Planetary Vol. 2: The Fourth Man (Planetary (Windstorm))
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Product Description
Book Review Magazine Vectors 223- Gary Wilkinson
"Spare, harsh, and brilliant"
Essex CHronicle, 19th April 2001, with MAtt Adams
Intricately plotted storytelling from the masters of the genre. A definite must have for any graphic novel collection.
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Format:Paperback
"Was that Spider Jerusalem?" was my thought when I saw the ending to the first story. And then the riffs on Hellblazer, Superman, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern... but I'm jumping around. But then that's what Ellis and Cassaday do with this strange series, Planetary, they leap from one story to another, each one seemingly unconnected, with odd glimpses into sci-fi storylines that seem faintly familiar and intriguing.
Readers who made it through the first book hoping for more clarity in the second will be surprised to see that no, unlike most series where explanations occur some ways into it, Planetary eschews this model to continue baffling the reader. This is my second time reading this series and I'm still not sure why the mystery of the fourth man is so important or who these characters are and what they're doing, but it's building to something, sometime, somehow.
In this second volume there are world famous superspies who fake their deaths to kill superheroes, giant desert ants and ghosts of Cold War experiments gone wrong, mad scientists, aliens, eye lasers, and literary allusions aplenty including alternate takes on the Superman, Green Lantern and Wonder Woman mythol.
I find that so long as you're looking for a traditional narrative and go along with the ride that the books are more enjoyable to read. Trust in Warren Ellis and John Cassaday, they probably know what they're doing. Some of the stories are interesting, some not so, but hang in there because I know Book 3 makes the first two books make a bit more sense and a larger picture of the storyline emerges in it. Meanwhile, enjoy some whacky and abstract short comics in "The Fourth Man" and give yourself an entertaining headache.
Readers who made it through the first book hoping for more clarity in the second will be surprised to see that no, unlike most series where explanations occur some ways into it, Planetary eschews this model to continue baffling the reader. This is my second time reading this series and I'm still not sure why the mystery of the fourth man is so important or who these characters are and what they're doing, but it's building to something, sometime, somehow.
In this second volume there are world famous superspies who fake their deaths to kill superheroes, giant desert ants and ghosts of Cold War experiments gone wrong, mad scientists, aliens, eye lasers, and literary allusions aplenty including alternate takes on the Superman, Green Lantern and Wonder Woman mythol.
I find that so long as you're looking for a traditional narrative and go along with the ride that the books are more enjoyable to read. Trust in Warren Ellis and John Cassaday, they probably know what they're doing. Some of the stories are interesting, some not so, but hang in there because I know Book 3 makes the first two books make a bit more sense and a larger picture of the storyline emerges in it. Meanwhile, enjoy some whacky and abstract short comics in "The Fourth Man" and give yourself an entertaining headache.
Format:Hardcover
Second volume to collect issues of the comic planetary, this contains all of issues seven to twelve.
Planetary is the story of three disparate individuals who work for an organisation that investigates the mysterious. While some issues are largely self contained the whole thing is one big story, so it's best to start with Planetary Vol 01: All Over the World and Other Stories rather than here.
Those who do read the whole story in order will find this volume does a lot of what volume one did - stories that are relatively self contained whilst also being part of a much bigger one - but also that the main narrative does develop very nicely. Jon Snow slowly learns more about planetary. The mysterious fourth man behind the organisation. And about their enemies the four.
All the time encountering characters who are thinly veiled takes on famous comic book characters and fictional characters from other realms, all told in a variety of different storytelling styles.
The art is superb and eye catching. As is the colouring.
There's one major plot development towards the end and that lifts the story up nicely.
This does exactly what it should: Make you reconsider all you've read so far, and leaves you eager to see what happens next.
Planetary is the story of three disparate individuals who work for an organisation that investigates the mysterious. While some issues are largely self contained the whole thing is one big story, so it's best to start with Planetary Vol 01: All Over the World and Other Stories rather than here.
Those who do read the whole story in order will find this volume does a lot of what volume one did - stories that are relatively self contained whilst also being part of a much bigger one - but also that the main narrative does develop very nicely. Jon Snow slowly learns more about planetary. The mysterious fourth man behind the organisation. And about their enemies the four.
All the time encountering characters who are thinly veiled takes on famous comic book characters and fictional characters from other realms, all told in a variety of different storytelling styles.
The art is superb and eye catching. As is the colouring.
There's one major plot development towards the end and that lifts the story up nicely.
This does exactly what it should: Make you reconsider all you've read so far, and leaves you eager to see what happens next.
Format:Paperback
At just under 30 issues this series did well to create the impression of multiple one-off storylines whilst actually building towards a single integrated plot. It was very well conceived and executed with brilliant artwork and snappy dialogue.
You'll notice pretty quickly that most of the characters are reinventions of popular comics heroes. I spotted the Hulk, Iceman, Captain America, the Fantastic Four and a bunch of others who are arguably interpretations of lesser known characters (or else just coincidence). It seems a stupid excuse for a book, to just rewrite all these existing creations, and akin to parody (or plaigarism). This element, I didn't like.
Other than that, it's a cool read with some great twists, lots of surprises and great, memorable moments. Not the genius that some people make it out to be, but worth a read if you can find it cheapish.
7 / 10
David Brookes
Author of 'Half Discovered Wings'
You'll notice pretty quickly that most of the characters are reinventions of popular comics heroes. I spotted the Hulk, Iceman, Captain America, the Fantastic Four and a bunch of others who are arguably interpretations of lesser known characters (or else just coincidence). It seems a stupid excuse for a book, to just rewrite all these existing creations, and akin to parody (or plaigarism). This element, I didn't like.
Other than that, it's a cool read with some great twists, lots of surprises and great, memorable moments. Not the genius that some people make it out to be, but worth a read if you can find it cheapish.
7 / 10
David Brookes
Author of 'Half Discovered Wings'
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