Planetary Vol. 2: The Fourth Man [Hardcover]

Warren Ellis (Author), John Layman (Editor), John Cassaday (Illustrator), Laura DePuy (Colorist), David Baron (Colorist)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2001

This second PLANETARY collection focuses on the team's mysterious benefactor, the "Fourth Man." After paying their final respects to a British occultist with ties to their group, Elijah Snow, Jakita Wagner, and The Drummer continue their super-human archeological studies as they visit a hidden government compound full of radioactive human guinea pigs, discover a fictional construct that has been made real and learn of a malevolent group known simply as "The Four." As these investigations take place, Elijah begins to learn some truths about both the Fourth Man's identity as well as his own hidden past. Featuring an introduction by Buffy The Vampire Slayer creator, Joss Whedon. Collecting issues #7-12.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Warren Ellis improves on his already outstanding stories and characters in the second collection of Planetary: The Fourth Man. While scraping their way through their investigations, the three archaeologists of mystery, enigmatic themselves, deal with their own past and learn more about the creepy metahumans lurking behind practically every oddity on the planet. Ellis seems to take pleasure in turning superheroic icons inside out. Fans will find references and deconstructions from the Golden Age to the post-postmodern comics world. John Cassaday's penciling adapts itself well to the stories, giving intimate barroom chats and epic battles against giant ants equal credibility. While reading Planetary, one gets the sense that superhero comics really do have somewhere to go after being so thoroughly demolished in the '80s and '90s--and that we'd do well to keep reading. --Rob Lightner

About the Author

Warren Ellis has worked for Marvel comics, DC / Wildstorm, where he created the immensely successful Authority and still writes the award-winning Transmetropolitan and Planetary, and is currently working on Ministry of Space and Morning Dragons. John Cassaday is a relative newcomer to comics and first came to prominence on his Union Jack series for Marvel. He is soon to take over as artist of Captain America. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Dc Comics (November 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563897768
• ISBN-13: 978-1563897764
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 6.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #924,953 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy this book, March 4, 2002

By 

"sweeneyjca" (Swift Current, SK Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Planetary Vol. 2: The Fourth Man (Paperback)

I have often been asked by many of my friends about why a man of my age would even bother to spend time reading a comic book. Usually, my response is to lend them a copy of something by Warren Ellis.

In my opinion, this book and the one that precedes it are great examples of the very best that western adventure comics have to offer. Ellis skilfully constructs a hidden history and slowly draws the reader along, often leaving us gasping for more. He satisfies the comic lover with his exploration of some of the genre stereotypes, while, At the same time, giving us a great thriller/mystery that the not-so-comic-versed can also enjoy.

All this and great art too. Cassaday really adds immeasurably to the words on the page.

This is a strong piece of work that you should really look into.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Planetary kicks in to a whole new gear, March 4, 2004

By 

D. Sippel "Rocker" (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Planetary Vol. 2: The Fourth Man (Paperback)

I was somewhat disappointed with the previous volume of Planetary. I felt that Ellis just kind of dropped us into the action without much set up, especially in character development. The Fourth Man really improves upon the earlier premise. Ellis starts to unwind a much larger plot, while Cassaday's skills mature into true excellence.

Some of the essentially single issue tales presented here are stronger than others, but each one, while still a distinctly separate story, winds in threads of intriguing future developments. Ellis also effortlessly manipulates time, seamlessly showing us past events while leading up to future revelations. Elijah Snow is a captivating character, deeply enigmatic, charasmatic, yet conflcted. His search for his missing blocks of memory is extremely well handled and really has me hooked and looking forward to the next volume of the TPB series.

Cassaday's art, and the rich colors supporting it, is magnificent throughout. His detailed, stylish illustration pairs very nicely with the vibrant, stylish colors. He is one of the very best artists in comics, and this is a perfect example of his best work.

Ultimately, Planetary succeeds in updating traditional Science Fiction themes and melding it with Superheros. The result is a fresh exciting look and feel for modern comics. Because of the way the bigger story develops, you don't necessarily have to start with the prior TPB volume. It's certainly worth your while, but if you can only get one of the two volumes right now, get this one. After reading it, you can get the first volume, while you anxiously await the arrival of future Planetary releases. This is some of Ellis' and Cassaday's best work, and great stuff over all from one of the most talented teams in the business.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as the first collection, but close, August 15, 2001

By 

Ron Tothleben ([e-mail]) (Tilburg, Netherlands, Europe) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Planetary Vol. 2: The Fourth Man (Hardcover)

About the story: Elijah Snow, a man with a very mysterious past, previously joined Jakita Wagner and a man only known as 'The Drummer' to be in the three-person formation that is the field-team of the 'supernatural archaeology-agency' called 'Planetary'. An agency hidden to the outside world which researches and maps the secret history of the world, the history that was kept secret to the public eye. All the expenses they make while doing so are being paid for by a person which is only known as 'The Fourth man'. Nobody knows who he/she is or what he/she looks like. In this book some mysteries that were brought up in the previous volume get worked out. For example, we get to learn of the man who was the third man in the agency before Elijah, we learn a lot more about Elijahs past, and most important, we find out who 'The Fourth Man' is. Next to that more is revealed about "The Four", we get to learn members of the agency in other parts of the world (in a VERY good issue, especially for people who like 'Hellblazer') and we get a clue of how exactly the power-balance lays. Off course next to solving existing mysteries the book also throws up some new questions for us to break our heads on.

This book (which collects #7-12) is a very worthy successor of "All over the World" although I enjoyed the first book just a tad more. The issues in here are for a big part a mighty fast read and unlike book 1 there are some mysteries in here which are explained just a little too over-fantastic. Then again, the twining of different parts of the storyline is better here than it was before and the final issue in this TPB makes the most impact of all the issues in the series so far. The art is by the same artist and as good as in the previous volume. All in all it IS another good volume and the series is still at full-power. I highly suggest you get the first volume first though because otherwise I'm affraid you'll feel thrown into the deep, bigtime. I also want to add that people who enjoy 'Hellboy' must be sure to at least try out the first volume because the simularities in the theme and atmosphere are notable and Planetary is AT LEAST as well executed.