Review- BETRAYAL OF THE PLANET OF THE APES

BETRAYAL OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (Boom, 2012; Softcover)

Collects Betrayal of the Planet of the Apes Nos. 1-4 (cover dates November, 2011- February, 2012)

Writer: Corinna Beckho

Artists: Gabriel Hardman

I have enjoyed all of Boom Studios' Planet of the Apes trade paperbacks thus far, and immediately bump each new one straight to the reading pile. Like the ongoing Apes series, this has top notch writing and artwork, albeit by a different creative team.

The events in this story take place 20 years before the original 1968 film, and show Dr. Zaius as he enters his role as Minister of Science. Zaius' value system for maintaining the status quo is fully explained here, and we get a fascinating view of The Forbidden Zone and it's treasures. 

Between the recent movie reboot and these fantastic comic books, this has been the best time to be an Apes fan since I was a kid watching re-runs on TV in the late '70s. Now if only I still had my 8” Mego Soldier Ape doll that I got for X-Mas circa 1976-1977...

Junk Food For Thought rating: 4.5 out of 5. 

The OCD zone- I truly dislike the new, “fancier” production values that all of the publishers seem to be using on the cardstock covers of their trade paperbacks. The coating is very thin and easily scuffable, with selected areas, such as the logo, receiving the more wax-like coating that Marvel uses on the entire cover. It makes me fearful that these covers will get all scuffed up with repeated handling and shelfwear. Worse yet, I can't imagine this holding up in a comic shop or bookstore with repeated handling. It wouldn't look new for very long. The paper is a decent weight coated stock, and has that wonderful, toxic Chinese ink odor. When coupled with the paper from virgin Amazon rainforest trees, it makes for a truly delectable aroma.

Paper rating: 4 out of 5.

Binding rating: 4 out of 5.

Cardstock cover rating: 2 out of 5.

Follow my blog on Facebook.

Join my Facebook group, DC Collected Editions Fans Who Want SewnBinding and Books That Lay Flat, a watchdog organization dedicated to top notch production values in DC's collected editions.