Disclaimer: All of the comics reviewed in this column were either provided by the respective creators/companies, or were purchased from Dr. Volts Comics in Salt Lake City.
BIFF! BANG!! POW … WOW!!!
By Jerk-Bot
SERENITY: LEAVES ON THE WIND, #1 (monthly comic mini-series, full color, Dark Horse Comics, $3.50) (7 out of 10)
WHO’S RESPONSIBLE? Zack Whedon (script); Georges Jeanty and Karl Story (art); Michael Heisler (letters) and Laura Martin (colors).
One, 14-episode season (which originally aired from 2002-2003) and a theatrical feature (2005’s “Serenity”). That’s all we got from “Firefly,” the short-lived science-fiction/Western series from the mind and pen of Joss Whedon.
Admittedly, it was a great, fun ride while it lasted. But both the series and the movie left loyal fans (better known as “Browncoats”) wanting more.
Enter “executive producer” Whedon and Dark Horse Comics. Already having collaborated on comics projects featuring other Whedon characters (primarily set in the “Buffy” universe), the two joined forces for two, three-issue “Serenity” mini-series, “Those Left Behind” and “Better Days,’ that were co-plotted by Whedon himself, as well as a couple of one-shot issues and short stories.
And with his brother, Zack, Whedon produced an OGN (original graphic novel) titled “The Shepherd’s Tale,” which gave the untold back story of one of the most popular “Firefly” characters, the mysterious Shepherd Book (played by Ron Glass).
But with a few exceptions, these projects were actually “Firefly” prequels, which failed to follow up the original series and movie stories. Thankfully, “Serenity: Leaves on the Wind” is a new, six-issue mini-series that promises to advance the story from where the movie ended.
As it begins, the Capt. Malcolm Reynolds and the Serenity crew are still mourning the deaths of Book and pilot Hogan “Wash” Washburne (which occurred in the movie) , and are on the run from the forces of interstellar Alliance.
“Mal” and his shipmates – including new pilot River Tam and Wash’s very pregnant widow, Zoe — have sown the seeds of dissent, having spread information on some of the Alliance’s more questionable and murderous activities far and wide. And now it’s not just the bad guys who want to find the missing Serenity … the rebels have embraced Mal as their reluctant, unknowing “leader,” and are clearly hoping that he can help spark a galaxy-wide revolt against the Alliance.
THE GOOD.
“Leaves on the Wind” pretty much hits the ground running, and is clearly progressing the larger story and characters arcs in way that the earlier comics projects could not. It’s unclear whether the mini-series will wrap up the Alliance-Browncoat “War,” or just get it rolling, but the first issue definitely shows some promise.
And the younger Whedon has a much-better feel for the characters and the situations than writers Brett Matthews (the “Those Left Behind” and “Better Days” co-scribe) and Jim Krueger did. The dialogue has more snap, and these seem more like the people we grew to know and love.
THE BAD.
Confession time: I’ve never been a fan of artist Georges Jeanty, who also did a lot of art for the Dark Horse “Buffy” comics. He often has trouble with character scale and his action scenes lack any sense of dynamic flow. They just lie there, as flat as the pages on which they’re printed.
Likewise, his attempts to nail the actor likenesses are inconsistent at best, and the characters appear to change size from page to page, panel to panel. It’s not enough to ruin the story, but it’s irksome and it lends on unprofessional air to the project.
On the plus side, Jeanty is inked (for the first issue, at least) by Karl Story, who takes some of the rougher edges off his pencils.
THE UGLY.
Look, “Firefly” and “Serenity” had VERY loyal followings. But they were relatively small, even in comparison to the “Buffy” devotees. And this mini-series definitely caters to the Browncoats, which is both good and bad.
That means it’s not very new-reader-friendly at all. The recap at the start of the issue (on the inside cover) isn’t much help there, so it’s hard to think that the book will bring in anyone who’s not already a fan of this property. Which is sad. This is the kind of thing that should expand the audience, not limit it.
IN CONCLUSION.
Complaints aside, it’s nice to see new “Serenity” stories, and hopefully we’ll get some sense of closure. Or, perhaps, this is just the start of a welcome, “second season” of “Firefly.” For my money, the earlier books will still miles better than the “Buffy” ones … admittedly, I am a proud Browncoat and less of a devotee of that aforementioned Whedon project.
Overall rating: 7 out of 10
Jeff Michael Vice, aka Jerk-bot, can be heard reviewing films, television programs, comics, books, music and other things as part of The Geek Show Podcast (www.thegeekshowpodcast.com), as well as be seen reviewing films as part of Xfinity’s Big Movie Mouth-Off (www.facebook.com/BigMovieMouthOff)