Customer Reviews

Planetary Vol. 4: Spacetime Archaeology (Planetary (DC Comics))

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At long last, the final volume of Warren Ellis and John Cassaday's "Planetary" has arrived in stores. Collecting the final issues of the series, #19-27, the stories here were published over a span of several years, with the final #27 coming out years after the previous issue. "Planetary" began in 1999, when Ellis was heavily involved in the original Wildstorm imprint, but has since detached (Wildstorm has gone through so many changes since then that it's hard to recognize it as the same place it was when Ellis was still writing within that continuity). Some spoilers follow.

"Planetary" started out as an issue-by-issue examination of different genres of fiction in the 20th century, and gradually transitioned into the story of the struggle between the Planetary investigative organization and the malevolent Four, Ellis' paper-thinly-veiled take on Marvel Comics' Fantastic Four, here positioned as the secret masters of the world, hoarding scientific knowledge for themselves. The previous volume ended with the capture of the pseudo-Human Torch, William Leather. Here, Elijah Snow and his team proceed to deal with the others: Randall Dowling (Reed Richards), Kim Suskind (Susan Richards), and Jacob Greene (Ben Grimm; the name is a tip to Jacob Kurtzberg, aka Jack Kirby). The original genre deconstruction largely falls by the wayside here, apart from an issue offering a spin on the Lone Ranger.

Characterization has always been secondary in "Planetary", though the various leads are all written with Ellis' trademark amusing style, an often odd mix of cynicism and heart-on-the-sleeve idealism. The resolution of the conflict with the Four is adequate, though it depends on callbacks to stories published much, much earlier this decade, so it may strain the memory (it might be advisable to reread the first three volumes before reading the fourth). The art by John Cassaday is customarily lovely, if not always visceral. There are a couple of affecting scenes, though Ellis doesn't linger on them.

A solid ending to the series.

This is the hardcover collection of the last several Planetary comics. First, if you are familiar with Planetary, then you know how wonderful this alternate earth comic is. Warren Ellis is a master storyteller and Cassaday's just shines on the extra thick stock pages. The format truly honors the loving work that has been put into this story.

Now for those who know the story, this is simply a collection of the comics. There isn't new material nor is there any real additional work. However, the workmanship of the hardcover is wonderful. The binding is strong, the pages are thick and feel good in the hands. Most of all, the artwork just pops off the page. This is a lovely end cap to the series.

If you've never read planetary, getting the 4 volume story is very much worthwhile. If you've read Planetary but would like something more solid and beautiful, you should also pick up this book. Really its truly an outstanding collectible.

I fondly remember borrowing the first 3 trades of this fantastic series a few years ago from a friend, and absolutely loving it. When I saw the fourth recently hit the shelves, I wondered about going back through the series again. I was going to wait for this volume to come in softcover, but decided that I could not wait, as it may not even happen this year.

It was worth the purchase. Despite being only 27 issues long, much like 'Watchmen', it feels longer than that. Maybe it is John Cassaday's luscious artwork which almost compels you to stop and take a third or fourth look. It could be Warren Ellis' pacing and plot, which make the books feel like a high quality TV drama; there are great one-off issues, which are well encapsulated stories, but there's also a great, over-arcing plot line which comes to a strong resolution.

Much like a good BBC show, it is succinct and sweet, leaving the reader with just enough to enjoy the time they spent in Elijah Snow's world.

Full disclosure: I am an ardent Warren Ellis sycophant. Though I haven't yet read all his work, his fiction hasn't yet disappointed. That's putting it boringly. Rather, I should write that he hasn't yet not astounded me with his breadth and acumen for writing speculative, traditional and historical science fiction. So rather than simply slew gratuitous praise, I'll say a few words about Planetary.

