I've never seen anything like it in American pop-culture. Joss Whedon just introduced a new character who's a bleached-blond United States Senator and who intends to become President in 2008. Her most trusted aid is a vampire, and she's a member of the Circle of the Black Thorn - the most evil assemblage of characters in the history of the greater Buffy-verse [kind of like a Justice League of America, only for evil, not good]. Talk about your full body slams... All I can say is: WOW!