Serenity: Float Out
Written by Patton Oswalt
Art by Patric Reynolds
Executive Producer Joss Whedon
Published by Dark Horse Comics, 2010
For the sake of simplicity, I’ll spare you all my thoughts on why it would be a gorram shame if Joss Whedon’s Firefly/Serenity universe didn’t find its way into an ongoing series in the near future and instead focus on the point of this review, which is the functional eulogy of one of the series’ most beloved characters as dictated by this week’s Serenity: Float Out one shot.
Written by comedian and well publicized comic fan Patton Oswalt with art by relative newcomer to comics Patric Reynolds, the issue pays tribute to Hoban “Wash” Washburn, whose story came to an end near the second act of the 2005 Serenity feature film. Easily one of the most beloved characters in both the tragically short lived Firefly television series and the feature length film that followed it (at least according to the only opinion that matters…mine), Wash’s death at the hands of the Reavers (or, in this case, the giant metal spike of the Reavers) was as tragic as it was surprising. While the rest of the Serenity crew (minus Book of course) survived to fly off into creative limbo, his absence could already be felt even by the end of the movie.
Float Out, mincing no words whatsoever, finally gave Wash the send off he deserved. The issue, which contained three separate stories told by three of Wash’s newly introduced friends, collectively managed to illustrate the cunning, bravery, empathy and selflessness of the character, while throwing in a decent chunk of that notable Wash wit. Kudos to Oswalt for managing to not only nail the character of Wash, but to nail the entire Serenity ‘verse on the whole. The characters’ mannerisms plus the situations they found themselves in painted an amazing portrait of the post-Earth universe that we’d come to know and love. I’ve known for a while that Oswalt was a comic fan…namely since he doesn’t shut the hell up about that fact…but a fan a good writer does not automatically make. Thankfully, while I could have done with a few more uses of the word “gorram”, it’s clear based on the solid storytelling and witty yet respectful dialogue that Oswalt cares just as much as we do.
Speaking of painting an amazing portrait, Reynolds needs to be commended for his attention to detail. He’s admitted in interviews that he had to do a serious amount of research into the aesthetics and overall feel the designers of the show and movie went for. Well, if that Reaver ship, those uniforms and familiar faces are any indication, the man knows how to do his homework. Much like the storytelling weaved a tale that felt right at home with all previous stories told in this Universe, the art made it ABUNDANTLY clear that we were indeed coming home again…and I don’t just mean in terms of character or vehicle design…dude nailed the PERSPECTIVE of the ‘verse too. The way the ships hang in the air relative to the stars, or the angles used as they dart and pivot through the clouds mimics the camera work of the series almost perfectly, adding an insane amount of beauty and credibility to the entire package.
Overall, as a fan of quality graphic fiction and even more as a fan of the series and the universe, I could not be happier with this book. Since its announcement, much fanfare has been made about the fact that this book, despite being nearly 98% flashbacks, is the first story told in the Serenity universe post-movie (as the previous two Serenity comics took place before the movie, chronologically) and the fantastic, borderline heart-warming (even to my jaded heart) ending proved that indeed this issue was not just intended as a look back, but intended to begin pushing the story forward in this new medium. I won’t ruin it for you either…this one needs to be SEEN…so do it…do it now, gorramit!
Joshua Mocle is a proud member of the browncoats as well as the president and founder of the Kaylee J. Frye fanclub. To read his non-comic-centric blabbering, check out thoughtgrenade.
