Firefly Comics- Those Left Behind

[Veverka]

Anybody read the Firefly/Serenity comic, 'Those Left Behind'? It's supposed to take place between the last ep and the movie...

Thoughts? Opinions? Reviews? Comparisons to the quality versus the new Buffy comics?

[Eliza Lover]

I've never read them but I would really love to.. I seen it on Dark Horse. Love your icon and banner btw.. :)

[Jenni Lou]

Wait, that's out already? I thought it was still a little ways off. Oh wait, I just looked it up and that one's been out. But there is another miniseries coming...that's what I thought you were referring to.

I want to read it cause I know it's canon and canon is king in my book.

Have you read it, anyone? Is it good? I should have the fiance pick it up for me.

[Veverka]

Okay, I just read it. I had hesitated since it wasn't super cheap in the scheme of comics, but I saw that my library got it in (I put a reserve on it and when it came in I actually verbalised 'yes!' :lol: ) so... as of this morning, I had a read.

Not going to spoiler tag this, but if you've not read it yet, think about if you want to read this...

It's very good. Totally fills in all the blanks between the end of the show, and the movie. It's a funny combination of surprises and not surprises- I mean, we have seen the movie, we know that Book leaves, Inara leaves, we just don't see the hows and the whys.

On the other hand, the hands of blue- what?! They're just contractors? This confuses me to a certain extent- couldn't River tell they weren't the real deal? Then again, I guess of all the people after her, they were the closest at every turn, and she doesn't know how to defeat them- unlike Early Jubel her brain games are no match for their weird vibrating metal death sticks.

And the art work. Truly, blown away- that was awesome. Really really close to the actors/characters of TV/movie. The funny thing was, even as I saw Dobson there, I could see Ken, his character in Buffy... What I like about having Dobson, and Hands of Blue in it was the 'bringing it home' aspect, closing the original gates, even those we thought to be dead, in order to open a new-ish storyline for the movie.

[KingofCretins]

I only read the first two issues since I couldn't find the third. Great story, though.

Incidentally, there is another canon "Serenity" mini-series starting in March. It's also set before the movie, and it's called "Better Days" -- apparently dealing with the the crew after a very, very lucrative job and having some kind of tension and ennui about what to do with all their money.

[Nostalgia]

I only read the first two issues since I couldn't find the third. Great story, though.

Incidentally, there is another canon "Serenity" mini-series starting in March. It's also set before the movie, and it's called "Better Days" -- apparently dealing with the the crew after a very, very lucrative job and having some kind of tension and ennui about what to do with all their money.

Is Joss involved? Or did he just give the rights to someone?

[KingofCretins]

Joss is involved, yes. Nothing makes the canon standard for "Buffy", "Angel", or "Firefly"/"Serenity" without Joss being involved.

[ThePoet's<3]

I bought and read them a couple of years ago - before the movie was released.

They obviously are not necessary to see the movie but they do explain why everyone is where they are at the beginning of the movie. Especially Shepherd Book.

I'm getting my Mal cover signed this weekend by Nathan himself!! WooHOO!! (if he doesn't cancel... *whimper*whimper*)

You do know that Firefly/Serenity will be starting in comics again - yes?? :D Another Trilogy about the earlier days of the crew. (which means Wash should still be alive) and brought to you by the Master Storyteller himself...

http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/profile.php?sku=15-190

[Veverka]

Sounds fabulous. I cannot believe what a comic groupie I have become. Damn. This is hurting the purse strings bad... :lol:

I watched the clip that KoC recommended on YouTube the other day, the Defying Gravity Clip (http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=MdXkGXD7gDc), and I was really blown away once again by how this story has touched me and how happy I am the story continues in some form or another.

Also really impressed once again by the strength of what we were initially given- some 13 eps with a mid size cast, and we are given so very much, and left wanting so much more- a stunning combo of characters and plot and verse.

Thanks for your link Poet's <3 :)

[ThePoet's<3]

Sounds fabulous. I cannot believe what a comic groupie I have become. Damn. This is hurting the purse strings bad... :lol:

I watched the clip that KoC recommended on YouTube the other day, the Defying Gravity Clip (http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=MdXkGXD7gDc), and I was really blown away once again by how this story has touched me and how happy I am the story continues in some form or another.

Also really impressed once again by the strength of what we were initially given- some 13 eps with a mid size cast, and we are given so very much, and left wanting so much more- a stunning combo of characters and plot and verse.

Thanks for your link Poet's <3 :)

I know exactly what you mean Verv... ME reading COMICS! :D

I changed the link to the Dark Horse link - it has the cover and a better description.

Here' the cover - http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/profile_popup.php?sku=15-190

I like the artist!!!

[patxshand]

"Those Left Behind" reads like it is an episode of Firefly that was shelved because it was nothing special. These three comics bring back a villain that shouldn't have been brought back and add almost nothing to the Firefly/Serenity story.

[ThePoet's<3]

I agree - you don't have to read them to enjoy the movie. As I mentioned it really only explains why Inara and Shepherd Book are gone so when you watch the movie you are aware of what's happened. But you soon catch up in the movie so it's not that big a deal to read them..

