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The only copy of Serenity I have that originates from it’s 2005 original Barbour launch (complete with exaggerated “BUZZ” in the name Realbuzz Studios… Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!) the title finally reaches up to snag it’s first 5 out of 5 (though technically not it’s first because that happened with the review of Serenity Volumes 7 to 10, aka “Life! Camera! Action!”)

“Basket Case” begins to show the final rise of the title to it’s perfect status, with the secondary cast now taking a greater role in the title (including personal favorite Lori who is now a larger presence in the read) we catch up to the gang as two diversely different problems face the gang (mostly Serenity).

First off she who banters about bad puns (Sally) is caught by her pals working a “purity test” off of the internet, which from the moment she’s caught by Lori and Serenity leads to nothing but trouble. What? How so?  Well before you can remember the names of the other people who are on The 700 Club besides Pat Robertson the “Purity Test” makes the rounds amongst the Prayer Club gang, the other students of the school, their parents, and from there (once the parents start to get ahold of said test) things just roll straight downhill from that point forward.

Hmm… let’s see… have you hugged, kissed, held hands, dated, danced, slow danced, tangoed, waltzed, French kissed… uh… (cough cough)… apparently the purity prescribed in this test measures your eligibility to be a Borg drone, or a Dalek, or a Cyberman… something soulless and robotic.

Oh look! Have you attended sub races… sub as in sandwiches or sub as a nuclear? (The government runs regular sub races? Really?) And LOOK!! Ever watched for UFOs?!? (Shh! Don’t tell anyone but Agent Mulder ISN’T PURE—and I’m not just saying that because of the whole porn thing).

But since this whole volume isn’t about the weird purity tests, there is the main thrust of this story… wait… Question 75… Have you had an actual thought that was considered sentient or otherwise free?… ACK!! I AM NOT PURE!!! (Or I’m just not eligible for Borg Drone status, one or the other.)

Anyway welcome to parenthood oh Prayer Club, you are now the proud parent of an egg… and yes, it’s not your fault that your child started out life already high in cholesterol. Sorry. Serenity? She’s not into the whole raising an egg as a child, no matter how many times her teacher “impregnates” her… kinky. Anyway since she’s so not into eggs maybe the chance encounter of finding a REAL baby tossed into the trash will give Serenity that practical parenting experience (only apparently without the letter grade since I don’t think her teacher placed that baby there).

Hey! Wait… did Serenity fall through a dimensional portal and end up in Riverdale on her way home? Is that Archie and… wait! Did he end up with… let’s not ask.

Maybe the Prayer Club can save Serenity from her strange “One Rebel and a Baby” experience, if they can get over her acidic attitude she had earlier that day. By the end of this Volume we’re sure Serenity will learn something.
We’re not certain she’ll get credit for extracurricular baby care, but she’ll learn something from this nevertheless.

Hmm… strange, Serenity’s mom’s freaking out just because female Officer Topp (the cop around the Serenity title) is in the house… gee, wonder why.

The first part with the whole “Purity test” that seems to border on considering everything in existence “impure” (weird) is abit off to say the least, but the second half picks up the pace and delivers the important part of the story (throwing Serenity into a major situation she has to deal with as she makes herself the self appointed protector of an abandoned baby). The whole “Purity test” thing may have been whack, but the overall of the story rises to that pinnacle point to hit the titles TECHNICAL first perfect score.

Sure, technically perfect came with “Life! Camera! Action!” but let’s not go there.

Writing is solid (though again the whole “Purity test” thing wasn’t perfect even if it lead to some really weird situations between Prayer Club members and their parents), artwork is improved (and this is original untouched artwork so you see the artwork improving as the title goes along) and overall it’s solid end to end.

So other than the fact apparently being alive should be considered impure the main hook of the title “Basket Case”, I.e. Serenity finding herself tested with real parenthood while protecting an abandoned baby, rises to the occasion.

So forgive the Borg Drone litmus test, and remember the rest is solid all about.
5 curious sounds of a flushing toilet (what is Serenity’s mom doing…) out of 5.

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