SPOILERS - Planetary 26 - can't believe no-one's Posted! SPOILERS

[Karl H]

Haven't really got the time or energy to post a detailed exposition, suffice to say, this was awesome!

Really does tie everything together - a quick list:

SPOILERS

The fates of Greene and Leather
Anna Hark
City Zero
The communications device in Stone's ear
The Shiftship
Snow smokes - he's clearly in a good mood!
Some great drummer/ elijah moments!
The Apokolips world
Snow's place as a century baby and the fundamental difference between him and Dowling...

I hope they do do a 27 just to wrap things up but, this is pretty damn near comic perfection to me!

[Sheldon]

It was good, but so long coming it's lost the effect on me. I suppose it will be much better if I read the whole thing in a sitting or two.

I dunno, it read like a last issue to me....even though I heard there will be an issue 27.

[sgt pepper]

It wrapped things up, but I wouldn't say it's awesome. It's solid and satisfactory, but there were no wow moments for me.

[agrich]

The long wait in the latter stages of the series did hurt the ending a bit.

I would expect to see another issue, because there's one thing that needs to be resolved:

"I think he's trying to save Ambrose Chase."


http://home.earthlink.net/~richardsonag/planetary.htm

[Guapo Méndez]

All that time, for this?

Bah.

And: "Ancestor" is before.
"Descendant" is after.

[lostphrack]

When you remember that this was meant to be his "final word" on the superhero genre than he ending makes perfect sense. The whole punching people is stupid, we can work out our issues without having to punch people all the time thing works as his final word wonderfully.

Of course the effect is a bit lessened by the fact that it became bi-quarterly for several years and that he's spent most of the last 5 years writing more superhero comics. Least that's my take.

[Sgt. Preston]

The wait between issues is tremendous, but I still get excited every time I get a new Planetary. I loved the final scene between Snow and Dowling, and felt that Ellis wrapped up matters well. Looking forward to the final issue which unfortunately will probably be in 2008.:confused:

[Guapo Méndez]

When you remember that this was meant to be his "final word" on the superhero genre than he ending makes perfect sense. The whole punching people is stupid, we can work out our issues without having to punch people all the time thing works as his final word wonderfully.

Of course the effect is a bit lessened by the fact that it became bi-quarterly for several years and that he's spent most of the last 5 years writing more superhero comics. Least that's my take.

But they did punch people. He just had them fall from great height. 3 of the 4 were dealt with "ooh, look how clever I am by not hitting them."

[sgt pepper]

When you remember that this was meant to be his "final word" on the superhero genre than he ending makes perfect sense. The whole punching people is stupid, we can work out our issues without having to punch people all the time thing works as his final word wonderfully.



Bogus. If I'm to read this series as his final word on the genre, then I'll interpret it as saying that superhero books can be dark and violent and clever and awesome.

Your interpretation of the ending makes no sense. In issue 25, there is a several page fist fight that includes a demon claw (to be severed) and it's violent as hell and beautiful to look at. To repeat the above post, no one punched anyone in 26, he just dropped them hundreds of feet into a chasm and dragged out there mangled bodies.

I don't think I understand your point or you haven't made it well.

[lostphrack]

Bogus. If I'm to read this series as his final word on the genre, then I'll interpret it as saying that superhero books can be dark and violent and clever and awesome.

Your interpretation of the ending makes no sense. In issue 25, there is a several page fist fight that includes a demon claw (to be severed) and it's violent as hell and beautiful to look at. To repeat the above post, no one punched anyone in 26, he just dropped them hundreds of feet into a chasm and dragged out there mangled bodies.

I don't think I understand your point or you haven't made it well.
It's not really that big of a stretch, Snow pretty much comes right out and states it.

Jakita: I didn't even get to hit anything, Elijah.
Snow: You're thinking like Dowling. Shoot something. Destroy something. That was his concept of power. Knowledge towards destruction.

Blowing things up is counterproductive, perhaps except as a last resort. Just because the series featured violence doesn't change the fact that that's almost exactly what he's saying. Hell, Snow was even willing to offer Dowling a truce and only dropped him down the hole after Dowling made it clear that he wasn't going to abandon his destructive goals.

The Invisibles had a similar theme. It was full of violence and death, but one of the major ideas within it was that ultimately violence was counterproductive and that were better ways to deal with things.

[Jack]

It was also about the idea that, at the end of the day, Randal Dowling wasn't really the problem, nor was it Snow's purpose in life to fight him.. I liked that.

[Sean Whitmore]

Keep in mind that Jakita's "I didn't get to hit anything" line wasn't in reference to Dowling, but the alien thingee at the end. And they didn't hit it...they had it completely and utterly beaten before they even made contact. And frankly, Snow could have killed it, and didn't.

That was how Snow was different than Dowling. That was what he meant by what he said. And if it came off sounding like "look how clever I am", that's only because he is indeed that clever.


SEAN

[Butch Mapa]

Loved it! But it definitely needs issue # 27, if only for Ambrose. My fear is that Ellis and Cassaday will lose interest (since the main story is finished) and we won't see another issue for a few years.

[noh-varr]

You know there WILL be an issue #27. Ellis has said this many times, it's the epilogue issue. But the series proper is done. So the series IS over, all the main storylines are done, no more Four, all the big mysteries are solved. Shiftship, City Zero, the Four Planetary fued all done and resolved. We get one more glimpse at this wonderous world and that's all. Now it may be a bit since Cassady is still doing Astonishing, I think on the Engine, Ellis said shooting for early next year for it to be done.

[Butch Mapa]

I hope so, dude.

