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Serenity #1-3
Firefly: Legacy Edition Book One
For the first time, the official sequels to the critically acclaimed show Firefly are collected under one cover!
The Serenity rides again, in these official sequels to the critically acclaimed show Firefly, collected for the first time under one cover! Buried histories and secret identities are revealed, along with all the heist-takin’, authority-dodgin’, death-defyin’ space-cowboyin’ you’ve been missing from your life, as this ragtag crew of mercenaries, outlaws, and fugitives travel the stars in search of their next adventure.
Collects the following previously released material:
* Serenity: Those Left Behind #1-3
* Serenity: Better Days #1-3
* “Serenity: The Other Half”
* “Serenity: Downtime”
* Serentity: The Shepherd’s Tale
* Serenity: Float Out #1
* “It’s Never Easy”
The Serenity rides again, in these official sequels to the critically acclaimed show Firefly, collected for the first time under one cover! Buried histories and secret identities are revealed, along with all the heist-takin’, authority-dodgin’, death-defyin’ space-cowboyin’ you’ve been missing from your life, as this ragtag crew of mercenaries, outlaws, and fugitives travel the stars in search of their next adventure.
Collects the following previously released material:
* Serenity: Those Left Behind #1-3
* Serenity: Better Days #1-3
* “Serenity: The Other Half”
* “Serenity: Downtime”
* Serentity: The Shepherd’s Tale
* Serenity: Float Out #1
* “It’s Never Easy”
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2018
About the author
Joss Whedon
429 books4,421 followersJoss Whedon (born Joseph Hill Whedon) is an American screenwriter, executive producer, film and television director, comic book writer, occasional composer, and actor, and the founder of Mutant Enemy Productions and co-creator of Bellwether Pictures.
He is best known as the creator and showrunner of the television series 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003)', 'Angel (1999–2004)', 'Firefly (2002)' and its film follow-up 'Serenity (2005)', and 'Dollhouse (2009–2010)', as well as the web-series' 'Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (2008)'. Whedon co-wrote and produced the horror film 'The Cabin in the Woods (2012)', and wrote and directed the film adaptation of Marvel's 'The Avengers (2012)', the third highest-grossing film of all time.
Many of Whedon's projects have cult status and his work is notable for portraying strong female characters and a belief in equality.
credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joss_Whedon
He is best known as the creator and showrunner of the television series 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003)', 'Angel (1999–2004)', 'Firefly (2002)' and its film follow-up 'Serenity (2005)', and 'Dollhouse (2009–2010)', as well as the web-series' 'Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (2008)'. Whedon co-wrote and produced the horror film 'The Cabin in the Woods (2012)', and wrote and directed the film adaptation of Marvel's 'The Avengers (2012)', the third highest-grossing film of all time.
Many of Whedon's projects have cult status and his work is notable for portraying strong female characters and a belief in equality.
credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joss_Whedon
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
December 3, 2018
Damn it. Now I want to rewatch Firefly. And I'm mad, again, that the show was cancelled so early to begin with.
But the graphic novel! I'd say it's probably a better graphic novel continuation than both the Buffy and Angel versions and I'm hoping the quality continues.
But the graphic novel! I'd say it's probably a better graphic novel continuation than both the Buffy and Angel versions and I'm hoping the quality continues.
January 11, 2019
Yep I cracked open an actual dead tree edition to read this one, and I was not disappointed! New stories that are sequels of the show and movie, along with one killer back story. Loved it all the way through!
December 27, 2020
This graphic novel continuation is a perfect venue for a show that was cut short and left fans wanting a lot more. The illustrations, particularly by Will Conrad, brilliantly and accurately portray the Firefly actors, and Joss Whedon's involvement gives the stories and dialogue the same feel you get from watching the show. I loved it more than I expected to and wouldn't at all mind if they just continued the show through graphic novels foreverrrrrr.
January 1, 2019
Dang but, this really made me miss the show.
April 8, 2019
I love Firefly as much as most geeks, but we can't be blinded by our love of the source material, and objectively this was just kind of...fine. I will say that "The Shepherd's Tale" is pretty good, and gives us a new perspective on this excellent character.
January 18, 2019
And now I want to rewatch the show again. Shepherd Book’s backstory was probably the most intriguing but I’d love to have a similar tale written for each of our crew!
Each issue cover was also beautiful. Posters, please?
Each issue cover was also beautiful. Posters, please?
October 15, 2019
2019 bk 327. A compilation of stories built around the crew of the Serenity and providing some backstory for the tv show Serenity. The stories are beautifully drawn and many of them do provide new tidbits of information. I had been hoping for one continuous graphic novel, this wasn't it. While I enjoyed the chance to visit some of my favorite television characters, the majority of the short stories left me wondering "what in the heck just happened and how did that fit into the universe of the Serenity." Maybe I need to go back and watch the series again rather than look to the print.
