Serenity: Leaves on the Wind #3 by Zach Whedon (Writer) and Georges Jeanty (Artist) (comic book review).

I waited until release day for this review so I could say more than ‘hey, this is a great comic, go buy it’. Still, I prefer not to give away spoilers in my reviews, so what I have here is the briefest outline and another recommendation that you go out and buy these comics.  

Issue three of ‘Leaves on the Wind’ picks up the story right where we left off. River is dreaming. She is holding the position of observer in her own dream, which is a really neat effect. Works well in this format. When she gets overly restless, Simon tries to wake her up but is interrupted by an unexpected visitor. Jubal.

Meanwhile, Mal and Inara are talking about practical matters, like how Mal is trying to worry for everyone. No amount of worry will fill their bellies, though, it’s time to break into the emergency rations he has hidden away in Inara’s shuttle. Jubal meets him there.

Jayne attempts to commiserate with Bea, but he’s just not the touchy-feely type. Chastising himself, he leaves her for a bit. When Bea next looks up, she has another guest in the kitchen. Not realising Jubal is not part of the crew, she introduces herself and offers him coffee.

So, Jubal has trussed up half the ship. Inara and Jayne are locked in their rooms. Now it’s time to interrogate his prisoners. He asks after the rest of the crew – Shephard, Wash and Zoe – and Mal delivers news of their various fates in as few words as possible.

“It’s been a tough couple of years for you guys, hasn’t it?” 

“It’s had it’s ups and downs.” 

Understatements of the century, and typical of the dialogue I’d expect from this series. Jubal certainly finds it amusing. Just as he realises he’s forgotten someone, Kaylee makes her appearance. It’s a pretty sweet moment.

With Jubal chained to a chair and quaking from Kaylee’s threats, the crew reconvene to see if River remembers anything. She does. You’ll need to read the comic to see what she has to say. Her revelation alters the course of Zoe’s rescue, however, and inspires Mal to look up another old friend.

This is another great issue of the comic. The story is tight. There is plenty of fan service on top of a strong plot delivery. The art continues to capture action and emotional nuance, even if the faces sometimes take a moment to process. I think this would be less of a problem in the collected editions where the reader can skip from one chapter to the next. The dialogue is firming up and as I’ve already mentioned, the story needs no work whatsoever. I’m hooked.

Kelly Jensen

March 2014

(pub: Dark Horse Comics, March 26, 2014. Softcover, 32 pages. $3.50 (US))

check out website: http://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/23-610/Serenity-Leaves-on-the-Wind-3-Dan-Dos-Santos-cover