Well, the Serenity is covered in magnetic bombs and… yeah, that’s where we’re at. Oh, and apparently trying to pry them off will result in detonation. So, ya know, mid-level stakes with this crew, right?

While Kaylee, Mal, Zoe, Jayne, Owen, Mattie, and River deal with their explosive crisis, Simon, Inara, and Leonard shore up the defenses at the monastery on Requiem. A shocking discovery by the crew in space could spell more trouble with the Alliance on the horizon.

David M. Booher writes this crew really well. I’m also generally a fan of his pacing, and this issue manages to slip in quite a few nice character moments, sandwiched between the action-y stuff. Jayne continues to be the star here, getting the most page time. There’s a cute moment that Leonard gets to share with Emma, which I dunno… feels kinda red shirt-y. It does feel like this arc is nearing its end, and I wonder where Booher (or anyone else?) will take the crew next.

Vincenzo Federici’s artwork is solid with some really nice details and character work. Matt Herms’ colorwork finds new ways to surprise me. It seems like a tiny detail, but there is a lot of really great lighting effects in this issue, and it’s giving me ‘80s space horror vibes. Jim Campbell’s excellent lettering has all his usual hallmarks, making reading the soundscape of the book just seem so intuitive and natural.

The sum-up: Booher et al. continue to deliver the goods on this title, retaining the charm of the show but also taking the story in new directions.

Creative Team: David M. Booher (writer), Vincenzo Federici (art), Matt Herms (colorist), Jim Campbell (letterer)
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
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