June 19, 2019
Embarrassing fact - I think I owned all of these comics in single issue format and I had not read them until now. In the collected library edition.
Fun collection of the Firefly/Serenity tie-in graphics. Most are taking place leading up to the movie, with references to the movie.
Fun read for fans.
Fun collection of the Firefly/Serenity tie-in graphics. Most are taking place leading up to the movie, with references to the movie.
Fun read for fans.
August 1, 2021
Different short stories from the 'Verse, including the ultramysterious backstory of Shepherd Book
May 15, 2020
I typically have a bit of disdain for comic books or novels that continue a show/film series (does a 15-season show like Supernatural really requires novels?). However, since future seasons of Firefly were from Whedon's womb untimely ripped, I had a lot of remaining questions.
That's not to say that I want creators to over-explain their world (midichlorians, anyone?), but based on the way "Firefly" had skilfully foreshadowed and hinted at certain things, I figured Whedon probably had satisfactory answers to a few of my questions. He simply hadn't been given enough narrative runway to land some of these revelations.
"The Shepherd's Tale" for instance (conceived of by Joss, but written by his brother Zak) is amazing! It gives us JUST enough information on Shepherd Book's mysterious backstory to make a rewatch of Season 1 all the richer.
"Float Away" is another neat story, set after Wash's demise, structured as three stories told by guys who knew Wash before he piloted Serenity. The story was written by nerdy comedian Patton Oswalt, who hones in on Wash's comedic tendencies. Oswalt was a worthy choice to essentially deliver Wash's eulogy.
I have to say that most of the stories in this collection felt EXACTLY like a typical episode of Firefly. Glimpses at a Season 2, you could say. For instance the first story, "Those Left Behind", serves as a perfect narrative bridge to the Serenity movie, and I could hear the character's voices in my head so clearly!
This is no small accomplishment, the voice/soul of something from one medium doesn't always translate into another. However, squeezing these stories into little comic episodes does make them feel a little less developed and rushed. I'm not exactly complaining, I'm honestly grateful to have this little morsel, but one can't help but imagine how great it could have been as a 45 minutes episode of television.
My advice to anyone picking these stories up is to be grateful that the creators of the show took the time, and cared enough about the people in these stories to bring them back to life in a way that stays true their essence. Obviously there are some limitations to the media this was in, but considering the circumstances, I feel that they did a great job.
That's not to say that I want creators to over-explain their world (midichlorians, anyone?), but based on the way "Firefly" had skilfully foreshadowed and hinted at certain things, I figured Whedon probably had satisfactory answers to a few of my questions. He simply hadn't been given enough narrative runway to land some of these revelations.
"The Shepherd's Tale" for instance (conceived of by Joss, but written by his brother Zak) is amazing! It gives us JUST enough information on Shepherd Book's mysterious backstory to make a rewatch of Season 1 all the richer.
"Float Away" is another neat story, set after Wash's demise, structured as three stories told by guys who knew Wash before he piloted Serenity. The story was written by nerdy comedian Patton Oswalt, who hones in on Wash's comedic tendencies. Oswalt was a worthy choice to essentially deliver Wash's eulogy.
I have to say that most of the stories in this collection felt EXACTLY like a typical episode of Firefly. Glimpses at a Season 2, you could say. For instance the first story, "Those Left Behind", serves as a perfect narrative bridge to the Serenity movie, and I could hear the character's voices in my head so clearly!
This is no small accomplishment, the voice/soul of something from one medium doesn't always translate into another. However, squeezing these stories into little comic episodes does make them feel a little less developed and rushed. I'm not exactly complaining, I'm honestly grateful to have this little morsel, but one can't help but imagine how great it could have been as a 45 minutes episode of television.
My advice to anyone picking these stories up is to be grateful that the creators of the show took the time, and cared enough about the people in these stories to bring them back to life in a way that stays true their essence. Obviously there are some limitations to the media this was in, but considering the circumstances, I feel that they did a great job.
January 9, 2019
I would recommend reading this book for "The Shepherd's Tale" only, if you haven't read it. Knowing Book's backstory is going to make every re-watching of Firefly an entirely new experience.
September 22, 2020
4.5 Firefly awesomeness.
For fans of Firefly & Serenity; this brought all the good Firefly nostalgia feels with new (and heartbreaking) content.
The writing was hilarious & on point for each character.
My favorite stories were Better Days by Joss (Whedon) and Brett Matthews, and The Shepherd's Tale by Joss & Zack Whedon.
