Studio Gris Gris itibaren Dazaifu, Fukuoka Prefecture, Jepang itibaren Dazaifu, Fukuoka Prefecture, Jepang

Planetary is good on many layers, like a Gobstopper. First of all, it's beautiful. Cassaday's art is consistently lovely, and brings to the page the actual wonder that the story demands. Planetary is also a great story; it's intriguing, well-plotted, and has interesting characters. On another level, it's also about stories, especially comic books, but other popular media as well; about what those stories tell us about ourselves, and the way we use those bright myths to lie about our world. It's fun to geek out over the references, the in-jokes and allusions in Planetary, but they are actually serving a greater narrative purpose. Planetary is about a world more wonderful than ours, but just as dark. It's using those shining visions to show us how disappointing and flawed humanity can be. Along with an adventure or two, beautiful vistas, and more than a soupcon of hope.