Browncoats the world over mourned twice, first when their beloved show Firefly was canceled by the Fox network after a short season of playing fast and loose with the episode order and air times, and then after writer/director Joss Whedon released Serenity, a wrap-up of sorts to the series, leaving viewers with mixed feelings about lost characters while dreaming of a future in which the series would return.
It had long been rumored that the continuation of the story of Captain Malcolm Reynolds and his band of misfits would not be on the small or big screen but within the pages of comic books. That rumor became a reality at Dark Horse Comics and the ongoing series continued with this week’s release of issue one of Serenity: Leaves on the Wind.
I brought issue #1 home from my local comic shop tonight and could not resist the urge to see what some of my favorite fictional characters have been up to.
I have to admit that I have both dreaded and longed for this return…but mostly dreaded. Serenity was a beautiful and painful closure to what began with Firefly and, taken as a whole, the television episodes and film remain one of my most cherished genre experiences. Every time I return to revisit the ‘verse I am reminded why I fell so hard for these characters and I still maintain that “Out of Gas” is one of the most perfect television episodes ever made.
The art in the issue, penciled by artist Georges Jeanty, is not bad. At times he does a very nice job of capturing character likenesses and at others, not so much. That doesn’t bother me so long as I can recognize who the characters are supposed to be and that works out well throughout this first issue.
Zach Whedon pens the script and there were things I liked and was disappointed about in regards to the issue. So much of this first issue is set up for a larger story and as such the issue ends without a great deal of forward momentum occurring. I can forgive that, it is to be expected. It tied things in nicely with the events following the revelations in Serenity and sets things up for an interesting story. I will be including some SPOILERS at his point. If you would like to avoid those, scroll down until you see a solid line, everything after that will be non-spoiler wrap-up.
Okay, spoilers begin here.
For those of us who have longed for Mal and Inara to get together, Leaves on the Wind Issue #1 wastes no time in putting us there. That annoyed me. Instead of feeling like romance, the brief lead-up made it look as if Inara was simply putting her career into practice. We are meant to understand that this isn’t the first time and that they’ve been having a relationship, but it isn’t set up well in the issue.
I don’t like the idea that Jayne left, even though it is apparent by the end that he will be right back with the crew soon. Sure, it is a Jayne move to have deserted the crew, and it works as a believable plot device to get the group of rebels in touch with Mal, but I personally felt like it was just one more loss that didn’t need to have occurred in the first issue. Or prior to the first issue, as the case may be.
I like that Zoe is pregnant and it will be interesting to see how motherhood and the presence of a child is handled on this ship. It could make for very interesting story arcs or it could be annoying.
I think it is fun that Jubal Early is back simply because he was such a fun character in his one episode.
Okay, spoilers over.
As I mentioned, I had mixed feelings about this. The worry about a story going on and on, especially one that starts strong, is that the wheels will come off the longer it goes on. I am perfectly okay with the story of Mal, Zoe, Wash, Simon, Inara, Zoe, River, Jayne and Shepherd Book being confined to the television episodes and one film. It is a concise package that is wonderful, with a touch of melancholy. Continuing the story could be amazing. It could also taint the entire series.
Given that Dan Dos Santos has done the cover illustration for the first four issues, I wanted to pick them up anyway. There was enough here in the first issue that I will grab Issue #2 on Valentine’s Day (with its great illustration of Zoe) to see how things progress.
In the meantime, a return trip to the television ‘verse may be in order.
No power can stop me.
I discovered Firefly after the fact when I friend from work loaned me his precious box set. Of course I then had to acquire my own precious. I hoped upon hope that the movie would be such a success that they ‘family guyed’ the show back into existence.
But the more I look back the more I doubt the quality of it could have been kept long term. The three standalone comics that came out before this one didn’t add anything to the story for me. And while i still watch every episode and the movie once a year, I will need to see some long term quality reviews before letting myself get sucked back into this world.