I adored the "rich man" fantasies of everyone in Better Days, which made the ending so much more heartbreakingly sweet (good story-telling & great Mal writing). And I loved the fantastic back-and-forth storytelling in The Shepherd's Tale. The way Zach Whedon played with my feelings for Shepherd like a yo-yo, pulling on my string making me love him and then hate him (making me yo-yo back and forth ten more times)... wow, that was good. (Shepherd has always been one of my favs.)
I also really enjoyed the short The Other Half by Jim Krueger and Downtime by Zach Whedon. Both were single issue River stories of her saving everyone's lives but all sneaky (and creepy) like, without them ever knowing (but maybe somewhat suspecting)... When she and Mal have a moment & then she and Shepherd have a moment, respectively, *shudders*. Give me the good kind of chills. Great (but short) issues!
The one story I actively disliked was Float Out by Patton Oswalt. :(
I didn't enjoy (didn't understand!!) the writing. It was all very highfalutin Sci-Fi and not the easy writing and funny dialogue I got from the other issues/stories here. Bummer, because it was a (seemingly) sweet Wash story.
For fans of Firefly & Serenity; this brought all the good Firefly nostalgia feels with new (and heartbreaking) content.
The writing was hilarious & on point for each character.
My favorite stories were Better Days by Joss (Whedon) and Brett Matthews, and The Shepherd's Tale by Joss & Zack Whedon.
I adored the "rich man" fantasies of everyone in Better Days, which made the ending so much more heartbreakingly sweet (good story-telling & great Mal writing). And I loved the fantastic back-and-forth storytelling in The Shepherd's Tale. The way Zach Whedon played with my feelings for Shepherd like a yo-yo, pulling on my string making me love him and then hate him (making me yo-yo back and forth ten more times)... wow, that was good. (Shepherd has always been one of my favs.)
I also really enjoyed the short The Other Half by Jim Krueger and Downtime by Zach Whedon. Both were single issue River stories of her saving everyone's lives but all sneaky (and creepy) like, without them ever knowing (but maybe somewhat suspecting)... When she and Mal have a moment & then she and Shepherd have a moment, respectively, *shudders*. Give me the good kind of chills. Great (but short) issues!
The one story I actively disliked was Float Out by Patton Oswalt. :(
I didn't enjoy (didn't understand!!) the writing. It was all very highfalutin Sci-Fi and not the easy writing and funny dialogue I got from the other issues/stories here. Bummer, because it was a (seemingly) sweet Wash story.
January 18, 2020
Loved it. Made me miss the show and I want to, of course, go watch it again.
Might be a bit hard to get into for anyone who hasn't experienced the Firefly universe before (and the movie Serenity) so diving into that first (totally worth it) is highly recommended.
The stories in this anthology starts off shortly after the TV show completes. These chapters are fun but not the bread and butter of what makes this Legacy Edition so worthwhile (mind you any Firefly is good Firefly so, Shiny.) The chapters begin to move into the events of Serenity, the chapter on Shepard Book is an extreme highlight, revealing a good portion of his backstory. (minor spoilers here, sort of, There is a Frame in this section that shows Kaylee meeting Book exactly how it happened in the show, that hit me right in the feels).
Then we get into some Wash backstory and move into events after Serenity with a few surprises for Firefly fans.
Overall this is a must read for anyone who loves the world that Joss Whedon created and was taken from us too soon. You'll love the characters being brought back to love with some incredible art work, and it will leaving you wanting more...again.
Might be a bit hard to get into for anyone who hasn't experienced the Firefly universe before (and the movie Serenity) so diving into that first (totally worth it) is highly recommended.
The stories in this anthology starts off shortly after the TV show completes. These chapters are fun but not the bread and butter of what makes this Legacy Edition so worthwhile (mind you any Firefly is good Firefly so, Shiny.) The chapters begin to move into the events of Serenity, the chapter on Shepard Book is an extreme highlight, revealing a good portion of his backstory. (minor spoilers here, sort of, There is a Frame in this section that shows Kaylee meeting Book exactly how it happened in the show, that hit me right in the feels).
Then we get into some Wash backstory and move into events after Serenity with a few surprises for Firefly fans.
Overall this is a must read for anyone who loves the world that Joss Whedon created and was taken from us too soon. You'll love the characters being brought back to love with some incredible art work, and it will leaving you wanting more...again.
