ALL SCI-FI

[Bogmeister]

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Gold Key comics published an adaptation of Beneath the Planet of the Apes in late 1970 to coincide, naturally, with the release of the film.

One would find this as one of the 'Movie Comics' line at Gold Key in the Overstreet Price Guide. This book is worth more than most other comics of that particular line, about $100 in very fine/near mint or $25 in fine condition (my copy):



As you can see above (look at upper portion of cover), there's an 'Ape Protest Poster" that was included in the comic book, in the center. One would have to remove it (undo the staples) to unfold the poster fully. Comics seemed to be more neat back then, even though there are more sophisticated publishing techniques now.

Were publishers more creative back then?

Here's an interior example:

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About 4 years later, Marvel Comics would begin publishing the Planet of the Apes magazine - I'll detail that one in the next post.
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[Bogmeister]

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In mid-1974, Marvel Comics began to publish Planet of the Apes comic books in magazine-sized format, from their Curtis Magazines imprint.

The interior art was actually black-and-white. There were usually two stories — one in front, one in back. In between were one or two articles. This series began just after the final Apes film (Battle For the Planet of the Apes in '73) and just as the new TV series was starting.

The really nice thing about this line of books were the covers, which were painted in sometimes startling color.

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The first six issues adapted the first Planet of the Apes film. The art was by George Tuska. The other continuing serial was titled Terror on the Planet of the Apes with nice atmospheric art by Mike Ploog — a couple of the issues printed Ploog's art directly from his pencils.

The story itself was a new original tale taking place about 50 years after the events of Battle For the Planet of the Apes.

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There was another original story in the 5th issue, titled Evolution's Nightmare, a nicely-done adventure tale which begins with a big battle between two primitive armies (one human; one of apes). There are only two survivors — again: one ape, one human. Both are injured and are forced to depend on each other to survive in an inhospitable landscape.

The time of this setting is unspecified, but probably about 200 years after the last film. The art was by Ed Hannigan and Jim Mooney. Doug Moench wrote most of the stories.

Click here MARVEL COMICS RESTORED COVERS to see some of these covers restored without the logos/lettering covering the artwork.
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[Bud Brewster]

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I enjoyed the first Planet of the Apes, but not so much the ones after that. I've never read any of the comics which Bogmeister describes in such wonderful detail — but the fact that he presented his well-researched info so well made it all very interesting!

I'm still lamenting the loss of all those Bogmeister posts that were lost when the old All Sci-Fi vanished back in March of 2013. He created in-depth essays for dozens of the Star Trek TOS episodes, and they were all just awesome!

But at least Bogmeister had the foresight to transfer 78 of his posts (which included his great Poster Galleries) here to the current All Sci-Fi during the first two weeks we had the board set up.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)