Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Writer: Michael Moreci
Artist: Dan McDaid
Release Date: 26th November 2014
BOOM! Studios’ latest Planet of the Apes related series tells the story of the intervening decade period between the two most recent big screen adaptations, and details the struggle facing the rapidly dwindling human race, and Caesar’s attempts to establish an ordered ape society strong enough to face the future.
Picking up after the events of ‘Rise’, we are introduced to Malcolm, a father struggling to come to terms with the situation he finds himself and his family in. Worried for the future, he believes seeking new opportunities and leaving the family home behind is the best course of action. His wife, Ellie, who has contracted the virus, wishes to remain put, fearful of losing what they have in pursuit of the unknown. Michael Moreci quickly draws pretty obvious parallels between the human plight and the apes; Caesar finds his burgeoning society on the horns of the very same dilemma. Essentially, we are given two characters who must weigh risk against reward to shape the future, not only for them, but for those who depend on them.
Of course, assuming we are following movie canon, we know the ultimate fates of each character, but the real interest here lies in witnessing how certain plot points are developed. For example, the seeds of Koba’s distrust of Caesar’s vision are sown in this issue, and Dan McDaid does a fine job of capturing the essence of the character through some fine facial expressions. His depiction of Caesar is equally impressive, and as a reader it helped create a much-needed sense of emotional engagement with the character. The overall rough tone of the artwork and choice of subdued palette is perfectly suited to the post-apocalyptic setting.
On the whole, it’s a pretty solid opening issue, if a touch heavy-handed with regards to the overall theme, and nicely foreshadows some of the key elements seen in the latest film. Perhaps not a must-buy, unless of course you’re a POTA completionist.
Rating: 3/5.
The Writer of this piece was: Martin Doyle
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