December 4, 2019
Really impressive graphic continuation of the story of Firefly/Serenity, as plotted by Joss Whedon. A very credible continuation of the story, if you thought the TV series was fun and interesting. Several stories suggest how the people and story could have continued, mainly set after the movie version. The best experience is "The Shepard's Tale" in which we get a definitive answer to Shepard Book's mysterious past. It's satisfying, if not completely living up to the level of mystery developed in the original series. Written in a nice style, it does tell you a story of how Book could have been to be the wonderful character played by Ron Glass in the TV series. So good I read it twice. If you liked Firefly, I suggest you read this book. (If you didn't like Firefly, I'm surprised you're reading this review.)
January 22, 2021
An anthology of Firefly stories, featuring two excellent, twisty, three-act episodes with outstanding artwork by Will Conrad ("Those Left Behind", "Better Days"), a few so-so one-shots, and an absolutely fantastic origin story for Book, "The Shepherd's Tale", which sports a unique plot structure and goes a long way toward motivating the series' enigmatic pastor with the conflicted morals.
The stories mostly take place within the timeline of the show, but a couple are notably post-Serenity. Patton Oswalt's story "Float Out", while mildly affecting, is utterly outdone by the subsequent Firefly graphic novel, Firefly: Watch How I Soar.
This Legacy Edition volume adds a forward by Nathan Fillion, and an afterword for the Book story by Zach Whedon, both exemplifying their devotion to the Firefly 'verse, its beloved denizens, and dedicated fans. Not to be missed!
The stories mostly take place within the timeline of the show, but a couple are notably post-Serenity. Patton Oswalt's story "Float Out", while mildly affecting, is utterly outdone by the subsequent Firefly graphic novel, Firefly: Watch How I Soar.
This Legacy Edition volume adds a forward by Nathan Fillion, and an afterword for the Book story by Zach Whedon, both exemplifying their devotion to the Firefly 'verse, its beloved denizens, and dedicated fans. Not to be missed!
July 18, 2021
Wow. This is an addition to the series, a prologue and epilogue all in one. It even resolves the past of the most mysterious man of the crew of Serenity - Derrial Book. I'm so happy that they did good with the material and it's not just a random milking of a cashcow. It has the good old browncoat authenticity all over it.
The drawing is all over the place, different pencils and inking and how to you call all that in case of a graphic novel, but I can forgive that with ease. The stories are just so good.
The drawing is all over the place, different pencils and inking and how to you call all that in case of a graphic novel, but I can forgive that with ease. The stories are just so good.
August 16, 2019
For fans of Firefly, this is a fun read with a few lapses in storytelling that are forgivable for the sake of being immersed in the universe again. For those who haven't seen the show, it's a confusing and at times incoherent collection of short stories that gives you zero opportunity to invest in the characters. Though, for existing fans who've already explored the graphic novel works based on the show, this contains nothing new and is a repackaging of previously released materials.
The one truly standout story is The Shepherd's Tale. It's a wonderful backstory for Shepherd Book, and is the most fully-realized story in the collection. However, it too would probably lack a little something for anyone who isn't already a fan of the universe.
This edition contains the following stories:
Those Left Behind
Better Days
The Other Half
Downtime
The Shepherd’s Tale
Float Out
It’s Never Easy
The one truly standout story is The Shepherd's Tale. It's a wonderful backstory for Shepherd Book, and is the most fully-realized story in the collection. However, it too would probably lack a little something for anyone who isn't already a fan of the universe.
This edition contains the following stories:
Those Left Behind
Better Days
The Other Half
Downtime
The Shepherd’s Tale
Float Out
It’s Never Easy
January 4, 2019
firefly love!!
April 21, 2020
I have obviously been obsessed with the franchise ever since my cousin introduced me to it. I was reluctant to watch any other episode after the first... But when I picked it up again, oh my, it went quickly. Rather early I realised that there was only one season of Firefly, so I had to find out why.
I am so glad they tried to give a farewell to a great show with a film and a few beautifully engaging comic books. This book is a collection of a few stories which expand the world of the annoying protagonists in a captivating and humorous way. The drawing style, in most parts, is fitting and clings to the true faces of the actors, which I find an important detail.
In general, the criticism against Firefly Comicbooks is that they are too exclusive. If you never watched the show, it might be a bit confusing. But nobody reads Harry Potter from the 5th book as well. The short miracle that Firefly was needs to be experienced from the show to the film to the books. Then you would really love it!
I am so glad they tried to give a farewell to a great show with a film and a few beautifully engaging comic books. This book is a collection of a few stories which expand the world of the annoying protagonists in a captivating and humorous way. The drawing style, in most parts, is fitting and clings to the true faces of the actors, which I find an important detail.
In general, the criticism against Firefly Comicbooks is that they are too exclusive. If you never watched the show, it might be a bit confusing. But nobody reads Harry Potter from the 5th book as well. The short miracle that Firefly was needs to be experienced from the show to the film to the books. Then you would really love it!
