Befuddled expressions of “seriously?” could be heard around the world when BOOM! Studios and DC Comics announced a crossover between Planet of the Apes and Green Lantern. While it seems an unlikely pairing, you’d be surprised at just how well this whole thing worked out.
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Spoilers incoming for Planet Of The Apes/Green Lantern #1, so you’ve been warned.
The most surprising thing about the book is just how much of the Green Lantern mythos it contains. You expect a cursory sweep of the most relevant characters and settings, like Hal Jordan and Sinestro, but it’s definitely unexpected to see all of the various Corps in one place. The Indigo and Hope Corps haven’t even been seen in the post-Rebirth DCU yet, but they make a prominent appearance here.
While the storyline includes multiple universes and cosmic entities, the actual plot is thankfully straightforward. The wrench is thrown in when Cornelius (Planet of the Apes) finds an artifact before Sinestro, but it turns out he’s not the only party who wants it for himself.
While Cornelius is the lead, the relationship between him and Zora is what keeps things grounded. Their banter is the perfect break away from the all the cosmic happenings, though writers Justin Jordan and Robbie Thompson also display a great handle on Hal Jordan and the rest of the Corps.
Barnaby Bagenda’s art suits the book well, but his strongest moments are when Sinestro or Cornelius are involved. His work on those characters is stellar, and he’s got a knack for space battles as well.
All in all in what seemed like a weird union ends up being a fun romp through two of pop culture’s favorite franchises, and the creative team finds a way to delight fans of both. If you’re looking for something a little different, you might want to give this unlikely crossover a second look.
Rating 4 out of 5 Stars.
Planet of the Apes/Green Lantern #1 is written by Justin Jordan and Robbie Thompson, with art by Barnaby Bagenda, and the official description is below. You can view a preview of the issue in the gallery.
BOOM! Studios and DC Comics are proud to bring together two classic properties in a historic crossover event. When Taylor goes missing, Cornelius investigates and discovers an ancient ring, unlike anything the universe has ever seen. As its power echoes through the stars, the Guardians of the Universe must reveal to their Lanterns a secret they had hoped would remain buried. With the Green Lantern Corps, led by Hal Jordan, racing to get to the source of this power before Sinestro can get his hands on it, they will discover a truth that will change them forever on…THE PLANET OF THE APES.
Planet of the Apes/Green Lantern #1 is in stores now.
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