This second collection of Earth-shattering adventures from WildStorm stars a team of super-powered "mystery archaeologists" who have uncovered evid...
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Apr 18, 2011
Julian
rated it: 
This is a review of the full four-volume saga, consisting of Planetary, Volume. 1: All Over the World and Other Stories, Planetary, Volume 2: The Fourth Man, Planetary, Volume 3: Leaving the 20th Century and Planetary, Volume 4: Spacetime Archaeology. I will review the companion volume Planetary: Crossing Worlds elsewhere. I'm doing this because the four books simply don't work independently. Most of book 2 is completely incomprehensible until you read book 3, at which point all the apparentl
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Nov 28, 2009
vladimir
rated it:
Issue #27 finally came out, & I dug up my back issues & read the series from start to finish because I wanted to get a sense of the narrative arc since this tale was 10 YEARS in the making.
The Verdict: this is one of the most brilliant extended storylines I've ever encounters. It will stand the test of time, up there with Watchmen and others of the 'hero' genre.
PLANETARY is ultimately a holographic version of the Arabian Nights; it can be read as hero-noir, pastiche/tribu More...
The Verdict: this is one of the most brilliant extended storylines I've ever encounters. It will stand the test of time, up there with Watchmen and others of the 'hero' genre.
PLANETARY is ultimately a holographic version of the Arabian Nights; it can be read as hero-noir, pastiche/tribu More...
May 26, 2010
TJ
rated it:
Wow. After being thoroughly underwhelmed by Book One and wondering if people were just being trendy and kissing Warren Ellis' ass...well, that was until I read this book.
Warren Ellis proves he is a healthy dose of Kerouac mixed with Palahniuk. Planetary is a group, "Archaeologists of the Impossible," which reads like a Superheroes X-Files meets The Watchmen. Excellent storytelling by Ellis keeps you on the edge of your seat and, of course, ends on a perfect cliffhanger More...
Warren Ellis proves he is a healthy dose of Kerouac mixed with Palahniuk. Planetary is a group, "Archaeologists of the Impossible," which reads like a Superheroes X-Files meets The Watchmen. Excellent storytelling by Ellis keeps you on the edge of your seat and, of course, ends on a perfect cliffhanger More...
Dec 14, 2011
Tom
rated it:
Volume Two, like Volume One, is made up of various stand-alone issues that all add to a unique whole. Introductions being done, the focus now shifts towards the mystery of Planetary's "Fourth Man" and some little things about protagonist Elijah Snow we didn't know before, such as memory loss so good even he didn't know he was forgetting large chunks of his very long life, as well as getting an idea of just how evil The Four actually are.
Of importance to this volume, beside More...
Of importance to this volume, beside More...
Mar 16, 2011
Tom
rated it:
This series has become incredibly strong. The mysteries surrounding the Planetary organization, its members, and its financier, come to the forefront. The story is very strong, and the art work is also very well executed.
This actually reminded me some of Patton Oswalt's talk of how nerd culture is too easy now. If I had to wait a month between each chapter, and reread each issue in anticipation, I imagine it would have been an even more riveting tale, and perhaps I would have picked More...
This actually reminded me some of Patton Oswalt's talk of how nerd culture is too easy now. If I had to wait a month between each chapter, and reread each issue in anticipation, I imagine it would have been an even more riveting tale, and perhaps I would have picked More...
Jun 24, 2010
Shelly - The Illustrated Librarian -
rated it:
I do not wish to include spoilers here, so I will only say that "Planetary," and this volume of collected issues in particular, is an extremely well written jaunt into the arcane.
Somewhat a combination of "X-Files" and "Indiana Jones," Warren Ellis brings the Planetary group to life and reveals "The Fourth Man" in this volume of the graphic novels. The mysterious "Fourth Man" is the head of the Planetary operation. All of the Fourth M More...
Somewhat a combination of "X-Files" and "Indiana Jones," Warren Ellis brings the Planetary group to life and reveals "The Fourth Man" in this volume of the graphic novels. The mysterious "Fourth Man" is the head of the Planetary operation. All of the Fourth M More...
Dec 29, 2011
Miles
rated it: 
More great work from Warren Ellis (writer) and John Cassaday (artist). This volume once again left me looking forward to me. The wild plotlines, compelling characters, varied storytellings, and fun homages continued, as the mysteries surronunding the main characters deepened. This time around there were tips of the cap to Michael Moorcock, '50s horror movies, Green Lantern, Superman, Wonder Woman, Jim Steranko, and Nick Fury, Agent of Shield, among others. Graphic novels do not get much mor
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Nov 18, 2009
Dave
rated it:
See my review of the first volume, that pretty much sums up this one too. I will note that Jakita, for being your basic brick, is surprisingly emotionally engaging. I guess, because she is surprisingly emotionally engaged. Cassaday gives her an unexpectedly expressive face, and she pretty much wears her heart on her sleeve, which is a welcome departure from the standardly stoic, laconic musclehead.
