Dark Horse Comics 2016
On Sale Sept. 28th 2016
Written by Tim Seeley & David Walker
Illustrated by Fernando Dagnino
Coloured by Sandra Molina
Alright so how can Tarzan be on the Planet of the Apes well this explains that and let me tell you something it’s one hell of twist. I’m thoroughly enthralled by the idea of mixing these franchises and how Tim and David went about it. They’ve turned this into something absolutely bloody brilliant!
What this issue does is establish the Apes control of the world in the opening. They hunt down a group of humans who have foraged, see stoelen, their crops when in swoops Tarzan. But how did the world get to be this way where Tarzan is able to speak and is the defender of humans in North America 2016?
For the answers we have to go back a ways to the Equatorial West Africa in 1901 for the beginning of the story. This is where we see how Tarzan’s legacy was started and his family history comes into play. As well as his connection to the Apes that live in this time period. I really want to go into details because it’s so gosh darn good but I can’t because it’ll ruin the book for you. Suffice it to say that Tarzan lost his parents and is taken in by Apes and raised alongside their own son.
There was an event on their own Planet that led Cornelius and Zira to leave their home when Dr. Milo salvaged Taylor’s ship from the forbidden zone so they could escape the Doomsday Weapon. It was this act that brought them to where they are and it’s also a catalyst for what’s changing the world around them as well.
Being the only two from their planet they’ve begun building a new ape society in the jungle teaching and working with the Apes of the present, or past depending where you are in the story. So how does it all go wrong or does it all go right? Again depends on your point of view but there’s a number of things happening here. One is the inevitability of civilising the ape community and that their nature as much as humans is prone to violence and conquest. Another is how long lived are these apes and humans that it’s over one hundred years later and yet they are all still alive?
I love that we see Cornelius and Zira thinking like they do coming up with possible explanations of what the kids experienced. How Zira’s mind always works with that complexity and rationality that comes with being a scientist. The characterisation here is utterly phenomenal all around. In the humans that appear in the past and the early and later apes that grace the pages. The story is built beautifully and it all makes perfect sense as if it could very well fit into either of the franchises.
The interiors here are astoundingly beautiful. The sheer volume of attention to detail in everything we see is just mind blowing. What Fernando does and Sandra finishes leaves me speechless. The use of the pages to their fullest with the amount of backgrounds that we see flesh the world out so completely that you have the larger scope, tone and feel of what you need to experience it all. The page layouts are amazing in the use of angles and perspective and this will take you there and make you feel like this is a cinematic offering.
There’s nothing not to like about this and everything to love. The way the story makes sense and is brought to life showcases that level of talent that will leave you breathless and wanting more.