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librarimans's review
5.0
Whether you read comics or not, this is a series I cannot recommend enough. It's a world of superhumans, but without the trappings of the spandex and cape set, it more closely resembles a mash up of Fringe and the X-Files with monsters, global conspiracies, multiple Earths and the like. The series is full of pop culture references (including one so obvious that I couldn't believe it took me until volume 4 to place it) to movies, TV, literary characters, and yes, comic book superheroes. Even if you don't get all the references Warren Ellis is a master storyteller and John Cassaday's art is gorgeous as always. Put away any preconceptions you may have about comics and enjoy.
justiceofkalr's review
3.0
Looking back on this series as a whole, it was better than I thought as I was reading the individual volumes. I have a feeling it would be much more entertaining in a second read through with a knowledge of what is going on and how all the events are connected. Things managed to wrap up neatly in this final volume in a way that made the previous events seem much more interesting in retrospect. I think because I originally read this series in a very disjointed way, it was especially hard to see the big picture and therefore enjoy the story. Overall, nowhere near as enjoyable as Ellis' Transmetropolitan, but entertaining enough for a nice short series.
mjfmjfmjf's review
4.0
And back to the Fantastic Four knock-off. And I don't know, maybe this series did have a point. Or maybe I'd have to read The Authority to be sure. This did have kind of a solid ending. Oh and The Lone Ranger/Green Hornet. And more James Bond. And somewhere in this one I kind of started to care. Which made me wonder if this would get better on a re-read. 3.5 of 5.
darylnash's review
3.0
Having just gotten around to reading the Planetary series over the last month, I was ultimately disappointed. And I'm not sure that it was the book's fault but rather the overblown hyperbole that has surrounded it. In their introductions to the first two volumes, Alan (freakin') Moore and Josh ("my Master now") Whedon practically claim it's the second coming of comic books. Instead, at its best, it is a loving pastiche and tribute of and to the pulp fiction of the last century, with gorgeous artwork. At its worst, it's a strange plot-heavy conspiracy theory with a mysteriously malicious Fantastic Four that won't go away. So it basically combines Ellis' writing from Transmetropolitan and Stormwatch/Authority, the former of which I loved and the latter of which I found tiresome.
Planetary is certainly worth reading, and the artwork is beautiful, but I just don't get the hype.
Planetary is certainly worth reading, and the artwork is beautiful, but I just don't get the hype.
nkives's review
4.0
If it wasn't for the book club, I'm not sure I would have read all of this in the end. Unlike some series, where a single volume can have an over arching story, almost every chapter/issue is "random" events. Nothing directly connected to the previous. They may drop a name in one issue and then many issues later, you will be seeing that person. It isn't until this final volume that all of those seemingly random events fully come together, and actually tell a complete story.
This is a series that should be read back to back, and it is mind boggling that when the single issues were coming out that it took all 28 a full decade to come out instead of the normal 28 months. I would have been so lost and annoyed. You would pretty much have to read all the previous issues to find and remember all of the connections and hints.
This is a series that should be read back to back, and it is mind boggling that when the single issues were coming out that it took all 28 a full decade to come out instead of the normal 28 months. I would have been so lost and annoyed. You would pretty much have to read all the previous issues to find and remember all of the connections and hints.
akrajkow87's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
inferiorwit's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
5.0
kaqueershi's review against another edition
5.0
holy shit holy shit hOLY SHIT
I'm crying as quietly as I can in a very public place.
I don't know what I expected when I first picked up Planetary but it sure as fuck wasn't hope.
I'm crying as quietly as I can in a very public place.
I don't know what I expected when I first picked up Planetary but it sure as fuck wasn't hope.