Marvel has a long history with Planet of the Apes, dating all the way back to adaptations of the original films and continuing recently with the Beware the Planet of the Apes series. However, the publisher has never actually merged the two universes—until now.
This February, Marvel is launching a four-issue miniseries titled Planet of the Apes vs. Fantastic Four. This marks the first time the sci-fi franchise will officially cross over with the Marvel Universe.
The series is being helmed by writer Josh Trujillo (What If… Galactus?) with art by Andrea di Vito (Emma Frost: The White Queen). The premise is classic Silver Age fun: Marvel’s First Family gets stranded on the Planet of the Apes. While there, Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben will cross paths with legendary characters like Cornelius, Zira, Ursus, and Dr. Zaius.
It isn’t just a diplomatic mission, though. Marvel teased that familiar villains are also targeting Ape City, leading to a “battle royale” between the superheroes and simian society.
Planet of the Apes vs. Fantastic Four #1
Writer Josh Trujillo expressed his excitement about the project, noting his personal history with the franchise:
“I grew up watching Planet of the Apes marathons on Saturday afternoons, so it’s a huge thrill to write for these iconic characters! Having Marvel’s First Family butt heads with Cornelius, Zira, and Dr. Zaius is just too much fun, and I can’t believe I’m the one who gets to tell this epic tale. It’s a mash-up decades in the making, and I hope you come along for the ride!”
Artist Andrea di Vito also weighed in, explaining why the Fantastic Four are the perfect ambassadors for this crossover:
“It sounds like a weird meeting at first, but then you realize that both these franchises were meant to meet sooner or later. Exploration has always been the Fantastic Four’s main drive. Ending up on the Planet of the Apes is absolutely perfect for a classic FF adventure, set in the immortal tone created by Stan & Jack. I am honored to be the one to illustrate this ‘first official meeting’ between the Marvel Universe and Planet of the Apes.”
Planet of the Apes vs. Fantastic Four #1 hits shelves on February 4, featuring a main cover by Greg Land and colors by Erick Arciniega.