January 23, 2019
Don’t you just hate when your favorite TV program gets cancelled? After one glorious season, Fox Network canned Joss Whedon’s Firefly, much to the dismay of fans around the globe. To placate the masses, Joss Whedon wrote and directed Serenity, a film continuation of the television series. Although the film had generally positive reviews and several accolades, fans were not satisfied. Throughout the years, there have been rumors of Joss Whedon rebooting the beloved TV series. Unfortunately, there are several hurdles that the cast and crew of Firefly just can’t seem to get over. But fret not! Firefly has been resurrected in the graphic novel format.
Firefly Legacy Edition Book 1 by Zack Whedon, Patton Oswalt, Brett Matthews, Et Al. is available to you via Hoopla. Set 500 years in the future in the wake of a universal civil war, Firefly centers on the crew of Serenity, a small transport spaceship that doesn’t have a planet to call home. Captain Malcolm “Mal” Reynolds, a defeated soldier who opposed the unification of the planets by the totalitarian governed Alliance, will undertake any paying job (legal or otherwise). His first mate, Zoë Alleyne Washburne, was once under his command during the Unification Wars, and continues to remain loyal to Malcolm aboard the ship. Zoë is married to the ship’s pilot, Hoban "Wash" Washburne. Other members of the crew are Shepherd Derrial Book, Kaylee Frye, Jayne Cobb, Inara Serra, and River and Simon Tam. Thrust together by necessity but staying together out of loyalty, the crew of Serenity are seeking adventure and the good life, but face constant challenges on the new frontier, such as avoiding capture by the Alliance, and evading other dangers of the universe. Firefly Legacy Edition Book 1 is flickers between the past and present. Mal and Zoë thought they would be able to outrun their past and evade the Alliance. When a job goes sideways, Mal and Zoë must confront Alliance mercenaries and answer for their war crimes. Mal must decide either to face his punishment or fight for the future.
I thoroughly enjoyed Firefly Legacy Edition Book 1. Book 1 reads like another episode of the show. To my delight, I instantly felt transported back into the Firefly universe. The storyline doesn’t feel rushed. I especially enjoyed the background stories both the TV show and movie left out. For fans of the Firefly series, this graphic novel is for you.
- Katie, Area/Branch Librarian
Firefly Legacy Edition Book 1 by Zack Whedon, Patton Oswalt, Brett Matthews, Et Al. is available to you via Hoopla. Set 500 years in the future in the wake of a universal civil war, Firefly centers on the crew of Serenity, a small transport spaceship that doesn’t have a planet to call home. Captain Malcolm “Mal” Reynolds, a defeated soldier who opposed the unification of the planets by the totalitarian governed Alliance, will undertake any paying job (legal or otherwise). His first mate, Zoë Alleyne Washburne, was once under his command during the Unification Wars, and continues to remain loyal to Malcolm aboard the ship. Zoë is married to the ship’s pilot, Hoban "Wash" Washburne. Other members of the crew are Shepherd Derrial Book, Kaylee Frye, Jayne Cobb, Inara Serra, and River and Simon Tam. Thrust together by necessity but staying together out of loyalty, the crew of Serenity are seeking adventure and the good life, but face constant challenges on the new frontier, such as avoiding capture by the Alliance, and evading other dangers of the universe. Firefly Legacy Edition Book 1 is flickers between the past and present. Mal and Zoë thought they would be able to outrun their past and evade the Alliance. When a job goes sideways, Mal and Zoë must confront Alliance mercenaries and answer for their war crimes. Mal must decide either to face his punishment or fight for the future.
I thoroughly enjoyed Firefly Legacy Edition Book 1. Book 1 reads like another episode of the show. To my delight, I instantly felt transported back into the Firefly universe. The storyline doesn’t feel rushed. I especially enjoyed the background stories both the TV show and movie left out. For fans of the Firefly series, this graphic novel is for you.
- Katie, Area/Branch Librarian
January 18, 2019
If you love Firefly,and who doesn't, this is a super read. Really feels true to source material.
January 10, 2023
These stories, more so than the other Firefly stories, are more closely related to the show & movie. There are some prequel stories, stories that seemingly happen at the same time as Serenity, and some stories that further the story after Serenity. I was in and out of this book for a while because the pacing was not as engaging.
I am not going to lie, there were times when I got confused when things take place in the timeline. I am not sure if it was just a me thing or if this book was mapped in a way that doesn’t make the most sense. As I stated before, there were a few prequel stories and continuation issues, however, there was a lot that overlapped with what I already know from the Firefly show and Serenity. If you are a Firefly fan and have consumed other Firefly media, then either look up where the overlap is or just push through.
