Planet Of The Apes Vs. Fantastic Four #1: We’re Not On Yancy Street Anymore…

Planet of the Apes vs. Fantastic Four #1 finds Marvel’s First Family stranded and powerless on the version of Earth that is better known as The Planet Of The Apes. Trujillo introduces the story using The Watcher, who pontificates that the stories that take place on Earth are the ones that fascinate him, especially the one where these versions of the planet collide. Using the Watcher is a nice move and helps to frame the events that follow since the Marvel Universe Earth and Planet of the Apes versions are so different.

By dropping readers into the scene of the Fantastic Four on trail, Trujillo is able to tell the events of how they arrived, as they are pleading their case to the Council of the Apes. All the expect story points that even casual fans would probably know are executed in a way that makes the overall storytelling work for both parties involved. The events of how they arrived are weaved into the story in a natural way that is at least plausible for the Fantastic Four.

Trujillo captures both the voices of the FF and the Apes Cornelius, Doctor Zauis, Zira, and the rest of the Apes. Readers are left with a double cliffhanger as the ape doctors suddenly manifest the powers of the Four and Doctor Doom enters the picture.

Andrea Di Vito and Erik Arciniega colors work well together in both the scenes that take place in the present and via flashback. The characters are also on spec in appearance, especially Ben Grimm, who is no longer a rock monster and in his human form pre-cosmic radiation.