Oh yeah, and...
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Oh yeah, and...
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Feb 11, 2012
Sam
rated it: 
"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 More...
Readers who made it through the first book hoping for more More...
Nov 16, 2010
Artur
rated it:
Tenho cada vez menos dúvidas que Warren Ellis é um dos mais importantes autores de comics da actualidade. Sempre surpreendente, Ellis canaliza nas pranchas e quadricromias visões que nos remetem para o revivalismo, distopia, fetishismo e tecnofetishismo, teorias de conspiração e futurismo desbragado.
Planetary é uma das suas mais aclamadas séries: três pessoas com poderes discretos, arqueólogos do mistério, vivendo entre as fronteiras das realidades ficcionadas. Mergulhar neste The Fou More...
Planetary é uma das suas mais aclamadas séries: três pessoas com poderes discretos, arqueólogos do mistério, vivendo entre as fronteiras das realidades ficcionadas. Mergulhar neste The Fou More...
Jun 28, 2011
Richard
rated it:
Issues 7-12 of Planetary really paid off for the patient reader. A lot of hints were dropped earlier about the past team members, Ambrose Chase and the mysterious Fourth Man. Those mysteries are revealed here. Along the way Ellis devotes an issue to the Vertigo books (with a character similar to John Constantine), an alien invasion, and a Nick Fury like character with nods to Jim Steranko on the cover. You can really see John Cassaday's artwork grow by leaps and bounds with each issue.
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Oct 30, 2011
Lloyd
rated it:
Wow.
What Ellis began in the first book of "Planetary", he digs us in deeper in this one.
The concept of paying tribute to all kinds of things from 100 years of pop culture and wrapping it in a mysterious plot with enigmatic characters, really... It's just amazing.
This volume shows tributes to John Constantine and all of Vertigo, 1950's films, Allison Hayes (born right down the road in Charleston, WV), Superman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Nick Fury, More...
What Ellis began in the first book of "Planetary", he digs us in deeper in this one.
The concept of paying tribute to all kinds of things from 100 years of pop culture and wrapping it in a mysterious plot with enigmatic characters, really... It's just amazing.
This volume shows tributes to John Constantine and all of Vertigo, 1950's films, Allison Hayes (born right down the road in Charleston, WV), Superman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Nick Fury, More...
Jul 30, 2011
M
rated it:
The superhero analogues begin making their debut during the second volume of Ellis's Planetary. As Elijah Snow begins to unravel the truth behind his employer, the Fourth Man, the team's adventures face them against disturbing versions of an invasive alien Justice League, a monstrous Hulk creature, the Nick Fury-ish spy, and a godlike Fantastic Four mixture. It is always fun to see archetypical characters altered for the purposes of a new story.
Sep 12, 2010
Gordon
rated it:
Continues well from vol 1. Not quite as surprising as it wants to be and the stories seem a little .... short .....
The different styles per story is both invigorating and annoying - although all done by the same art team inconsistencies in representations of the characters seem a little jarring, especially Jakita.
Having a better signposted date per story would remove some of the forced "work it out" element.
Still keep reading!
The different styles per story is both invigorating and annoying - although all done by the same art team inconsistencies in representations of the characters seem a little jarring, especially Jakita.
Having a better signposted date per story would remove some of the forced "work it out" element.
Still keep reading!
Jan 14, 2012
Mike
rated it:
What Ellis and Cassaday are doing here is questioning fiction, heroes, villains itself. Not doing it in the turgid, cold academic way of Alan Moore, but through a plot filled with action, mystery and layers of deceit and revelation. That is, they're telling a damned good story and having fun with everything they've observed and criticised about comicdom.
Ellis must have a pretty thick notebook filled with little throwaway ideas of new heroes, interesting scenarios - to be littering these books w More...
Ellis must have a pretty thick notebook filled with little throwaway ideas of new heroes, interesting scenarios - to be littering these books w More...