Planetary defines the science fiction genre, whether in graphic form or otherwise. Science creating fiction, and fiction literally inspiring science. Constantly feeding off one another. Inventive and all-consuming with magnitudes of possibility. Ellis's imagination is only tempered by the scope of the four volume arc in which his characters unearth mystery incarnate. If it weren't for said characters, he'd have a wild, unboundedly orgasmic multiverse to populate on paper. Something never be fully realized, of course; so we have but a corralled current of enthrallment, advancing via strangely disparate heroes less captivated with themselves than the mystery of possibility itself. Briefly, Planetary involves restoration and preservation, of memory, old friends, of the past, of earth and most everything on it; not just earth but more importantly what the earth offers the nascent potential to reveal. Secrets in plain sight, others buried deep or quarantined by other unseen authorities. Joyous secrecy from a group of unlikely archivists. Secrets in space, earth civilization, multidimensional factions and realized fiction.

As far as character development, I'll venture that Ellis deliberately understates, instead focusing on the expeditious mind-bending flashes in which they participate. That he never explicitly explains the abilities of Elijah Snow and Co. is for the better, leaving the reader to surmise their perhaps unearthly origins. On the other hand, his is the first example I've come across to deftly shatter the "black man always dies at the start" premise. No, it is better to invite the fascination from such issues as "Mystery in Space/Rendezvous", "Magic & Loss", "Creation Songs" and "The Gun Club", all top tier stories and so nebulous as they linger in the reader's mind.

Planetary is just writing and illustration of awe. Universal awe of not what can be achieved in human endeavors, but comprehended. A bit tangential, but that's what both science and imagination do. Carrying one to places never thought possible.

Though it took Ellis and Cassady what seemed like an eternity to finish Planetary, the end result is a deeply satisfying science-fiction romp. In the end, Planetary reminds us that, even in a world of limitless sci-fi possibilities populated by a broad array of delightful pastiche characters based on the heroes of classic genre fiction, it's the human drama that makes good fiction really WORK. Planetary began with a sense of wonder, and though that sense of wonder took a back seat to the rivarly between Elijah Snow and The Four, the series ends on an emotional high, as Snow and company push the boundaries of reality itself in a desperate attempt to resolve the character arc which has, under the surface, driven the narrative of the entire series.

When it was originally published, many readers complained that the penultimate chapter was disappointing, forgetting that it wasn't intended to be the series' final note. In this collected edition (which includes the final issue), readers will see what Ellis intended to achieve with his conclusion, and as the title of this review says, it's worth the wait.

Planetary may be the finest comic series I've ever read. Right up there with Watchmen, and Sandman, this book makes me dream of a weirder, more wonderful world.

I couldn't wait for this book after reading the 3 previous volumes, and though I enjoyed more the other 3 (the second one above all) this is a really good superhero/pulp comic and a good conclusion for the serie.

One of the best supehero series I have ever read.

Highly recommend!

This finishes off the Planetary story. All secrets revealed, all villains met, some even conquered, and a haunting mystery from the past brought to a triumphant close. I've been waiting for this for probably 5 years, and it does not disappoint. If you like grand stories, even if not in comic book form, you should give Planetary a shot. It started as archaeology of a world with superheroes, but wound up with pastiches of other comic, genres, and you could see all the pieces slowly come together. Ideas abound, and bits include everything from particle physics to the supernatural, to Doc *cough* Savage *cough* and others.

Warren Ellis is a genius. This final volume of Planetary proves that, without question. The characters and story are brought to a satisfying conclusion in this book. Satisfying enough, I had to read it twice.

Taken all together, Planetary may be my favorite comic book series to date, full of memorable characters, fantastic locations, and smarmy parodies of the biggest names in comics (Marvel and DC, no one is safe!)

If you ever wondered what the world would be like if superheroes actually existed, Planetary has your answer.

"Planetary" seemed rather gimmick-y at the onset, and I doubt many writers could have pulled it off, turning it into nothing short of a masterpiece, with each new issue interesting in its own right while still feeding you bits of the overall story cycle. It worked.

But as every good entertainer knows, it's best to leave the audience wanting more. Ellis delivers a closing chapter here that explains what needs to be explained and implies further adventures down the road. Perfect.

As for the art, what can I say? If you aren't familiar with Cassaday's work, it is pretty and clear and adds to the story. If you DO know Cassaday's work, well, hey, it's Cassaday ... what more do you want?

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