Writer: David Pepose
Artist: Eman Casallos
Dynamite Entertainment, September 2025
In Captain Planet and the Planeteers #5, writer David Pepose continues to prove that he is an expert at reviving 1990s cartoons in a way that honors the colorful campy sensibilities while updating it just enough to resonate with today’s audience. Here is publisher Dynamite Entertainment’s promotional copy:
In this issue: Captain Pollution has seized the day, and things are looking deadly for both the Planeteers and the planet itself! Now, the team must come together one last time and find the strength to summon their most powerful ally for a final showdown against the corrupting force of Lucian Plunder!
Longstanding Friends of Gaia DAVID PEPOSE and EMAN CASALLOS turn up the heat in Captain Planet #5 – offset by cooling covers from CHAD HARDIN, CHRISTIAN WARD, BEN OLIVER, and connecting art from JAE LEE & JUNE CHUNG!
One of the strongest aspects of this issue is the handling of Captain Pollution, who is the current villain of the story arc. As the corrupted counterpart to Captain Planet, Captain Pollution embodies everything the hero stands against, from toxic waste to industrial greed, while mirroring his powers in unsettling ways. There is always something inherently exciting when a superhero goes up against their dark reflection. In comics history, these battles have produced some of the medium’s most enduring rivalries: Bizarro for Superman, Sinestro for Green Lantern, Venom for Spider-Man. Such villains remove the safety net; when the hero faces a foe of equal strength and scope, the conflict becomes visceral and unpredictable. That same sense of stakes permeates Captain Planet #5, setting the stage for a climactic clash.
Yet this issue is not solely about the titanic forces at play. Mr Pepose wisely makes space for the Planeteers, who in the cartoon often struggled to be more than summoners of Captain Planet. Here, they are far from passive. Each member demonstrates creativity and determination in wielding their rings, using elemental powers in inventive ways to combat Captain Pollution and his effects. This choice adds more dimension to the team dynamic. It is not just a matter of keeping the villain busy until main character arrives, but of genuine resistance and teamwork. The Planeteers come across as heroes in their own right, which enriches the storytelling and broadens the series’ appeal.
That being said, Mr Pepose knows not to lean too heavily on the Planeteers as primary combatants. The balance is carefully struck. When one of them suffers defeat at the hands of Captain Pollution, it underscores the danger the villain represents. At the same time, the narrative reveals that this Planeteer’s determination to fight, despite the odds not being in his favor, was merely a ruse – it was merely to buy just enough time for the summoning of Captain Planet. It’s a clever way to acknowledge the Planeteers’ value while still giving proper dramatic weight to the arrival of the character the comic is focused on.
Tonally, the comic maintains the vibrant energy of the original show without feeling dated. The action sequences are kinetic and colorful, but the dialogue and pacing feel attuned to modern sensibilities. Mr Pepose doesn’t shy away from giving the story a bit more edge, but he stops short of cynicism or over-seriousness. It’s a delicate balance that many revivals fail to strike: the series manages to preserve the joy of the original while giving it just enough grounding to feel contemporary.
The cliffhanger ending is a highpoint for the issue. Captain Planet and Captain Pollution finally stand face to face, their opposing forces practically radiating off the page. The promise of an epic showdown is left dangling, ensuring readers will be eager for the next installment. It’s a tried-and-true storytelling device, but one that works particularly well here given the anticipation Mr Pepose has been building over the last several issues.
At the end of the day, Captain Planet #5 is a well-written part of a really good franchise revival. It builds on both the nostalgia of the original cartoon and the energy of the comic series to deliver a story that maintains the momentum of the series while positioning the next chapter as a Can’t-Miss.
