PLANET OF THE APES VERSUS THE FANTASTIC FOUR #1: We’re Not in New 1 York Anymore!

The Fantastic Four were locked in battle against deadly apes when they found themselves transported to a world ruled by intelligent Apes! They’re not in New York anymore and find themselves powerless and at the mercy of a ruthless court bent on killing them. As they plead their case before the tribunal in Ape City, the four must think fast because their lives depend on it!

Creative Team: Josh Trujillo (WRITER), Andrea Di Vito (ARTIST), Erick Arciniega (COLORS), VC’s Joe Caramagna (LETTERS), and Greg Land and Rachelle Rosenberg (COVER).

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

The Story:

Josh takes us into the 60’s nostalgia with the Planet of the Apes and capturing the essence of this classic franchise so well. I love the twist that Marvel’s first family has lost their powers and must use their intelligence, or in Johnny’s case, lack thereof, to defend themselves. This issue is more narratively driven; it works all the same, as it sets the tone and the scene for how they came to be in this predicament. There is still some action, if you are unfamiliar with the world of the Apes, Josh catches you up and gives the reader enough to be familiar with. It will be interesting to see how Doom himself comes into play, knowing that Reed and crew no longer have abilities, and there is still one big twist that is going to be a ton of fun to see play out!

The Art and Letters:

Erick and Andrea make this issue visually so incredibly fun! The way they have drawn, colored, and detailed the Apes in particular has made it look as though they were ripped straight from the screen and transported me back into my childhood. The background pops out as the world looks familiar, but they do just enough to make it look unwelcoming all the same. Joe’s lettering brings out the bass tones in some of their voices, such as with General Ursus.

Final Thoughts:

Planet of the Apes Versus the Fantastic Four #1 throws us into a blend of modern-day heroism and classic 60’s nostalgia with both the Apes and our First Family. This is a great blending of two famous properties done in such a loving fashion!

Overall Grade: 10/10

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