I love Firefly, but I have no love for the creator; I think this universe transcends him and is able to stand on its own. The world presented, to me, is unique when compared to a lot of other sci-fi worlds. I think it’s shown through the art which presents a lot of the same gritty environments you’d see on the show contrasted with the cleaner sci-fi look of the wealthier Alliance areas. The art really shows the difference between wealth and power in beautifully drawn and colored ways.
One thing this book does exceedingly well is that it gets every character’s personality and quirks perfectly. All of the characters look incredible and really feed off of the live-action versions. I personally read each character in the voice of their live-action counterparts, so it really adds depth to certain characters from show and movie who don’t get a lot of love. I personally wanted to know more about Inara and River, but there are other stories to come for me, so maybe that happens along the way.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book, but it does leave a bit to be desired. The characters jump off the page and the art is incredible. I think it's a great companion piece to the show and movie, so if you have not seen them I think you might be at a bit of a detriment. I think this lays some good groundwork to make you feel welcome, but knowing some things beforehand will help you. The mapping of the book is only bothersome if you know a lot more about the characters and series in general.
I am not going to lie, there were times when I got confused when things take place in the timeline. I am not sure if it was just a me thing or if this book was mapped in a way that doesn’t make the most sense. As I stated before, there were a few prequel stories and continuation issues, however, there was a lot that overlapped with what I already know from the Firefly show and Serenity. If you are a Firefly fan and have consumed other Firefly media, then either look up where the overlap is or just push through.
I love Firefly, but I have no love for the creator; I think this universe transcends him and is able to stand on its own. The world presented, to me, is unique when compared to a lot of other sci-fi worlds. I think it’s shown through the art which presents a lot of the same gritty environments you’d see on the show contrasted with the cleaner sci-fi look of the wealthier Alliance areas. The art really shows the difference between wealth and power in beautifully drawn and colored ways.
One thing this book does exceedingly well is that it gets every character’s personality and quirks perfectly. All of the characters look incredible and really feed off of the live-action versions. I personally read each character in the voice of their live-action counterparts, so it really adds depth to certain characters from show and movie who don’t get a lot of love. I personally wanted to know more about Inara and River, but there are other stories to come for me, so maybe that happens along the way.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book, but it does leave a bit to be desired. The characters jump off the page and the art is incredible. I think it's a great companion piece to the show and movie, so if you have not seen them I think you might be at a bit of a detriment. I think this lays some good groundwork to make you feel welcome, but knowing some things beforehand will help you. The mapping of the book is only bothersome if you know a lot more about the characters and series in general.
November 21, 2018
(Scroll down for EN version.)
CZ:
Krásně vypravená sbírka prvních dvou minisérií Serenity a několika kratších komiksů vydaných původně pod Dark Horse. Kniha prezentuje příběhy víceméně v chronologickém pořadí (jedinou výjimkou je nejstarší minisérie Those Left Behind, zařazená na začátek knihy, ačkoli se rozhodně odehrává až po Better Days). Sbírka také obsahuje téměř všechny původní obálky (kromě "žluté" obálky hardcoverového vydání Those Left Behind a speciální limitované obálky Better Days).
Samotné příběhy samozřejmě nabízejí vynikající počtení; pro všechny hnědokabátníky jsou naprostou nutností. Dokonce i dlouholetí fanoušci, kteří vlastní předchozí vydání těchto komiksů, budou mít radost ze zjevné péče, kterou vydavatelství Boom tomuto omnibusu věnovalo, zejména z krásné nové úpravy artworků a předělů mezi kapitolami.
EN:
A beautiful collection of the first two Serenity mini-series along with several other comics published originally by Dark Horse. The book presents the stories more or less in chronological order (the only exception being Those Left Behind, the oldest mini-series which is included right in the beginning of the book even though it definitely takes place after Better Days). The collection also features almost all of the original covers (except the "yellow" cover from hardback collection of Those Left Behind and a special limited-run cover of Better Days).
The stories themselves are, of course, an excellent read; an absolute must-have for all Browncoats. Even long-time fans who own the previous collections are sure to be pleased by the obvious care with which Boom has approached this omnibus, evident in the beautiful design of the chapter break art.
CZ:
Krásně vypravená sbírka prvních dvou minisérií Serenity a několika kratších komiksů vydaných původně pod Dark Horse. Kniha prezentuje příběhy víceméně v chronologickém pořadí (jedinou výjimkou je nejstarší minisérie Those Left Behind, zařazená na začátek knihy, ačkoli se rozhodně odehrává až po Better Days). Sbírka také obsahuje téměř všechny původní obálky (kromě "žluté" obálky hardcoverového vydání Those Left Behind a speciální limitované obálky Better Days).
