Book: Firefly: Still Flying

Firefly: Still Flying
Various authors, 2010

This is another compasion book to the short television series, Firefly. It's kind of amazing that they still have more to say. Within the book they have pages on each of the actors, using quotes from interviews and panels. They also have interviews with a stand in and a designer, as well as some of the writers. The best part of this book is the short stories written by the writers from the show. A couple of these are particularly nice and a real addition to the Firefly 'verse.

This is pretty much aimed at an adult audience, but is most suited to those who are interested in the Firefly series and the subsequent movie.

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Book: Serenity: Those Left Behind

Serenity: Those Left Behind
Joss Whedon, Brett Matthews, Will Conrad, 2006

This is the graphic novel that fills in the space between the Joss Whedon show, Firefly and its movie - Serenity. In it we see the crew taking on a job that puts them in danger from the mysterious men with blue hands, and an old enemy who has a massive grudge.

It's a well drawn comic which at times makes you desperately wish there was more show to watch. The story wasn't that ground breaking - but maybe that was because I've already seen the movie. Obviously this is a comic for older readers - not a children's comic. But a good read for those who have enjoyed the tv series and want to work out what happens next.

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Book: Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art

Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art
Scott McCloud, 1993
Adult Book

My first adult book of the summer and it's a comic book. Actually it's a comic book about comics, which sounds a lot of fun. This book is a lot of fun, but there's also a tonne of theory in it which makes your head spin a little.

The comic takes you through the history of sequential art, before moving on to art theory (probably not interestin for most people) and then on to the much more interesting theory on comic gutters, frames, line, colour etc. After teaching comics at the end of this year, there was a lot more in here that I would have liked to have shared with the students and definitely will be sharing in the new year. I particularly loved the differences between European and Japanese comics.

This is quite a technical book and some of the art/language is a little older, so probably best from 12-14 years older. But if you have an avid comic reader around, or a comic drawer/writer - this would be a great book for them. And if you're planning on teaching comics, it really is an essential read.


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