Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Planet Of The Apes #4
Boom! Studios
Gregory & Magno
The first arc wraps up for Planet of the Apes with another solid issue. The issue pushes forward the tension and brings about the perfect scenario to basically start a war between man and ape. I was concerned that this series would get bogged down with strictly the politics of man and ape and that the series would just be too boring. Here we are four issues in and I am very pleased to see that the politics are a sidebar and that the individual plots are driving the stories. This makes the book much more fun to read and its showing as my interest in the story and characters grows with each issue. I definitely recommend this book.
The issue picks up where the previous issue left off. The assassin was revealed and the humans are in trouble because the ape (Council Voice Alaya) survived the latest attack. All of this occurs with the backdrop of the Lawgiver's funeral. The humans want their rights while the apes are boiling over with anger because they don't have justice as long as the human assassin is still on the run. But which side wants war? Perhaps both want it. Perhaps neither wants it. Is the search for the assassin just the excuse to start the war? This issue answers many of these questions.
The highlight of the issue is twist at the end. The issue manages to build up a story on one side but pulls the rug out at the end and it makes the issue that much better. Obviously I won't give it away but this is where the issue comes together.
The only downside of the issue is the actual funeral of the Lawgiver. The humans decide to hold a rally or some sort of protest during the funeral. It's explained that it's an outlet for the humans to get their emotions out but who sees it? It's not outside of the funeral grounds. The flip side is the speech that the Lawgiver's granddaughter (Council Voice Alaya) gives. It has little to do with the Lawgiver. Sure the apes in the audience would be angry about the human's involvement in his death but is a eulogy the time for that? It just felt odd on both sides.
Magno draws an excellent book. There are a few scenes of action and they are simply outstanding. However, the strength of the art is the pushing across of the emotions and the tensions as the characters make their moves to create a newer, deadlier status quo. The visuals of the book compliment the story perfectly.
With the advertisement that the first trade (the first four issues) goes on sale on the same day that issue five hits the stands and that you can get both for a total of eleven bucks, I'm thinking this series is opening the door to bring in more readers very quickly. This was a very good issue and brought about the ending to a good arc that introduced several unique characters and provides a good shocking ending to bring you back for more. I highly recommend this issue for fans of the franchise or just casual fans that have any interest at all in science fiction or the apocalyptic-like future.
4 out of 5 geek goggles