Samotné příběhy samozřejmě nabízejí vynikající počtení; pro všechny hnědokabátníky jsou naprostou nutností. Dokonce i dlouholetí fanoušci, kteří vlastní předchozí vydání těchto komiksů, budou mít radost ze zjevné péče, kterou vydavatelství Boom tomuto omnibusu věnovalo, zejména z krásné nové úpravy artworků a předělů mezi kapitolami.
EN:
A beautiful collection of the first two Serenity mini-series along with several other comics published originally by Dark Horse. The book presents the stories more or less in chronological order (the only exception being Those Left Behind, the oldest mini-series which is included right in the beginning of the book even though it definitely takes place after Better Days). The collection also features almost all of the original covers (except the "yellow" cover from hardback collection of Those Left Behind and a special limited-run cover of Better Days).
The stories themselves are, of course, an excellent read; an absolute must-have for all Browncoats. Even long-time fans who own the previous collections are sure to be pleased by the obvious care with which Boom has approached this omnibus, evident in the beautiful design of the chapter break art.
March 11, 2023
3.5 - I am a big Fireflyfan, so I am predisposed to enjoying this collection of visual stories. There is at least one piece here that was included in another collection, but there were several I hadn't seen before. But even the new stories felt a bit like retreads. The parts about Mal and Inara not verbalizing their feelings for each other just felt repetitious. There were 2 different stories about a guy seeking revenge against Mal - in fact, when one is blown up, a character comments, to the effect of, "Guess we'll never know what that was about," which is pretty ironic, since it was never really explained to us, either.
One thing about these stories that is strange is how Whedon created a 'Verse where Chinese is a huge part of the language, suggesting a very strong influence on the culture; and yet, there are no Chinese characters, and despite a little bit of diversity, the majority of characters are white.
Still, there IS a bit of diversity, which is too rare in Sci fi.
One things I didn't love is that there are several stories that have River slipping away and murdering a bunch of folks. It was repetitious, and her reaction is basically to be fine with being a killer. Her turn in Serentoy worked because she was killing horrifying sadistic cannibals who neither looked nor acted human. When she goes on a murder spree against people who haven't even actually yet acted on their ill intentions. I dunno; I get that she's supposed to be basically an unstoppable killing machine, but she's also fought against that programming, so to have multiple stories about her casually offing groups of "bad guys" just doesn't sit well with me.
One thing about these stories that is strange is how Whedon created a 'Verse where Chinese is a huge part of the language, suggesting a very strong influence on the culture; and yet, there are no Chinese characters, and despite a little bit of diversity, the majority of characters are white.
Still, there IS a bit of diversity, which is too rare in Sci fi.
One things I didn't love is that there are several stories that have River slipping away and murdering a bunch of folks. It was repetitious, and her reaction is basically to be fine with being a killer. Her turn in Serentoy worked because she was killing horrifying sadistic cannibals who neither looked nor acted human. When she goes on a murder spree against people who haven't even actually yet acted on their ill intentions. I dunno; I get that she's supposed to be basically an unstoppable killing machine, but she's also fought against that programming, so to have multiple stories about her casually offing groups of "bad guys" just doesn't sit well with me.
December 23, 2019
I found the art really poor. Frequently I had no idea if Kayleee/Inara/River were talking to Mal/Wash. The all kind of look the same.
The worst though was the story. We have the very tired misogyny of Mal/Inara "whore" dialogues and Kaylee runs off pouting a half dozen times because Simon says something bad about the Rim. The first story about Dobson and Book's history were good but the other stories were just really lame:
The worst though was the story. We have the very tired misogyny of Mal/Inara "whore" dialogues and Kaylee runs off pouting a half dozen times because Simon says something bad about the Rim. The first story about Dobson and Book's history were good but the other stories were just really lame:
January 2, 2020
A collection of graphic novels set in the Firefly Universe. "Those Left Behind," Better Days", "The Other Half", and "Downtime" were all set between the Firefly series and the movie Serenity. "The Shepard's Tale" is the story of Shepard Book and tells his life in excerpts. "Float Out" and "It's Never Easy" are set after Serenity. Except for "It's never easy" the art on these was amazing. Very much complimenting the story and enhacing it.
Of the novels, my favorite was "Better Days". It was, in my opinion, the one that most resembled an episode of the original series with all the complexity and heart that made the show a joy to watch. Most portentous was "Downtime" which also made a fabulous intro to "The Shepard's Tale."
If you enjoyed the series and are a reader of graphic novels, these will certainly give you your Firefly fix. However, I would recommend that you take your time with this volume. Yes, you will read it again, but it is worth savoring.
