Elijah Snow, Jakita Wagner and the Drummer are the Archaelogists of the Unknown, walking through the hidden doors that lead to our darkest secrets....
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reviews
Feb 11, 2012
Sam
rated it: 
Three books in and I'm still not sure what to make of Planetary. On the one hand the overall story is unfathomable, I'm still not sure about the bad guys called "the 4" or what the point of the whole series is, but on the other hand these books are so packed full of strange and brilliant ideas and amazing art that it's difficult to stay away from.
So here's what you can expect from the third book: an literary encounter between Elijah Snow and some of the best characters the 19 More...
So here's what you can expect from the third book: an literary encounter between Elijah Snow and some of the best characters the 19 More...
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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May 17, 2010
Ginette
rated it:
It all came together for me in this volume, mostly because so much is explained about what has been happening in the story that it started to make more sense. I think going back and rereading the previous volumes will give a better sense of what I think about Planetary as a whole.
One thing I really like about Planetary is how the style of the art changes to enhance storytelling. For example, if the story took place in the early 1900s, then the art reflected that time period. Also, so More...
One thing I really like about Planetary is how the style of the art changes to enhance storytelling. For example, if the story took place in the early 1900s, then the art reflected that time period. Also, so More...
Jul 04, 2011
Richard
rated it:
Elijah Snow's back history with the Four is fully revealed in this volume. What I love about this series are all the ties to classic Pulp Fiction heroes. The first chapter has Elijah meeting Sherlock Holmes at the beginning of the 20th century. Later he meets a Tarzan analogue and there are hints of a John Carter type who travels between worlds. If you're a fan of Doc Savage; his apocalyptic life by Philip José Farmer then you will love it. Plot points from the earlier volumes come back, suc
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Oct 30, 2011
Bookstorequeer
rated it:
I really enjoyed this part. The division between times was clearer than in volume 2 and I was able to get into the stories a little better. Someday I'd like to sit down and read this entire thing from front to back - it really reads as one complete story (at least so far), rather than having individual volumes be necessary. Or at least that's my thought so far.
There's a lot of history in this volume and things coming together. I like how parts of it we're only given as the characters More...
There's a lot of history in this volume and things coming together. I like how parts of it we're only given as the characters More...
Sep 12, 2010
Gordon
rated it: 
As with the X-files the most irritating thing is that as the master story arc becomes clearer and takes over as the driving narrative the classic standalone episodes that initially seemed so great (see vol 1) start to get in the way.
The scope of the epic is implied in the storyline but doesn't really come off as it is often shown in flashbacks and narrative and not made part of the main story.
The spread and imagination of the individual comics continues to excel, althoug More...
The scope of the epic is implied in the storyline but doesn't really come off as it is often shown in flashbacks and narrative and not made part of the main story.
The spread and imagination of the individual comics continues to excel, althoug More...
Jan 14, 2011
Joe
rated it:
4/5
Warren Ellis - writer & John Cassaday - artist
Elijah Snow meets Sherlock Holmes and learns the secrets of an open conspiracy. We learn of Planetary's last attempt on The Four and see what went wrong. Planetary uses a creation song to wake an ancient one and cause a dramatic setback to The Four. We learn the origins of Anna Hark and Elijah Snow makes his move to draw her into an alliance with Planetary. We learn the origin of Jakita Wagner and Elijah Snow has an adventu More...
Warren Ellis - writer & John Cassaday - artist
Elijah Snow meets Sherlock Holmes and learns the secrets of an open conspiracy. We learn of Planetary's last attempt on The Four and see what went wrong. Planetary uses a creation song to wake an ancient one and cause a dramatic setback to The Four. We learn the origins of Anna Hark and Elijah Snow makes his move to draw her into an alliance with Planetary. We learn the origin of Jakita Wagner and Elijah Snow has an adventu More...
