Queer Comic Book Characters: Willow Rosenberg (Oct 12th)

Willow Rosenberg, along with the rest of the cast of Buffy: the Vampire Slayer, started out on the small screen. But now, she appears in the comic book, which continues the series.

Willow Rosenberg

Willow Rosenberg
Willow Rosenberg

Willow herself was a breakthrough as one of the first lesbian characters on network television. Willow is a computer nerd, the bookish smart one, and a witch. She’s one of Buffy’s best friend, and her and Xander have been friends since they were in kindergarten.

In season four, Willow started dating Tara, a fellow witch and college student. Unfortunately, the WB didn’t let them do anything affectionate except for holding hands and hugging. Magic rituals were used a metaphor for sex between Willow and Tara.

In season six, Buffy: the Vampire Slayer moved to a different network, and the women finally got sex scenes on the same level as the straight couples. However, Willow starts abusing magic, and Tara leaves her as Willow goes into a downward spiral. Willow and Tara reunite toward the end of the season, right before Tara is shot and killed. Tara’s death caused a serious uproar with fans as Tara fit the dead lesbian cliche. (Some of us don’t think that Joss Whedon has really apologized about that one.) Willow goes on a vengeance streak becoming evil and bent on destroying the world. Her friendship with Xander saves both the world and herself from destruction.

For season seven and the comic books, Willow is now a good witch all the time. She has a steady relationship with another woman, Kennedy. She also helps Buffy manage all the Slayers and serves as the magical point person. Because the writers of the comics can do things they couldn’t do on the TV show, Willow can now fly and she can steal others’ magic. Willow is a wonderful character, and I hope that she continues to go on the comic books for a long time.

Support this blog and continue following Willow and her witchy ways, buy The Long Way Home (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 8, Vol. 1) by Joss Whedon.

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