Planetary #2: Here in this Place of Dreams

The second issue of Planetary feels like a love letter to all things Kaiju on its surface, but investigative elements push the story into new territories, emphasizing the archaeological roots of the team in wonderful new ways.

I won’t lie, this is EXACTLY what I signed up for when diving into the series.

We start with the emergence of a cult making their way inland after arriving on Island Zero. What’s immediately striking with this group is the overt humor at play. The first line in the book is hilariously on the nose and sets a dark yet still playful tone that carries throughout the rest of the pages. The creative team seems to have a keen understanding of the more whimsical aspects the stories affords and it shows in their work. As we discover the dead Kaiju that filled this island, a love for classic monsters and their impact on society becomes apparent. There is also an interesting introspective thread exploring the impact of the the 1945 bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the cultural coping mechanisms that were put to use afterwards. Like many aspects in this series, there are multiple layers at play, all working in tandem to push the overarching narrative forward. This gives the issue, and the series in general, incredible depth.

The cult is what brings the Planetary team to the forefront, but this issue does slow down a bit to introduce some of the more background elements of the organization itself. If you’ve read my review of issue #1, this was actually one of the specific complaints I had, so it was a welcome diversion to see how the seemingly ragtag but well-equipped team actually operates. It also helps that Jakita and Elijah work so well as both a visual and behavioral dichotomy that everything else just seems to fall in place. The Drummer is still a wild card that I can’t pinpoint quite yet.

While this issue certainly isn’t action-packed by any means, it does move rather briskly, using both dark humor and investigative motives to tell an intriguing story that is a lot of fun. It’s quite remarkable how different it is from the first issue, taking a more one-shot style approach so far, but also maintains a familiar feel with the characters and their mission. It’s an adventure with detective influences that you just can’t wait to continue.

The ending is both heartfelt and starkly dangerous, in a Jurassic Park sort of way, but it capitalizes on what is already turning out to be a recurring theme that brings the mysteries and wonders of the world to the forefront. This is the type of storytelling that will leave an impression on nearly any reader and the creative team, from the script to the visuals, wield it incredibly well. The large splash pages with iconic monsters reminiscent of Godzilla (or arguably, Reptar!), Mothra and more, along with plenty of awesome landscapes help to make the issue truly memorable.

All in all, Planetary #2 is an exciting follow up on a great debut. The characters have depth and the world is one you just don’t want to leave. The team may have helped to dispatch the cult in a harsh way, but it still ends on a beautiful note. There is a lot to love here!