I’ve been talking non-stop about Planetary on here this week, I know – but cut me a break. This book’s special, and I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time. (It’s very evident I wasn’t alone.)

Troy Brownfield over at Newsarama summed up his review of issue #27 in one word: “Perfect”. A bit more from his review:

Planetary comes to an end with a conclusion so satisfying, so exactly right for the tone of the entire series, that it’s almost a surprise. I say “almost” because Planetary has been nothing but satisfying for years. The cult of worship around the book had less to do with the gaps in between issues and more to do with the fact that it was just a stellar example of what comics can be with vision at the helm.

You can read the full thing over here.

What’ve the critics been saying about the last issue of Planetary? The reviews are starting to roll in…

“Planetary #27 is essentially an epilogue, released years after the series wrapped and could be considered relevant – which is hardly a recipe for success. That it works as phenomenally as it does is just one more reason why the comic, and this series, is so wholly remarkable.” - IGN.com, 9.5 rating - “Incredible”

“The slow boil eventually comes to a head with the fabulous (awe-inspiring even) ending… This truly was a delightful send-off to these characters… Definitely recommended.” - Comic Book Resources

“Great conclusion to a great series, that ultimately concludes on a highly emotional note, with everyone together once again, and truly ready for the next big adventure… Planetary, by Warren Ellis, John Cassaday, and Laura Martin—this is why I love comics.” - Newsarama

“Ellis will be remembered as one of the most insightful and influential tellers of the superhero story for quite some time, and as of right now, “Planetary” is the brightest star in his sky.” - Comics Alliance

“Planetary #27 earns a more-than-impressive 5 out of 5 stars overall. Part of me thinks that I’m awarding it out of nostalgia, but given the enjoyment I’ve gotten out of this book over the years, I’m not sure there’s anything wrong with that…” - Major Spoilers

And for everyone who’s taken the last issue as an opportunity to revisit the whole series: you HAVE to check out the great retrospective write-ups of the whole story over at Comics Alliance and Newsarama.

Over at Newsarama, writer Brandon Thomas has taken up the brave task of reviewing all 27 issues of Planetary individually in two columns. He highlights a lot of his favorite moments in the series, which echoes yesterday’s open thread discussion about the series here on The Bleed.

And, now that the finaly issue’s out, I have to ask… What’d you all think?

In preparation for the last issue (coming out tomorrow, in case you’ve been lost in another universe for the last couple months) I’ve been spending my last few mornings re-reading all of Planetary over my regular three cups of coffee. (And believe or not, that counts as working for me - add that to the list of job perks.)

This series is just chock full of unforgettable moments. Where am I supposed to start when choosing my favorite part of Planetary? A few segments pop into my mind immediately - the monsters on Island Zero, and the Hong Kong cop chapter that feels like a supernatural John Woo/Chow Yun-Fat flick are particularly favorite issues of mine. It’s really hard for me to choose.

One (short) segment that’s always impressed me the most, however, is the martial arts segment with Anna Hark at the beginning of chapter sixteen. In a series full of wonderfully-composed homages to pop culture genres, this one, to me, is above and beyond. Warren Ellis nails the mystical martial arts flavor of the Wuxia genre at the beginning of the scene, and then gives John Cassaday eight nearly dialogue-free pages to really shine - and boy, does he shine. He’s one of the biggest artists in the business right now, but this has to be among his masterpieces.

In those pages, Cassaday silently captures the graceful choreography that makes the wire-fighting kung fu films so magical. Kinetic, beautiful, violent - these are the qualities that make the filmwork of Yuen Woo-Ping and Zhang Yimou so fantastic. Every time I read this, I’m amazed someone was
able to pull it off in a comic.

Best-choreographed fight scene in comics? That’s a big claim, but I’m one fan who’d take that argument. (I really, really can’t wait to see this scene blown up to Absolute-size.)

But, enough from me - what say you? What are your favorite scenes/issues from Planetary?

I saw a lot of comments around the web from readers about making the Planetary #27 cover their desktop wallpaper. The cover, with its elongated format and eye-catching Cassaday art, really lends itself to the screen.

We thought that was a great idea over here - so we’ve put up a desktop download and AIM icons for you. That way, those of you who grabbed the image straight from The Bleed here won’t have it slightly distorted and stretched across your screen.

What better way to start off the week than with the first preview of the long-anticipated Planetary #27?

Yep - it’s out this October, which is just a little over a month away. If you need to re-read the old comics and refresh yourself on the series, now wouldn’t be a bad time to start.

I’m sure many of you fans have been dreaming about this cover for years. At long last, it’s here before your eyes: the cover to the final issue of Planetary, by none other than John Cassaday himself.

Without further ado, Planetary #27:

Beautiful, ain’t she? You can get a better look on the cover of Previews next week - or with a special giveaway poster debuting next week at San Diego Comic-Con.

I remember the first time I read PLANETARY, as a fresh-out-of-college newly minted assistant editor at Dark Horse Comics. There was a short preview in the back of another WildStorm book I’d purchased, and it blew me away—a fun, short story with some dynamite art.

At that point, my only introduction to Warren Ellis had been his terrific STORMWATCH work. With John Cassaday, I’d seen his unique and exciting DESPERADOES. But you could tell these guys were going to be huge. And with PLANETARY, you had the focus of two extraordinary creators with one singular story to tell…and boy, has it been one helluva journey! I would never have thought, all those years ago reading that short story, that someday I would be a senior editor at WildStorm Productions overseeing the final issue of this incredible, defining work. It’s taken some time to put all the pieces together, but I think it’s going to be a satisfying conclusion for all the fans who’ve patiently (and some impatiently!) waited all this time.

And I was right—Warren and John have definitely made names for themselves in the biz.

We’ve got another bonus this month for Warren Ellis fans—a reprinting of the killer RED series he did with the incomparable Cully Hamner (which is being developed into a movie, too, by Summit Entertainment!). It’s a special treat for fans of the story, as it reprints the miniseries AND has a ton of special “bonus” extras in the back (and it’s a solo reprinting, unlike the original version that had it as a flipbook with another series). Since I worked on the original mini, I thought it might be cool to have a peek at a couple elements that not even this exhaustive reprinting could show off. Enjoy!

WildCats. The Authority. Gen13. Stormwatch. We got ‘em.

The hottest video game, television and movie properties in comic form? Sure thing.

Cutting-edge artists and writers telling their creator-owned stories? Got that, too. That’s WildStorm.

This is The Bleed – your daily dose of behind-the-scenes looks into what’s happening at WildStorm.

We’re kicking down the doors with the big guns a-blazin’ – so hold on to your seat.

PLANETARY #27. This October. You may’ve heard it hinted elsewhere, but we’re confirming it here now. Still don’t believe it? Is a colored page enough to convince you?

Believe, ladies and gentlemen, and keep checking back here for more news.