Comics Bulletin logo
Search
  • Columns
    Random
    • The Lucky Luke Edition

      Jamil Scalese
      July 31, 2011
      Cinebook: The Story So Far, Columns
    Recent
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 2

      Daniel Gehen
      December 4, 2020
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 1

      Daniel Gehen
      October 30, 2020
    • Comictober 2020: DRACULA MOTHERF**KER

      Daniel Gehen
      October 27, 2020
    • What Looks Good
    • Comics Bulletin Soapbox
    • The Full Run
    • Leading Question
    • Top 10
    • The Long-Form
    • Jumping On
    • Comics in Color
    • Slouches Towards Comics
  • Big Two
    Random
    • Collecting Profile: Kamala Khan

      Jamil Scalese
      September 26, 2020
      Big Two, Collectibles, Marvel Comics
    Recent
    • 4.5

      DCeased: Dead Planet #7 Presents a Hopeful Future (Review)

      Daniel Gehen
      January 22, 2021
    • Retro Review: Detective Comics #826 Remains a Holiday Classic

      Daniel Gehen
      December 3, 2020
    • Stan Lee

      nguyen ly
      November 7, 2020
    • DC Comics
    • Big Two Reviews
    • Marvel Comics
  • Indie
    Random
    • 2.5

      Review: Transformers reboot about the same as meets the eye

      Jamil Scalese
      March 13, 2019
      IDW, Reviews
    Recent
    • Review: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist

      Daniel Gehen
      December 14, 2020
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 2

      Daniel Gehen
      December 4, 2020
    • 4.5

      TMNT: The Last Ronin #1 Lives Up to the Hype (Review)

      Daniel Gehen
      October 29, 2020
    • Reviews
    • Archie Comics
    • Boom! Studios
    • Dark Horse
    • IDW
    • Image
    • Oni Press
    • Valiant
  • Reviews
    Random
    • 4.5

      Girls 2.09- "On All Fours"

      Jamil Scalese
      March 19, 2013
      Reviews
    Recent
    • 4.5

      DCeased: Dead Planet #7 Presents a Hopeful Future (Review)

      Daniel Gehen
      January 22, 2021
    • Review: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist

      Daniel Gehen
      December 14, 2020
    • Retro Review: Detective Comics #826 Remains a Holiday Classic

      Daniel Gehen
      December 3, 2020
    • Singles Going Steady
    • Slugfest
    • Manga
      • Reviews
    • Small Press
      • Reviews
      • ICYMI
      • Tiny Pages Made of Ashes
  • Interviews
    Random
    • Janet K. Lee: Keeping Comics Dapper

      Jamil Scalese
      September 9, 2011
      Interviews
    Recent
    • Interview: Jon Davis-Hunt Talks SHADOWMAN

      Daniel Gehen
      June 8, 2020
    • Interview: Becky Cloonan talks DARK AGNES and Her Personal Influences

      Mike Nickells
      March 4, 2020
    • Simon Roy

      Interview: Simon Roy on His Inspirations and Collaborations on PROTECTOR

      Mike Nickells
      January 29, 2020
    • Audio Interview
    • Video Interview
  • Classic Comics
    Random
    • The Phantom Stranger Vol. 1

      Jamil Scalese
      July 16, 2012
      Classic Comics Cavalcade, Columns
    Recent
    • Countdown to the King: Marvel’s Godzilla

      Daniel Gehen
      May 29, 2019
    • Honoring A Legend: Fantagraphics To Resurrect Tomi Ungerer Classics

      Daniel Gehen
      February 15, 2019
    • Reliving the Craziest Decade in Comics History: An interview with Jason Sacks

      Mark Stack
      January 2, 2019
    • Classic Comics Cavalcade
    • Classic Interviews
  • News
    Random
    • INKBLOT Coming this September From Image

      Jamil Scalese
      June 8, 2020
      Image, News, Press Release
    Recent
    • 2020 Ringo Awards Winners Announced

      Daniel Gehen
      October 26, 2020
    • BAD IDEA Announces 2021 Publishing Slate

      Daniel Gehen
      September 29, 2020
    • A Full Replay of NCSFest 2020 is now Available

      Daniel Gehen
      September 15, 2020
    • Press Release
    • Kickstarter Spotlight
  • Books
    Random
    • Bernie Wrightson's 'Creepshow' is Back and Scarier Than Ever

      Jamil Scalese
      May 16, 2017
      Books, Classic Comics Cavalcade, Reviews
    Recent
    • Collecting Profile: Disney Frozen

      CB Staff
      November 22, 2019
    • Collecting Profile: NFL Superpro

      CB Staff
      August 31, 2019
    • “THE BEST OF WITZEND” is a Wonderful Celebration of Artistic Freedom

      Daniel Gehen
      September 15, 2018
    • Review: ‘Machete Squad’ is a Disappointing Afghan Memoir

      Jason Sacks
      July 31, 2018
    • Review: ‘Out of Nothing’ is the Antidote to Our Sick Times

      Jason Sacks
      July 23, 2018
    • Review: ‘Bizarre Romance’ Shows Rough Edges in the Early Days of a New Marriage

      Jason Sacks
      July 10, 2018
What's New
  • DCeased: Dead Planet #7 Presents a Hopeful Future (Review)
  • Collecting Profile: Batwoman
  • Collecting Profile: Daredevil
  • Collecting Profile: Floronic Man
  • Review of Cheetah in Wonder Woman 1984
  • Review: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Contact Us
  • Write for us!
  • Visit Video Game Break!
Home
Reviews

Betrayal of the Planet of the Apes #1 (of 4)

Jamil Scalese
November 11, 2011
Reviews

"It's a good time to be [a Planet of the] Apes fan."