Of the novels, my favorite was "Better Days". It was, in my opinion, the one that most resembled an episode of the original series with all the complexity and heart that made the show a joy to watch. Most portentous was "Downtime" which also made a fabulous intro to "The Shepard's Tale."
If you enjoyed the series and are a reader of graphic novels, these will certainly give you your Firefly fix. However, I would recommend that you take your time with this volume. Yes, you will read it again, but it is worth savoring.
June 1, 2020
Most of these were re-reads for me, but a couple of the shorts were new. In general, the Firefly graphic novels have been pretty good at getting the character and the art down, but the stories tend to the convoluted, or poorly contrived. Better Days especially falls prey to "too many sides" and its resolution annoyed me even more this time than the first time. The Shepherd's Tale has grown on me though; I appreciated it much more, though the revelations of Book's backstory doesn't feel like it quite provides the explanations for his actions and abilities in the series.
The art for the most part is pretty good, getting the characters without mimicking them too much. There's a lot of content here and fans of the series will probably enjoy it, but it's not very new-to-Firefly-friendly. But then, there's no real reason why it should be.
The art for the most part is pretty good, getting the characters without mimicking them too much. There's a lot of content here and fans of the series will probably enjoy it, but it's not very new-to-Firefly-friendly. But then, there's no real reason why it should be.
November 18, 2022
Summary: Featuring stories by Joss Whedon, Patton Oswalt, and Chris Samnee, buried histories and secret identities are revealed, along with all the heist-takin', authority-dodgin', death-defyin' space-cowboyin' you've been missing from your life, as this ragtag crew of mercenaries, outlaws, and fugitives travel the stars in search of their next adventure. -- back cover
My husband introduced me to the show several years ago and I loved it! So when I saw that my library had this and the second volume, I immediately put them on hold and checked them out. It's nice to revisit the characters and see what other hijinks, capers and shenanigans they got into. It was also really cool to see Shepherd's backstory and how he came to be a preacher. His life is crazy, but fitting! I'm curious to see what's in the second volume. Such a great show and great stories!
My husband introduced me to the show several years ago and I loved it! So when I saw that my library had this and the second volume, I immediately put them on hold and checked them out. It's nice to revisit the characters and see what other hijinks, capers and shenanigans they got into. It was also really cool to see Shepherd's backstory and how he came to be a preacher. His life is crazy, but fitting! I'm curious to see what's in the second volume. Such a great show and great stories!
August 25, 2021
This book is absolutely amazing.
It was great to read the books Those left Behind, Better Days, The Other Half and Downtime which are all set between the series and the movie.
The Shepard’s Tale is a stand alone story about Derrial Book, this story gives you a glance into his background before the show and connects to his arc in the movie Serenity.
Float Out is set after Serenity and is about Wash, very interesting and quite humorous.
It’s Never Easy is also set after Serenity. I’m not sure if it’s set after Float Out or before but is still an enjoyable story.
I definitely recommend this to those who had watched the series and the movie and still have some lingering questions that they want answered.
It was great to read the books Those left Behind, Better Days, The Other Half and Downtime which are all set between the series and the movie.
The Shepard’s Tale is a stand alone story about Derrial Book, this story gives you a glance into his background before the show and connects to his arc in the movie Serenity.
Float Out is set after Serenity and is about Wash, very interesting and quite humorous.
It’s Never Easy is also set after Serenity. I’m not sure if it’s set after Float Out or before but is still an enjoyable story.
I definitely recommend this to those who had watched the series and the movie and still have some lingering questions that they want answered.
February 6, 2022
This is a cute, fun collection of comics adding to the Firefly ‘verse. After the show is watched and the movie is done, this is all you’ve got left, so it’s bittersweet.
I liked the backstory comics best. Other than those, the other ones about the general usual stuff the crew got up to wasn’t that interesting. The only thing those added was River being a bigger factor in saving the day frequently.
Books background was especially interesting. I’m everything else, his story was barely hinted at, so seeing his whole life was a neat use of a comic.
The other interesting one was the toasting to Wash comic. It was a unique setup and had nice stories in it - with a twist ending too!
For fans, this is worth the quick read. For everyone else, skip it.
I liked the backstory comics best. Other than those, the other ones about the general usual stuff the crew got up to wasn’t that interesting. The only thing those added was River being a bigger factor in saving the day frequently.
Books background was especially interesting. I’m everything else, his story was barely hinted at, so seeing his whole life was a neat use of a comic.
The other interesting one was the toasting to Wash comic. It was a unique setup and had nice stories in it - with a twist ending too!
For fans, this is worth the quick read. For everyone else, skip it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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