So here we are, on the ragged edge…of the second chapter in the new Firefly series from BOOM! Let’s see if this one’s as good as the first installment, shall we?
First Read Reactions
- I have a hard time believing a large group of people would be scared of/impressed by two war criminals after dealing with murderous bandits, but okay.
- Geez…what did Mal and Zoe do?
- Wash is a good husband, but not the best at thinking clearly when it comes to accepting member of their marriage is the badass one.
- Not always a good sign when you earn Jayne’s respect.
- You just knew the guns were coming…
- …and there’s Wash, right on cue.
- Okay, I thought my marriage had some rocky moments, but this is ridiculous.
- Never a good sign when the bad guys show up sporting cool sci-fi armor.
Is it Good?
I really want to like this issue. Greg Pak’s script absolutely nails the Whedon-esque humor and dialogue timing that made Firefly such a great show.
Unfortunately, there’s a lot here in the narrative that just isn’t doing it for me. While I love the mystery of what war crimes Mal and Zoe may or may not have committed, the cachet it immediately gives them feels so ridiculous that it’s hard to take seriously. Also, there’s an interaction between Zoe and Wash that’s so ridiculous/unbelievable that it took me almost completely out of the story.
As far as the art is concerned, McDaid’s work continues to feel very uneven. Some pages and panels, like the flashback to the war, are absolutely gorgeous. Others are comparatively rough enough to feel jarring.
Firefly #2 still has a lot going for it, especially in the humor department, but the story feels much muddier compared to its crackling opening chapter.
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