Firefly: Blue Sun Rising Vol. 2

Firefly (Collected Editions) #7

by Greg Pak, Dan McDaid (Illustrator), Lalit Kumar Sharma (Illustrator)

The first-ever comic book event in the world of Joss Whedon’s Firefly reaches its thrilling conclusion! Shocking losses lead to stunning decisions as Mal and the crew of Serenity must face the consequences of their choices in war against the Blue Sun Corporation.

EVERYTHING CHANGES HERE.

The stage is set for the final battle as the first ever Firefly event concludes, with Sheriff Mal Reynolds - yeah, he’s still getting used to it too - making a choice that may cost him those he loves most, whether he knows it or not... Shocking losses lead to stunning decisions as Mal and the crew of Serenity must face the consequences of their choices in war against the Blue Sun Corporation. The ‘Verse is changing in ways no one ever expected - and a new chapter of Firefly begins here.

New York Times best-selling writer Greg Pak (Darth Vader), along with acclaimed artists Dan McDaid, Lalit Kumar Sharma & Daniel Bayliss, launch Mal & the crew of Serenity into their biggest war yet, officially continuing Joss Whedon’s acclaimed series. Collects Firefly #23-24, Firefly: Blue Sun Rising #1.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Fiction, Comic Book, Science Fiction Fantasy, Space

128 pages, Hardcover

First published May 18, 2021

About the author

Greg Pak is an award-winning Korean American comic book writer and filmmaker currently writing "Lawful" for BOOM and "Sam Wilson: Captain America" (with Evan Narcisse) for Marvel. Pak wrote the "Princess Who Saved Herself" children's book and the “Code Monkey Save World” graphic novel based on the songs of Jonathan Coulton and co-wrote (with Fred Van Lente) the acclaimed “Make Comics Like the Pros” how-to book. Pak's other work includes "Planet Hulk," "Darth Vader," "Mech Cadet Yu," "Ronin Island," "Action Comics," and "Magneto Testament."

Reviews

[Robert · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lets work through the blurb-y copy they use to describe this:

"The first-ever comic book event in the world of Joss Whedon’s Firefly"
-----stretching really hard for a reason to use the term 'first-ever', and resulting in a description so vague as to be meaningless

"...reaches its thrilling conclusion!"
-----The only thrill was in realizing with 12 pages left they were nowhere near a good ending

"Shocking losses lead to stunning decisions as Mal and the crew of Serenity must face the consequences of their choices in war against the Blue Sun Corporation."
-----There's only one loss, it isn't shocking, and it comes at the end so describing it here as the impetus for the adventure is a big fat lie.

"EVERYTHING CHANGES HERE."
-----If by 'change' you mean loss of interest and anticipation you got that right at least.

[iamjacsmusings · Rating 3 out of 5]

This feels more like a self contained episode from the series than many of the previous volumes but rushes to a conclusion and still leaves you pondering just how this slots into official Firefly canon.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Blue Sun Rising arc concludes with Sheriff Mal and the Serenity crew taking on a Blue Sun base that holds the off-switch to the Robocops. It really is that simple. Of course, Mal has to contend with the fact that his actions had repercussions (the Blue Sun folks respond to the Robocop off-switch by flipping the all-systems off-switch, killing people on ventilators and whatnot) and that his days as sheriff are over.

Like the first Blue Sun Rising volume, the pacing is a bit off as action takes the place of character moments. This entire arc feels a bit too "big picture" for Firefly - I want small-scale squabbles responded to cleverly, not Mal and company taking on future-Amazon. We'll see what future volumes hold as the series reboots.

[Joey Nardinelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this a little more than the first volume for a few reasons. One was that the art quality aligned with some of Pak’s better writing. Two was that it landed on a semi-resolution that puts into play hopefully only one more major arch before the events of Serenity. I feel it’s valid to ask if we need to fill in these gaps, but hey, here I am reading this stuff so if it’s a problem, I’m certainly part of it. I also felt like we spent a lot of time with Ma Reynolds and Moon and they’re being shuffled off narratively feels underwhelming.

There’s a preview in the back of this volume for We Only Find Them When They’re Dead — had a tendency towards really confusing layouts and tracking of dialogue but the premise seems interesting at least.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mal and his friends have a nice quiet little spot picked out to settle down away from Blue Sun and the Alliance. Now they just need a plan to get there without the Blue Sun security bots (who all have Mal's face) discovering them or the regional director using her power and considerable resources to find them. The crew needs a plan to deal both Blue Sun threats and of course, Mal comes up with a great one! This volume wraps up the recent adventures of the Firefly crew, but leaves a door open at the end for some future misbehaving and fun.

