Serenity: Those Left Behind - Graphic Novel Review

The Case

After the television series Firefly came to an abrupt, screeching, painful end, all of us Browncoats thought that would be the end of that.  And then came Serenity.  It was fantastic!  But anyone who has seen the show and the movie knows that there are some changes inbetween the two.  So where's the gap story? 

It does exist - it's told in Serenity: Those Left Behind.  It was originally published in comic book format and then compiled into a graphic novel collection.  Though it closes the space between sagas, I gotta say, Those Left Behind wasn't exactly my favorite read ever.

The Good

The story's main characters are the beloved crew members of the Firefly-class starship Serenity, and that's always good, because the crew of that ship is awesome!  Having a filler story that wraps up Firefly and also lays the plot points for the motion picture is a very cool thing.  The artwork is a major plus, too.  The actors from the show are captured nicely on each page, and the writing compliments that.  Thankfully, Joss himself wrote the story, so it has the same snappy wit and banter that make the series and the movie so enjoyable.

The Bad

Unfortunately, the story just doesn't live up to all the trappings.  It's flat and shallow, and it has a used feel.  A lot of scenes seem to be rehashed from the show.  On top of the rather lame plot arc, it's very obvious that this series of comic books is designed to help readers traverse the gap between show and movie.  That, combined with the flatness, pretty much guaranteed that this piece just wouldn't achieve the delightful tone that both Firefly and Serenity boast.

The Verdict

Three stars!  Even if you are a Browncoat, you could probably skip Serenity: Those Left Behind, and still be just as shiny!