Planet of the Apes - "Seen Out of Context" - R.A. Wonsowski

This is dedicated to Mirko Zayas, a teacher of Knowledge Theory at Saint Anne's School.  One of my favourite tidbits from him was to beware experiencing ANYTHING, art, literature, music, whatever, out of its cultural context.  This was echoed by other teachers at school (Scott Howard, Gregg Rich, Azucena Aluan, Jose Zelaschi, among others).

To all my friends and partners at St. Anne's, Thank you for everything!  Viva Santa Anna!  I'll miss you guys...

Panel 1 - Inside a European cathedral, now fallen into ruin.  The frescoes and walls have all been sandblasted or worn away to a dull grey.
The only things somewhat recognizable are a few statues of emaciated saints and a giant crucifix hanging above the altar, a tortured Christ hanging from it.
In the back pew, where our point-of-view is from, his back to us, sits DR. ZAIUS, looking at the crucifix and altar.

CAPTION (Zaius):  Field Notes - According to the existing data, this was once a human place of worship.


Panel 2 - From below, the faded statue of Mary revealing her Sacred Heart, looking longingly, beatifically, up towards Heaven.

CAPTION (Zaius):  This female captured tearing out her heart - self-sacrifice for their deity.


Panel 3 - Now, we are looking up at the crucifix, faded, but all the markings of Roman torture still are evident on the sculpture.  So is the calm and merciful look of the dying Jesus.

CAPTION (Zaius):  And here.  The male of the species pierced by nails, crowned with spikes, stab wounds and scarring from abuse and starvation.


Panel 4 - ZAIUS walking down the steps outside the cathedral, a look of disgust upon his face.

CAPTION (Zaius):  Imagine.  THAT being the objects of worship.  Self-destruction.  Torture.  A faith where only death and pain are to be tasted.

CAPTION (Zaius):  No ape would ask this of his brother.


Panel 5 - A little further away, ZAIUS presses his thumb to a detonator button.  The cathedral explodes in a ball of fire and dust.

CAPTION (Zaius):  Maybe it is better that the human animal stay extinct, if the Nailed Man is the symbol of their love.

CAPTION (Zaius):  Maybe the Nailed Man would agree.

CAPTION:  "Do you think if Jesus comes back, he's ever gonna wanna see another cross?" - Bill Hicks

Planet of The Apes - Finally Made A Monkey Out Of Me - Niel Jacoby

Panel one: a man wearing all camo sits in a bunker, holding a gun and darting his eyes around in a paranoid manner. The decoration is up to you, though it should give off a "paranoid conspiracy theorist" vibe.

Inset panel: the man is startled

SFX: BZZZ!

Panel 2: we see the door of the bunker. It has a porthole that the man is in the process of removing the cover to, though he's not watching the porthole. His finger is on the button of the intercom set up next to the door.

Man: WHAT IN THE HELL DO YOU...

Panel 3: we see the head of an Ape warrior through the porthole, and we can see some of the open cavern the bunker is built into around him.

Man(OP): ...WANT.

Inset panel: through the porthole. The ape has turned so that we can see the cement mixer behind him, at the mouth of the cavern.

Warrior: WANT? WE'VE GOT ALL WE NEED.

Panel 4: Close on the cement mixer as it starts pouring cement.

Warrior(OP): YOU JUST HAVE TO STAY RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE.

Planet of the Apes - The Greatest Treasure We Bury is Truth - J.D. Coughlan

NOTE: This takes place in movie continuity, a few years before Taylor's arrival.

Panel 1: A close-up of a black-and-white photograph of several smiling people in front of the Eiffel Tower; obviously tourists. An ape's hand holds the photo.

ZAIUS (O.P.): You have more like this?

Panel 2: Dr. Zaius' office, he is behind his desk, holding the photo. A young chimpanzee, Vertas, stands in front of him, barely containing his excitement.

VERTAS: Oh yes! Our dig uncovered hundreds like it, in some kind of... capsule. And they all say the same thing...

Panel 3: Close on Dr. Zaius. He holds his hand to his face, deep in serious thought.

VERTAS (O.P.): That once man was like ape.

Panel 4: Zaius is rising from his desk.

ZAIUS: And only you and your team know about this?

VERTAS: Absolutely. I know how revolutionary this could be for our society, so I came to you first, for guidance.

Panel 5: Zaius politely gestures for Vertas to leave.

ZAIUS: Wise, my boy. Now, return to your companions, and remain silent on this. I shall... prepare a speech for all apekind.

Panel 6: Vertas leaving, a smile on his face. Over his shoulder we see Zaius giving him a grim look.

VERTAS: You will make sure we get the proper credit, won't you, Doctor Zaius?

ZAIUS: Oh don't worry; you'll all get what you deserve.

END OF PAGE

Planet of The Apes – Congo – Shaun Richens.

PAGE ONE – 7 PANELS.

LAYOUT

111

223

444

567

1. Deep in the Bili forest in Congo. A LEOPARD stalks towards a dense bush. The peering frightened eyes of a few juvenile chimpanzees can be seen looking out of the bush at the LEOPARD.

         CAPTION:

         2013. The Democratic Republic of Congo. The Bili forest.

2. Close up on the LEOPARD, it shows its huge teeth as it hisses at the CHIMPANZEES trying to scare them from there hiding spot.

