“Where man once stood supreme, now rule the apes!”
Published by Marvel (under their Curtis Comics imprint) from 1974 to 1977, this was the first ongoing comic book series related to the Planet of the Apes franchise.
These stories began with the non-continuity serial Terror on the Planet of the Apes, which revolved around a chimpanzee called Alex and his human friend Jason.
Other original stories were Evolution’s Nightmare, Kingdom on an Island of the Apes (set in a medieval setting complete with jousting apes), Future History Chronicles, and the movie tie-in Quest for the Planet of the Apes.
These stories allowed exploration of concepts such as mutants controlled by giant brains in vats (the Supreme Gestalt Commanders), a pioneer mountain culture including apes and humans talking like mountain men of the early 1800s (under the leadership of a gorilla named Gunpowder Julius and his human buddy, Steely Dan), a primitive ape tribe (the Assisimians), hooded ape supremacists (a la the KKK), a Native American-style culture with both apes and humans, Viking-like apes (the North Apes), cyborg gorillas (“gorilloids”), winged monkey-demons and a hidden ancient alien base (the Psychedrome).
The stories were all written by Doug Moench.
Each issue featured superb painted cover artwork by the likes of Bob Larkin, Earl Norem, Ken Barr and Malcolm McNeill, while the comic strips proved so successful that they were reprinted in numerous publications around the world.
The stories were edited and released by Marvel UK in a weekly title of the same name, lasting 123 issues from 1974 to 1977.
The magazine also contained regular photo features and interviews with cast and crew from the movies as well as the 1974 Planet of the Apes TV series.
An increase in licensing fees prompted the magazine’s sudden cancellation in February 1977, with many stories unresolved.
The adaptations of the first three movies and Terror on the Planet of the Apes were revived by Malibu Graphics and re-issued in graphic novel book form in 1990/1991.
You May Also Like
Australasian Post The Australasian Post (commonly known as the "Aussie Post") was Australia's longest-running continuously published weekly picture…
Richard Allen Books For any kid attending a British comprehensive school between 1971 and 1977, Richard Allen's Skinhead books were required…
In addition to comic strip adaptations of the five original 20th Century Fox movies – Planet of the Apes (serialised in issues #1-6), Beneath the Planet of the Apes (#7-11), Escape from the Planet of the Apes (#12-16), Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (#17-21) and Battle for the Planet of the Apes (#23-28) – the 84-page publication introduced original Planet of the Apes material set in a variety of different regions, eras and conditions that had never been seen before.
The stories were all written by Doug Moench.
