Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Planet Of The Apes #9
Boom! Studios
Gregory & Magno
Perhaps the most consistent read month-to-month is the Planet of the Apes. This issue brings a lot of plot development in several directions as the war leans towards the humans again. The book has the uncanny ability to string together a good story while always leaving a good cliffhanger to bring you back for more the next month. This issue doesn't contain a ton of action but it does manage to show more of the brutality of the war. This is another good issue in this series.
The book starts out with a bang as the band of humans manage to capture something big for the apes. It won't change their fortunes in the war but it certainly makes the apes seem more vulnerable. The flip-side to this is that it angers the apes and makes them all the more focused to head into the wild and find the large population of humans that have fled.
The humans have some decisions to make. Now that they are on the run do they continue to stay on the run and find an area that is uninhabited by apes to populate and live in peace themselves? Or do they continue to fight an army that clearly has them outnumbered and outgunned? Even the ape casualty list of the latest invasion was set at about 500 human deaths to only ten ape deaths. Those just aren't good numbers.
The book touches on a few other subplots, but the one I was the most interested in was that of Sullivan. Sullivan appears to be in child labor, but strapped to a table by the apes. It appears the general plan is to allow her to give birth to the baby and then begin to torture her. The tactic is strange because labor is painful enough, why not question her intensely while giving birth? The other question is do they plan to use the baby as a torture device? The next few issues will definitely reveal a lot more about this. However, I tend to doubt we will find out who the father is and I am not sure how relevant that even is.
The artwork is tremendous again. The range that Magno shows with regard to human and ape is excellent. This issue is heavy on the twists of the plot and Magno continues to give facial expressions and reactions that are perfect for the dialogue. I particularly liked the detail on Sullivan as she is sweating out her labor while being questioned by Voice Alaya. The art is a perfect companion to the story.
Planet of the Apes may sound intimidating to the newcomer or someone that is not a fan of the films. However, when you boil it down the book is about oppression, survival and politics that have boiled over into fighting. The book has strong characters and good plot twists. I haven't been disappointed with one issue yet and I think someone picking this book up might also feel the same way. I definitely recommend checking this out.
4 out of 5 Geek Goggles
