Last week I read Blue Estate Vol. 1, which was an incredible crime story. Because Blue Estate had such a large cast and complex story, I wanted something a wee bit simpler this week. And, to be really picky, I wanted a new story but something I was already familiar with. I found that in PLANET OF THE APES VOL. 1, collecting the first four issues of the new series written by Daryl Gregory, iIlustrated by Carlos Magno, published by Boom!, 120 pgs, $10.

Set in the world of Apes, the story takes place in the free city of Mek. Mek is one of the few places where apes and humans are equal and live in peace. As always, underneath the shiny exterior is a rotten core and the tenuous peace is tested when a rouge human kills the one ape that held it all together. The assassination sets in motion a series of events that will test both humans and apes as they try to stop their world from erupting in violence.

Gregory does a superb job of creating a brand new pocket in the Apes universe. He quickly establishes the characters and also takes the time to build the ‘world’ too. There were plenty of references to the original Charlton Heston POTA movie and lots of hints about things that have occurred between then and the current time. This kind of world building is perfect for the Apes because it makes a connection with the diehard fans yet never gets so mired in its own history that it alienates newer fans.  It’s a rich, complex setting that makes you curious about not only the current story but the history of the world. Continue reading »