I hear you Nathan. I didn’t watch the show when it was on television. I came to it after it came out on DVD. My wife, my daughter and I all were swept away by it. We watched it several months before Serenity came out. I believe I saw the film 4 times in the theater.
I can see myself going either way with this series, depending on how it plays out. If the comics start going down paths that disappoint me then I’ll just stop and leave the shows themselves as my only version of the tale. But I’ll give it a few more issues to see how it goes.
I share your opinion of “Out Of Gas” as the best TV episode I have ever seen. I’m ready to watch it right now!
The movie Serenity remains my favorite sci-fi film of all time. I only saw it once at the theater, but I was blown away at how well everything was done.
I don’t get into comics at all. I miss all of these characters so much, but I’m not sure I would enjoy them outside of live action. It’s so hard to capture in print the way they all interacted with each other.
It really is. Even novels would not quite be the same.
I didn’t realize I had seen it so many times until I went back and was reading the various posts I mentioned the film in. In one I had seen it for a third time and I know I saw it at a later special event in the theater after that.
Despite all the positive chat, I never got around to Firefly nor Serinity, so this is a continuation without a start for me.
You really should give them a try. You like space opera, to some degree. Do you like Westerns? There is that vibe as well. Plus it is a brief commitment. 14 of the 40 some odd minute tv episodes and one film. Plus, if you are a fan of or ever watch Castle, you will get all the interwoven Firefly references. 😉
As you’re well aware I’m a huge Firefly fan, but to be totally honest I have very little interest in the comics continuing the story. I bought the comics that were set in between the series & the film. They were grand, but nothing special.
I think I just don’t like the idea of continuing the story in comic book format. I didn’t like it with Buffy and have read that the plot there has gone slightly dolally (I have no idea how one spells dulally??) but as far as I cam concerned the Buffy ‘verse came to an end with Angel. Apart from fanfic of course. Likewise Firefly’s flying days are over, apart from in my imagination.
But I’m glad you gave away the spoilers because I still sorta want to know. Having it both ways is awesome 😉
Yes indeed!
It certainly isn’t my preferred method for continuing a story that began in a different format. I much prefer reading comics that are either completely original ideas, or those occasional gems like Dark Horse’s Conan books that came out several years ago which got me to finally start reading Robert E. Howard.
Glad to know about the spoilers, I will continue with that format in the reviewing of the comics.
Doolally?
Doolally is certainly an option 🙂
I’ve got the first run of Firefly’s excursion into comics from Darkhorse and have wishlisted/waiting list for the second on PBSwap. Had ‘no’ idea this was in the works, so thanks for the heads up! Unfortunately my local comic shop is 25 miles away, so… do believe i’ll be waiting for the collected edition of these and getting them off of Amazon.
You are welcome. Yes, 25 miles is a bit of a haul, that is for certain. I’ve read one of the two comic series but not the other one. I do remember enjoying it.
I’ve loved Firefly. I have not read the graphic novels yet. I really liked your review, minus the spoilers of course, but I’ll have to pick up this and give it a read. I’d love to continue the story of Firefly.
Thanks Chris. I hope the story ends up being worthwhile. Really hard to tell with this first issue which is so much set up.
Ah Firefly. Silly networks. They.don’t.get.SF..
I watched it on TV. I was hooked on the first episode (which was the actual second episode). Waited patiently when advertised airings were pre-empted. Broadcast out of order. Then cancelled.
Oh well. It is one of the best shows. I’ve shared it with friends and family. Without exception they love the characters. What an amazing cast.
They did similar things with another Fox show I loved, Wonderfalls. I don’t get why a company invests so much money to produce something only to sabotage it rather than do their best to sell it to the public.
I am so intrigued…I read the existing graphic novels, and they were fun but inadequate. I’ll have to pick this up, though I’ll probably wait until some kind of omnibus/multi-issue version is out.
Oh Firefly, I love you so! I can’t wait to get my hands on these comics.