Can anyone reading this site name any science fiction show that was cut down before it really got the chance to grow and flex it’s wings appropriately? I’d hope the first thing that comes to mind is Firefly, because it definitely is the first one that comes to my mind. First airing in 2003, Joss Whedon’s first foray into “hard sci-fi” was met with massive fan acclaim, although not enough to keep the show on air or create faith in FOX execs, who cut the show down before it really got the chance to live. That didn’t stop it from returning to a movie later in 2005, furthering the adventures of the cast and crew of the ship that fans had grown so attached to in 14 short but sweet episodes.
The adventures didn’t fully end there, though. In 2005 there was a comic prequel to the movie, helping to create a segue between the show and the movie, as well as an online comic and another mini – all published through Dark Horse. This week, we get an epilogue to the film, entitled Serenity: Float Out, which adds a nice little addendum to one of the events in the film. Once again, this is being published on Dark Horse (and, as a nice note, we did an advance review of that issue, which you can take a look at!) There are also plans for another mini-series on Dark Horse detailing the mysterious history of Shephard Book, which has been one of the larger questions left open with the series’ cancellation.
I’m here to stipulate, though – why not get more? Allow me a few moments of your time as I explain to you why a Firefly on-going comic would be just what you need.
As we all know by now, Joss Whedon got his first real start in the mainstream and with his fans with a television show called Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Starring a young Sarah Michelle Gellar, the show ran for 7 seasons with massive fan appeal, and it also spun off a similar television show called Angel, which ran for 5. Both of those shows had “endings,” but there was still obvious room to grow for all the characters, and definitely the possibility for more stories to be told.
Cue Dark Horse and IDW Comics! Dark Horse took both Buffy and Angel under it’s wing, allowing the stories of the show to continue to the point that both comics eventually got “canon” additional seasons in the comics, both of which are being overseen by Joss Whedon. At Dark Horse, we got Buffy Season 8, which has been wildly popular among fans and has had a plethora of talented writers giving their hand at various arcs within the story. Meanwhile, over at IDW we have Angel: After The Fall, which acts as Season 6 of the show and is currently being handled by the fabulous scribe of Fables, Bill Willingham.
Both of these comics have found success. And these aren’t the only types of examples I can provide, seeing as 28 Days Later and Farscape have both found canon continuations in the careful hands of BOOM Studios, to similar success. So can you imagine how great a Firefly comic would be?
I would argue that the Firefly comic could be as big if not bigger than the Buffy-verse comics. The on-going stories of Malcolm Reynolds and fans would easily find homes among the fans and I’m sure a brand new plethora of writers would love to take a stab at it. Just look at this week’s comic, written by Patton Oswalt. Oswalt is a nerd’s nerd, and if anyone should get the opportunity to take a stab at the universe it’s him (especially when taking into consideration the huge wide opened door of a ending he wrote in). Not only that, but we could even insert this once again pre-movie so that we get the full cast and crew in our story. There is so much room for stories here, and I think Whedon would be remiss if he didn’t take this opportunity to expand on the show’s success with it’s fan base. I’ll also throw the name Zack Whedon out there for you all to consider, who has written the prequel to Doctor Horrible in comic form as well as a FANTASTIC Terminator book.
So what could we see in the comic? Well, I’d imagine that the same format Buffy has could work greatly, with different arcs about different characters and villains, but like I said – there’s a lot left open in the show. We don’t know about Shephard Book’s history (yes, I know that they’re making that mini I already mentioned), we don’t know that much about the Hand’s Of Blue (and no, the prequel comic does not count as an “explanation”), and there’s still a lot to discuss with regards to Mal’s role as a Brown Coat and the Alliance. River is still crazy and they’re all still on the run, and if the end of Serenity is any indication, there are still great evils out there looking to come after them – including more Operatives.
The Serenity crew is rich and full of story telling. Kaylee and Simon have a whole relationship to explore, and I know everyone would love to see Mal and Jayne go at it a few more times. Who wouldn’t love to see Vera fully animated in a comic? I know I would. We’ve got three great stories out of Dark Horse and the Whedon front as far as Serenity/Firefly goes, but there is always more. There is a whole UNIVERSE more. Whedon once said that if there was ever another movie, it’d focus on Book and feature the possible return of Jubal Early (my favorite villain in the entire show’s run). There are always room for space cowboys, and if Dark Horse’s success with Buffy is any indication, then I’m sure Firefly could be the next big hit if they make it happen.
