Captain Planetmeets theX-Men, as Earth’s favorite superhero heads for a new reboot that takes a page from Marvel. Captain Planet, who taught a generation to care for the environment, will soon return for his first comic book in over 30 years, courtesy of Dynamite Entertainment.IncomingCaptain Planetwriter David Pepose has now offered some intriguing insight into the new book, comparing it with a vaunted comics run.
David Pepose is one of comics' fastest rising stars, also writingSpace Ghostfor Dynamite.
In the latest installment ofDynamite Dispatches,appearing in select Dynamite titles,Captain Planetscribe David Pepose was interviewed about the book. The book will be drawn by Eman Casallos, and will ship with a variety of variant covers. Pepose, when asked about the dynamic between Captain Planet as well as the rest of the Planeteers, had this to say:
Honestly,Captain Planet’score cast is my favorite part of the entire series, and it’s the main reason why I wanted to write this book so badly. This new take is very much an origin story of how the Planeteers first met, and seeing how their individual personalities and perspectives clash forms the emotional heart of this book. I think the Planeteers play off each other in such a compelling way, in a manner that is every bit as engaging as Claremont’sX-Menor theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles— I’m making it a point in each and every issue, all five of our main characters get their chance to shine, and that everyone gets their own emotional arc.
The Planeteers were drawn from all corners of the globe, reflecting the diversity of humanity–much like the X-Men that Pepose invokes.
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Captain Planet, the environmental crusader, left an impression on countless 90s kids, teaching them about their relationship with the world around them in a way that respected their intelligence. His show, titledCaptain Planet and the Planeteers, aired for a handful of seasons, and boasted an all-star voice cast. The show was lauded by critics, praising it for its messages, which it delivered in a non-heavy-handed fashion.Captain Planet and the Planeteerswrapped up production in the mid-1990s, and while the character seemed to slip into obscurity, he was merely waiting for the right time to return.
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In the 30 + years sinceCaptain Planet and the Planeteersdebuted, the environmental destruction he railed against has continued unabated. Climate change, a far-off scenario whenCaptain Planetpremiered, is now a fact of life. Wild and unseasonable weather has become the new norm thanks to climate change. Oil spills and other environmental catastrophes dominate the news. Mismanagement of land as well as the shunning of Indigenous management practices have only compounded the problem. In essence, the time has never been betterfor a comeback for Captain Planetand the Planeteers.
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And Dynamite is ensuring Captain Planet’s big return is worthy of his legacy, by tapping David Pepose to chronicle his adventures. Pepose, who in previous interviews referred to Captain Planet as a “white whale book,” is not only a massive fan of the franchise, but plans to bring to it exciting new ideas informed by some of the greatest comic runs in history. The two runs Pepose name-checked: Claremont’sX-Menand the originalTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,set the bar extremely high for team books, thanks to the approach to interpersonal dynamics their creators took.
Pepose comparing the Planeteers to Claremont’sX-Menis not a case of hyperbole, as there are similarities.
Pepose comparing the Planeteers to Claremont’sX-Menis not a case of hyperbole, as there are similarities. Both teams feature an international lineup of young people from across the world, brought together to fight for a particular cause, be it the environment or mutant rights. David Pepose has seen the common ground between the two franchises, and is bringing the best parts of the X-Men to Captain Planet, namely the focus on the relationships between team members.Claremont also gave each member of the X-Mena chance to shine, and to be in the spotlight.
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Captain Planet and the Planeteers, by virtue of being a 1990s children’s cartoon, tends to skimp on individual backstories for its characters, which gives Pepose a grand opportunity to breathe new life into these beloved icons. The influences Pepose and his collaborators will draw from are some of the best team books in comic history. Marvel’sX-Menis the gold standard for team books, pioneering new methods of character development, and these techniques will be brought to bear onCaptain Planetand the Planeteers.
