When I talk to people about graphic novels, I find that I have a tendency to get defensive. I like graphic novels and I think that they are, in their own way, every bit as worthwhile as any bit of fiction on a bestseller list. (More, in some cases) Yet, somehow I always end up almost apologetic for my obvious enjoyment.
It's probably me just showing my age but somehow I just can't shake the attitude that there is something frivolous about graphic novels and comics. Certainly, there was a time when many comic book plot lines were more than a little silly, but that isn't generally the case any more.
I'm a big fan of Ellis in general (he has a couple novels which are quite good too.) The original 4 volume run of planetary though takes the idea of a super hero and elevates it. If you stop to think about it, super-heroes are really just the inheritors of the epic hero architype. Looking at super heroes can tell you a lot about the culture that enjoys them. They speak to what we value and what we worry about or fear just as the old epic heros did. Because comics and graphic novels are marketed at a younger audience, it can be a good indicator of how the culture is shifting and developing.
Coming out originally in the 90's, Planetary speaks very much to my generation. The super-heroes follow the older forms like comic book versions of Victorian hero explorers. A whole batch of them were born specifically on January 1st, 1900. They are century babies which makes sense as my generation felt the millenium hurtling towards us. These heros (and villians) are all in some way confronting the rapidly changing world represented by the idea of a multiverse controlled and influence by large corporations running out of control. A generation raised venerating classical values confronting rapid change - yeah that's my generation in a nutshell.
So if you're curious what the graphic novel craze is all about, I recommend giving Planetary a try.
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