I'm a fan of the short intro story arc, especially where nostalgia books are concerned, so I'm a bit disconcerted that we're three issues into Battle of the Planets and still in the middle of a ton of interrupted subplots, with a weak main story (despite what the "3 of 3" might indicate). However, the effect that Sharrieff is going for, a struggling team trying to come together, is helped out by this story structure, and I continue to be surprised at how much I'm enjoying the action sequences and character sequences alike, given that I have no particular love for this property. Part of it is the artwork by Wilson Tortosa and Shane Law, which gives the book its cool anime-styled look, and part of it is that despite the constant shifting away from interesting scenes, I'm always left wanting to know more.
Sharrieff's script switches scenes numerous times in this issue, never letting a scene play out for more than a couple pages. While this works to include a whole lot of story and a whole lot of characters, it never really lets the reader settle into the story. It's the comic-book equivalent of MTV style jump-cuts, which may not be such a bad idea for the primary Battle of the Planets audience but which leaves me wanting to go back and see what happened after we cut away. There's also a lot of mystery here, as a shadowy figure or two plots world domination, a team struggles with their own personal difficulties and fear of failure and some of the benefactors seem to have a secret agenda as well. These secrets and struggles give the book depth, but they also give a lot of stories that aren't resolved or even moved forward all that much in this issue.
What impresses me most about Battle of the Planets, though, is that Sharrieff is writing the book for those seeking science-fiction adventure, not just a nostalgia trip. I can't tell you how close this is to the original anime, because I haven't seen it and had no interest in it, but I do get the gist of what G-Force is all about, who they're fighting and the problems they face everyday. That accessibility is surprising in this kind of book, and it's what makes Battle of the Planets more successful than other 80s revamps in my eyes.
The other thing that makes it impressive is the artwork, which keeps the style that I've seen in previous Battle of the Planets pin-ups, stills, etc. but gives it an energy and storytelling ability that works in comics. Wilson Tortosa (possibly working from Alex Ross's layouts) tells the story cleanly, but he knows when to cut loose with the big effects, and the storytelling on this book is equal to the flashy style, a rare blend of those talents. The coloring by Shane Law of Udon is essential to giving the book its look as well, giving it the sort of "pop off the page" effect that was first done by Dreamwave Studios.
While I could wish for a more focused (and shorter) introductory arc for the series, and I don't know how long it will be sustainable, I have to admit that for now Battle of the Planets remains a guilty pleasure. It's not a book I expected to like, but whether it's a strong core concept, a strong creative team or both, this has superseded the "nostalgia book" qualification to become a solid adventure title that will find favor with the super-hero fans in the audience.
