Invincible Comics: Why Planetary Deserves Your Attention

Since the phenomenal success of Amazon Prime Video’s animated series, Invincible has become a breakout hit, nearly two decades after Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley’s Image Comics debut. The series’ strength lies in its ability to synthesize elements from major superhero universes, blending them into a cohesive and compelling world. However, one underrated WildStorm series arguably got there first: Planetary.

Following the groundbreaking work of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ Watchmen, countless comic book creators have sought to redefine the superhero genre. In 2003, Kirkman and Ottley’s Invincible joined the ranks, constructing a universe inspired by iconic characters like Spider-Man, Batman, Hellboy, and the Teen Titans. It masterfully merged everything that made comics great into something entirely new.

Before Invincible, There Was Planetary

But Invincible built upon a foundation laid by a Warren Ellis comic that deserves rediscovery. In 1998, Ellis teamed up with artist John Cassaday to create Planetary. The series centers around a team from the secretive Planetary agency – the “Archaeologists of the Impossible” – comprised of:

• Elijah Snow: A hero with slowed aging and cryokinetic abilities.
• Jakita Wagner: The team’s intelligent leader, possessing enhanced senses and skills.
• The Drummer: A tech-based hero capable of controlling electronic systems.
• Ambrose Chase: A former team member with space-distorting powers, later reinstated.

Through Planetary, Ellis aimed to create a universe deeply rooted in the broader landscape of pop culture, particularly the often-forgotten heroes who inspired Marvel and DC. The series delved into virtually every genre that influenced pre-modern age comics, from pulp heroes and kaiju science fiction to the space age, adventurers, and secret societies. It was a comprehensive tour of everything great in comics beyond the superhero realm.

A Universe of “Everything”

Snow, Wagner, Drummer, and Chase could easily be mistaken for characters from a Marvel series, but the world surrounding them was anything but. While Invincible redefined the modern superhero genre, Planetary did the same for the explosion of fantasy and sci-fi fiction throughout the 20th century. Both are “everything” universes, populated by pastiches of anything that captured the writer’s imagination. Superheroes were, in the best possible way, guests in the wider world of fiction that inspired them, often turning to characters like Doc Savage for assistance.

Each issue introduced readers to a fresh take on familiar franchises like Godzilla and Tarzan, offering a glimpse into stories they might have missed. Like Invincible, Planetary is a love letter to true-blue comic book readers, reaching back to the early work of Edgar Rice Burroughs. Ellis’ series offers meta-commentary on the significance of 20th-century fiction, elevating it to a mythology of its own.

Through the Planetary team, readers witness the wider world around them, gaining an appreciation for the influence of these characters. The series explores how fiction itself is used, manipulated, and exploited, as villains suppress and abuse archetypes. Every issue is a history lesson on the best of comics and old-school entertainment. You can learn more about the history of comics at Comic-Con International.

The Appeal of Meta-Commentary

The post-Watchmen era revealed a love among modern comic book fans for stories that are about the superhero genre as much as the characters themselves. Series like The Boys and Invincible found success by exploiting this very dynamic, alternating between satire, parody, meta-commentary, and self-aware homages. These stories aren’t always straightforward adventures; they’re explorations of what defines the genre on a deeper level.

What readers love about these universes is their ability to blend the formula of mainstream superheroes with something more relatable. The fantasy elements often take a backseat to the story’s broader goals, sometimes satirizing real-world politics or challenging the tropes of family-friendly tales. For seasoned readers, these stories are a true delight.

Planetary wasn’t a political manifesto, but rather a commentary on the importance of pre-Silver Age fiction as a mythology for modern America. It’s a unique mash-up of superheroes, James Bond, Golden Age comics, and pulp magazines, making it one of the most engaging indie reads of the last thirty years.

A Perfect Companion to Invincible

Invincible, based on Marvel, DC Comics, and other publishers like Dark Horse and Image, has a wealth of companion titles. However, Planetary stands out as the definitive complement to Kirkman’s universe. Both series employ a tongue-in-cheek approach to character design, tweaking existing heroes just enough to create transformative pastiches, avoiding copyright infringement. The joy of reading these series lies in seeing familiar heroes reimagined in completely different worlds.

As Prime Video continues to dominate the animated superhero format, it’s worth exploring the wider world of pastiche and parody comics. While WildStorm is often associated with The Authority, Planetary remains its most overlooked treasure – a must-read for Invincible fans everywhere.

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