# When will Warren Ellis' Planetary ever be finished? (spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 30, 2009, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-warren-ellis-planetary-ever-be-finished-spoilers/491236 "2009-03-30T00:13:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![First\_Amongst\_Daves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4491bb/32.png) [@First\_Amongst\_Daves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/First_Amongst_Daves)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2009, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-warren-ellis-planetary-ever-be-finished-spoilers/491236/1 "2009-03-30T00:13:21Z")
Planetary is a terrific comic. Set as an adventure story of three “archeologists of the unknown”, Elijah Snow, Jakita Wagnerand the Drummer explore the quirkeier aspects of their universe which are, in fact, on a chapter by chapter basis a deconstruction of various aspects of pop culture - including (but not limited to) Japanese monster movies, Hong Kong horror films, DC comics Silver Age, DC Comics Vertigo imprint, 1990s big budget action movies, Tarzan, Doc Savage and 1950s pulp, 1950s sci-fi, The Matrix/Grant Morrison, Star Trek, and 1900s scifi and horror/League of Extraordinarily Gentlemen. And then, following a slow grind of issues often months and months late, it ended inconclusively without a conclusion and without the final mystery of their missing colleague resolved. Back in June 2008 I found these: > [@](#): > > Wednesday, October 25, 2006 > > For The PLANETARY Freaks In The Audience… > …of which there appear to be many thousands, judging by my MySpace email: listen. I’m sick of repeating this to everyone. > > PLANETARY #26 is out today. It ends the story. There’ll be a single epilogue/bookend issue out in the early part of next year. And that’s it. The story proper ends today. There is no more. Just an epilogue that’ll be along in a handful of months. and then word on the ‘epilogue’ > [@](#): > > Signs of Life! > Issue 27, the “epilogue” issue of the series, has finally been completed. Ellis, in a June 10th Bad Signal, stated the following: > > Almost ten years to the month that John Cassaday and I had our first conversation at San Diego about creating a new series: I have just completed and delivered the full script for PLANETARY #27, the final issue of the series. > I am now going to get drunk and find something to have sex with. I’m home alone, so the chinchilla has a right to look nervous. > > Done. Never ask me anything about it again. DONE. > > – W which is from here:[http://home.earthlink.net/~rkkman/frames/index.html](http://home.earthlink.net/~rkkman/frames/index.html) and script: > [@](#): > > Written, delivered, and the first page of script looks like this: > PAGE ONE > Pic 1 > Three page-wide pics: The Planetary Building, NYC, in the afternoon sun, like a bright glass needle poked into the middle of Manhattan: > JAGGED (NO TAIL) > > - RUSH TRIALS OF THE SO-CALLED “ANTI-CANCER” TREATMENT DEVELOPED BY THE PLANETARY ORGANISATION - > > JAGGED (NO TAIL) > > - NEW YORK OFFICES OF THE PLANETARY ORGANISATION TODAY DEMONSTRATED A CHEAP ELECTRICAL LEVITATION SYSTEM WITH APPLICATIONS IN - > > JAGGED (NO TAIL) > > - NEW ORLEANS, THE PLANETARY ORGANISATION’S “SUPER- FABBER” FOR GENERATING INSTANT TEMPORARY SHELTERS - > > Pic 2 > INT. CORRIDOR: people rushing both ways down the corridor, carrying files, stacks of paper, tablet computers, busy busy busy… > > JAGGED (NO TAIL) > > - LEGAL CHALLENGES TO THE PLANETARY ORGANISATION’S “LIFE STATIONS,” COMMUNITY DEVICES THAT PROVIDE WATER, BASIC PROTEIN, HEATING AND LIGHT FOR FREE - > > JAGGED (NO TAIL) > > - TOWARDS THE END OF ITS NINE-MONTH VOYAGE TO MARS, CARRYING, MOST FAMOUSLY, THE PLANETARY SOCIETY’S “QUNET” DEVICE FOR INSTANT COMMUNICATION ACROSS DEEP SPACE - > > JAGGED (NO TAIL) > > - PLANETARY SOCIETY’S “HYPER-COLLIMATION” SHEETS, CARBON FABRICS THAT BECOME BOMBPROOF SHIELDS - > > Pic 3 > INT: BIG LECTURE HALL: where the DRUMMER addresses a room full of techies all holding tablet computers - behind him, a wall-size flat-panel display of computer file folders, arranged almost like the petals of a chrysanthemum: > DRUMMER > > - INTO FILES TEN THOUSAND TO TEN NINE HUNDRED NINETY NINE. THAT’S THE TWENTY PERCENT MARK. > > DRUMMER > > ONE YEAR, TWENTY PERCENT OF THE RANDALL DOWLING DATABASE EXPLORED. > > DRUMMER > > ELIJAH’S GOING INSANE OVER THIS. I’M KEEPING YOU COVERED, BUT, SERIOUSLY, DEPARTMENT HEADS, YOU NEED TO CONSIDER HIRING MORE BODIES - Elijah Snow delivers nirvana. But where is it for us, the reader? I am reminded of when Stephen King wrote an online novel and sold it to readers by the chapter. king apparently threatened not to finish it provoking outrage from his readers (and also a threat of a litigation). I’m peeved at Ellis. At first, years ago, the delays were blamed upon his poor health. But now, given his quite substantial output on other titles - and a novel - including non-creator works at Marvel, it seems more likely he just entirely lost interest in the work and gives the impression he finished it only under reader- and editorial pressure. I suppose I shouldn’t complain. At least its substantially finished. But there is only one thing worse than a non-completed story and that’s one which takes years instead of months to finish. I guess it’d be different if he wasn’t prepared to release it until it was picture perfect. The end of the Four wasn’t especially clever, and I’m now starting to dread what happens to Ambrose Chase. Ellis has no contract directly with us as readers, but given his creative ouput is undiminished, its poor form not to bring this now 11 year old storyline to a conclusion. Where is the completion of the creative contract Ellis has with his audience, the promise to deliver an ending? When are we going to see this? ---