Jun 22, 2011
Tom
rated it:
Another strong effort of this band of superhero detectives. Some of the plot brings in heroes and authors like Sherlock Holmes and Jules Verne, giving this collection a The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Vol. 1 type feel. I like how you really have to remember seemingly unrelated characters from several issues back to make sense of it all. As always, the art is superb, and it is pleasant that sometimes just the pictures will be used to explain everything, rather than relying on tons of writt
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Aug 13, 2008
Giacomo
rated it:
This is one of the few examples that made me think that maybe, just maybe, there's still hope for the superhero genre. It feels somehow constrained in graphic-novel form, as its original nature as series is intrinsically exploited by the authors. Divided in small, self-contained units, and leaving the reader to fill in much of the details between one instalment and the other, this is almost a lesson on how one should approach the genre in the XXI century, and an act of love for pop-literary cult
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Dec 17, 2009
Kristopher
rated it:
Gorged on the second and third Planetary books over the course of two days. I think it's good I read it this way, since Ellis uses a lot of subtle foreshadowing and the callbacks would be hard to spot if I'd read month-by-month.
Overall a great book, though. Ellis consistently puts out some of the most interesting stuff in comics these days, and this was a great excuse for him to put his unique spin in practically every comic and pulp genre of the past 100 years.
Overall a great book, though. Ellis consistently puts out some of the most interesting stuff in comics these days, and this was a great excuse for him to put his unique spin in practically every comic and pulp genre of the past 100 years.
Jun 09, 2011
Jordan
rated it:
The larger story finally starts to come together here. We get more backstory on the characters and things look to be gearing up for a final show down. I'm still up in the air about this series, especially considering it's only got one volume left. Part of it may be due to the large gaps I had in between reading the volumes, so after finishing the last volume I plan on giving it another go all at once to see if it catches my attention better that way.
Jan 16, 2012
i haven't read the previous two books so i'm at something of a loss here, but none the less this is really good, i'm going to have to get the others, i don't recommend this as a way to read a series but i did it with the sandman series and it worked, i read to the end and then could go back and read the ones i missed.
finished, not having read the first two volumes first was in this case a bad baaad idea, i missed the joy of a big revelation, do not make the same mistake i made!
finished, not having read the first two volumes first was in this case a bad baaad idea, i missed the joy of a big revelation, do not make the same mistake i made!
May 30, 2010
TJ
rated it:
The masterful storytelling continues. Every issue is a complete stand alone story but simultaneously interwoven into the planetary world. All of the characters, both main and background, are connected in some way.
More not-so-subtle inclusions of evil Fantastic Four, Captain Marvel and Tarzan. Awesome. The artwork continues to amaze.
I'm just glad I wasn't one of you who had to wait 5 years before volume 4 came out. Can't wait to read it.
More not-so-subtle inclusions of evil Fantastic Four, Captain Marvel and Tarzan. Awesome. The artwork continues to amaze.
I'm just glad I wasn't one of you who had to wait 5 years before volume 4 came out. Can't wait to read it.
May 30, 2011
Ryan
rated it:
Excellent addition to the Planetary series, one that forces you to go back to the previous volumes and reanalyze everything that's happened so far. Aside from that, it's Planetary, which means taking old concepts are giving them new life - Sherlock Holmes! Dracula! lose African upotias! This series remains Ellis at his best, though, proof that there's an idealist under the surface of even the harshest cynic.
Jan 16, 2012
Mike
rated it:
I so much more enjoy when our heroes are menacing the bad guys, and they have the upper hand. It's so much more satisfying to see the good guys able to kick some meanie ass and get one up on evil. Warren Ellis does this about as well as anyone who's ever entertained me, and he does it with an extra layer of cynicism, aggressive joy and maniacal glee. *This* is the Warren Ellis master writing that I crave: sinister omniscience in his protagonist, lots of mysteries for us to learn about, plenty o
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Dec 14, 2011
Tom
rated it:
After giving the readers the state of the team of mystery archeologists now, Volume 3 largely steps back to begin to give backstory to Elijah Snow and Jakita Wagner, the group's first encounter with The Four, and Snow's beginning to put together a plan to stop the group permanently. The pay-off comes largely in the final volume, but there is fun to be found in what Snow did to Dracula in 1920.
