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internpepper's review against another edition
3.0
It was... alright. It seems to be science fiction with a dash of superheroes. While a unique idea, I don’t feel that the characters make a strong impression and the self-contained stories don’t have much oomph. They seem to be hinting at a larger plot, but I’m not sure how interested I am in learning about that after this first volume.
aqiul's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent! I cant wait to read the remaining volumes. Will write a full review soon!
the_graylien's review against another edition
5.0
What do Tarzan, Godzilla, The Spectre, Chinese action films, The Fantastic Four, and The Hulk all have in common? Planetary. That's what...
The "high concept" of this book is nothing short of breathtaking. It is that our trio of heroes in Planetary, an international organization, are "archaeologists of the impossible".
What does that mean?
Ellis has taken on burrowing through 100 years of pop culture in the form of a comic book. We meet characters that oddly resemble familiar faces (mostly of the comic book variety) and find out where they're hidden, their secrets, and their "true" histories.
Ellis also has sprinkled in bits of commentary about these characters, some of the ideals their creators had in mind while producing them, and the ramifications of their existences.
This book deals with the world of pop culture as though it's really happened and digs beneath its surface, looking for all the nasty little hidden things.
Though (I think) Ellis has said that this series is NOT meant to be like "The X-Files", the protagonists dig their way through individual landscapes and beings very much like Mulder and Scully in this first trade. There are all sorts of revelations and many unexplained, enigmatic findings.
Truly an experience rather than just a work of fiction...
The "high concept" of this book is nothing short of breathtaking. It is that our trio of heroes in Planetary, an international organization, are "archaeologists of the impossible".
What does that mean?
Ellis has taken on burrowing through 100 years of pop culture in the form of a comic book. We meet characters that oddly resemble familiar faces (mostly of the comic book variety) and find out where they're hidden, their secrets, and their "true" histories.
Ellis also has sprinkled in bits of commentary about these characters, some of the ideals their creators had in mind while producing them, and the ramifications of their existences.
This book deals with the world of pop culture as though it's really happened and digs beneath its surface, looking for all the nasty little hidden things.
Though (I think) Ellis has said that this series is NOT meant to be like "The X-Files", the protagonists dig their way through individual landscapes and beings very much like Mulder and Scully in this first trade. There are all sorts of revelations and many unexplained, enigmatic findings.
Truly an experience rather than just a work of fiction...
misterjt's review against another edition
4.0
This is probably the last of the pick-ups I will make from Comics Should Be Good's excellent series of posts from last year. Planetary is a superhero book about the concept of super heroes. Planetary is about the craft of comic book making. Planetary is about the genre and it's tried and true narrative choices. Planetary is about the roots of comic book universes, its influences and the faults they create. Planetary asks the question -- what would you do if you could remake the world?
And, ultimately, Planetary is fun. Outside of Marvel's Jessica Jones, there isn't a recently created comic book character I enjoy more than Elijah Snow. Dressed entirely in white and introduced with memory issues, a long and mysterious history, and a generally short temper and bad attitude, he's an engrossing and engaging character. In the face of extremely off-kilter situations, he's—to be blunt—unfuckwithable.
So, in this context, where he is met (along with his partners Jakita Wagner and The Drummer) with familiar comic book scenarios and characters in completely nutball scenarios, he allows the audience to go totally "fan-boy" over the awesomeness of these re-imagined origin stories and genre plays while also appreciate the comic as a comic.
These are super heroes doing super hero things in a world where comic book super fans know something is amiss. We can never truly forget that there's a writer/artist combination here with a master plan. We know they are trying to work out some of their own feelings about the state of their industry through the medium they know best. The great gift of Planetary, however, is that they do all of this in service of the story rather than the other way around.
Planetary never forgets to be a great comic book with surprising twists and turns and awe-inspiring art on every page.
This is why I can't wait for the next and final collection to come out next week. It's been a great ride.
And, ultimately, Planetary is fun. Outside of Marvel's Jessica Jones, there isn't a recently created comic book character I enjoy more than Elijah Snow. Dressed entirely in white and introduced with memory issues, a long and mysterious history, and a generally short temper and bad attitude, he's an engrossing and engaging character. In the face of extremely off-kilter situations, he's—to be blunt—unfuckwithable.
So, in this context, where he is met (along with his partners Jakita Wagner and The Drummer) with familiar comic book scenarios and characters in completely nutball scenarios, he allows the audience to go totally "fan-boy" over the awesomeness of these re-imagined origin stories and genre plays while also appreciate the comic as a comic.
These are super heroes doing super hero things in a world where comic book super fans know something is amiss. We can never truly forget that there's a writer/artist combination here with a master plan. We know they are trying to work out some of their own feelings about the state of their industry through the medium they know best. The great gift of Planetary, however, is that they do all of this in service of the story rather than the other way around.
Planetary never forgets to be a great comic book with surprising twists and turns and awe-inspiring art on every page.
This is why I can't wait for the next and final collection to come out next week. It's been a great ride.
arachne_reads's review against another edition
4.0
Episodic in a way that presages Fell, but stitches together a larger plot in its fragments. Treads closer to the super heroic than I usually like, but intriguing enough for me to carry through.
vylotte's review against another edition
4.0
I very much enjoyed this one. I like the characters, I like the premise, I like the artwork.
dulfbarglin's review against another edition
adventurous
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
heypretty52's review against another edition
3.0
Though it's saod that this series is wonderful and ambitious in scope, I simply didn't find this first volume to be compelling.