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Planet of the Apes Unleashes Its New Ape Species, Led by an 1968 Movie Hero

Warning: contains potential spoilers for Beware the Planet of the Apes #4!

Planet of the Apes has introduced a new species of ape to the mythos, and they are being led by one of the original 1968 filmโ€™s heroes. Marvelโ€™s Beware the Planet of the Apes, a prequel to the classic movie starring Charlton Heston, has blown up the franchiseโ€™s mythos by introducing new elements to the lore. In a preview for issue four, one of these new additions rises to take its place.

Beware the Planet of the Apes #4 is written by Marc Guggenheim and drawn by Alvaro Lopez. Cornelius, Zira and Nova, along with a group of telepathic humans, have entered the Hominidae Empire. The Empire has kidnapped Ziraโ€™s nephew, Lucius. Cornelius stumbles across a Hominidae prison, where Gibbons’ apes were being kept as a servant class. Cornelius then stages a prison break, telling the apes they are now free.

Cornelius implores them to rise up and fight back against the Hominidae Empire.

The Hominidae Empire is the latest addition to the lore of Planet of the Apes. First mentioned in Beware the Planet of the Apes #1, the Hominidae Empire is located in the Forbidden Zone. Lucius, while out gathering food, was abducted by the Hominidae Empire. Subsequent issues gave more fleeting glimpses at the Hominidae Empire, further enhancing the mystery surrounding them. Finally, in issue three, the Hominidae Empireโ€™s agenda becomes clear: they kidnap Lucius to pump him for information on Ape City, as a prelude to an invasion. The Hominidae Empire is not to be underestimated.

As Guggenheim and Lopez continued to develop the threat of the Hominidae Empire, another shocking revelation was made: they captured and enslaved other apes. The Gibbonsโ€™ apes Cornelius discovers in the preview are one such class of primates. Considered some of the fastest apes on Earth, these creatures should not be as easily conquered as they were. The subjugation of the Gibbonsโ€™ apes was another symbol of the Hominidae Empireโ€™s power and cruelty. Now, the Empire wishes to visit this same fate among Zira and the denizens of Ape City.

As the Gibbonsโ€™ apes are the Hominidaeโ€™s servant class, they may have been integral to the Empireโ€™s crusade against Ape Cityโ€“and Cornelius just put a serious dent in this effort. When the original, 1968 version of Planet of the Apes opens, the Hominidae Empire is nowhere to be found, meaning the Gibbonsโ€™ apes could have completely wiped them out. However, the Gibbonsโ€™ apes are not mentioned or seen in the film either, leaving the fate of the newest army on the Planet of the Apes up in the air.

Beware the Planet of the Apes #4 is on sale April 17 from Marvel Comics!