1st Appearance | Origin Story | Main Publication History | Secondary Publication History | Key Storylines | Media Source Material | Key Issues | Compilations
by snowbi-wan, updated Jun 2019
SERENITY (FIREFLY) has a devoted fanbase for good reason...it's a strong space Western story with captivating characters. Despite its short-lived television series, Joss Weadon's Firefly franchise has achieved cult status. The orginal story is set in the year 2517, after humanity's arrival in a new star system, and follows the adventures of the renegade crew of Serenity, a 'Firefly-class' spaceship. The ongoing epic explores the lives of Serenity's crew--some of whom fought on the losing side of a civil war--who make a living on the fringes of society as part of the pioneer culture of their star system. In this future, the only two surviving superpowers, the United States and China, fused in culture and civil structure with a single central federal government, called the Alliance. Although no new film or television entries are expected for Serenity (Firefly), the franchise story lives on in comic book form. Dark Horse had been releasing Serenity (Firefly) comic book mini-series every several years from 2005-2017 with irregularly published one-shots interspersed between the mini-series. All stories, although not necessarily published chronologically, are considered canon in the same continuity with the television series and the film. And the story continues, as the comic book license moved to Boom! Studios in 2018.
1st Appearance
The first appearance of a character in comic book form is often the most valuable issue featuring that character. It's a nice place to get started in Serenity (Firefly), if it's within your budget.
*As an eBay Partner, I earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure
- SERENITY [2005] #1 (1st appearance of Serenity (Firefly) (in comics))
Origin Story
The original presentation of an origin story or a retelling/recounting of it can be a good place to get started with a character or subject. But, as an ensemble team book, Serenity (Firefly) doesn't have the typical origin story of a typical superhero comic book. Individual character backstories have been explored in several storylines, but the origin of the coming together of the crew as seen in the first episodes of the television series has not been adapted in comic book form. Neither the television series nor the film have been adapted in comic book form.
Main Publication History
Series beginnings are always great places to get started in comic books. Here is the Main Publication History for Serenity (Firefly) comic books. Serenity (Firefly)'s publication history weaves in and among the television series and the film and may be disjointed without having seen the motion media. Listed in this section are the primary Serenity (Firefly) stories that were published as series and mini-series and all of Boom's new stuff. Dark Horse's one-shots and ancillary stories can be found in the Secondary Publication History.
*As a MyComicShop Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure
- SERENITY [2005] #1-3 (THOSE LEFT BEHIND)
- SERENITY: BETTER DAYS [2008] #1-3
- SERENITY: FIREFLY CLASS 03-K64--LEAVES ON THE WIND [2014] #1-6
- SERENITY: FIREFLY CLASS 03-K64--NO POWER IN THE 'VERSE [2016] #1-6
- FIREFLY [2018] #1- (prequel series of Mal's time in the Browncoats and meeting Zoe)
- FIREFLY: BAD COMPANY [2019] #1 (one-shot origin of Saffron)
- FIREFLY: THE STING [2019-HC] (original story; Saffron and the women of Firefly pull the ultimate heist)
- FIREFLY: THE OUTLAW MA REYNOLDS [2020] #1 (the secret history of Mal and his mother)
Secondary Publication History
If you've already enjoyed some of the series listed in the Main Publication History above, series from this secondary publication list are very good places to further your exploration. Listed in this section are the Serenity (Firefly) one-shots and ancillary stories. The primary Serenity (Firefly) stories were published as series and mini-series and can be found in the Main Publication History. There are two stories that were originally released in digital form, but have since been included in collected editions. Also, THE SHEPHERD'S TALE was never released in individual comic book form but can be found in SERENITY--VOLUME 3: THE SHEPHERD'S TALE [2010] and FIREFLY LEGACY EDITION [2018-TPB] VOL 01.