**Author:** ![GeromeK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e480ec/32.png) [@GeromeK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GeromeK)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2009, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-warren-ellis-planetary-ever-be-finished-spoilers/491236/2 "2009-03-30T00:25:21Z")
I’m waiting for the final issue because I’ve been reading it in trades, and have to wait for that one before they publish the final collection. For what it’s worth, Amazon says it’ll be released in July. ---
**Author:** ![Anduinel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Anduinel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anduinel)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2009, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-warren-ellis-planetary-ever-be-finished-spoilers/491236/3 "2009-03-30T05:03:37Z")
Ellis has been saying for a while that the script is finished, they’re just waiting on the artist. Given that Ellis has a tendency to wander away from projects to the point where I won’t buy anything by him that’s not already collected in trade and Cassaday’s pace could be generously described as “glacial”, I’d recommend not holding your breath. ---
**Author:** ![First\_Amongst\_Daves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4491bb/32.png) [@First\_Amongst\_Daves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/First_Amongst_Daves)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2009, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-warren-ellis-planetary-ever-be-finished-spoilers/491236/4 "2009-03-30T09:46:10Z")
I had thought Cassady had some speed - he was holding up penciling chores Astonishing X-men for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![Anduinel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Anduinel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anduinel)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-warren-ellis-planetary-ever-be-finished-spoilers/491236/5 "2009-03-30T16:22:24Z")
> [@First\_Amongst\_Daves](#): > > I had thought Cassady had some speed - he was holding up penciling chores Astonishing X-men for a long time. Astonishing put out two years worth of “monthly” issues over the course of, IIRC, about three-and-a-half years; the delays eventually caused it to be officially relabeled a bi-monthly title for a while and it still ran late to the point that fairly major spoilers for the final issue started cropping up in other books a month or so before the book ever saw print. Whedon gets some flak for the lag, but his projects generally tend to come out on time so far as I know (except for Runaways, but that’s another case of being paired with a slower-paced artist). ---
**Author:** ![First\_Amongst\_Daves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4491bb/32.png) [@First\_Amongst\_Daves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/First_Amongst_Daves)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-warren-ellis-planetary-ever-be-finished-spoilers/491236/6 "2009-03-31T03:21:48Z")
There you go - I only bought it in tpbs. Cassidy can hardly be blamed for this delay, though. it couldn’t be editorial - they want to start pushing out the next hardcovers etc. I’m assuing Ellis’ contract did nto contain a time requirement. I don’t think its good enough for a writer to be creatively gifted. They should have sufficient professionalism to also finish their work, once it starts to be published, and not suffer from a years’ long lapse in concentration. ---
**Author:** ![Anduinel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Anduinel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anduinel)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-warren-ellis-planetary-ever-be-finished-spoilers/491236/7 "2009-04-01T23:21:11Z")
> [@First\_Amongst\_Daves](#): > > There you go - I only bought it in tpbs. > > Cassidy can hardly be blamed for this delay, though. it couldn’t be editorial - they want to start pushing out the next hardcovers etc. I’m assuing Ellis’ contract did nto contain a time requirement. > > I don’t think its good enough for a writer to be creatively gifted. They should have sufficient professionalism to also finish their work, once it starts to be published, and not suffer from a years’ long lapse in concentration. [This may be relevant to your interests.](http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/01/planetary-27-almost-done/) Still looks like Cassady from my end, though. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![First\_Amongst\_Daves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4491bb/32.png) [@First\_Amongst\_Daves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/First_Amongst_Daves)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-warren-ellis-planetary-ever-be-finished-spoilers/491236/8 "2009-04-02T01:39:27Z")
