Review by Win Wiacek

One of the most effective and long-lasting explorations of failed human ambition and resultant dystopia is not the last fifty years of global government, but rather a film franchise built on a seminal French science fiction novel.

In 1974 a Marvel magazine combined serialised continuations and expanded adaptations of the five original Planet of the Apes films, both in comics form. Although the magazine was resolutely aimed at a readership beyond a standard newsstand kids range, Marvel hedged their bets by reprinting in colour deftly re-edited and toned-down film adaptations from the magazine. The simpler general release incarnation is reprinted here.

The adaptation of Michael Wilson and Rod Serling’s satirical screenplay for the first film occupies the first six chapters. Scripted by Doug Moench, with veteran George Roussos “colorizing” the monochrome art of George Tuska. Due to calamity and enemy action George Taylor is soon the sole survivor of an Earth space flight that lands him on a primitive devastated world. Here talking orangutans, chimpanzees and gorillas live in tense collaboration and humans are barely-sensate beasts of burden or preferred targets of bloodsports. The civilisation is superstitious and uncompromisingly theocratic, but as Taylor quickly deduces, clearly suppressing some awful secret about the human herds they hunt and enslave.

The rebellious talking human is somehow a clear threat to the power and dogma of the ruling simians, but thanks to the aid of well-meaning chimp scientists Zira, Lucius and Cornelius, Taylor and indigenous human companion Nova are able to escape the schemes of chief scientist Zaius who knows the awful truth Taylor and his allies are stumbling towards.

Although film fans waited two years for what happened next, the comics seamlessly continue as Moench and Roussos join illustrator Alfredo Alcala for Beneath the Planet of the Apes. Paul Dehn and Mort Abrams’ bleak, chilling screenplay sequel becomes a dark, brooding and ultimately apocalyptic quest for answers when Taylor is captured by mutated humans who worship nuclear weapons even as Earth’s follow-up expedition smashes to destruction just like the first.

Sole survivor Brent is similarly stranded in 3955 AD and equally unaware that his ship has brought him back to a much-altered birthworld. He soon meets Nova, who is ignored by whatever rules the “Forbidden Zone”. The fact that she’s wearing Taylor’s dog tags convinces Brent to accompany the mute, but he thinks twice when Nova leads him to Cornelius and Zira in Ape City. The metropolis is in turmoil with gorilla General Ursus increasingly usurping Dr. Zaius and demanding eradication of humans and conquest of the heretically sorcerous Forbidden Zone.

This is a straightforward slice of allegorical action hokum reading remarkably well even after all these years. First issued as a hardcover Omnibus with a choice of covers, the currently available format is the bulky paperback Epic Collection.