Terror on the Planet of the Apes, part 1

 

cover art by Bob Larkin

In the early 1970s, Marvel Comics got the rights for Planet of the Apes. In 1975, they would publish an 11 issue series that adapted the first two movies into comic book form. (This, by the way, would be the second time Beneath the Planet of the Apes would be adapted. Gold Key did a one-shot adaptation in 1970.)

Before that 11-issue series, though, Marvel began a Planet of the Apes magazine, featuring original stories presented in black-and-white. The first issue was cover dated August 1974.

This was part of an explosion that expanded the original POTA universe. In addition to what Marvel was doing, the short-lived Planet of the Apes TV series began in September 1974. The animated Return to the Planet of the Apes (my personal favorite POTA universe) appeared on Saturday mornings beginning in September 1975.

It is, of course, geeky fun to try to place these stories in the original POTA movie timeline or decide that they are a seperate continuity entirely. The animated series is clearly set in a different universe. The TV series could be in the movie universe, some centuries before the first movie takes place, but could also be said to be in another continuity.

The Marvel comic series is in the same grey area as the TV series. It could be set somewhere in that 2000-year period between nuclear war and the first movie. Or it could be another reality. We find out in the second issue that the human/ape society in the comic stories has no knowledge of firearms. Since the apes kept knowledge of guns even after humans devolved into near-animals again, that might be seen as a reason for dropping it into another universe. On the other hand, we have 2000 years to play with and it is probable that the Ape society Taylor (Charlton Heston) ran into in the first movie isn't the only ape civilization on the planet. So perhaps we can drop the Marvel stories into the same continuity.

It really doesn't matter as long as the stories are good. But we wouldn't be true geeks if we didn't debate it, would we?

Anyway, the Marvel story is written by Doug Moench (building off an idea provided by Gerry Conway) and initially features superb art by Mike Ploog.

In the first issue, we meet two teenagers. Hot-headed Jason is a human whose best friend is a more level-headed chimpanzee named Alexander. Some initial dialogue established their character traits and hints at tensions between humans and apes, who live as supposed equals in their village. Then the two attend a speech by the Lawgiver.

As it usual in any POTA universe, the Lawgiver is an orangutan. His speech is basically a "be nice to everyone while I'm gone" talk, because he's leaving for a time without explaining why. He leaves another orangutan named Xavier in charge. But Xavier, it seems, is a spineless wimp. The two friends aren't happy with this and secretly follow the Lawgiver, but lose his trail near the Forbidden Zone.

Things begin to go sour almost immediately. Alexander's dad is beaten up by masked gorillas for being a "human lover," while Jason's parents are murdered by those same gorillas.

We soon learn that the marauding gorillas have a secret base outside the village and that their leader is Brutus, the village's "peace officer."

Jason is wild for revenge and Alexander joins him, as much to try to keep Jason's temper in check as to see justice is done. They trail the gorillas, but get captured. Brutus, in the meantime, is also tracked down by his wife. When she decides to expose him, he loses some Husband Points by immediately murdering her.

Brutus frames Jason for the killing. Alexander, who has gotten loose, springs Jason from prison. The issue ends with the two on the run together.

It's a good story. As I said, Ploog's art is fantastic. The character dynamic between the two friends is strong and the story is full of action while still efficiently establishing the universe and telling a powerful tale. 

Next week, we'll visit Spider Man and the Human Torch once again. That's a two parter, so it'll be three weeks before we find out what Jason and Alexander have been up to after busting out of prison.