Captain Planet #1 Review
New Planeteers Chosen
In Captain Planet #1, a High Priestess, named Gaia, is on the run from an evil corporation led by Lucian Plunder. Tasked with guarding the powers to protect the Earth from great evil, Gaia is kidnapped and held hostage. Before she could be rendered immobile by the armed forces tracking her down, she scatters five rings to the winds in hopes of finding worthy bearers to become the next Planeteers and call upon their greatest power, Captain Planet.
Written by David Pepose (Space Ghost, Extreme Venomverse), Captain Planet #1 brings forth a new era of excitement for this character. Teeming with curious direction, this new version of the popular 90s cartoon program projects good promise on how the Planeteers will be vastly different than their predecessors. While there was a comic book series in the late 90s, this new and improved story will spark new interest in both the veteran readers and those who have never heard of Captain Planet. The story for Captain Planet so far paces smoothly as each character is chosen for their specific reasons. What readers will like about this comic book is the diversity of the characters that are introduced to be a part of the team. Each of them may have separate lives across continents, but what’s cool about this is the dynamic backgrounds of modern-day people. Additionally, while they are from different corners of the world, adding how they will have to come together as a team introduces another level of trust and interactions among them. Pepose is creating something fresh and new with this series, and something says readers will be seeing a lot of Captain Planet in the coming issues.
The artwork for Captain Planet #1 is equally good as the writing. Eman Casallos (Vampirella, Jennifer Blood) illustrates with precision detail. The linework is smooth, and the fluidity of the characters within the comic book feels pleasing to the eyes. Casallos’s work resembles Green Lantern and a little bit of Mighty Morphine Power Rangers elements that add electric reactions that incorporate well for the story to progress. Panel work was structured strategically to capture the abundance of story features, which were needed to convey the world that the Planeteers would be living in. At the same time, Captain Planet’s appearance in the comic book has an interesting take on a millennium-fighting warrior. As the old Captain Planet had a mullet, this new one has a suitable beard and hairstyle for modern audiences to gravitate toward in the comic book.
To help with that gravitational delight, Jorge Sutil (Swords of Sorrow, Red Sonja) contributes stunning color work. The vibrance Sutil displays fleshes out the overall experience of the comic book. Captain Planet #1 is lucky to have a colorist who will make each panel pleasant to look at or read over again. The use of colors enhances Casallos’ artistic direction within the pages. Due to the comic book being colorful, readers can expect that the story flourishes with the intent to peak readership. Sutil does well to ensure that the takeaway just isn’t the story, but the factors of others who made this book into reality.
Uniquely, Mark Spears (Rat City, Immortal Red Sonja, Green Lantern) lends his riveting skills to produce a stunning cover for the Planeteers and Captain Planet as the main cover to the first issue of the series.
The final piece that brings the comic book together is the lettering work by Jeff Eckleberry (007, Deadpool, Darkwing Duck). The use of dialogue placement and spacing helps readers stay attuned to the progress of the story. There isn’t a single time readers will find misuse of words that might affect the experience of reading. Eckleberry makes sure that dialogue, sound effects, and captions are all used accordingly to the benefit of the reader and the story creator.
Final Thoughts?
Captain Planet #1 is shaping up to be an exciting series that just might be on someone’s reading or pull list. For those who have never heard of Captain Planet, this is the perfect time to start reading. It’s filled with something magical, and people should be reading to get into something new. If readers are still interested, you can pick this one up at your local comic book store or purchase it online where they are sold.
Comic Details
Writer: David Pepose
Artist: Eman Casallos
Colorist: Jorge Sutil
Letterer: Jeff Eckleberry
Cover Artist: Mark Spears
Editor: Joe Rybandt
Publisher: Dynamite
Date of Release: May 7th, 2025
Rating: 5/5
About the Author
Howard Smith Howard is a passionate collector and avid reader of comics who resides in the city of Washington, D.C. His love for all things pop culture extends beyond the pages of comics, as he attends popular culture conventions both locally and out of state. Whether he’s searching for rare comic finds or engaging in video games, or reading manga he manifests an opportunity to celebrate his fandom. Follow along as he explores the worlds of superheroes, sci-fi, and beyond, always with a keen eye for adventure and a deep appreciation for the art of storytelling.
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