On September 15th, 1990, a new hero was born: Captain Planet, champion and guardian of the Earth who can only be summoned by the powers of five magical rings being combined by the Planeteers, young protectors of the planet chosen Gaia, the spirit of the Earth, to protect and defend the Earth from wicked villains and the forces of evil. The TV series starring the titular hero and bearers of these magical rings, Captain Planet and the Planeteers, promoted the virtues of environmentalism and worked to spread the message that, working together, we can save the planet and work to create a brighter future for everyone. Despite the final episode of the series premiering on May 11th, 1996, the message and themes of the series are still relevant in 2025. Now more than ever, we need a hero like Captain Planet.
Captain Planet and the Planeteers is back with a new comic book series of the same name from Dynamite Entertainment, written by David Pepose with art by Eman Casallos. This is a reboot of the TV series, but one that retains the same characters, themes, and superheroics that are familiar to fans of the original series. Many villains from the series also return to commit dastardly deeds and plague the planet with pollution and their insatiable greed. Apart from Captain Planet and Gaia, the Planeteers from the TV series also return to fight for the Earth: Kwame from Africa with the power of earth, James Wheeler from New York City with the power of fire, Linka from Russia with the power of wind, Gi from Asia with the power of water, and finally, Ma-Ti from Brazil with the power of heart.
Nostalgia meets innovation with this new iteration of Captain Planet as the creative team brings a modern update to the title that makes the book feel like a timeless classic that is proud to play with the legacy of Captain Planet and the Planeteers while taking the book into the future in a way that new audiences can connect with the themes and ideas of what was once a simple Saturday morning cartoon favorite of kids in the 1990s.
Captain Planet and the Planeteers stand ready to fight against the forces of evil. (Dynamite Entertainment)
In Captain Planet #1, readers were introduced to Captain Planet, the Planeteers, and the state of the world that is in desperate need of the return of Captain Planet. In the first two issues of the series so far, the Planeteers receive their rings and mission from Gaia, meet for the first time, and combine their powers to summon Captain Planet. Those early issues of the series serve as an origin story for the characters and basic premise of the book, and are very effective at familiarizing readers with the mythos of Captain Planet, both for those already aware of the franchise and for those who are experiencing it for the first time. We also see the beginnings of the Planeteers operating as a superhero team of their own as these newbie defenders of the planet work together as they learn how to use their new abilities and powers.
Captain Planet #3 picks up where the last issue left off, with the eco-villian Looten Plunder calling in Duke Nukem to help deal with Captain Planet and the Planeteers. Fans of the cartoon series will recognize both of these villains from the TV series. We also see Dr. Blight from the cartoon series make an appearance later in the issue as the Planeteers search for a means to triangulate weather anomalies in the city. The Planeteers use their rings to summon Captain Planet; however, he finds himself unable to maintain his form due to the pollution, and the Planeteers quickly find themselves forced to fend for themselves as they try to save the planet before it is too late. In Captain Planet’s absence, Kwame is named team leader. With Captain Planet temporarily taken off the board, it allows for a demonstration of the power the rings have on their own. We also see the Planeteers getting creative with how effective their powers can be when working in conjunction with each other. For the first time in this series so far, it feels that the Planeteers are working together as a team rather than as individuals.
In addition to seeing how well the Planeteers function as a team, we will also see how they relate to each other as personal friendships and connections start to develop. For example, we see a conversation between Kwame and Ma-Ti where Ma-Ti discusses why he chooses to be non-violent, as he says in the issue: “The ring purged all hatred from my heart…and no matter what the cost…I’ll never raise a hand in anger again.” Linka and Weaver also have some playful banter back and forth that can be read as flirting, or two friends butting heads that annoy each other, but deep down have a great love and respect for one another. Seeing these dynamics play out makes the characters feel fleshed out and allows the reader to be fully invested in their stories and their struggles.
This issue is a fun and engaging tale of the power of teamwork and friendship triumphing over evil, as we see the Planeteers successfully defeat Duke Nukem without the help of Captain Planet. We also get a cliffhanger ending where one of the Planeteers is presented with an offer that could lead to betrayal of the team and their mission if accepted. It’s an ending that leaves readers waiting in anticipation for the next issue. Overall, Captain Planet and the Planeteers #3 is a smartly written issue with clever plotting, tight pacing, and stimulating artwork that keeps the reader engaged and drives the plot forward. With this creative team at the helm, Captain Planet is off to a riveting and promising start.
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