A crossover between Star Trek and Planet of the Apes sounded like a great premise when I first heard about it from a rep at the IDW Publishing booth at New York Comic Con, I wondered how these two worlds would collide, and would the writers’ premise make the most of the gifts that both universes could offer.

In the first issue of Star Trek/Planet of the Apes: Primate Directive, we are on Earth, an ape negotiates with a mysterious figure, one can only suspect, they are from the Star Trek universe. Meanwhile, Sulu and Uhura, are undercover on Klingon, doing some counterintelligence. The story written by Scott and David Tipton, and art by Rachael Stott, paints a palette, where the Klingons have learned how to manipulate quantum physics, thus leading our heroes into an alternate dimension of time and space. As always they beam down, and Kirk discovers that the Apes and the Klingons are working together.

In the next issue, we run into the characters from the original movies, humans and Apes, include Taylor (Charlton Heston’s character) and Cornelius, which is what was going to be the most intriguing facet of this team-up, as you are reintroduced to all main antagonists, as Kirk tries to work with them against General Marius and the rest of the evil Apes.

In the third issue, Taylor, knocks out Chekhov out cold, to beam aboard the Enterprise, and begins to wreak havoc, eventually getting into a brawl with Kirk. Meanwhile, Kor, the Klingon Commander, and Marius, are working on their arms deal, so that Marius can unite the Apes.

The next issue opens with Dr. Zaius contemplating the danger so far while Taylor is trying to convince Kirk of the dangers of the Apes versus the agenda of the Klingons. This is while also dealing with the culture shock that the Apes are having with the Enterprise’s crew members. That’s where the plot accelerates and is best, as it looks as if Kor, is planning an Ape War, by breaking Ape Law.

In the conclusion, the comic is somewhat predictable but ultimately unsatisfying I wanted more from this team-up, but I can at least say the ending s a surprise. Overall, a decent story, but I wished they developed it more.

Story: Scott Tipton and David Tipton Art: Rachael Stott
Story: 6 Art: 9 Overall: 7.7 Recommendation: Read

IDW Publishing and BOOM! Studios provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review