[Milan Pohl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I tentokrát platí to, co jsem psal minule (možná dvojnásob): Greg Pak má jasnou a docela zajímavou vizi, kam chce příběh Firefly vést, ale ta vize se pohříchu často tluče s ostatními již existujícími příběhy z univerza Firefly/Serenity, nejen s komiksy, ale i s celovečerákem Serenity, kterému má tento svazek téměř bezprostředně předcházet. Je fajn, že se dozvíme, jak posádka objevila Haven - jenže celá situace s Havenem je jaksi nekompatibilní s Bookovým rozhodnutím pro odchod z posádky prezentovaným v Those Left Behind, a hlavně s filmovou scénou, kde Mal doslova vyrazí Simona s River z lodi (proč je v takovém případě prostě nenechal na Havenu nebo proč tam nezůstali či nezamířili sami od sebe?).

Vydavatelství BOOM! Studios navíc očividně nestíhá sledovat konzistenci ani svých vlastních příběhů; jinak si nelze vysvětlit, že v tomto svazku Greg Pak Malovými ústy tvrdí, že korporace Modré slunce šedesát let před událostmi seriálu/filmu ještě neexistovala, ačkoli v nové sérii Brand New 'Verse je ukázáno, že existovala již před odletem lidstva ze Staré Země (v tomhle je Pak nevinně, poněvadž Brand New 'Verse je novější, ale nepotěší to).

Pokoušet se naroubovat Pakovy komiksy na zbytek univerza čím dál víc připomíná snahu zatlačit nepasující dílky puzzle do skládanky i za cenu brutálního zohýbání sousedních částí... Snad by bylo lepší prohlásit tyhle příběhy za alternativní dějovou linii nebo za historky, které se v univerzu Firefly vyprávějí, ale nemusely se stát přesně takhle (viz vztah nového kánonu Star Wars a kontinuity Legends).

Čtenářskému zážitku příliš neprospívá ani frenetické střídání kreslířů, často několikrát během jediné kapitoly (sešitu). Nicméně pokud odhlédneme od "rozlítané" kresby a příběhových nekonzistencí, vyprávění jako takové je docela solidní, ačkoli si ho paradoxně užijete možná tím víc, čím míň toho o univerzu Firefly víte.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm expecting to get blasted for giving a very favorable review to material created by Joss Whedon (same goes for Warren Ellis) both because of transgressions they have been accused of, and admitted to, and additional actions for which they have been accused of. I could say I read this series (as digital floppies-wasn't expecting it to be broken up into two TPBs) because I really like Pak's writing.

That wouldn't be truthful though. I have mixed reaction to Pak's writing over the years. It would also be out of context as a person who is a fan of the series and the movie who can see this story fitting nicely between the end of the television show and the movie (which truly does end Mal and the crew's story IMO).

Pak does use this tale, where Mal becomes a sheriff policing the Blue Sun Corporation's assets and colonies, while hiding from his new employers that he aiding and abetting his crew's heists, to arguably make some points about the moral issue of working for the man while trying to fighit the man. Pak also continues giving readers more of both Mal's mother and the new(ish) character Boss Moon.

To explain why this fits so nicely in between the television show and the movie I feel is way too spoilery. And, I like to get a review up without having to hide it because of spoilers.

If you are fan of this property I think you'll enjoy the entire series. Pak very much gets the tone of the characters right, and this includes their dialogue. Unusual for a licensed property there is a little bit of character development for Mal, Kaylee and Zoe.

[Cherie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serenity’s crew, with the help of Blue Sun defectors, learns of a depreciation switch that will stop the Mal-bots from functioning. The only problem is it also shuts down all Blue Sun equipment that shares the same tech, which means millions of lives could be lost if not turned off correctly.

This was an action-packed volume that also tugged at the heartstrings. A fitting conclusion to the Blue Sun Rising arc. I’m excited to find out how the story will continue in the Return to Earth That Was arc.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not quite sure what it means. I reached the end without really getting it. I'm wondering what I missed. But I cant look back because I'm not at home, so... it does bother me how few people get zoe. She doesn't show intimacy in public, she is very peivate.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glad this was released in 2020 so I had the chance to see how it ended.

[Eye-ra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just good clean Firefly fun.

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

See my review of the previous volume. This is so small. Still feels like it could have been one TPB. Nonetheless, it fits the Firefly 'space cowboy' narrative.

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mal gets a plan in place without saying anything. The 'B's. Have to defeat the enemy with another branch of the enemy doesn't solve your problem it just delays action against you.

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think it's telling that the character's I like best in this, are those that did not exist in the original show.

[Thia Reads A Lot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Firefly: Blue Sun Rising Vol. 2 - Greg Pak, Dan McDaid (Illustrator), and others
Rating: ★★★☆☆

Mal organizes an attack on an important Blue Sun location to deactivate the robots. Blue sun retaliates by triggering the deprecation on all their tech near a certain planet, affecting the Serenity (they repair using a piece from Moon) but also innocents. They pull through, Mal takes down Director Sang. Some people go live on Haven, but others leave on Serenity.

The graphic style changed a couple of times throughout.
- Ma Reynolds died at the end? Because of what happened or something else?

Reading Journal Index: 2023-210