via darkhorse.com

“I am a leaf on the wind…Watch how I soar.”

Those were the words of Hoban Washburne just moments before he (SPOILERS) met his demise in the film Serenity. They also serve as the inspiration for the title of the newest Serenity miniseries “Leaves on the Wind”. And while it’s been 9 years since the release of Serenity, the story itself begins just 9 months after the events of the film.

Whenever these comic book continuations of previous film/television franchises happen (e.g. Ghostbusters, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, The X-Files), my biggest fear is that the tone and feel of the characters/settings will change. Yet although it’s a different Whedon (Zack) handling the scripting duties, none of the charm of the original television series or film has gone away. Furthermore, Captain Malcolm Reynolds, his crew, and the isolation of the 03-K64-Firefly class ship are all captured adequately by Georges Jeanty’s (who is fresh off from illustrating Buffy Seasons 8 and 9). 

After reading this issue though I couldn’t help but feel bittersweet about it. I know the stigma is that all Joss Whedon shows start off slow. The first dozen episodes of Buffy, Angel, Dollhouse, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. are evidence of that. But Firefly was different. Firefly was special. The 2 hour pilot episode is one of the best pilots I had ever seen. Frankly speaking, it should have lasted at least the 7 years Joss Whedon had originally envisioned. It deserved a better promotional campaign and to be aired in the intended order sequence. Nevertheless it was canceled after only 14 episodes. Fortunately, we got a fantastic film in Serenity and that quote from Wash. And now we have this miniseries. I can’t wait to see how this story soars.

4.5/5 – SHINY