“Out of the frying pan, into the fire.” – J.R.R. Tolkien
I’m quite confident Tolkien would never see this phrase used to describe an intense tale in the pages of Captain Planet, but given the creative brilliance of the writer, I would hope he appreciates its use in a story about good versus evil when it comes to the fate of humanity.
The first pages of Captain Planet #3 reveal a prominent character from the original cartoon, Duke Nukem. No, not the gun toting monster-hunter from the video game, but the maniacal and heartless brute whose violence knows no bounds. While his appearance is vastly different from the rocky frame in the cartoon, his powers and penchant for carnage remains consistent. Flowing from the last issue, the gathered Planeteers are confronted by an armed force led by Commander Bleak in an effort to subdue and neutralize Captain Planet. The five members try valiantly to be on the same page, but it seems being a cohesive unit is not something certain members feel up to task.
The midsection of Captain Planet #3 puts a spotlight on more backstory for Captain Planet while also underscoring the need for these chosen individuals to work together under a common goal. However, some members feel uncomfortable and outright reject the notion, leading to a potential rift to be felt in the next issue.
A highlight is how none of the familiar terms or catchphrases feel forced or manufactured. The group being dubbed as Planeteers came naturally from dialogue during an action scene. Credit to David Pepose who carries similar patterns from his work in Space Ghost and Speed Racer where there is smooth and organic flow to how characters are named within the flow of the story. A very eye-opening moment early on takes place as the five element ring-bearers discover the limitations to the power they possess. Artist Eman Casallos and colorist Jorge Sutil do an excellent job with the facial expressions of each character while letterer Jeff Eckleberry emphasizes the urgency in dialogue.
