When you think of Captain Planet and The Planeteers, what comes to mind? Sadly, instead of the cartoon, the hilarious Don Cheadle sketch is probably the first thing you think of. It’s not your fault; it's been decades since the animated series debuted. Thankfully, David Pepose (Cable: Love and Chrome) will change that. He’s bringing his love of older cartoons like Space Ghost and giving comic book fans Captain Planet. This writer has read the first issue, and it’s fantastic.
You’ll fall in love with Captain Planet right from the beginning. Not because he saves Gaia with his extraordinary powers or that he makes jokes (though that doesn’t hurt). It's because he doesn’t like bullies. And, despite his aforementioned superpowers, he has the same weaknesses as he did in the cartoon. He can be taken down with pollutants. In this case, he's shot with bullets made from depleted uranium.
"After all these years, some things never change. The cruel always think they can threaten people smaller than them..."Captain Planet
While Captain Planet’s arrival was short-lived, the desired affected was made. Readers now know who he is, they get a glimpse of his power level, and find out what could stop him. More importantly, his defeat leads to the arrival of the new ring bearers, and they’re not all like the Planeteers from the original cartoon. Among the differences is that they all appear to be older with professions.
Kwame seems to be like the original in age and personality. Wheeler is older and works at a factory and remains brave. Linka (who’s likely to be a favorite) is a punk rock singer whose songs are about what’s happening to the Earth. Gi is an awkward scientist who will likely become more confident as the series continues. And then there’s Ma-Ti, the character that everyone made fun of because his ring power was weak. Well, not only does Ma-Ti look to have a mean streak, he’s using his ring better than the original character, and this is only issue No. 1.
On top of the amazing story is equally great artwork by Emmanuel Casallos, who had the difficult job of creating a new Captain Planet that was different from he one people know while keeping a familiar look. The challenge was accepted, completed, and done well.
Casallos kept the iconic blue skin and green hair, added a beard and updated the costume. He's also shown glimpses of what each Planeteer can do with their powers. So far, it's all brilliant and beautiful.
I won’t spoil the ending of the comic, but I will say this. David Pepose understands the assignment. It isn’t just about pleasing the readers who enjoyed Captain Planet and The Planeteers in the 1990s. This also has to bring people in who are unfamiliar with the franchise, and anyone who loves reading comics. It’s clear in the first issue that all of those boxes are checked off.
This is going to be a series that you’ll want to check out. If this article isn’t enough, then believe in David Pepose. A quick look at his website will show you everything he’s written and why he’s a writer that you can trust.
Captain Planet and The Planeteers comic book is scheduled to be released on May 7, 2025. Stay tuned to Bam Smack Pow’s social media pages on Bluesky, Instagram, and Twitter for more comic book news, opinions, and rumors as they come out.