In a nutshell, this is a River-centric story that attempts to move River’s story into the future. Set ahead of the “Brand New ‘Verse” timeline, this book explores River’s damaged psyche and how she’s struggling with keeping her sense of self. Of course, since this is a Firefly story, high-stakes hijinks are part and parcel, in this case involving a caper with sheep. A LOT of sheep.

At first glance, the script by Jeff Jensen feels somewhat experimental, advancing River’s psychic ability quite a bit here by delving into the metaphysical and spiritual realms. For readers who’ve read all of BOOM!’s Firefly offerings though, this should seem rather familiar, as Jensen wrote both the opening and closing chapters of Firefly: Watch How I Soar, in which many of the same sensibilities came into play. While it does seem unconventional, who’s to say that had the show gone on longer, we wouldn’t have seen some exploration of the sort in tone and tropes. Personally, I like the attempt to explore River’s impressive mind in such a vulnerable way. Where I did struggle a bit with the story were the bits that jumped around, whether it was switching perspectives, time leaps, etc. It just got a bit confusing at times, especially during the climax.

Nicola Izzo’s artwork is generally gorgeous, especially paired with Francesco Segala’s colors. If I had to nitpick anything, it would be the character designs aren’t my favorite… Simon’s mustache is definitely not my favorite look. Kidding aside, the artwork does flow beautifully with very dynamic panels, and the pages exploring River’s memories have such a warmth to them. The lettering by Jim Campbell is top-notch as usual, as he keeps the proceedings easy to read and easier to hear the emotions of the characters.  

Final thoughts: I do wonder if BOOM! intends to fill in the vast narrative gaps in between its current run and the “Brand New ‘Verse” and beyond. While I’ve generally enjoyed their offerings, I do wonder if there is a larger plan out there to make sure these stories sync up organically.

Creative Team: Jeff Jensen, Nicola Izzo (artist), Francesco Segala (colors), Jim Campbell (letterer)
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Click here to purchase.