Those words, written by BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief Matt Gagnon on the hype page, ring extremely true in the heart and mind of this writer. I've related it before in other Apes associated reviews — I am a lifelong fan of the franchise, and consider it one of the sparking influences in my ongoing relationship with fiction. I still get chills when Heston grumbles out "damn dirty apes." Thanks to a successful and profitable movie and a good thing happening in the main Apes title, a four-issue series like this gets a chance. I'm glad it did, as Betrayal of the Planet of the Apes opens as one of the more engaging additions to the franchise.

Our central character is Aleron, a former general of the Ape army and now retired war hero and practicing lawyer. Surprisingly, and somewhat refreshing, Aleron is of the gorilla caste in ape society, a portion of the population that is ubiquitously portrayed as brutish and war-hungry (though Michael Clarke Duncan's Attar in the 2001 movie wasn't all terrible). The story begins 20 years before the event of the original movie as General Aleron oversees a routine extermination of humans at an area called Hollow Cliffs. From the jump we see clearly that Aleron is not thrilled with assignment, but he is loyal and dutiful solider who does what he must.

We quickly flash forward 15 years to find the war vet handling himself more than adequately in the courtroom. His defendant is an animal psychologist named Cato whose charge is teaching a human named Tern how to communicate in sign-language. Those three on their own are an entertaining cast of characters, and then you throw one of the best film villains ever in Dr. Zaius and it's a simian fiesta. 

The script carries a curious energy to it, as I am allured to a story about a character and a species that is normally the bad guy. Corrina Bechko and Gabriel Hardman's story hits all the tones, locales and name drops of a successful franchise tie-in. In particular the scenes with the orangutans and in the court venues evoke the memories of the first movie and even the reversal of it in Escape from Planet of the Apes. Despite its science-fiction world, Apes has always functioned best as a sociopolitical drama, which is exactly where Betrayal's writing duo goes.

Hardman proves why he is one of most sought-after talents around, and from a brilliant page one every moment attacks you with ape action and a "damn dirty" world. Aleron is powerful, virile and capable but you can tell he is tired and not what he once was. The human Tern leaping through the streets has as much energy as a Bourne film and the storytelling aspects are superb at every turn. His proficient and rendered style would make any comic look good, but you can literally see the passion for the story in the details. In an backhanded sort of compliment to this series, I have to say that this issue pretty much locked Rick Remender and Hardman's future stint on Secret Avengers for me. 

I expected Betrayal to be good, but am surprised that it is such a gripping, inviting comic. I suspect it will be a worthy — and possibly shining — installment in a legendary brand by its completion because the creative team's passion for the world bleeds through. Do not miss out on this.


Jamil Scalese is just like you — an avid comics fan and lover of sequential art. Residing in Pittsburgh, PA, he is an unapologetic Deadpool fan, lover of the Food Network and proud member of Steelers Nation.

Betrayal of the Planet of the ApesBOOM! StudiosCorrina BechkoDafna PlebanEd DukeshireGabriel HardmanJamil ScaleseJordie Bellaire

Share On:
Tweet
The Rinse #3
Fringe 4.05 "Novation" Review

About The Author

Jamil Scalese
Jamil Scalese

Jamil Scalese would rather watch reruns of Frasier than catch up on media he's tragically behind on. Follow his weak tweets @jamilscalese

Related Posts

  • BOOM! Studios Debut Trailer for WE ONLY FIND THEM WHEN THEY’RE DEAD

    Ashley Hurst
    August 7, 2020
  • First Look at THE RED MOTHER #5

    Daniel Gehen
    May 29, 2020

Latest Reviews

  • 4.5

    DCeased: Dead Planet #7 Presents a Hopeful Future (Review)

    Daniel Gehen
    January 22, 2021
  • Review: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist

    Daniel Gehen
    December 14, 2020
  • Retro Review: Detective Comics #826 Remains a Holiday Classic

    Daniel Gehen
    December 3, 2020
  • 4.5

    TMNT: The Last Ronin #1 Lives Up to the Hype (Review)

    Daniel Gehen
    October 29, 2020
  • 4.5

    Micro Review: Commanders in Crisis #1

    Jason Jeffords Jr.
    October 12, 2020
  • 3.0

    Review: GHOST WRITER Fights the Spectre of Unevenness

    Daniel Gehen
    September 3, 2020
  • 3.5

    Review: Strange Skies Over East Berlin

    Yavi Mohan
    August 11, 2020
  • DRAWING BLOOD: A Hyper-Stylized, Fictional Autobiography

    Ben Bishop, Brittany Peer, David Avallone, Drawing Blood, Kevin Eastman, Tomi Varga
    August 9, 2020
  • 3.0

    Alien: The Original Script #1 – This One’s For The Fans

    Jason Jeffords Jr.
    August 7, 2020
  • Singles Going Steady: Why? Lettering!

    Daniel Gehen
    July 28, 2020
RSSTwitterFacebookgoogleplusinstagramtumblr

Comics Bulletin is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, audible.com, and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, Comics Bulletin earns from qualifying purchases.

All content on this site (c) 2018 The Respective Copyright Holders