Can’t Take The Sky From Them: Reviewing ‘Firefly’ #36

Through the entirety of the very short time that Firefly was being aired back in 2001, Earth was a concept spoken of in the past tense since humanity had left it behind so very long ago. They referred to it as “The Earth That Was.” It remained that way until the current arc of the Boom! Studios series which continues that show began all the way back in 2002-2003.

Now not only is the crew of the Serenity’s time on Earth possibly at an end, but this Firefly series (launched in 2018) is also coming to an end as well.

Through all these issues it’s been clear that Greg Pak has a very solid handle on these characters. Being able to tap into the personality traits that they are known for, but at the same time expanding them beyond those thin characterizations that they received from a cut short series. The best issues the past year or so have been the ones where character development and moments were in the spotlight, such as the Malcolm Reynolds centric Firefly #27.

Unfortunately, this whole Earth arc has been a bit uneven, because often the issues were trying to do too much with too many characters and not a lot of it actually hitting. There was also the issue where the people that still call Earth home often strayed too far into the stereotypical ‘native’ realm. While things like language changing were understandable the violence and other issues leaned a bit too far into the realm of uncomfortable. While the Alliance being the colonizers trying to take things and subjugate the natives was within the wheelhouse for that organization, the Earth tribes kidnapping and striking back with anger and violence just felt wrong on so many levels.

This is one of the ones that works far better because it’s very character-focused and emotional, while also tying up a lot of loose ends and setting up for what comes next. Seeing the Serenity crew be family and stay together no matter what they might have been able to have on Earth feels good.

Every page of this story is just gorgeous. There are some amazing shots that Simona Di Gianfelice, Francsco Segala and Gloria Martinelli bring to live here, especially the pages that showcase silent moments of life and the great vistas of this spot on Earth. As this is a very emotional issue having artists that can make that felt with the detail to the facial expressions/body language along with heightening the mood with the right colors helps greatly.

Night or day or colder moments all feel accurate and right as the colors match those times of day vividly, with such bright Earthy tones. Honestly, I could read a whole silent issue that is just these artists telling the story visually, because they do it so well here. If one covered up the words in many cases, you would still be able to figure out with high accuracy what is going down.

With Jim Campbell on board, letters will always be a delight as well. This is an issue where dialogue flows between heavier and lighter and none, but where there is dialogue he makes it flow smoothly as a natural part of the panel/page. It helps that there were actors behind most of these characters in the past, but there just is an energy to the words where I honestly felt like I could actually hear the characters in my head and that’s not something that happens often with these types of books.

While this journey might have come to an end the journey of Serenity and her crew will continue, as the publisher is launching a brand new All-New Firefly series in February.

Firefly #36 is now on sale in print and digitally from BOOM! Studios.