Hard sci-fi; easy to love

One week until the launch of Free Planet, I expound on Leon Trotsky's History of the Russian Revolution

Apr 30, 2025

This week:

Stellar reviews for Free Planet #1
Free Planet #1 signings

But first…

Revolutionary personalities

As I discussed while running the Podcast Gauntlet, my research for Free Planet has been largely, thought not exclusively, focused on real world revolutions. For some time, I put off delving into the Russian Revolution because it has been so heavily and thoroughly politicized by the later actions of the Soviet Union as well as the US’ framing of its defeated Cold War adversary. Across my research, I felt it necessary to avoid more politicized histories on account of the fact that my reading was intended not to make a political statement more forceful but to fuel a narrative that says something more complex about politics and the human condition more broadly. However, in recognition that the Russian Revolution is one of the most shocking, important, epochal events in human history, I knew I needed to dig in somewhere.

Finding the right book about the Russian Revolution, however, struck me as a near impossibility. Because of the politicization mentioned above, everyone has a bias, often made more obscure by their proclamations to the contrary. In addition, the Russian Revolution is such an expansive topic that most histories seemed to only cover a small slice of the period. Then I saw it: A comprehensive history of the Russian Revolution written by one of its primary actors and participants. Since I couldn’t find an unbiased history, I determined taht the next best option was one in which the bias was abundantly clear: The History of the Russian Revolution by Leon Trotsky. I immediately put a copy on hold at the Los Angeles Public Library.

Leon Trotsky is the most viciously, delightfully catty writer I’ve ever had the pleasure to read. I hesitate to say “petty” because the truth is that Trotsky was more than justified in his hatred of those who received the brunt of his ire, especially Stalin. Though he claimed to have written his history completely objectively – including writing about himself in the third person – Trotsky’s performance of clinical objectivity makes his back-handed complements, ruthless assessments and understated but devastating put-downs even more delicious.

Humorous, sure, but why is this significant? Aside from adding some welcome color to this doorstop-sized tome, it drilled home something crucial: Revolutions are not monolithic; they’re carried out by individuals. While most decent histories of revolutions go into the events’ varied and competing factions, few delve into individual grudges in a way that matches Trotsky, even with his “efforts” not to descend to that level. Seeing the way in which personal animosities, jealousies and affinities impacted major events within a world revolution was enormously influential with regard to weaving interpersonal drama into all of Free Planet’s complex geopolitical maneuvering.

When I learned about the Russian Revolution in school, it was always at an extremely high level. Our focus during the 20th century tended to move from war to war, such that it was easy to infer that the Russian Revolution was quick, sudden and soon settled. Trotsky’s history makes it clear that the Russian Revolution, like so many revolutions, moved in fits and starts. In fact, the Russian Revolution was actually two distinct revolutions, one overthrowing the monarchy in February 1917 and another through which the Bolsheviks took over in October of the same year. Between February and October? Extensive maneuvering, retrenching, planning and making and breaking of coalitions.

It sounds obvious but, without digging into their details, it’s easy to forget that revolutions are typically as complex and complicated as the societies they’re remaking. While there might be a consensus that the old government has to go, there’s rarely agreement regarding what should replace it. In Revolutionary Russia – like Civil War Spain – there were multiple parties and factions with distinct ideas about how their new world should be structured, with heated disagreement common even within the parties themselves. This fact, and the necessity of a follow-up revolution, contributed immensely to how we constructed Free Planet’s history.

An aspect of the Russian Revolution that can appear shocking to contemporary sensibilities is this: There was significant left-wing sentiment within the Russian military. In the US context especially, it’s easy to see the military as monolithically nationalist and right-wing (though even that’s a gross oversimplification). Around the world though, it’s been proven time and time again that the military not only has revolutionary potential, but that its support is utterly crucial to the success of a revolution.

Of course, support for the Bolsheviks was not universal in the Russian military, with political views breaking down in a predictable fashion. While Russian officers leaned right, enlisted soldiers and NCOs were often ardent supporters of socialist revolution. This distinction is an important one, as enlisted soldiers and especially NCOs played major roles in not just the Russian Revolutions but the Cuban ones as well, something I’ll cover in an upcoming discussion of Hugh Thomas’ Cuba: The Pursuit of Freedom. In consideration of the important, complex roles played by the military in real-world revolutions, the military action in Free Planet isn’t just eye candy, but intrinsically bound to the geopolitical maneuvering and interpersonal drama mentioned above.

Hard sci-fi; easy to love

Some creators don’t like reading reviews of their work. That ain’t me; I make comics to be read and there’s little I find more gratifying than people actually engaging with my work in a meaningful way. Which is why I was so delighted by Matt Morrison’s review of Free Planet #1 at KabOOOOOm.

Of course, I’m thrilled that it was a perfect, five-star review but what means even more than that is the way in which Matt wrote about the book. Free Planet is an enormous swing and different from every other book on the racks on a foundational level. I’m so excited and honored that people are already responding this way to the Shape of Comics to Come.

A truly unique sci-fi comic

KabOOOOOm isn’t the only site showing Free Planet some early love; Collier Jenings recently gave the Shape of Comics to Come a stellar review at AIPT! Not only does Collier tease out the distinct and remarkable contributions of our entire team, but he digs deep, assessing Free Planet‘s place not just amid sci-fi comics but science fiction as a whole.

As you’ve seen me harp on endlessly, it was important to me that Free Planet function as both art object and literature. I’m so gratified that people are recognizing the literary aspirations of the book, as Collier did with regard to the book’s thematic depth, challenging prose and overall complexity. I won’t lie: It’s also incredibly flattering for our work to be compared to the likes of Dune and contextualized within the grand tradition of epic Image science fiction series.

Signings, signings, signings

Next week, if you’re in Los Angeles, you’ll have ample opportunity to not only get Free Planet signed, but to score some original art from cocreator Jed Dougherty as well as my Comic Book Story of Professional Wrestling and Stoned Master cocreator Chris Moreno.

First up, on release day, Wednesday, May 7 from 5 to 7pm at Collector’s Paradise NoHo, Jed and I will be joined by Chris for a signing extravaganza. Not only will the first 20 people in line get a FREE Free Planet poster, but you can take advantage of a slew of deals:

FREE Free Planet poster for the first 20 people in line
FREE Free Planet #1 with the purchase of The Comic Book Story of Professional Wrestling
FREE Chris Moreno sketch with the purchase of The Comic Book Story of Professional Wrestling and Stoned Master #1
FREE Jed Dougherty sketch with the purchase of a Free Planet Signature Series and the Savage Hearts graphic novel

Then, Jed and I will be back at Collector’s Paradise NoHo on Saturday, May 10 from 11am to 1pm, as part of the shop’s month-long Free Comic Book May celebration.

That’s not enough for you? Come see Jed and I later on Saturday, May 10 at the Universal City Walk Things From Another World from 2 to 4pm.

Live somewhere else but have a burning desire to get signed copies of Free Planet? Tell your local comic shops and conventions that you’d love to see Jed and me there! In the meantime, you can always ordered signed copies from my pals at Collector’s Paradise.