The all-new PREQUEL to the original simian sci-fi classic from 1968 is almost over.
Zira spies on the Hominidae empire, a city of gorilla soldiers. Cornelius (now with a completely healed shoulder) spots our favourite hippie chimpanzee Lucius.
Zira wants to go to this new city to save her nephew, Nova doesn't want her to go.
Back to Hope's Point (the ruins of Yankee Stadium). Mutant leader Ivana tells Zira that they have been at peace with the Hominidae empire FOR GENERATIONS.
Zira thinks that the Gorillas could be planning an invasion of her city (Ape City).
Zira selfishly suggests to the mutants that they should attack the Hominidae empire first, before they too are raided.
Sniper Kennard and Lyla like the idea of invading the empire.
Clairvoyant Ivana reaches again telepathically into Nova's mind, this time using "The Wizard of Oz" as a template.
Ivana mentions once more Mendez, the mutant leader living beneath the radioactive ruins of New York City from Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970) that is appearing in her visions.
We get badly reprinted and horribly coloured vintage panels by Doug Moench, Alfredo Alcala and George Roussos.
Ivana and Nova try to analyze these Alcala visions of the future. Can the future be altered?
Back to the empire, Lucius is brought before Colonel Jarl. Lucius is offered water. The Colonel wants "Information".
Ivana decides that invading the Hominidae empire is the best option. To stop Mendez, Ivana will need the weapons of the gorillas.
With great telepathic effort Ivana and Lyla cloud the minds of all the Gorillas they encounter and their squad is able to enter the empire undetected.
Kennard is told to find records on Mendez.
Ivana and Lyla stop controlling the minds of the Gorillas and the fighting begins.
Sergeant Audhild alerts Colonel Jarl, Zira falls off her injured horse, Lyla gets killed, Jarl sporting a nice horned helmet grabs Ivana by the throat and Audhild starts strangling Nova.
What I did like:
According to Eddie Murphy: Planet of the Apes (1968) is The Wizard of Oz (1939).
A rare female gorilla appears!
Ivana utters the famous George Taylor line: You damned dirty ape!
Nice covers by Phil Noto, Björn Barends and Taurin Clarke.
What I did not like:
The Hominidae empire has been around FOR GENERATIONS? Sure. Whatever.
Nova sees herself being shot at in the future and says nothing.
Seriously, where is Kuato!? I wanted to open my mind!
I give it a 5/10. A boring, slow, nonsensical, paint-by-number, disappointing story. Don't Make Mine Marvel.
