Review: All-New Firefly: Big Damn Finale #1

All-New Firefly: Big Damn Finale is an issue with a major event for the crew of Serenity and this review will contain spoilers. This comic has been a mixed bag but this finale has all the heart that a series with the name Firefly on it needs. What always drew fans to this series was the heart beneath the snappy dialogue and action sequences. These characters love each other and care for each other.

This issue reminds of all these things before ripping our hearts out with a massive loss to the little family we have grown to love. To often the least likely heart of this team has been Jayne Cobb. This issue marks a definitive death for Jayne. The parts of this issue dealing with Jayne show exactly how much goodness and love he is capable of below the surface. Unfortunately we just don’t get enough focus on him in the first half of this issue.

We spend time with the Serenity crew as they deal with negotiations and decisions of their own. But we don’t get to see how they interact with Jayne on that last day. We barely feel them react with anything beyond formality even after the event occurs. This is one of their closest friends in the world, their family. Having him ripped away from them so suddenly should be gutting. Every last moment he had with each of them should matter.

The issue does begin with Jayne talking to his brother Matt about Jayne’s son Owen. Matt suggests Jayne keep Owen on Serenity but Jayne refuses for Owen’s sake. Kaylee carries out some aggressive negotiations between two rival groups. River and Emma enjoy some quiet moments baking. Simon gets a job offer to stay planetside. Simon discusses the offer and decides to stay with Serenity. Jayne says farewell to his son Owen and gives him his woolen cap as a symbolic passing of the torch. Inara and Mal have a talk about taking things slow.

Serenity takes off only to find Mattie’s ship which has been disabled with a thermal detonator attached. Jayne talks to Owen one last time as he floats into space and pulls the detonator off before quickly becoming its new target and comes to an explosive end. Jayne’s death scene is epic but the rest of the issue surrounding it just doesn’t carry that same resonance. The art by Simona Di Gianfelice is perfect for this though. Perfect visual pacing leading up to a quiet explosive end. Every character and moment looks and feels exactly right.

The issue ends with Mal offering Owen a place on Serenity amid a nice but emotionless eulogy by Kaylee. The loss of Jayne seems so short sighted. This comic has suffered for years without the humor and personality brought by Wash. His loss in the film left them with a massive hole they have never been able to fill and now to eliminate Jayne from the crew as well just makes the book even less recognizable. Perhaps this is a chance to reboot the book but his loss will still be felt. Eliminating one of the most interesting characters in the book leaves us with much more traditional characters and much less conflict if the book moves forward in another incarnation.

Writing: 2.0 of 5 stars
Art 3.7 of 5 stars
Colors: 2.9 of 5 stars

Overall:
2.7 of 5 stars

Writer: David M. Booher
Art: Simona Di Gianfelice
Colors: Francesco Segala and Gloria Martinelli
Publisher: Boom Studios

Author Profile

M.R. Jafri

M.R. Jafri was born and raised in Niagara Falls New York and now lives with his family in Detroit Michigan. He's a talkative introvert and argumentative geek. His loves include Star Wars, Star Trek, Superheroes, Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, Transformers, GI Joe, Films, Comics, TV Shows, Action Figures and Twizzlers.