Everybody knows about earth, air, fire, water, and heart, but it’s been a while since their powers combined. What has become of Captain Planet? Your Major Spoilers review of Captain Planet #1 from Dynamite Entertainment awaits!
CAPTAIN PLANET #1
Writer: David Pepose
Artist: Eman Casallos
Colorist: Jorge Sutil
Letterer: Jeff Eckleberry
Editor: Joe Rybandt
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: May 7, 2025
Previously in Captain Planet: With their powers combined, they summoned Earth’s greatest champion: Captain Planet! But they need to learn to trust each other first. Gaia, the latest High Priestess of the Earth, has been kidnapped! Our Planeteers are forced to come together against the newly formed might of Lucian Plunder!
Even with Captain Planet on their side, will it be enough to save the very Earth itself?!?
THE ASSAULT ON HOPE ISLAND
Captain Planet #1 opens with Gaia herself, on the run from armed militia and attack helicopters, desperately trying to get away in the hopes of saving the world. In a last-ditch effort, she uses the elemental powers of her five rings to call upon the ancient protector… Captain Planet! The Captain immediately recognizes her as Earth’s High Priestess and engages her foes, only to be shot down with depleted uranium rounds. As his power disperses, Gaia sends the rings away to find five worthy hosts.
In Ghana, injured former athlete Kwame Abogaye gains the power of Earth. In Detroit, James Wheeler receives the power of fire. In Russia, Linka Sokolov is given the power of wind. In South Korea, Gi Seung-Hyun is bonded with the power of water. In Brazil, Ma-Ti Yañez gains the power of heart. And all five young heroes hear the call of Gaia herself, now held in bondage by an amoral oligarch named Lucien Plender.
MORE MATURE PLANETEERS AND A BEARDED CAPTAIN
The biggest test of Captain Planet in the year 2025 is going to be whether or not the strangely earnest environmental message of the original can be translated in a way that still works. There’s a little bit of grimness to this issue, and Captain Planet himself is a lot more rugged than he was thirty-five years ago, but overall, Captain Planet #1 avoids a lot of the pitfalls of grimdark modern revamps. The issue spends most of its energy on explaining how each Planeteer represents their element in much deeper ways than the cartoon ever needed to, and I very much appreciate that depth. (More specific backgrounds for Gi and Kwame, who were always billed as from Asia and Africa, respectively, were absolutely needed.) The issue’s art works for me most of the time, but Captain Planet’s first summoning pictures him as oddly rubbery and boneless. Wheeler’s haircut never looks quite right, and during his big moment, Ma-Ti seems to be missing his right leg.
BOTTOM LINE: I’M INTERESTED
Those issues aside, Captain Planet #1 is a likeable, character-driven first chapter that uses its page-count well, reimagines the characters for modern audiences, and pulls off an exciting story, earning 3.5 out of 5 stars overall. If this series can get past the Internet’s cynical mockery of the original show, Dynamite could have a very unique hit on their hands.
Dear Spoilerite,
At Major Spoilers, we strive to create original content that you find interesting and entertaining. Producing, writing, recording, editing, and researching requires significant resources. We pay writers, podcast hosts, and other staff members who work tirelessly to provide you with insights into the comic book, gaming, and pop culture industries. Help us keep MajorSpoilers.com strong. Become a Patron (and our superhero) today.
CAPTAIN PLANET #1
Captain Planet is a property better known for its reputation than for the material, but this issue makes a pretty good start of things, despite some bits that don't quite gel.
-
Writing7
-
Art7
-
Coloring7
Once upon a time, there was a young nerd from the Midwest, who loved Matter-Eater Lad and the McKenzie Brothers... If pop culture were a maze, Matthew would be the Minotaur at its center. Were it a mall, he'd be the Food Court. Were it a parking lot, he’d be the distant Cart Corral where the weird kids gather to smoke, but that’s not important right now... Matthew enjoys body surfing (so long as the bodies are fresh), writing in the third person, and dark-eyed women. Amongst his weaponry are such diverse elements as: Fear! Surprise! Ruthless efficiency! An almost fanatical devotion to pop culture! And a nice red uniform.