Marvel’s Beware the Planet of the Apes miniseries continues its expansion of the franchise’s frontiers, as it revives the long dormant original continuity with a story set before the events of the original 1968 film, one which seeks to circumvent the pitfalls of prior prequels. While intercontinental travel on the eponymous Planet still seems like a far off fantasy, the world of the series just doubled in size and scope.
Beware the Planet of the Apes #2 – written by Marc Guggenheim, with art by Álvaro López, color Alex Guimarães, and lettering by Joe Caramagna – picks up with Zira, Cornelius, and human Nova in the shadow of Yankee Stadium, the ruins of which constituted the first issue’s big reveal.
The follow-up issue not only doubles, but triples-down on this, revealing that the ruins of the colosseum-like stadium are inhabited by a human civilization. The issue also sets up a nearby gorilla settlement as the antagonists of the series, expanding Apes far beyond its original borders, and concept.
Marvel’s BEWARE THE PLANET OF THE APES Beautifully Blends Classic & Contemporary Art
Marvel’s latest prequel to the original Planet of the Apes artfully incorporates panels from the company’s 1975 adaptation of the film.
Marvel’s Planet Of The Apes Confirms: Ape City = New Jersey
Beware the Planet of the Apes #2 contains a map defining the geography of the series far-flung future Earth. Of course, the iconic twist ending of the original Planet of the Apes hinges on the ape civilization being located within a reasonable distance of the Statue of Liberty. The map in Beware demarcates the border of the Forbidden Zone, which Taylor and Nova travel through at the end of the film in order to reach Lady Liberty. It also establishes that Ape City is located southwest of the Statue – placing it firmly in New Jersey.
Beware also establishes the existence of settlements unknown – and most likely – unfriendly to the ape civilization depicted in the 1968 movie. The Hominidae Empire, a warlike society predominated by gorillas, lies to the northwest of the Statue of Liberty. More shocking, however, is the revelation of an above-ground human society, established in the former Yankee Stadium. The proximity of both of these distinct groups, unknown to Cornelius and Zira, clarifies the extent to which Ape City exists in isolation from the rest of the Planet.
“Beware” Finally Embraces The Potential For A True “Planet” Of The Apes – And More
These revelations complicate the Planet, immediately making it a more engaging, exhilarating setting for Beware, and hopefully for future stories. If humans can exist on the Planet of the Apes, a world of previously unimaginable possibiliities has opened up. There could be a civilization of fish people right off the coast of the Jersey shore. Considering the wild swings Beware the Planet of the Apes has taken in just two issues, anything is possible. The one thing the series must do before it concludes, however, is make the truly bold decision to reset franchise continuity, and not blow up the fascinating new world Marvel is developing.
Beware the Planet of the Apes #2 (of 4) is available now from Marvel Comics.
Beware the Planet of the Apes #2 (of 4) (2024) | |
|---|---|
 |
|
