Firefly #10 What Is It Goram Good For?

Let’s begin right at the start. The main cover by Lee Garbett showcases the team supreme that is Mal and Zoe exchanging a knowing look. And it captures the pair to a tee, especially as their loyalty to each other is shown so well in the story. And the variant covers are also perfection this issue. Joe Quinones has Mal in a playful cheeky clinch with a buxom redhead that I can only assume is the ex. Rahzzah shows us Shepherd Book in a breathtaking photo realistic image, depicting him in reflective mood. And Will Sliney has the Firefly taking off in the background as Book and Inara watch on pensively, coloured beautifully by Triona Farrell. All of which capture the spirit of the subjects knowingly and faithfully.
Once again the art does a great job of reflecting the chaos that ensues on each page with Dan McDaid joined by Vincenzo Federici to help on inks, giving the stark landscape a perfect rough hewn and granite hard edge. The firefights and explosions were dramatic enough as it is but the change in colorist makes for some even more dynamic scenes and Joana Lafuente uses that to great effect. While the rest of the crew are out in the midday sun Mal and Moon are clearly on the edge of twilight inside the valley as they clamber up the side of Hobbs Hill. The subtle change in lighting is reflected in the sky in truly dramatic style right throughout that whole segment.As for the story Greg Pak continues to rock on right from last issue without missing a beat and with no let up in the action. The Mal and Moon show continues as the pair deal with Singh and make their way to try and get off planet and I continually find myself surprised by how much I am warming to this character. I fully expected her to turn on him at the last minute and yet each time she gets an opportunity to stab him in the back she still has him covered.
And the whole issue was full of so many contradictory intentions it was enough to make me dizzy. Keeping up with who was doing what to who and who was on who’s side became a familiar game, making it a totally perfect Firefly scenario. It was also great to see the rest of the gang back in play again after their omission from last issue. Wash and Book doing their best on damage control while as ever there is Jayne making a mess of things, while Kaylee follows close behind unsure of what to do for the best. And River and Simon are on clean up duty with River taking control, which is always fun to see.
And after Barrientos fails to listen to Zoë it was only a matter of time before someone else takes his place and makes the same mistake he did. And woe betide her after that sucker punch to Wash, Zoë won’t like that. Inara of course tries her best to negotiate a peaceful resolution and it almost works as the Governer allows Mal the time to try and talk everyone down. And no sooner is some sense of order established than Mal’s mother arrives and upsets things all over again. I can’t keep up!! But of course it’s someone related to Mal so we can fully expect more high jinks ahead.