[Guapo Méndez]

A friend of mine pegged the series when it was floundering by the LoEG ripoff.

It's a goddamn shaggy dog.

[ultramandingo]

If I'm to read this series as his final word on the genre, then I'll interpret it as saying that superhero books can be dark and violent and clever and awesome.

sounds good to me . and hes done with this book - xcept for the next "all punching" issue . you know , for the kids

[sgt pepper]

xcept for the next "all punching" issue . you know , for the kids

That would be awsesome. Except that it would ruin Ellis's point of the series which is apparently (according to above posters) that superhero conflicts don't need to be resolved with punching or violence (in spite of the fact that the last several issues are filled with punching, oh and the murders by Snow of every member of the Four).

[ultramandingo]

That would be awsesome. Except that it would ruin Ellis's point of the series which is apparently (according to above posters) that superhero conflicts don't need to be resolved with punching or violence (in spite of the fact that the last several issues are filled with punching, oh and the murders by Snow of every member of the Four).

in comic world punching solves everything

[Jack]

That would be awsesome. Except that it would ruin Ellis's point of the series which is apparently (according to above posters) that superhero conflicts don't need to be resolved with punching or violence (in spite of the fact that the last several issues are filled with punching, oh and the murders by Snow of every member of the Four).
He didn't murder Greene or Leather. Leather is being given a new personality and Greene is stuck in space, but they're still alive.

[sgt pepper]

Ok, murdered two, left another in space for dead, and erased the last one from existence. Better?

To quote Snow in 26:

"Greene's dead. Leather's dead."

[zinderel]

Do you suppose we'll ever learn about the fictionaut? That was the plot thread I most wanted to see wrapped up...

[cheshire42]

The issue felt real phoned-in. The art looked rough, the plot felt rushed. All the build-up, the wait... aaaaaaand Dowling falls down a hole...?

Plop.

The end, thanks for your lunch money, kids. I've been feeling like the author was bored with the story for some time now, and this issue really drove that home. I was just as disappointed as Jakita. Granted, it wasn't as irritating as the recently released 1st issue of The Authority, but hey, not everyone's as hip as Grant Morrison. :D

c42

[Shellhead]

Do you suppose we'll ever learn about the fictionaut? That was the plot thread I most wanted to see wrapped up...

If the final issue deals with Ambrose Chase, I expect that we will see the fictionaut again. What if Ambrose *is* the fictionaut? His ability to distort time and space may derive from his origin in a fictional reality.

Planetary #26 was a very fitting end to the main storyline. All kinds of plot threads were nicely wrapped up at brisk but elegant pace, with the usual Planetary flourishes of style. I liked the huge Kirbyesqe fingers on the hostile alien lifeform. And the opening conversation between Snow and Dowling was very entertaining.

[static]

ok does someone now want to do the impossible and give a series summary? 26 issues later and since i read a million comics and a hundred books a year the details of this series have blown by my brain over the long wait between issues!

some be the hero and give me either a summary of this series or link me to somewhere where i can read one and refresh my memory of it! i honestly feel like i have the major points but am missing some details...

[Karl H]

[QUOTE=Shellhead]If the final issue deals with Ambrose Chase, I expect that we will see the fictionaut again. What if Ambrose *is* the fictionaut? His ability to distort time and space may derive from his origin in a fictional reality. QUOTE]

I have long suspected this. Have just been re-reading my Invisibles volumes and given that the Planet Fiction issue in which Ambrose made his first appearance was dedicated to Grant Morrison, and the 4 questions at the end of that issue (can't remember as am at work and obviously don't have to hand!), I would strongly suspect that Ambrose is the fictionaut too.

[Guapo Méndez]

Ambrose is the son of a Science City survivor.

[rkkman]

Series summary, Static? Coming right up... http://home.earthlink.net/~rkkman/frames/index.html

[static]

wow! that site is exactly what i was looking for ...i spent hours there lol

thanks man!

[Dragondragonfly]

Loved it, Looking forward to 27.

[static]

anyone who felt even the least bit cheated or upset at the last issue should read the exhustive review provided by the amazing rkkman at http://home.earthlink.net/~rkkman/frames/index.html

i have a whole new appreciation for the conplexity of the series finally after reading is review...it shows how everything from issue 1 on ties to togehter the finale!!! can say enough about his work on this summary...wow

[tom_gastall]

"Okay, I'd agree that part of me would have liked for the villains to have been almost as smart as the hero in this tale, and to have seen an even more over-the-top (but plausible!) way for Snow to overcome the impossible odds against him (all appears lost!) with Jakita, Drummer, Brass, Jim Wilder, Anna Hark, the Science City Zero people, Jack Carter, the thing still living on Island Zero, the Ghost Cop, Melanctha, and Ambrose Chase all brought to bear in a huge group effort (big super-throwdown--someone get me George Perez!) to save the day. It's a comic, after all. This is what they do."

I agree with this in terms of scope. The payoff , or at least the brevity of it wasn't equal to the story we've been following. But maybe 27 will be satisying in terms of its storytelling.

tg

[Guapo Méndez]

Planetary/JLA had a better resolution (and still had a major cop-out when they deal with Kent).

[geordiesteve]

It was good, but so long coming it's lost the effect on me. I suppose it will be much better if I read the whole thing in a sitting or two.

I dunno, it read like a last issue to me....even though I heard there will be an issue 27.

Same for me. If this had come out regularly I would have been more excited. I think I need to bury them all in my cupboard for two years, then read them all in one sittign and will be wowed, at the moment it just feels like I'm getting it because I'm a completist and a collector.