Jun 09, 2011
Seth
rated it:
ditto.
actually, i might give this one 4 and a half stars if i could. it drags a little at the beginning, not because the stories are bad or unfun, just not quite as good as the previous ones. however, they all start to link together nicely by the end, and as my friend juju puts it, "the real mystery begins."
four and half at the beginning, and back up to five stars by the end!
actually, i might give this one 4 and a half stars if i could. it drags a little at the beginning, not because the stories are bad or unfun, just not quite as good as the previous ones. however, they all start to link together nicely by the end, and as my friend juju puts it, "the real mystery begins."
four and half at the beginning, and back up to five stars by the end!
Dec 06, 2010
Joe
rated it:
Elijah Snow begins to piece together his fragmented memory...and doesn't exactly like what he finds! Who are the mysterious Four and why have they shattered Snow's memory? What happened at Science Center Zero? Who is the fourth man in Planetary? Questions are answered as new mysteries pop up. More great art and enthralling storytelling from Warren Ellis and John Cassaday
Aug 02, 2010
Ross
rated it:
So this volume continues Ellis' surreal run of stories that run the edge of reality.
The story continues with the team investigating more mysteries and finding more weird stuff. It also, as the title implies, delves deeper in the mystery of the Fourth Man and Elijah Snow.
This stuff gets really crazy. I'll be perfectly honest about that. But it is a really good crazy.
The story continues with the team investigating more mysteries and finding more weird stuff. It also, as the title implies, delves deeper in the mystery of the Fourth Man and Elijah Snow.
This stuff gets really crazy. I'll be perfectly honest about that. But it is a really good crazy.
Mar 29, 2011
zxvasdf
rated it:
Homages to the golden age of comics and movies abound here. Glimpses of a world where things that might have come to be never came, extinguished in its infancy, its first steps above the veil. It is also a story that reveals, in which illumination comes, but there are still shadows.
I take back what I said about it being better to read the series backwards...
I take back what I said about it being better to read the series backwards...
Oct 27, 2011
Bookstorequeer
rated it:
I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first volume. I still love the characters but this volume felt a little jumbled together and I found myself getting lost as to what time I was and what was going on. It came together (mostly) at the end but I didn't get as excited about reading it as I did the first volume. Still, can't wait for the next part.
May 06, 2009
Loyd
rated it:
Planetary has got me and has no signs of letting go. You never know when the twists and turns are coming, but it doesn't fee like author Ellis is just jerking us around. This volume is more of a mystery, to find the mythical "Fourth Man" who provides Planetary with their funding, and, one suspects, their purpose.
Sep 10, 2011
Karen
rated it:
The only reference I clearly got in this book is the James Bond one. I know the other stories are references to other literature, but I don't what they are. I sort of got the Superman, Wonderwoman and Green Lantern reference, but I don't know if they were supposed to be from specific issues or just in general.
Jun 05, 2011
Joseph
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Feb 27, 2009
Rolf
rated it:
If you liked the first one, you'll like this one as well. Each issue of this graphic novel is almost self-contained enough to read by itself, but this volume of the series greatly advances the major plot as well. Looking forward to digging in to Volume 3.
Jul 06, 2010
Steve
rated it:
Some really brilliant comics here, told in a great way in which the ongoing themes and plotlines are hidden pretty well in the first half of the book. They start to come together in this volume, and really kick into gear in the second half of the run.
Jun 15, 2011
Zach
rated it:
It's been a while since I read Planetary Volume 1, and I'd forgotten how much I liked it. Each issue has a unique style, and works as a stand-alone story, but the world Warren Ellis has created gets more and more interesting as the overall plot unfolds.
Dec 22, 2008
Nathan
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This was much better than vol. 1 -- great characters and plot while still maintaining that over-the-top tone of the series. Also had the fun references to older comics and inside jokes.
Jan 12, 2009
Travis
rated it:
Somewhere between X-files and the League of Extrordinairy Gentleman.
One of Warren Ellis best works as it blends his trademark love of weird science, smart dialogue, wailing on comic books and cheesy pulp fiction.
Lots of stand alone stories linked together by the mysteries of who are the villianous Four and who is the mysterious Fourth man that runs the Planetary Foundation.
Very clever and fun.
One of Warren Ellis best works as it blends his trademark love of weird science, smart dialogue, wailing on comic books and cheesy pulp fiction.
Lots of stand alone stories linked together by the mysteries of who are the villianous Four and who is the mysterious Fourth man that runs the Planetary Foundation.
Very clever and fun.
Mar 11, 2011
Elizabeth
rated it:
A second excellent volume about the mysterious archeologists with super powers searching the planet for strange things.
I'm really loving Warren Ellis!
I'm really loving Warren Ellis!
Feb 10, 2010
David
rated it:
The story continues and becomes more complex.Ellis once again creates such depth to the world and is able to connect a multitude of fiction into his story.
