From writer David Pepose (Space Ghost) and artist Eman Casallos comes the return of a generational classic with Captain Planet #1. Featuring colors by Jorge Sutil and lettering from Jeff Eckleberry, this first chapter sets up the familiar struggle of 5 environmental warriors and their power rings against the forces of capitalist greed. With a fun script and solid – if not a bit inconsistent – visuals, this opening issue is a cool and relevant trip down memory lane.
“Five special young people have been empowered by Gaia, the embodiment of the Earth’s spirit, with an aspect of our world’s elemental forces: Earth, Fire, Wind, Water, and Heart. When the five powers combine, they summon the world’s greatest champion – Captain Planet!
But before these would-be eco-warriors can combine their newfound abilities in pursuit of environmental justice, they will have to learn to trust each other – and with each member drawn from different (and sometimes mutually antagonistic) corners of the globe, that’s easier said than done.
Unfortunately, time is not on their side. When Gaia is kidnapped, the inexperienced Planeteers are forced to come together – whether they’re ready or not – to face the well-financed might of Lucian Plunder! Even with the five-fold power of Captain Planet on their side, will it be enough to stop the ruthless ingenuity of Earth’s exploiters?”
Writing & Plot
David Pepose brings readers right back to both the 90’s and the Silver Age of superhero comics with his script for Captain Planet #1. His work here feels familiar both as a reintroduction to the character of Captain Planet, as well as how the idea borrows from superhero comics of years prior. Just like in the original cartoon, Gaia assembles five brave and worthy heroes to hold the five power rings that combine to create the titular Captain Planet, a hero who protects nature from the evils of greed and late-era Capitalism. Reading this opening issue, it is almost funny how much Captain Planet borrows from concepts such as Green Lantern and He-Man: Masters of the Universe. Much to the book’s own credit, reading Captain Planet feels like embarking on an old journey for the first time. The writing does feel dated, but it will work for the crowd that is likely going to jump into this issue. The villain and main cast all feel like cookie cutter Saturday morning cartoon characters, but again, that works in the book’s favor given the crowd that will do doubt be ready to jump back into some nostalgia. Pepose’s writing borrows from both the tone of the original show and the work of Stan Lee and Gil Kane, wearing its influences on its sleeve to deliver a comic that feels almost frozen in time. This is a fun read, with Pepose nailing the feel that a classical-feeling comic book story like this should have.
Art Direction
A comic like this needs an artist with an eye for classic material, and Eman Casallos is on hand to provide just that for Captain Planet #1. Casallos’s work here does a solid job of both recreating the feel of the 90’s cartoon while still offering a more modern reading experience – even if some of the visual experience overall is a bit inconsistent. Casallos’s character work is well-detailed, making each main character’s appearance in this first chapter leave a strong impression even if they’re only on a couple pages. His sequential direction really carries the story along well, letting the action hit hard where it needs to while giving each Planeteer’s introduction the proper amount of weight in the story. Even with all of the new characters and the reintroduction of Captain Planet and Gaia, nothing in this 22-page chapter feels rushed. The color art from Jorge Sutil fills in Casallos’s pencils with a vivid color palette, though the deeper detail and shadow work on characters sometimes leaves a bit to be desired. Overall, this debut issue has a solid visual presentation that delivers on both action and character-focus.
Verdict
Captain Planet #1 is a fun hit of nostalgia that does a great job of bringing the 90’s icon back to life in a new medium. David Pepose’s script is a cool mix of Saturday morning cartoon cheese and Silver Age heroism, making for a comic that proudly and effectively wears its influences on its sleeve. The visuals from Eman Casallos and Jorge Sutil let the action hit hard and are well directed so that each character has their own memorable moment to shine. Be sure to grab this debut issue when it hits shelves on May 7th!
