As a diehard Mets fan, growing up in New York, we had to contend with Yankees fans. As that is as good a rivalry within a city I have ever seen. Even when I lived in Chicago, Cubs fans and White Sox fans got along no matter how many times they played each other. Meanwhile, in New York, those teams have even divided families.

As I always cringed whenever I had to pass Yankee Stadium on my way to see my cousins in the Bronx. It is always was funny how they used that stadium in television and movies as representative of New York. As the ones I know hate the Yankees. In the second issue of Beware the Planet of the Apes, Zira, Conelius and Nova have entered the Forbidden Zone, which just so happens to be where Yankees Stadium is.

We open on a woman named Ivana awakening from a dream of the past, one where a human colony existed, and humans were enslaved. As we catch up with Cornelius, Zira and Nova right when the first watch catches sight of the three getting near Yankee Stadium. As the three approach Zira marvels at the stadium. This when shots get fired, and Ivana puts Zira and Cornleius to sleep, while she believes Nova is somewhat of a godsend. This is where we find out that some humans were mutated by a post apocalyptic event, while others remain untouched. By the issue’s end, we find out Lucius has been taken by the Homindae Empire, a colony ruled by Gorillas.

Overall, Beware the Planet of the Apes #2‘s story defines the mythology better than the movies. The story by Guggenheim is excellent. The art by the creative team is stunning. Altogether, a story that makes this franchise even more visceral.

Story: Marc Guggenheim Art: Álvaro López
Color: Alex Guimarães Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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Purchase: Kindle

As a Child born in the late 1970s and growing up in the early 1980s, we were exposed to a lot of movies form the 1970s. Many of those films are now considered classics. Some have even been inducted into the Library Of Congress. Growing up in New York, some of those films were filmed in my city I knew. Some of the more famous movies from that decade being The French Connection and Mean Streets.

One of my favorite movies from that time were the Planet Of the Apes movies. I also grew up in a time when they had re-runs of the television show that was inspired by it. That franchise has always been a commentary on society’s dynamic with race and class. In the debut issue of Beware the Planet of the Apes, two ape scientists seek the help of a human to save a family member.

Beware the Planet of the Apes #1 takes us directly to the Planet of the Apes, where a human settlement is under attack by a brigade of Gorillas and the nephew of a prominent scientist goes missing. A day later in Ape City, his aunt Zira and her fiancée Cornelius look for him. Their trail leads them to Forbidden Zone, where the human he tried to help, Nova, is hiding. They reach out to the local municipal leader, Dr. Zaius, who  denies them entry to the Forbidden Zone, but Zira’s pull to bring her nephew back, forces her to break the rules. By the issue’s end, Zira, Cornelius and Nova go in search of Lucius, arriving at a place familiar to many but may be a vipers pit for our protagonists.

Overall, Beware the Planet of the Apes #1 is a story that delves deeper into Planet of the Apes mythology. The story by Guggenheim is steeped in mystery and revisionist history. The art by the creative team is gorgeous. Altogether, a story that fans of the franchise will immediately jump on.

Story: Marc Guggenheim Art: Álvaro López
Color: Alex Guimarães Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – Kindle

In a hostile world run by aggressive gorillas, scientists Cornelius and Zira are the only apes alive who see value in the mute, dumb human race – but even they know human capabilities have severe limits. So when their nephew Lucius goes missing, it is with great trepidation that they turn to a human ally, a young woman who will someday earn the moniker “Nova.” Beware the Planet of the Apes #1 is a fantastic mix of old and new fans of the series will enjoy.

Written by Marc Guggenheim, Beware the Planet of the Apes #1 is a great start to a new chapter in the Planet of the Apes series. The comic charts new territory while also honoring what has come before it. Guggenheim mines material from the classic films and the issue mines material from classic comics as well.

Beware the Planet of the Apes #1 takes place before Taylor’s arrival and the comic plays up on the history we know. Since it revolves around Cornelius, Zira, and Nova, the story plays up what has happened in the films, and comics, while charting new territory. That includes using excerpts from Adventures on the Planet of the Apes by Doug Mench, George Tuska, Mike Esposito, Tony Mortellaro, Dave Hunt, and George Roussos.

The art by Álvaro López, color by Alex Guimarães, and lettering by Joe Caramagna is solid. There’s something very cool seeing the modern style juxtaposed with the pages and panels of the classic comic peppered throughout the issue. Much like the films, the characters have distinct looks and is easy to recognize everyone and it perfectly captures the style of the films. It nails the adaptation aspect.

It’s that clear love of what has come before that really sinks in and is clear in Beware the Planet of the Apes #1. It honors what has come before which will get fans excited while also laying a new chapter for those who might not be as familiar. It’s a must for fans of Planet of the Apes.

Story: Marc Guggenheim Art: Álvaro López
Color: Alex Guimarães Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – Kindle