*As a MyComicShop Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure
- SERENITY: THE OTHER HALF [2008] (digital comic, subsequently included in SERENITY [2007-HC] VOL 02: BETTER DAYS AND OTHER STORIES)
- SERENITY: FLOAT OUT [2010]
- SERENITY [2007-HC] VOL 03: THE SHEPHERD'S TALE (original material in hardcover)
- SERENITY: DOWNTIME [2010] (digital comic, subsequently included in SERENITY [2007-HC] VOL 02: BETTER DAYS AND OTHER STORIES)
- FREE COMIC BOOK DAY: STAR WARS / SERENITY: FIREFLY CLASS 03-K64 [2012] (IT'S NEVER EASY)
- FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2016: GENERAL [SERENITY / HELLBOY / ALIENS] [2016] (THE WARRIOR AND THE WIND)
Selected Key Storylines
This section contains a curated list of some of the best storylines for Serenity (Firefly), any one of which can be a good place to get started. The descriptions indicate how each could enhance exposure to the television series and/or the Serenity film.
*As a MyComicShop Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure
| 2005 | SERENITY [2005] #1-3 (THOSE LEFT BEHIND, bridges the story between the television series and the film) |
| 2008 | SERENITY: BETTER DAYS [2008] #1-3 (also set between television series and film, but before the 2005 comic series) |
| 2014 | SERENITY: FIREFLY CLASS 03-K64--LEAVES ON THE WIND [2014] #1-6 (picks up right where film left off) |
Compilations
In modern comic publishing, it's common (and expected) for individual comic book issues to be collected into compilations of trade paperbacks and/or hardcovers, as well as other special compilations. Unlike the individual source issues, the collected editions typically stay in print for long periods and are less 'collectible.' If individual issues are out of reach or are not of interest to you or if you just need reading copies, the following collected editions of Serenity (Firefly) comic books are the most recent in-print editions and are the perfect alternative to get started right away with Serenity (Firefly). The following compilations are presented in a chronologically-based suggested reading order with softcover editions before any hardcover editions (unless the only in-print editions are hardcover--these are integrated into the softcover list).
Dark Horse never published softcover compilations of their material, and volume 3 is original material that was never published in individual comic book form. Boom! Studios has taken over the license to produce Firefly comics as of 2018, and they are publishing the Dark Horse material in softcover for the first time under the series title FIREFLY LEGACY EDITION in two volumes.
*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure
| Cover | Release Month | Series / Number / Storyline | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Quick View | Nov 2018 | FIREFLY LEGACY EDITION [2018-TPB] VOL 01 CURRENT PRINTING |  | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Feb 2019 | FIREFLY LEGACY EDITION [2018-TPB] VOL 02 CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Aug 2012 | SERENITY [2007-HC] VOL 01: THOSE LEFT BEHIND 2ND EDITION, CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Aug 2011 | SERENITY [2007-HC] VOL 02: BETTER DAYS AND OTHER STORIES CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Nov 2010 | SERENITY [2007-HC] VOL 03: SHEPHERD'S TALE CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Nov 2014 | SERENITY [2007-HC] VOL 04: LEAVES ON THE WIND CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Jul 2017 | SERENITY [2007-HC] VOL 05: NO POWER IN THE 'VERSE CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Apr 2019 | FIREFLY [2018-HC] VOL 01: UNIFICATION WAR CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Oct 2019 | FIREFLY [2018-HC] VOL 02: THE UNIFICATION WAR, PART TWO | UNAVAILABLE | $16.99 | |
 Quick View | Feb 2020 | FIREFLY [2018-HC] VOL 03: THE UNIFICATION WAR, PART THREE | UNAVAILABLE | $16.99 | |
 Quick View | Sep 2019 | FIREFLY: THE STING [2019-HC] | UNAVAILABLE | $16.99 | |
 Quick View | May 2020 | FIREFLY LEGACY DELUXE EDITION [2020-HC] | UNAVAILABLE | $63.75 |
Media Source Material
If you've enjoyed non-comic media for Serenity (Firefly), this section describes the comic book source material for some of the most popular non-comic media. However, the 14-episode 2002 Firefly television series and the 2005 Serenity film are integral with--and completely complimentary to--the comic book publications in one seamless continuity. The first comic publication, the 2005 mini-series, SERENITY [2005] #1-3, was released coincidentally with the 2005 film to bridge the story between the television series and the film. While there are no plans for any more screen portrayals, the adventures of the Firefly crew continue in comic book form which are considered canon in the same continuity with the television series and the film.