'Official' Buffy Canon Novels/Comic?

[EndofDayss]

I've never really gotten into reading any of the Buffy comics/novels because I didn't think I'd be able to get into them like I did the show. However since reading and loving Season 8 so much, I want to give some of the others stuff a go.

I know there is a number of Buffy novels and comics that don't really further the canon per say, but rather just provide alternative stores through the various season. So I was wondering what are the novels/comics that add to the Buffy Canon, or at least add some history to characters??

I know about Tales of Slayers, Tales of Vampires, Fray, Go Ask Malice, Blackout, Spike and Dru: Pretty Maids All in a Row. Queen of the Slayers takes place after Season 7, but I guess that's been kinda bumped aside by the Season 8 Comic.

Are there any I'm missing, or any of the ones I've mentioned not really fit in with the canon?

[Jinxieman]

Buffy: Origins is a re-telling of the Buffy movie to fit with the TV show. It's pretty good. Otherwise Tales of the Slayers, Vampires, and Fray are the main ones that add to the canon and history. There are also a few one shots and mini-series that are written my show writers. There is also a 4 part mini-series for Angel written by Joss Whedon.

[DanMan]

The storyline "Stake Through the Heart" tells the story of Buffy pre-Sunnydale with her parents' marriage falling apart. It was at the end of the original comic series and has been collected in trade paperback form by Dark Horse. IDW has been filling in a lot of backstory in their various Spike series too, I highly recommend Spike vs. Dracula.

[Buffysmglover]

Christopher Golden's DARK CONGRESS is et after Season Seven, but I don't think it interferes with Season Eight either. It comes out in August I believe.

As for QUEENS, it's not really bumped aside. There are three Buffy's and Joss still hasn't said if he's going to use QUEEN's exact storyline for one of the copyBuffys or not. I'm a big Nancy Holder fan, so if I sound a little opinionated, sorry.