Jan 29, 2009
Timo
rated it: 
Good points: There weren't text explaining what happens in the pictures, made reading fluent and enjoyable. The last story was very interesting and mystical.
Bad points: Some stories ended with a cliff hanger that did not continue in the next issue but characters just popped back like nothing happened. That annoyed the living shit out of me.
Art is breathtaking. Maybe I should add a third star?
Bad points: Some stories ended with a cliff hanger that did not continue in the next issue but characters just popped back like nothing happened. That annoyed the living shit out of me.
Art is breathtaking. Maybe I should add a third star?
Apr 25, 2010
Mza
rated it:
Wise move: Ellis uses words sparingly and lets Cassaday's pictures carry the action. If it's possible to care about an adventure without caring about the people having it, that's what we have here. Cassaday's draftsmanship is at its usual otherworldly level. He might also be the top cinematographer in comix -- which in this case is not an insult.
Apr 07, 2011
David
rated it:
Another great addition to the imaginative Planetary sci-fi. This book was revealing of Elijah's past, offering up exciting adventures along the way. Of course, it also answers questions about The Four and Planetary's rivalry with them.
Great stories. If you haven't started reading Planetary. Start.
Great stories. If you haven't started reading Planetary. Start.
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...
Feb 10, 2010
David
rated it:
Another great read. The artwork continues to be fantastic. The integration of characters from the past into the story is so well done. Somewhat reminiscent of The LoEG it ads dimensions to the history Ellis is creating that makes the overall plot of the series more complex and satisfying.
Feb 02, 2010
Juju
rated it:
Some great moments in this one. I like this series least when it flashes famous character analogues for effect and most when these familiar elements are exploded by Ellis' dangerous new ideas. This one gets bumped up to four stars since there's a brief scene in Austin, TX.
May 17, 2009
Loyd
rated it:
Planetary has a component missing from most graphic novels: a true sense of the mysterious. It doesn't apologize for leaving huge gaps in the narrative, making the reader fill in the spaces. It's also chock-full of intriguing, almost familiar characters, which is where the fun comes in.
Jul 30, 2011
M
rated it:
Ellis has begun to weave together his storytelling tapestry, outing the Fourth Man and placing the Planetary group on the offensive. Casady continues to dazzle with his art, and the book gathers steam with each new volume.
Aug 26, 2010
Dan
rated it:
Another awesome installment in the series - we learn even more about the enigmatic Elijah Snow and his early adventures in this one - truly a cross between The X-Files and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
Jan 04, 2012
Miles
rated it:
More great work from Ellis and Cassaday - this time with nods to Thor and Verne's "From the Earth to the Moon," among others. Looking forward to seeing how this saga is wrapped up in Vol. 4.
Feb 21, 2011
Tedbrogan19
rated it:
While not quite as epic as the first two trades, this one still gets extra points because the incident involving a withering crotch kick to frozen Dracula.
Aug 11, 2011
Warren Ellis continues his tribute to pulp magazines in this volume. of special interest is the Opak Re issue,with its Tarzan analog.
Jul 06, 2010
Steve
rated it:
May be the only "weak" link in the Planetary run. The flashback issues are really nice, but they do kind of detract from the ongoing story.
Nov 02, 2011
Lloyd
rated it:
Man, I love this series.
Ellis continues his magical task of taking events (both mythical and factual), actual people, and fictional characters and weaving them into an "underground" history of the 20th century.
God, what a great idea and a great set of books.
This one is no different, continuing to put forth several homages to past fictitious creations and their creators, while weaving all of that into dynamic characters and ever unraveling histories More...
Ellis continues his magical task of taking events (both mythical and factual), actual people, and fictional characters and weaving them into an "underground" history of the 20th century.
God, what a great idea and a great set of books.
This one is no different, continuing to put forth several homages to past fictitious creations and their creators, while weaving all of that into dynamic characters and ever unraveling histories More...
