The ALZ-113 virus has rampaged across planet Earth, and humanity is crumbling. While well-meaning researchers hunt for a cure, a fanatical group of humans has their own solution: Kill all apes. Peacekeeper Juliana Tobon is one of the few willing to stand against them, but the crisis is spreading, and soon apes will witness the true depths of human cruelty. Planet of the Apes #1 builds on the classic franchise and delivers an opening chapter that eerily reflects today’s reality.

Written by David F. Walker, Planet of the Apes #1 is a debut that’s perfect for fans of the franchise. It takes us to the early days of the worldwide shift as disease ravages and misinformation leads groups of individuals to do irrational things. If that sounds familiar, this debut issue with a few changes could be our reality as extremists drive a narrative that’s based on emotion rather than logic and whose actions only make matters worse. While Planet of the Apes existed long before today’s world, its story feels much more relevant.

Walker does an excellent job of setting the world up, bouncing around the years showing us how things have played out. We see the cause of the rise of the apes but also the rise in human fatalities, the rise in fear, and the rise in action that makes little sense. Much like in today’s real world, the situation fractures society instead of bringing it together. It shows off the worse in humanity instead of challenging it to rise up and show off its best.

The art by Dave Wachter is great. With color by Bryan Valenza and lettering by Joe Caramagna, there’s a sadness about it all as we see the world fall apart. With the comic jumping around in time, the art also becomes key hinting at what has changed over the years and where things stand. What stands out as well is everything has personality. People all look different. The apes all look different. There’s so much unique things in every panel, each telling a little bit of the story. Add in some solid action sequences and you have a comic whose visuals pop and entertain.

Planet of the Apes #1 is a solid debut that continues to flesh out the world and its story. While it takes a bit to get to the main story it’ll tell, it more than sets things up taking readers on a ride of where things are and how they got there. It’s a fantastic start, perfect for long time fans and new readers.

Story: David F. Walker Art: Dave Wachter
Color: Bryan Valenza Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Story: 8.3 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.25 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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Purchase: Zeus Comics – comiXology/Kindle