Reboots in comics are all the rage these days. From Marvel’s new Ultimate Universe and DC’s Absolute Universe, to Power Rangers Prime, to IDW’s upcoming Godzilla revamp, comic book creators are taking the chance to put their own spin on beloved icons. In one of the biggest surprises of the year, David Pepose and Eman Casallos have delivered a truly phenomenal reboot with Captain Planet #1.
Pepose is no stranger to rebooting beloved icons, as he previously put his own spin on Space Ghost and is slated to kick off a Speed Racer ongoing for Mad Cave. With Captain Planet #1, he starts off with a similar premise: the mighty Captain Planet is summoned using five rings that call upon the elemental forces of earth, fire, wind, water and heart. But when the earth priestess Gaia is kidnapped, the rings that make up Captain Planet are scattered across the globe, landing in the hands of five teenagers.
This is where Pepose chooses to take a different approach to the Captain Planet mythos. Instead of being fully assembled at first, Planeteers Kwame, Wheeler, Linka, Gi, and Ma-Ti are seperated by both continents and purpose. I love that Pepose is taking this route; it feels genuinely realistic, yet it still shows that each of them cares about the Earth in their own way. Gi is a scientist, Linka a revolutionary rock star, Wheeler a fire fighter – each of their new roles not only shows why they were chosen to be a Planeteer, but fits with their respective elements.
Dynamite
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the amazing artwork that Casallos is pouring onto the page. His work is big, bombastic, and blockbuster-worthy, especially the opening sequence which sees Captain Planet protecting Gaia from a fleet of mercenaries. Not only is the awesome elemental power of Captain Planet on full display, whether it’s summoning lightning to ground helicopters or a wall of ice to block bullets, but thanks to Jorge Sutil’s gorgeous colors, his red and blue costume stands out like a beacon across the night sky.
Casallos even gives the entire cast a redesign, staying true to their original roots in the cartoon and imagining what they’d look like in the modern day. Captain Planet feels like a cross between a traditional superhero and a golem made of the elements; rocks surround his shoulders and chest, forming an armor of sorts, while he sports a thick green beard. The Planeteers also get an update, from Kwame’s green hoodie to Linka sporting a more punk rock look.
But what I love the most about Captain Planet #1 is that it doesn’t fall into the trap that most reboots do. It’s not trying to be “dark and edgy” and pretend that it’s above the original series. Rather, it takes a more nuanced approach, showing how Captain Planet would operate in modern times. More creators should take this approach if they’re looking to reboot a beloved property.
Captain Planet #1 shows how a reboot should be done, staying true to the original series’ core concept while making necessary updates. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the original Captain Planet, but thanks to Pepose and Casallos, I’m fully sold on this new version.
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