| SYNOPSIS: The Planetary team travels to Gotham City, in order to find a man known as John Black. They meet with representatives from the local office, explaining that Black's father was a survivor of Science City Zero (see Issue #8), and they believe his father may have passed on some genetic enhancements to Black. Their suspicions are confirmed when they see pictures of Black's victims, who met grisly, seemingly multidimensional fates. Investigating the spot he was last seen, they find him, but in chasing him encounter a bizarre individual dressed as a giant bat: Batman. Snow and The Drummer pursue Black; Jakita fights the Batman. The insane Black's power is apparently to generate a multidimensional field, which rewrites sections of reality about him by sending his immediate sphere of influence careening across parallel worlds in the multiverse. Although Black and the Planetary team are unaffected, the journey draws different versions of The Batman from multiple worlds into the conflict, each singly determined to bring Black to justice, despite Planetary's insistence that only they can help him. It's only when one such shift brings enlightenment to Batman and Black -- both men lost their parents to murderers -- that Planetary is able to convince Batman to let them take him in.
REVIEW: There were a lot of reasons why I really enjoyed this book, substantially more than the other, lesser crossovers with the JLA and the Authority. Most obvious is the Cassaday art in this one, and while the other guys do some fine work and all, anyone who doesn't think Planetary's success is as much due to Cassaday as to Warren Ellis is kidding themselves. It's Cassaday's book as much as Ellis'; the art is what makes the comic really stand out from the other books on the shelves. Consider that I could have summarized the above script in about half the words I actually used, and with all due respect to Ellis, it's not just about the intriguing multidimensional realities he's exploring. (Especially when you consider there was an excellent "Zero Hour" issue of (I believe) Superman: Man of Steel that had similar fun with alternate reality Batmans.) I enjoyed Cassaday's work on Captain America and a couple of other one-shots, but this is where he belongs, and it's nice to see his first new Planetary work in more than a year and a half.
Furthermore, unlike the hugely disappointing JLA crossover, this one-shot actually features Planetary rather than a bunch of evil psychos wearing their faces. It also features the "classic" premise of Planetary of the trio investigating mysterious phenomena and individuals, a concept from way back in the Preview issue which had been somewhat overshadowed in later issues which focused primarily on the group's combat with The Four. Planetary as paranormal investigators; Planetary as The X-Files...that, to me, is the heart of what this book is about: unlocking the secret history of the universe. Not trying to defeat The Four. I suppose the Authority crossover featured this concept too, but that one fell short in both story and art. Here there's just enough of one and a top-notch presentation of the other.
It was great to see the different versions of The Batman, particularly the Bob Kane, Neal Adams, and Frank Miller versions. The Adam West version was a nice bit of humor. Visually, the Jakita/Batman clash was a treat. And most importantly, it was the Planetary we've come to know and love, albeit forgotten somewhat since it's been such a long wait. Welcome back.
| |  Random Thoughts:In the Planetary world, there evidently is no Batman, and Dick Grayson (Robin, Nightwing) works for Planetary, as does some guy who looks like the Joker (is the Joker?). Pretty sure the Joker's real name isn't "Jasper" but rather Jack, but there might be some sort of etymological connection between "Jasper" and "jocularity," so....
I understand that most people hate the Adam West Batman, and I understand why, but it was still a kick to see him here. Other versions on hand include the Alex Ross version and (my favorite) the Neal Adams one, nicely done by Cassaday. For a clue as to the rest, see the acknowledgments on the inside back cover. Speculation is that the final version, sort of futuristic-looking, is Cassaday's own interpretation of an alternate-reality one.
I think I'm correct in saying that this issue is clearly set before Snow's memory blocks have been overcome. (Since he is still relying on Jakita for information about Planetary offices.) However, it is ALSO definitively set after Issue #8, the Science City Zero issue. Just trying to help out you continuity folk, you know.
Loved the art and the dialogue on the Batman/Jakita battle. "Tell me you're single."
Spot-on rendition of the Frank Miller, The Dark Knight Returns Batman by Cassaday and Ellis. I enjoyed his several pages more than the entirety of The Dark Knight Strikes Again, not like that's saying a whole lot.
Up next: Issue #16. Can't wait.
RATING: 9/10. What can I say? It was fun. |