However, if you meet Nathan - it's nice to have the Mal cover comic for him to sign... :D (pleaseohpleaseohplease)

[Naia]

I got the graphic novel the other week and was a bit gobsmacked at the sheer quality of the art work and so on and so forth. For me, it really was nice to have a fill in of the exact events before 'Serenity'. I'm a bit of a Shepard Book groupie so I really wanted to know what happened to cause him to leave Serenity. Still, I kind of found it a bit boring... And need to rewatch the series, because I can't for the life of me remember who the villian was. :o

However, if you meet Nathan - it's nice to have the Mal cover comic for him to sign... (pleaseohpleaseohplease)

Does he ever go out to the conventions in America very much? It would be pretty darn awesome to have a signed copy. (Though I'd be way too shy to ever get an autograph)

[ThePoet's<3]

Does he ever go out to the conventions in America very much? It would be pretty darn awesome to have a signed copy. (Though I'd be way too shy to ever get an autograph)


Well it's awfully rare that he goes to conventions... BUT! He was there in Orlando this weekend!!!!:2party::2party::2party:

Got him to sign my cover!! :D

I asked him if we had the Writer's Strike to thank for him being at the convention? YEP!

He cancelled Dragon*Con couple of years ago because he got work.

Don't worry about shy around him - he's just too nice and funny to be shy around. (Although he's not quite as "cuddly" as James...;))

[Naia]

Don't worry about shy around him - he's just too nice and funny to be shy around. (Although he's not quite as "cuddly" as James...)

Even if that's so, I'm that painfully shy, it took me about 4 months before I was brave enough to try talking to anyone in a film club I joined. My latest group of friends had to persistantly trap me into social gatherings so I'd get used to them. Heck, I lurked here for long enough. :)

You are so lucky to have that signed copy Poet! You should post a pic so I can gaze at it in quiet awe.

And... JM is cuddly?

[vampmogs]

I've read all three, and whilst the artwork is superb and the characters voices are all there, I wasn't that engaged by the story. Who knows why? Perhaps my interest in 'Firefly' has dwindled? Perhaps I just didn't enjoy the story? 'Firefly' is an amazing show but at times it can be very hit and miss for me, so I guess this was just one of those unfortunate misses. But I still recommend it, it's good it just didn't draw me in like Buffy Season 8 or Angel: After the Fall.

But does anyone mind telling me who the villain is? Because I was another who just couldn’t remember who the heck this guy was? Was he a villain we weren’t supposed to have seen yet but can gather had a beef with Mal? I’ve watched through the whole series a number of times, and watch the odd episode now and again and whilst I don’t remember it as well as Buffy or Angel which is just burned into my mind, I thought I’d at least remember the villain?

[Veverka]

Yeah, he was the guy from the first episode- the other passenger besides Simon and the Shepard (and River in the case), Dobson, he was called. (Also, as a side note, an actor who played roles in both Angel and Buffy.) He played a kind of mole on board Serenity who was masquerading as a passenger but was really an agent.

[vampmogs]

Yeah, he was the guy from the first episode- the other passenger besides Simon and the Shepard (and River in the case), Dobson, he was called. (Also, as a side note, an actor who played roles in both Angel and Buffy.) He played a kind of mole on board Serenity who was masquerading as a passenger but was really an agent.

Oh that was him! Thanks very much :) I couldn't think of who it was, I seem to have forgotten that Mal did something to his eye :s Yeesh, maybe I need to watch 'Firefly' again.

[alexa]

I've read it.. although I read it after I saw the movie, so it felt a bit disjointed. Filled in some blanks though. Looking forward to the new comic in March, but wonder when we're getting new stories (post Serenity), I guess Joss is waiting to see if the sequel pans out? :D
I agree about the artwork with this series and the upcoming one, it's awesome.

[Naia]

Oh that was him! Thanks very much :) I couldn't think of who it was, I seem to have forgotten that Mal did something to his eye :s Yeesh, maybe I need to watch 'Firefly' again.

I needed to watch it again, I though the villian was that guy, but remembered him getting shot in very precise manner.

It makes me wonder what type of bullets they have then, how Dobson survived a bullet wound to the head without blowing out the back of his skull, and how help got to him fast enough after a Reaver attack for him to live. Stupid science making things not fun.

[Satai (with Punsch)]

There is talk of the next Firefly comic and it seems to focus on Shepard Book. It might even be called Books Tale.

[Jenni Lou]

"Those Left Behind" reads like it is an episode of Firefly that was shelved because it was nothing special. These three comics bring back a villain that shouldn't have been brought back and add almost nothing to the Firefly/Serenity story.

Well, I think that's a bit harsh but I can certainly see how you would come to that opinion. :) It is a little--I don't know--disjointed, I guess. I was engaged mostly by the characters and the dialogue because it did sounds just like them and that was very nice and refreshing to see new words coming form these great characters. Strangely, to me, the A-plot seemed to play more like a B-plot that I wasn't highly invested in.

Nonetheless, I really dug the artwork. Mal and Jayne look particularly spot on! :) Zoe is a bit off for me. And Kaylee comes off as a tad too slender. I really like Jewel Staite's full face and it seemed very thinned out in the comic. Still, great art!