Strangely, Buffy seems to be becoming obsessive about her looks, and her friends investigate. Meanwhile, as Angel is trying to discover the origins of Sunnydale's new super vampires, his life maybe in danger.

"Old Friend"

Buffy and the gang have now been trying to eradicate the super-powered vampires and slayer copies for months. Selke finally comes out of her hiding place, but Buffy's not as fast as she should be.

Collected editions

The story arc was reprinted over three trade papperbacks

Trade paperback (comics)

In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...

, each containing three of the issues:

• Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Bad Blood (2000) 88 pages
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Crash Test Demons (2000) 80 pages
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Pale Reflections (2001) 88 pages

Continuity

• Supposed to be set in Buffy season 3. Takes place immediately after "The Final Cut
  The Final Cut (Buffy comic)
  "The Final Cut" is a comic book story based on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer television series.-Story description:A student movie is being filmed in Sunnydale, and the Scooby Gang hope to get involved in the film's making...
  
  ", and immediately before Angel: The Hollower
  Angel: The Hollower (Buffy comic)
  Angel: The Hollower is a trade paperback collecting the three issues comic book series Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Angel, based on the Buffy television series.-General synopsis:...
  
  .

Canonical issues

Buffy comics

Buffy comics

Buffy the Vampire Slayer comics refer to comic books based on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. While many of these comics were published when the television show was on air they are not all considered canonical and often deal with characters who do not appear on in the television...

 such as this one are not usually considered by fans as canonical. Some fans consider them stories from the imaginations of authors and artists, while other fans consider them as taking place in an alternative fictional reality. However unlike fan fiction

Fan fiction

Fan fiction is a broadly-defined term for fan labor regarding stories about characters or settings written by fans of the original work, rather than by the original creator...

, overviews summarising their story, written early in the writing process, were 'approved' by both Fox and Joss Whedon

Joss Whedon

Joseph Hill "Joss" Whedon is an American screenwriter, executive producer, director, comic book writer, occasional composer and actor, founder of Mutant Enemy Productions and co-creator of Bellwether Pictures...

(or his office), and the books were therefore later published as officially Buffy merchandise.