G33K
by Chris Eng
September 29, 2005

Finding Serenity
Edited by Jane Espenson
(Benbella Books)

To me, the hallmark of a great TV show or movie is the ability of the viewer to discuss it at length afterward. Joss Whedon, for example, has repeatedly demonstrated his talents in crafting worlds which beg further thought and analysis. Just this past year there was an academic conference in the States where they discussed (I am not making this up) Buffy the Vampire Slayer. And that only makes sense, because Buffy from its first episode was never simply entertainment—it always had something larger to say about the human condition.

Firefly, Whedon’s follow-up to Buffy, may have gotten deep-sixed by its network Fox, but that didn’t stop A) the series from getting a DVD release, B) the series from getting made into a movie (Serenity, opening this Friday everywhere), and C) fans from discussing it at length. And there was plenty to discuss: first off, it’s a series about space cowboys. In point of fact, Firefly is nothing more or less than a western with periodic aerial dogfights and laser hand-cannons. What distinguishes it from rank stereotypes, though, is its cast of characters.

For a show to maintain nine major characters—each of them distinct, each of them (to some degree or another) sympathetic, each of them completely defined and three-dimensional within the first couple of episodes, and all of them existing in close proximity to one another—is a work of singular creative vision, and it is a work that, again, has something to say about the human condition.

Benbella Books, to their credit, have picked up the gauntlet that Whedon has thrown down, compiling collections of essays covering Buffy, Firefly, and more. The idea that our culture is worth discussing in any larger sense—that it might actually reflect the issues and values that govern our daily lives—is an idea which has been slowly gaining speed over the past couple of years, and Benbella has realised it, paying the concepts respect by doing things like getting Jane Espenson (a Firefly screenwriter) to edit Finding Serenity, and including cast member Jewel Staite’s (Kaylee) recollections in it.

Ultimately, though, the essays are just fuel for the fire. The fire sparked by endless debating on the eternal verities as glimpsed through the eyes of Hollywood and our Ouroboros-like mass media. So get watching. And get debating. That’s what it’s there for.

NEWS:

* Carla Speed McNeil stunned attendees of the Small Press Expo this past week when she made the announcement that she would be ceasing publication of her extraordinary comic Finder with issue #38, in favour of making it available as a free webcomic to be eventually collected into trades. While this makes financial sense—trade paperback comic collection sales have been shooting through the roof lately, in comparison with the languishing individual issues—it clearly demonstrates the struggles that indie comic creators are forced to endure, regardless of quality.
* In a gaffe of epic proportions, Kirsten Dunst has let slip the tightly-guarded identities of the villains for Spider-Man 3. Yes, Thomas Haden Church will be playing Sandman and Topher Grace is Venom. Argue about the potential miscasting later; for now, thank the loose-lipped Mary Jane.
* And it may be officially taking place in the States this week, but let’s face it: Banned Books Week should be happening everywhere. I mean, hell, as long as there’s a Surrey School Board, there’s a fight north of the border for freedom of speech.

JUST RELEASED:

Okay, true believers, get your g33k ERs prepped, because it’s time to start seriously haemorrhaging money… but, you know, in the good way. First up: comics. If you liked Lucy Liu as O-Ren in Kill Bill, you’re going to love the character she was kind of modeled on—Lady Snowblood, with the first volume out from Dark Horse. The prelude to DC’s Infinite Crisis is winding up with the release of Omac Project #6 and JLA #119. Pirates and vampires come together in one pretty volume with this week’s Sea of Red: No Grave But the Sea trade. One of the best Marvel series going right now sees its fourth volume with Runaways: True Believers (and the beginning of a new story arc—oooh!), and the House of Ideas wraps up the long-anticipated but rather sporadically released miniseries Nyx in #7. Oni tosses its pirate hat in the ring with the first issue of Ted Naifeh’s Polly & The Pirates (albeit in a more cute way than Sea of Red). There’s so much g33k love for you this week if you have a PSP: choose from Ren & Stimpy: The First and Second Seasons, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, and Spongebob Squarepants: The 1st Season, Volume 1 all on UMD. If you didn’t download it a month ago, you can finally see Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story (a/k/a The Family Guy Movie). And if there’s a large amount of cash itchin’ to burn a hole in your pocket, be sure to buy The Complete Monty Python’s Flying Circus—a steal at US$200. Fans of video games that don’t suck will rejoice at the arrival of the Capcom Classics Collection for the Xbox. And in case you hadn’t put two and two together yet, Serenity’s out on Friday. See it 12 times this weekend. You have your orders—now go.