Title: Planet of the Apes (Click to go to the release post)
Writer: Daryl Gregory (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Doug Zawisza (Don't click it, read the review here... )
Review:
- Planet of the Apes #1
The latest comic book series to attempt to celebrate the planet ruled by apes comes from BOOM! and they’ve decided to go retro. This series calls more to the 1968 origins of the “Planet of the Apes” franchise than the Tim Burton remake from 2001.
Not content to simply stay in the “retro” realm, Carlos Magno contributes some stunningly detailed, photo-influenced (but not traced) art that makes this book an absolute visual treasure. The faces of the apes are distinct and discernable, from chimpanzee to gorilla to orangutan, they’re here, they’re well drawn, and they’re magnificent. Magno’s art is detailed and real, but carries in it sensibilities of art nouveau. That makes the details seem more detailed but cleaner and refined. The end result is a book that flirts with being cluttered visually, but stops at simply dazzling the senses. There are details on the details in this book, demanding to be studied, analyzed and soaked up. “Planet of the Apes,” despite the dystopian setting and the gruff relationships depicted within it, is a beautiful looking book.
It’s a darn good thing that the story matches the magnificence of the art. This story fits the world established in 1968, but adds in more intrigue and suspense. Daryl Gregory limits the number of characters he gives voice to in this issue, but he fills the world with color and character through those select few. Add in the assassination of the Lawgiver as depicted in the preview here on CBR and this book has a lot going for it beyond the simple juxtaposition of humans and damn dirty apes.
That assassination takes borderline trust and magnifies it, giving each side reason to cast suspicion upon the other. There are problems that have been lurking under the surface within this world, that much is clear in this issue, but the killing of ape (allegedly by human) threatens to scratch off the scab that has been holding back the oozing sore of inequality.
There’s been a bit of flurry surrounding the upcoming “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” film. This book doesn’t play off of that, in front of that, or tie into it, save for the “Planet of the Apes” brand. This is “Planet of the Apes” boiled down to what made it successful the first time around: ape and human engaged in philosophical conflict that becomes embodied by physical conflict. This is an exciting and gripping story that grabbed me by the nape of the neck and locked me for an intensely uninterrupted read.
Planet of the Apes #2
With the first issue designated a sellout before it even hit the shelves, it’s safe to say this second issue is highly anticipated. You can check out the start of this latest issue in the exclusive preview we had posted late last week.
The first time I ever saw a white gorilla was in the pages of “Ranger Rick,” a magazine about animals geared towards younger readers. The article showed Snowflake, a now famous (and unfortunately departed) white gorilla from the Barcelona Zoo. The images in that article – and the images I’ve since found through other research and personal interest in his story – have added to a stunning visual assemblage in my mind’s eye. In this issue, Daryl Gregory and Carlos Magno introduce Nix, a white gorilla, and a former soldier who, for reasons yet unrevealed, has spent time imprisoned. Freed from his bonds and given the task of tracking down the Lawgiver’s assassin, Nix quickly establishes himself as the alpha male in both mind and body. Although we’ve just met him in this issue, he makes a distinct, lasting impression, just as Snowflake did with me lo those many years ago.
This book continues to impress me with its raw, robust connection to the now classic “Apes” films despite the fact that it has yet to use any previously recognizable characters. Sure, apes bearing firearms and riding horses may seem virtually interchangeable, in theory, but Gregory gives these characters life beyond Magno’s drawings. The two creators did not take long to gel on this title, and the “Planet of the Apes” brand is certainly better for it.
Nolan Woodard’s colors play up the light of many outdoor scenes, washing out – or threatening to wash out – many of the backgrounds with a hazy sunshine. The overall effect is a striking visual that transcends printed page, giving those scenes a “captured still” feel, as though the scene was clipped directly from a heretofore unseen “Planet of the Apes” film. The visuals on this book – the line art and the color art – are stunning and worthy of the cover price alone. Lucky for us all, however, the story rises to the level of the art.
With two great issues already published, I’m genuinely excited to see where this series takes the franchise, the characters, and, most importantly, the readers. If these first two issues are any indication, this is going to be one memorable series.
More info:
- Written by: Daryl Gregory
Artwork by: Carlos Magno
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Post rewarded by Ojay on Jul 31st, 2011, 7:35 am. |
5 WRZ$ reward as announced in Comics News. Nice reviewed. Thanks! |