Firefly #1
Writer: Greg Pak
Illustrator: Dan McDaid
Colorist: Marcelo Costa
Letterer: Jim Campbell
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Review by Stacy Dooks
Before we launch into the review of Firefly #1, I have a confession to make: I didn’t really like Firefly when it first came out. Mind you, this was back in 2002 when Firefly was airing on the Fox channel, and I had little to no idea what the heck was going on. This was due to the network airing the series out of order, and as such I was completely at sea. It was only after I’d taken a job as a guard and needed viewing material that I decided to give the series another chance and bought a copy of the DVD boxed set. I’d long been an admirer of Joss Whedon and his team of creators, so I wanted to support their space western even if I didn’t fully understand it.
Once I had the chance to watch the show from pilot to season finale I realized just what a fun gem the show actually was. Of course, networks being founts of infinite wisdom, the series was cancelled and we were left with a single season of quirky, intriguing space opera. But the funny thing about Firefly is that every time you think it’s gone for good it comes back. The motion picture Serenity was a powerful little film that owed its existence to the determination of its creators and the love of its fans. And the universe (or ‘Verse) of Firefly has kept going in various comic incarnations. How did this one measure up? Let’s dig in and find out.
Set some time after the first season but before the film, Firefly #1 finds the crew of the Firefly-class freighter Serenity in trouble yet again. A damaged engine and being pursued by a mysterious warship taking potshots at them leaves Captain Malcolm Reynolds no choice but to set down on an isolated moon and hope they can scrape up enough work to A) get a new engine, B) get fuel for said engine, and C) get the hell out of there before their unknown attackers manage to track them down. Needless to say, this being a Firefly story, things completely work out with no negative consequences whatsoever. I’m joking of course: things go horribly wrong.
I’m a sucker for Westerns and Space Opera, and when you mix the two I’m all in. Greg Pak is a writer whose work I’ve long admired, and he has a gift for both humorous dialogue and making the characters feel at pace with their television incarnations. The same is true for Dan McCaid: while the characters are a bit more stylized in the artwork, they still convey the spirit of the actors who portrayed them on the screen. Marcelo Costa’s colors make the world feel lived in and vibrant, while Jim Campbell’s lettering makes sure the dialogue hits precisely where it needs to, both in the action beats and the comedy.
The Verdict: Buy it.
Long time fans of the franchise will love a chance to revisit old friends, and, even if you’re not a fan and just someone looking for a fun slice of space opera with a western chaser, Firefly #1 has a lot to offer. Recommended.
