Decollatage AND BEYOND!!!

The phrase “interesting narrative structure” is used in reference to crossover comics about as often as the phrase “reticent dignity” is used in reference to percussionists. Thanks to Warren Ellis and John Cassaday, the brilliant team behind Planetary, drum-heads now can enjoy the same quiet integrity generations of real musicians have.

Planetary/Batman: Night on Earth doesn’t split time equally between characters. Most crossovers do this, to their detriment. It makes a story feel contrived and commercially motivated. In this one-shot, Ellis instead focuses on his own creation, the Planetary team, and allows Batman to dip into their universe. The result is that both characters benefit, and I get to see John Cassaday draw Adam West. Heck yeah.

That’s right, you heard me: Adam West. In Night on Earth, the Planetary team tracks down a criminal who keeps inadvertently mixing parallel universes, and, as a result, John Cassaday gives us his interpretation of six different Batmans. It’s a brilliant way to let Cassaday show off his artistic chops, and do chameleon-perfect impressions of everyone from Frank Miller to Neal Adams. It also gives Warren Ellis the opportunity to show how well he mimics diverse writing styles, from the uber-campy Batman tv show to his dead-on imitation of Frank Miller’s in-your-face grit.

I love you John Cassaday.

Worth the money? Yes. Absolutely.