My favorite TV show is Firefly, the 2002 space-western adventure series about the crew of the smuggling ship Serenity fighting and struggling to keep flying and eke out an existence on the wild edges of known space. The entirety of the tragically cancelled series consists of thirteen episodes and a movie, Serenity. Despite its short length, Firefly has benefitted from an army of passionate fans that have ensured the series’ recognition and passed it on to new generations of fans.
The adventures of the series’ characters have been continued in several comic books, some of them written by the show’s original creator, Joss Whedon. These comics are all very good, matching the tone, aesthetics, and quality of the TV series. They have been collected, and are easily accessible for Firefly fans looking for more familiar content. If you’re a fan who wants to give the comics a try, but you don’t know where to begin, this guide will give you all the information you need to jump right in.
Serenity: Those Left Behind, by Joss Whedon, Brett Matthews, and Will Conrad
This first volume was written as a prequel to the movie Serenity, bridging the gap between the TV show and the movie. Like all episodes of Firefly, it uses action as a way to direct focus on the relationships between the characters. In this case, several jobs go very wrong for the crew of the Serenity, widening the interpersonal cracks that were beginning to form towards the end of the show. It’s a somber story that explains the fractured state the crew is in at the beginning of the movie. It also provides further explanation for the terrifying “Hands of Blue” assassins that pursued the Serenity throughout the series. Out of all the comics, I think this is the one Joss Whedon was most heavily involved in, so it comes closest in terms of capturing the feel of a Firefly episode.
Serenity: Better Days and Other Stories, by Joss Whedon, Brett Matthews, and Will Conrad
If Those Left Behind captures the drama of one of the Firefly’s serious episodes, Better Days captures the fun of one of the show’s more lighthearted episodes. Taking place in the middle of the series, this volume finds the crew of the Serenity finally striking it rich after so much misfortune. Of course, the streak of good luck can’t last. But while it does, it’s fun to see the crew take a much needed vacation and fantasize about what they can do with their newfound wealth. This volume also collects several short comic tales: The Other Half, which tells a story about River Tam’s bizarre psychic abilities; Downtime, with art by Chris Samnee that features the Serenity trapped in a snow drift; and Float Out, the story of Serenity’s beloved pilot Hoban “Wash” Washburne written by comedian and Firefly fan Patton Oswalt.
Serenity: The Shepherd’s Tale, by Zack Whedon, Joss Whedon, and Chris Samnee
This volume is very different from the others on this list. It tells the life story of mysterious preacher Shepherd Book in reverse chronological order, starting with the events of the movie Serenity and going all the way back to his childhood. Shepherd Book’s past was, like the Hands of Blue, something that was hinted at in the series but never fully explored. Here, it is all laid bare, showing how a man with a violent past could end up a servant of God. It also features a very different art style than the other volumes, with Chris Samnee providing a more cartoon-ish but still incredibly expressive style. This volume doesn’t try to be an episode of the show, instead focusing on being a really good comic. It succeeds.
Note: the previous three volumes have also been collected in “Firefly Legacy Edition Book One” from Boom! Studios.
Serenity: Leaves on the Wind, by Zack Whedon, Georges Jeanty, and Karl Story
Leaves on the Wind takes place after the movie Serenity, in which the crew struggles with the newfound notoriety that comes with destabilizing the Alliance government. Zoe gets captured and Mal is forced to turn to the most unlikely of sources for help: the Operative that hounded them in the movie. This volume also features round two of the Serenity crew vs. psychotic bounty hunter Jubal Early. This volume tells a longer story, very similar in form and style to the movie.
Serenity: No Power in the ‘Verse, by Chris Roberson, Georges Jeanty, and Karl Story
The Firefly comics are mostly standalone stories that don’t have to be read in order. This volume is the exception, as it’s a follow-up that shouldn’t be read until after Leaves on the Wind. This story further explores the mad scientists of the Alliance that experimented on and tortured River. Unfortunately for the Serenity, River wasn’t the only one who ended up with strange powers. This volume also features a very fun comic The Warrior and the Wind, with art by Stephen Byrne (who did a great animated Firefly trailer a few years ago) that casts the crew of the Serenity in a fantasy bedtime story.
Note: the previous two volumes have also been collected in “Firefly Legacy Edition Book Two” from Boom! Studios.
Firefly: The Unification War, by Greg Pak and Dan McDaid.
The previous comics were all published by Dark Horse Comics. In 2018, the license switched to Boom! Studios, who started using the Firefly name again, recollected all the Dark Horse comics in Legacy Editions, and began publishing a very good ongoing series, taking place in the middle of the TV show. Written by acclaimed Hulk writer Greg Pak, the series so far has focused on Mal and Zoe’s wartime actions coming back to haunt them, shedding some light on the Unification War that serves as a backdrop to the TV show. The Unification War Vol. 1 has been published, with Vol. 2 coming in December. If you really like the series, I suggest buying it in single-issue form from your local comic book shop or online. It’s less waiting that way.
That concludes my look at all the Firefly and Serenity comics that have been published so far. If you’re interested in reading more, all these are available at bookstores, comic shops, and online. They also should be available through your local library, which is how I found most of them. There are more comics planned from Boom!, including a graphic novel featuring popular guest character Saffron. I love Firefly, and although I’ll always wish there were more episodes, the comics are a welcome and satisfying addition to the story.
Thank you so much for this!
Thank you, this is fantastic.