READING BETWEEN THE PANELS

One of the books that can shake the roots of the comic world is back. And, motherfucker, you better start picking it up.
In the late 1990s, Wildstorm Productions released two titles that took the comic book superhero genre, kicked it in the balls, then shoved their middle fingers right in its face. These two titles were The Authority and Planetary. Both titles were written by Warren Ellis (also from Vertigo’s Transmetropolitan) and both had a suave sophistication that masked the fact that they were jabbing the biggest companies in the industry-- at least for a little while.
Authority you need to check out on your own (if you haven’t already). I’m here to talk about Planetary. The story of Elijah Snow, Jakita Wagner, and the Drummer is best summed up by the quote on the back cover of the collection of the first six issues: "This is Planetary: Three people who walk the world for strangeness and wonder, uncovering things others wish were left covered. They are the mystery archaeologists, explorers of the planet’s secret history, charting the unseen borders of a fantastic world."
The team uncovers the truth of a strange society of heroes who broke down the barriers between alternate worlds; the world domination of four Fantastic individuals, and the fate of freaking Godzilla! By the end of those first six issues, you’re knee-deep in a universe-wide conspiracy that you can’t wait to see the end of!
However, that’s where the problem occurred. Production of the book stopped dead after issue 15 for nearly two years. Ellis' father underwent a prolonged illness prior to his death; then Ellis himself came down with a severe sickness. By the time he was well, the series illustrator, John Cassaday, had been forced to move on to other projects. Recently, the series got back on track, and the next three issues of the series have been solicited. Issues 16 and 17 are already out. And, for Christ’s sake, the story hasn’t missed a beat. Go pick it up!