Gen 13 #33
Gen 13 #33 earns its place in comics history not for what happens to Fairchild and her crew, but for what is hiding in the back of the book: the world debut of Elijah Snow, Jakita Wagner, and Drummer — the trio who would anchor Planetary, one of the defining series of the late-Wildstorm era. That eight-page backup story, 'Nuclear Spring,' gave readers their first glimpse of Warren Ellis and John Cassaday's concept of super-powered 'archaeologists of the impossible' investigating the secret history of the twentieth century, a premise that would unfold over 27 issues and reshape how writers approached the superhero genre's own mythology. The issue is therefore a quiet turning point: a teen-superhero funbook that unknowingly handed off the baton to a grimmer, more literary mode of Wildstorm storytelling. It also captures the Gen 13 title mid-transition, written by John Arcudi and drawn by Gary Frank, whose grounded, realistic approach contrasted sharply with the J. Scott Campbell style that had defined the series.
In "Burning the Candle at Both Ends," Gen 13 faces a bizarre twist after the hurricane’s aftermath, stumbling upon a giant toddler buried in rubble—Dr. Gideon Spunctry, a scientist whose meta-genetic experiment has reversed his aging in terrifying, unintended ways. With Roxy and Sarah still missing, Fairchild, Grunge, and Burnout must help the now-fragile doctor before his rapid regression becomes irreversible. Written by John Arcudi and brought to life by Gary Frank’s dynamic art and Cam Smith’s sharp inks, this issue blends sci-fi oddity with the team’s signature urgency, all wrapped in a cover by Gary Frank and John Cassaday.
In the aftermath of a hurricane, Fairchild, Grunge, and Burnout search for the missing Roxy and Sarah—only to uncover a giant toddler buried in the wreckage. It’s Dr. Gideon Spunctry, a scientist whose meta-genetic experiments reversed his aging with startling, unintended consequences. Now, the teens must help him navigate a body that’s rapidly regressing, before his condition spirals beyond control.
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We Buy Collections ▸History
By late 1998, WildStorm — then still formally under the Image banner — was negotiating its sale to DC Comics, and editor Scott Dunbier was overseeing a line in creative flux. John Arcudi had taken over Gen 13 scripting from series co-creator Brandon Choi, while Gary Frank provided pencils in place of Campbell, giving the book a noticeably more grounded register. Into that context, Dunbier and Ellis arranged for 'Nuclear Spring' to run as a promotional flipbook backup simultaneously in Gen 13 #33 and in Jim Lee's C-23 #6 — both cover-dated September 1998 — as a teaser for the upcoming Planetary ongoing, which DC/Wildstorm had announced would launch in roughly four months. The acquisition process ran longer than anticipated, and Planetary #1 ultimately arrived a full year later, in April 1999.
Trivia · 8 facts
- First appearance of the Planetary team — Elijah Snow, Jakita Wagner, and Drummer — in the eight-page backup story titled 'Nuclear Spring,' written by Warren Ellis and drawn by John Cassaday.
- The main Gen 13 feature, 'Burning the Candle at Both Ends,' was written by John Arcudi with pencils by Gary Frank and inks by Cam Smith; editor Scott Dunbier oversaw both stories.
- The issue is structured as a flipbook, with the Gen 13 lead story on one side and the Planetary preview accessible from the other cover.
- The 'Nuclear Spring' preview was published simultaneously in C-23 #6 (September 1998), also a WildStorm/Image title edited under the same imprint.
- The David Paine character in 'Nuclear Spring' is an acknowledged analogue of Marvel's Bruce Banner/Hulk, illustrating the series' core method of reimagining pulp and genre archetypes.
- The 'Nuclear Spring' story has been collected in every major Planetary reprint package, including the Planetary: All Over the World and Other Stories trade paperback (2000), the Planetary Book One trade paperback (2017), and the Absolute Planetary hardcover (2021), which explicitly credits Gen 13 #33 as part of the collection.
- The main Gen 13 narrative continues a post-hurricane storyline in which three members search for the missing Freefall and Rainmaker, encountering Dr. Gideon Spunctry, a scientist who used metagenetics to reverse his own aging with unintended gigantism as a side effect.
- Cover art for the issue is by Gary Frank and Cam Smith; coloring on the Planetary story is credited to Laura DePuy (later Laura Martin), who went on to color nearly every issue of the Planetary ongoing series.
Full credits
Reprints
Reprinted in Wildcore #7 (1998), Gen 13 #20 (1999), Planetary #[1] (2000), Comic Box #29 (2000), Planetary #1 (2001), Planetary #1 (2004), Absolute Planetary #1 (2005), Planetary #1 (2007), Planetary #1 (2017)
Key issues in Gen 13
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