How curious. That text does make it sound like it was Cassidy, not Ellis. And the ‘without warning’ comments makes it sound like he’s a bit cranky himself about the delay. Hurm. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-warren-ellis-planetary-ever-be-finished-spoilers/491236/9 "2009-04-02T13:36:06Z")
Planetary/shmanetary – I reread the first 9 issues of Fell yesterday and that’s what I’d like to see continued. It’s awesome. (There’s a blurb at the end of #9 that suggests #10 will be out in mid-March and the next half-dozen issues will follow rather quickly. Mid-March of 2008. Ha!) The moral arguments about lateness are sort of beside the point from my perspective. It can be addressed in the market. If you’re unhappy with how long it takes something to come out, stop buying it when it does. If that happens enough, the behavior will change. Indeed, Ellis’ Marvel work comes out rather promptly, AFAIK. I imagine it’s because Marvel has made it clear what they won’t tolerate. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![De\_La\_Rue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@De\_La\_Rue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/De_La_Rue)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-warren-ellis-planetary-ever-be-finished-spoilers/491236/10 "2009-04-02T20:42:49Z")
> [@First\_Amongst\_Daves](#): > > Japanese monster movies, Hong Kong horror films, DC comics Silver Age, DC Comics Vertigo imprint, 1990s big budget action movies, Tarzan, Doc Savage and 1950s pulp, 1950s sci-fi, The Matrix/Grant Morrison, Star Trek… Wait (says the guy who’s read the first volume of Planetary and general information about some, but not all, of the later issues), they referred to Star Trek? ---
**Author:** ![First\_Amongst\_Daves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4491bb/32.png) [@First\_Amongst\_Daves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/First_Amongst_Daves)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2009, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-warren-ellis-planetary-ever-be-finished-spoilers/491236/11 "2009-04-03T11:55:41Z")
There is a Borg reference when the crew got to Earth-Flaming Toilet. > [@Cliffy](#): > > Planetary/shmanetary – I reread the first 9 issues of Fell yesterday and that’s what I’d like to see continued. It’s awesome. (There’s a blurb at the end of #9 that suggests #10 will be out in mid-March and the next half-dozen issues will follow rather quickly. Mid-March of 2008. Ha!) > > The moral arguments about lateness are sort of beside the point from my perspective. It can be addressed in the market. If you’re unhappy with how long it takes something to come out, stop buying it when it does. If that happens enough, the behavior will change. Indeed, Ellis’ Marvel work comes out rather promptly, AFAIK. I imagine it’s because Marvel has made it clear what they won’t tolerate. > > –Cliffy Long time no see, Cliffy. I liked Fell too, but figured it had been cancelled. Market forces are not effective in this sort of scenario, I think, when you only get a portion of the completed task. With the subject matter is dished out in tranches upon discrete and separate payments and you don’t get the last tranche, then you have a valid complaint. Without the final tranche, you do not have a complete whole and the promise of the whole is unfulfilled. Seems to me there is a decent legal argument as well as a moral argument. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2009, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-warren-ellis-planetary-ever-be-finished-spoilers/491236/12 "2009-04-05T03:23:37Z")
Hmm. Certainly you’d be SOL trying to make that argument about a new Ellis series. Is there really an implied guarantee that a story will be completed? I have to say no – the history of periodical literature is rife with stories that didn’t get finished for all sorts of reasons, most commonly because of poor sales. Or what if Ellis had been hit by a bus? No, I think it’s well-understood that you’re paying for the particular periodical you’re buying, and the probability of future installments is merely a “value add.” And I think the market forces do work in this instance – it’s just that most consumers vote differently than you would. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![De\_La\_Rue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@De\_La\_Rue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/De_La_Rue)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2009, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-warren-ellis-planetary-ever-be-finished-spoilers/491236/13 "2009-04-05T15:22:23Z")
> [@First\_Amongst\_Daves](#): > > There is a Borg reference when the crew got to Earth-Flaming Toilet. _What._ You’ll have to explain further. Unless I’m being whooshed.