Publisher: Image Comics
Writer/Creator: Aubrey Sitterson
Art/Creator: Jed Dougherty
Colours: Vittoria Astone
Letters: Taylor Esposito
Release Date: 7th May 2025

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The first completely free planet in human history has won its independence, but the hard work and test of what this means has only just begun.

For me, Free Planet was a challenging first issue. It’s a very dense read full of the stuff I normally love like world building and ensemble casts. The creative team have created something which demands your attention. This isn’t a sit on the bus or café read. No, here is a comic which requires you take time and dedicate yourself to. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, indeed, something with more heft can be a welcome change from all flash and no substance. Unfortunately, all the elements ended up competing rather than complimenting on many of the pages.

So the planet Lutheria, formerly known as Aides, is now free of Alliance oppression. Commander Gracchon has stood aside and entrusted the safety of the newly free world to the Freedom Guard, a collection of individuals ranging from former Alliance officer to rebellious robot, and guerilla warrior to glowing head in overbearing mechanical body. Each character is distinctive and colourful, and weird enough to get you interested. The team play heavily into the old sci-fi tropes but there’s a tongue in cheek quality here which prevents the end result feeling pedestrian. Through ongoing expositions, as well as flashbacks, we start to learn something of all these characters. Enough to lure you in, but just shy of enough to sate one’s curiosity.

Story wise, Free Planet promises to be a refreshing ‘what comes after’. The valiant or ignoble struggle from oppressed to victor of the close past set aside to show the difficulties that freedom brings. When you have a variety of factions and viewpoints, a strength delivered in the diverse and unique cast both narratively and aesthetically, it’s a herculean task to keep everyone happy. Whether its discussion of crop growth or how to maintain macro-economics from a unique natural resource, there’s something new and intense on every turn of the page.

That’s potentially where I found Free Planet rewarding in a sense, but also challenging, the intensity of information. There’s so much good stuff in here but its almost like an assault on the senses which prevents you from taking it all onboard. Esposito does well to weave such a volume of text on the panels to minimise obscuring Dougherty and the team’s art, but I found it didn’t afford me the opportunity to appreciate everything at my usual pace. Rather than take an easy out in a gentle intro and focussing on one or two characters in a slow build, the team have taken a bold in your face approach which many will no doubt applaud. There’s more than enough to like here as long as you can take the time to seclude yourself away to process it.

Rating: 3/5.

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[PREVIEW ARTWORK – CLICK TO ENLARGE]

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The writer of this piece was: Adam Brown
Adam Tweets from @brother_rooster

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