Beginning in the early 90’s, Warren Ellis quickly established himself as a unique voice in comics. Alan Moore embraces the mystic, Grant Morrison turned to mind alteration, but Ellis embraced science. Since his initial work in comics, Ellis has branched out to work in music, books, video games and TV. Recently, Warren Ellis’ Iron Man storyline from Extremis was adapted into Iron Man 3. Covering topics as diverse as human rights, transhumanism and zombies, a core theme throughout Ellis’ work is change. Changing social orders, changing ideas, changing worlds. These are the four best examples of his work.

Planetary

“We crisscross the world, making it right, making it strange, and the people never see our coming or our going.”

Alan Moore’s League of Extraordinary Gentlemen took characters from the Victorian era and put them together, Planetary the American comic limited series written by Warren Ellis and illustrated by John Cassaday (DC Comics, Wildstorm) takes characters from the 19th and 20th century (or something close enough if copyright law doesn’t allow it) and throws them together. Planetary concerns itself with one Elijah Snow, a self-described “archaeologist of the impossible,” dedicated to finding the secret history of the 20th century. On his journey Elijah Snow studies under Sherlock Holmes, explores Africa with Tarzan, fights Dracula, visits Godzilla’s island and uncovers a conspiracy to keep humanity quiet and controlled (a recurring theme in Ellis’ work). Each issue is largely independent of previous and subsequent stories, which cover every possible genre. One issue may deal with the ghost of a Hong Kong police officer bent on vengeance, the next has Snow tripping the light fantastic as he learns fundamental truths about reality from a shaman, and next he’s using alien angels to investigate a spaceship drifting into Earth’s orbit.

Never stopping for breath, the story bolts along at a tremendous pace, uncovering a vast conspiracy stretching from the bowels of the Earth to alternate realities. Ellis’ brilliant narrative is brought to life by John Cassaday’s glorious artwork. By turns hilarious and heartbreaking (see what happens to a child sent to Earth from his doomed planet), Planetary is an amazing work, nominated for four Eisner Awards (Best Continuing Series, Best New Series, Best Continuing Series and Best Serialized Story).