Oh, This Took A Turn Quickly — Reviewing ‘Firefly: The Fall Guys’ #1

Times are tough and the crew of the Serenity must turn to desperate measures. So, just a normal day, really. This time, though, their desperate move might be the worst one they’ve ever made, and that’s saying something.

Firefly: The Fall Guys #1 kicks off the latest adventures for the outlaw crew from BOOM! Studios created by Sam Humphries, Jordi Pérez, Francesco Segala, Gloria Martinelli, and Jim Campbell.

Truth be told, I expected this to be a nostalgic romp. Not because of those involved, I like all these creators, but because I assumed this was going to be a return to stories set in the time of the TV series. Thankfully, I’ve never been more wrong.

BOOM!’s previous ongoing Firefly series moved the franchise beyond the movie that brought it to an end all the way back in 2005. Then last year’s All-New Firefly found new heights and a spotlight for the characters, Jayne in particular, throwing them into a new status quo. Wonderfully, this miniseries picks up right in the aftermath of that last series and keeps the momentum going.

It helps that the entire artistic side of the creative team is no stranger to the ‘verse that Serenity’s crew calls home. In fact, they’ve all worked together in this space previously, chiefly in the aforementioned All-New Firefly but also the recent Firefly: 20^th Anniversary Special. Now they’ve come home again for a very interesting tale.

We’re given a story that showcases how crafty the crew can still be that segues into what seems like a typical Firefly heist. Oh, if only it were a typical heist. Even then, if stuff went wrong it would be something they could fight their way through with guns or Serenity herself. This whole caper gone wrong means the full force of the Alliance is likely to be gunning for them, and that’s not a good thing at all.

It’s not just the situation that is quite rough for these characters.  Pérez has an artistic style that leans towards the rough, in the best way possible. This is a sci-fi western after all, two genres where rough and tumble is pretty common. It doesn’t get much more rough and tumble than anything to do with Firefly.

Sharp angles and lines can be found in a way that makes the setting and characters feel worn, and part of this tough world. Yet, there is a ton of detail and an almost smooth nature to what is found on the page. A great marriage of textures that allows the world to feel quite lived in and really hones in on the emotions and presence of the characters.

Speaking of the characters, Pérez always hits that sweet spot with licensed adapted characters. That spot is the one where they are clearly the characters we know and love but are not carbon copies of the actors who gave them life. They are their own unique beings and we can see and feel that.

Sengala, with assistance from Martinelli, has also created a unique color palate style that fits these characters. A toned-down watercolor-like offering that makes that rough and smooth mentioned above even clearer. Plenty of warmth and vibrancy seeps through the work where needed, while other panels are naturally colder or heavily shadowed. It makes sure that each space, every building or open area, has its own personalized aesthetic, just like real life.

Need letters and dialogue to pop and bring even more energy to a comic? Well, tapping Campbell would be a great start. So much personality is oozing out of every letter found on the page, even down to the fun and charming character intro blurbs. They’re delivered in a way that is befitting of a heist story, loud and bold and in your face. Alongside all of that are little flourishes here or there that make tone/volume discernable instantly.

It has truly reached the point where, when I think of this franchise, the visuals heavily reflect what these creators have delivered. If the Firefly universe had a definitive look, this would be at the top of my list to fill that space.

While not a veteran of this ‘verse like the others, Humphries slides right like he’s always been here. All of the characters feel authentic not only to what we know about them from the TV series but also to continue threads from the previous stories. A team still at a crossroads, trying to grow and accept the changes and losses they’ve had along the way.

This rival group they are dealing with is so fleshed out and bounces off the crew so easily, I could have sworn they’ve been around all along. I wasn’t sure how the title would play into things, but I think Humphries nailed the course to get there. Giving us a typical Serenity story, with plenty of moments of character work, that goes wrong (per usual) leading right into the inciting incident was smart. It allowed us to prepare but also gave Orlando time to play in the familiar Firefly sandbox before kicking a bunch of sand right out.

Firefly: The Fall Guys #1 is now available from BOOM! Studios.