Building a Free Planet: Aubrey Sitterson on Revolution, Freedom, and Sci-Fi Worldbuilding

In this compelling episode of Geek Freaks, Frank sits down with writer Aubrey Sitterson to discuss Free Planet, a new sci-fi epic from Image Comics. Aubrey dives deep into the book’s core themes of freedom, discipline, and revolution, sharing the research and inspiration behind his sprawling geopolitical space opera. From unreliable narrators and anthropological influences to the vital contributions of collaborators like artist Jed Dougherty, letterer Taylor Esposito, and colorist Vittorio Astone, this conversation unpacks how Free Planet became one of the most ambitious and layered comics of the year.

Timestamps and Topics:

• 00:00 – Introduction and welcome to Aubrey Sitterson

• 00:19 – What is Free Planet? A saga meets East of West

• 01:03 – The surprising popularity of Talon

• 02:08 – The origins of Free Planet and its political lens

• 04:30 – Revolutionary history and real-world inspirations

• 06:02 – Exploring what freedom really means

• 07:53 – Visual storytelling: spreads, charts, and page design

• 09:46 – Conflict, compromise, and food shortages

• 11:09 – The comic as literature and object

• 12:30 – Sci-fi inspirations: Ursula K. Le Guin, Dune, and more

• 14:17 – Research over aesthetics: grounding the story in truth

• 16:29 – The balance between interpersonal drama and grand politics

• 18:06 – How character dynamics reflect ideological tension

• 20:14 – Page-by-page scripting and Jed’s visual genius

• 22:34 – Weapon design, faction identity, and world-building layers

• 24:49 – Collaborative storytelling and artistic contributions

• 25:54 – Lettering innovations and layered voice design

• 28:01 – Dr. August Ferrucci and the historical narration

• 30:00 – On bias, narration, and the illusion of neutrality

• 31:01 – Bonus material and hand-painted covers

• 34:11 – Liefeld-inspired layouts and homage as design

• 36:15 – The difference between mimicry and foundational homage

• 39:07 – Talon and Basil’s contrasting voices in lettering

• 42:00 – Robert Kirkman’s blurb and industry recognition

• 43:01 – Print versus digital: Why Free Planet demands paper

Key Takeaways:

• Free Planet explores the complexities of freedom, revolution, and post-war society through a sci-fi lens.

• Aubrey Sitterson researched real-world revolutions, anthropology, and political theory to shape the book’s nuanced world.

• The comic is intentionally designed as a print-first experience, leveraging double-page spreads, infographics, and layered visual storytelling.

• Artist Jed Dougherty's page compositions elevate the script, and his designs actively shape the story's evolution.

• The lettering by Taylor Esposito adds character distinction and thematic nuance, including subtle cues like font shifts and balloon changes.

• Dr. August Ferrucci’s backmatter essays expand the story’s lore, offering unreliable but informative narration akin to historical texts.

• Free Planet is “actively hostile” to digital—intended for readers who want to sit, think, and truly absorb a comic.

Quotes:

• “It’s not just about what freedom is—but what we’re willing to sacrifice for it.” – Aubrey Sitterson

• “There’s not another comic on the rack like this.” – Frank

• “Talon was so popular early on that I rewrote the outline to give him more of the spotlight.” – Aubrey

• “We wanted Free Planet to be both art and literature.” – Aubrey

• “T