Serenity: Leaves On The Wind #1
Written by Zack Whedon
Illustrated by Georges Jeanty
Colored by Laura Martin
Lettered by Michael Heisler
Executive Produced by Joss Whedon
Cover by Dan Dos Santos
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: January 29, 2014
Cover Price: $3.50

Picking up right after the events of the film Serenity, Serenity: Leaves On The Wind finds the Firefly ‘verse in turmoil over the revelation that the Alliance created the cannibalistic Reavers. Mal and the crew of the Firefly class ship Serenity are laying low, though. Despite their victory over the Alliance, they are deeply injured by losses of their own. But with the ‘verse ready to once again challenge the power of the Alliance, a leader is needed… and that leader is Captain Mal. If he can be found.

Comic book spin-off series are always a scary venture for fans. Beloved properties are often mistreated and bland versions of the universes they present. Dark Horse, however, has pulled together a fantastic team for Serenity: Leaves On The Wind and this title feels like a true follow-up to Joss Whedon’s Firefly television series and Serenity film.

Creative oversight oversight for this new series goes to Joss Whedon, with his brother, Zack Whedon, providing a story that feels like it could have been the script for the next movie. As a fan of the series and film, this title comes across as the next chapter of the saga. It’s been long overdue, but Zack Whedon has brought the ‘verse back to life.

Georges Jeanty‘s art also does the hard work of translating actors’ faces into a different medium. His pencils capture the characters’ features, and mannerisms well. His facial drawings capture emotions quite wonderfully.

In a true cinematic form, this issue opens, not with our characters, but with a broad image of what’s happening within the Alliance territories. From the first pages (which are framed as a talking-heads news program) we realize that things are about to explode throughout all the worlds. Whatever is going to happen it’s going to be huge. And it’s way bigger than anything Mal, or the Serenity crew can handle.

This is the next chapter of Firefly and it couldn’t have been executed better.

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