Review: Firefly #13
[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Creator:Â Joss Whedon
Writer: Greg Pak
Artist: Lalit Kumar Sharma
Colorist: Francesco Segala
Letterer: Jim Campbell
Reviewer:Â Tony Farina
Summary
Firefly #13 picks up where the action from the one shot about Ma Reynolds left off. Mal Reynolds, outlaw, smuggler, brown coat, is now Sheriff Mal Reynolds. He has Boss Moon to back him up. I’m sure that won’t get to his head or cause any problems. After stopping a corrupt Mayor, he sets about releasing most everyone from prison who was put there on trumped up charges. This too, as you can expect goes really well especially when he has to catch up with Kayley and Jayne, who, if memory serves, robbed a bank.
He goes to visit Inara who calls him out on his BS. So, things are normal. He and Boss Moon get called in on a murder investigation which pulls on his heart strings and, Mal is a big ole softy and we all know it.
Positives
Greg Pak didn’t actually want to take over this series. Can you imagine that? What the hell was he thinking? Well, luckily, Firefly #13 is here and Greg is still writing. There is much rejoicing. I will admit that I was worried about Mal being a sheriff and what that meant for the book and the ‘verse. I say to you know Mr. Pak, I will never doubt you again. I LOVE this. Every joke lands. The fake outs are perfect. The tension between Mal and Inara is spot on. Seriously, this is just what we all wanted and needed.
The art team did switch up for year two. Lalit Kumar Sharma and Francesco Segala are on board as artist and colorist. While the look is different, it works. In fact, Segala takes the gold star here. There is a sense of this being a full issue done in water colors. The texture of the land, of the people, of the ‘verse just feels lived in. Look at that picture of Mal up above this. You feel like if you could reach out and touch that coat, you would get whatever that gross stuff Mal has on it would get on you. So, good.
Negatives
I’m a sucker for Firefly, so I have nothing to report here except for the fact that half of the team is missing. I know they are out there, so I am hopeful for next month.
Verdict
Year two of Firefly for Boom! Studios is off to a smashing success. Three cheers for Joss and company. We all want the show back, but since we know that isn’t going to happen, this is just going to have to do and honestly, it is an excellent substitution.
