This comic was a severe disappointment. Shepherd Book's backstory was one of great mystery on the show, and I would have expected it to be treated with great care. Unfortunately, it seems to have been nothing more than a second thought.
Book's backstory is given in a haphazard way. We're given the facts and certain scenes of his life, but there's no reason given for why he chooses to do the things he does. There's no emotion given from him or insight into his thoughts as to how he feels or thinks about events. It's presented more like he travels through life "just because."
Book, in the TV series, always appeared to act with purpose. He also seemed regretful and possibly haunted by his past. It would make sense for him to be a reckless youth who grew to realize his mistakes, but the emotionless and mindless Book in the comic provides no connection between the two. Book doesn't "grow" or "change" or "discover," he doesn't anything. He just does, floating mindlessly from one stage of his life to another.
How can this be Book's backstory when it seems so carelessly and thoughtlessly put together? How can the Book in the comic be a younger version of the one in the show when there's no emotional or thoughtful connection between the two? I can read this comic and say "this happened, then this happened, then this happened, and then he ended up on Serenity." But I can't explain the how or the why or Book's motivation for anything. And without that, there's no meaning for anything Book does, rendering this comic practically pointless. I'm quite happy to pretend it never existed.
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