Season Finale: Captain Planet #6 (Dynamite Comics)

It feels like inspiration from the pro wrestling world,  the ultimate heel is challenged by an underdog babyface. It is Captain Planet versus Captain Pollution.

Captain Planet #6 is a knockdown, drag out, worldwide brawl. The title on the line? Gaia and the entirety of planet Earth. 

Our Planeteers finally get themselves on the same page, but does their unification come too late? 

As the Planeteers divide in pursuit of multiple goals, Captain Planet is put on the defensive as Pollution both in name and personification tries to wear out our hero physically and mentally.

The depth of Pepose’s storytelling is genuinely consistent throughout all his work. Pollution pummels away while trying to demoralize Planet, with talk of corruption and strengths to be used as empowerment to subjugate as opposed to Planet’s ideal of cohesion and use of strengths to influence positive leadership and cooperation amongst humanity. 

As the team of Planeteers close in on rescuing Gaia, we find another adversary, Doctor Blight seemingly blind to events, choosing to further Plunder’s agenda, even at the cost of the planet’s survival. 

While Captain Planet and his team of Planeteers attempt to wrestle the reigns of the fate of Earth away, events spiral out of control and things will never be the same. New powers are revealed. Morals come into question. One thing is for certain, Earth may not be the same. 

As Season One of Captain Planet comes to a close, David Pepose leaves us with questions about our own humanity and what strengths we possess to use for good, or to squander them into stagnation and complacency. Themes of morals and value feel important, it seems as though David uses the comic book medium to truly bring out our own connection to the definition of humanity.

Eman Casallos and Jorge Sutil absolutely bring it on art and colors for this final episode of the season. While the fight feels grim, the explosiveness of bright colors and the facial expressions of all characters genuinely emit the level of dire intensity this issue conveys. I really enjoy how Jeff Eckleberry makes the distinction on lettering between characters. It’s as though you can visually imagine the confidence coming from Captain Planet and the Planeteers while also feeling a sense of dread reading Plunder/Captain Pollution’s threats and demoralization of our heroes. 

While there will be a wait until next season, I imagine if this is what the creative minds can do for season one, the next series will up the ante and bring new contenders to the champions of Earth.