Writer: KARL KESEL
Artist: RAMON BACHS
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Marvel goes Bananas. (Always wanted to say that! LOL)
Yes, Marvel Apes is here! And it’s not a hoax, not a dream, not an imaginary story, or even a joke. It was quite good actually! I have to admit, I actually laughed a few times. Doc Ook? Spider-Monkey! The Ape-Vengers? Monk-hattan? And I won’t even spoil the Ape Giant-Man’s name… Any comic that can make the Gibbon a likable lead character is a plus to me. But all that is due to veteran Karl Kesel’s talent. He may not be considered a superstar writer like Bendis but he has been on the comics scene more years and he always comes through with his work.
The story does begin with a cameo from the Red Ghost and his Super-Apes and the Mighty Avengers. But they are not the story. The story starts when Marty Blank – a.k.a. the Gibbon — finds himself transported to a world where monkeys rule and humans don’t exist, along with the brilliant-and-beautiful Dr. Fiona Fitzhugh!
Ramon Bachs is on the art. You may remember him from the original Frontline series. Of course there his art was more realistic. It’s still realistic here in the places it should be, but in others where it needs to be, it can be more cartoony as well. His Monk-hattan is instantly recognized as a simian version of Manhattan. Maybe a little ‘Planet of the Apes’-inspired?
Things look like they’re going smoothly but then there’s a slight twist. There’s also “The Official History of the Marvel Apes Universe, part 1.” as a bonus backup. I will tune in to see what happens in the second issue. Oh, as they mention in all the interviews about the Marvel Apes, the real Speedball will be back in this limited series. Allow be not to be so sure …
Rating: 7.5/10
