Downtime

Serenity #2.3

by Zack Whedon

Described by writer Zack Whedon as a "slice-of-life, day-on-the-ship story," the comic depicts the crew of Serenity stranded on an icy planet in the middle of a storm after a heist. Zoe and Wash enjoy their time together, while Inara and Kaylee fantasize about food and complain to Mal about it, and Jayne approaches Simon about a burning sensation after a night in a brothel.

Genres: Comics, Science Fiction, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Fantasy, Ebooks

9 pages, ebook

First published November 11, 2010

About the author

Zack Whedon (born August 14, 1979) is an American screenwriter ('Deadwood', 'Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog' and 'Fringe') and Comic Book writer ('Dr. Horrible and Other Horrible Stories', 'Terminator: 2029 to 1984' and Firefly/serenity's 'The Shepherd's Tale').

He graduated in 2002 with a film degree from Wesleyan University where he served as president of the Eclectic Society. Zack is from a family of writers: he is the son of screenwriter Tom Whedon, grandson of screenwriter John Whedon, and the brother of screenwriter/musician Jed Whedon and producer/director/writer Joss Whedon.

His first professional work in television was as a production assistant on his brother Joss Whedon's series, 'Angel'.

He is best known for his work, alongside his brothers Joss Whedon and Jed Whedon, on the parody musical 'Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog' which he co-created and co-wrote.

Credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zack_Whedon.

Reviews

[Tarot · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

The Firefly/Serenity comic 'verse:
Serenity: Those Left Behind (Serenity, #1)
Serenity: Better Days (Serenity, #2)
Serenity: The Other Half
Serenity: Float Out
Serenity: Downtime
Serenity: Better Days and Other Stories
Serenity: The Shepherd's Tale (Serenity, #3)
Serenity: It's Never Easy
Serenity: Leaves on the Wind (Serenity, #4)

Funny and... creepy 8-page comic free to read at USAToday.com and reprinted in Serenity: Better Days and Other Stories hardcover edition (2011). Possible teaser to Serenity: The Shepherd's Tale.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now that is what I am talking about! It's not an entire episode but its exactly what we have come to know and love about the crew. Sometimes you get to know everything and other times its the not knowing which makes the loving happen. Seriously. Book and River have always stood out but now even Simon's getting in on the action. Priceless.

[Norren · Rating 5 out of 5]

God, I love Wash!

[Luv · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious and thoughtful

[Graham Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another short story comic set in the Firefly universe. It's real short though and would barely cover the period of a Firefly episode set between two commercial break. Still gives newcomers the basics of the crew's dynamics and there is an interesting conversation between River and Shepard Book that suggests that both suspect the other of being more dangerous than they let on.

[Mitchell Friedman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another small River tale. Only this one was just a little bit better than the last one. In this one I got a hint of what we might have seen in a 2nd or 3rd season of Firefly before we eventually got to the Serenity movie. Still not quite deep enough. 3.5 of 5.

[Alexia ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love slice of life and this comic book is just that! A couple pages of life at Serenity and can I tell you how much I love River? haha :)

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short comic that really captures the characters well.

[Kaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like these stories. In just a few pages they show us the fun, intrigue and essence of what Firefly was.

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is definitely one of the better short issues of the Serenity series by Dark Horse. The artwork is more stylized than some of the prettier stuff like you see in the first two volumes but it seems to fit the story pretty well. And FINALLY the humor is there like I expect out of a Firefly story. I honestly found the humor pretty flat in most of the others (The Other Half and Float Out to be specific) but the emotional conenction was spot on in Downtime. It's essentially just a short scene that occurs while the crew is waiting in a snowstorm but it's cute and funny and very enjoyable. And the moment with River and Book at the end was as awesome as those two characters can be together. Definitely worth a read if you're a fan and it is a really fast read.

[Janina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set somewhere within/after the show but before the events of Serenity. This is an incredibly short comic (9 pages wut) which didn't give enough time to go deeper and explore anything new out of our characters.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hee hee hee. River.

[Sybylla · Rating 4 out of 5]

*snort* Jayne with a venereal disease...

[Alysha DeShaé · Rating 5 out of 5]

River is awesome! :-D

[Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting, short, funny, not much here or given away, really. Worth the search and the quick read.

[Andrew Crouthamel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The more Firefly the better.

[Julie Gazca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Has to be one of my favorite issues of Serenity! I love River Tam, and that's all I'm going to say!

[Lionel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not much of a story...

[Maaike · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5

[ekin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally a decent story! I loved it, wish it was longer.

[Teo · Rating 3 out of 5]

2018.08.10–2018.08.10

Whedon Z (2010) Serenity - Downtime

[Eddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

So true to the show, felt like a mini episode.

[Stacia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice little story (about 8 pages). Funny!

[Apteris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brief, concentrated awesome. Sharp, funny, totally in-keeping with the Firefly 'verse.

[Suzy Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firefly shall never die!