         LEOPARD:

         CUIISSSS

3. The juvenile CHIMPS pull further back into the bush.

         NO COPY.

4. The huge six-foot form of the rare giant BILI CHIMP towers over the LEOPARD. The BILI CHIMP has its huge jaw wide open and a large tree branch in its arms raised high above its head.

         BILI CHIMP:

         ARGGH.

5. BLACK PANEL.

         NO COPY.

6. The LEOPARD lies dead; the tree branch the BILI CHIMP was holding lies next to it bloody. The BILI CHIMP can be seen walking away from the scene; it’s back to us. The juvenile CHIMPS following close behind it.

         NO COPY.

7. Pull back to see a wildlife PHOTOGRAPHER hidden in the undergrowth a few foot from the scene, a video camera has been filming the whole incident. The PHOTOGRAPHERS face hangs in shock.

         PHOTOGRAPHER:

         Dear god. 

Planet of the Apes – Baker & Grodd’s Bogus Adventure! – MK Stangeland Jr.

AKA: Detour to the Planet of the Apes

BEHOLD! Tis the continuing adventures of one of Thought Balloons most unlikely and ridiculous team-ups as they inadvertently travel to another world…

(7 Panels)

Panel 1: ANIMAL MAN and GORILLA GRODD are in a separated cage, with APE SOLDIERS and a CHIMP in a suit – LOZAR - standing around them. LOZAR is pointing at GRODD.

LOZAR: Why is he in a cage?

COMMANDER YONGK: He attacked us. Violently.

ANIMAL MAN: You’ll have to forgive my…companion. He…

Panel 2: LOZAR turns to look at ANIMAL MAN. GRODD has a ‘I’m surrounded by morons’ look on his face.

LOZAR: He speaks?

GRODD (1): Of course he speaks, you idiot.

GRODD (2): It’s silencing him that is the difficult part.

Panel 3: LOZAR glares at GRODD.

LOZAR: Hmm…such disrespect.

Panel 4: GRODD reaches out of his cage in attempt to grab LOZAR. LOZAR backs off defensively to protect himself and keep from getting grabbed. The soldiers in the background have their weapons at the ready.

GRODD (1): YOU WANT DISRESPECT?

GRODD (2): Release me, and I’ll show you disrespect!

Panel 5: Beat panel. LOZAR looks at GRODD with a shocked look on his face.

Panel 6: LOZAR recomposes himself.

SFX: (LOZAR, clearing his throat.) Heh-hem

LOZAR (1): Well then. Have this…beast locked up. We’ll deal with him later.

LOZAR (2): Have the human brought to my office.

Panel 7: ANIMAL MAN and GRODD next to each other in their cages. GRODD looks furious. ANIMAL MAN has a ‘I told you so’ look to him.

ANIMAL MAN (1): It’s like I said, Mr. Grodd.

ANIMAL MAN (2): You have anger issues.

(END PAGE)

Planet of the Apes - Holding Up the Mirror - Grant McLaughlin

1 - Establishing shot.  We are outside a hut in Ape City.  It's not the fanciest of huts, but it does look pretty good, implying that the residents within live a pretty comfortable ape-lifestyle.

SIKESIA (from within): I just don't understand, Corleo.

2 - Inside the hut.  We see a male ape (Corleo), standing and looking out the window, frustration on his face.  He appears to be in a bedroom, although no one else is visible at the moment.

CORLEO (1): I need to do something, Sikesia!  I can't stand by and watch our society's inequality continue to grow.

CORLEO (2): There is no reason an orangutan should have more opportunity than a chimpanzee.  There is no reason that gorillas should be limited to positions of physical strength.

3 - Corleo turns around to look at Sikesia.  She sits on the bed, looking back at him in concern.  She is a chimpanzee and she is Corleo's lover.

CORLEO: Most of all, there is no reason that we should have to hide our love.

4 - Sikesia has moved to Corleo's side.  She is trying to comfort him, while also wondering what has come over the ape.

SIKESIA (1): But you've been a solider your entire life!  Your father was a solider, as was his father before him.

SIKESIA (2): Why would you want to turn your back on that?

5 - Corleo looks at his lover.  He returns her affection, but part of his mind is clearly elsewhere.

CORLEO (1): The violence of our forefathers' times is no longer the way of things.  Might doesn't necessarily make right.

CORLEO (2): If we want to change the world...

6 - A different room within the hut.  It's a study.  There's a desk filled with papers that are, in turn, filled with writings.  There's a stack of papers that make up a manuscript.  On the title page is "An Ape is An Ape" with "Written by Corleo" underneath.

CAPTION (CORLEO): ...first we must change ourselves.

Planet of the Apes – Re-Evolution - Ben Rosenthal

1.  A modern day looking office taking place many years after the events of the original Planet of the Apes movie.  An Ape in a suit sits at a desk, writing.  Another suited Ape is walking in.  He looks as if he has been rushing to get to his superior. 

                SECOND SUITED APE

    Sir, it has happened again.

2.  A close up of the Ape at the desk.  He has stopped writing and is looking at the Second Suited Ape.  He is knows what has happened again, but is not shocked.  He is pensive and boarder line alarmed.

                SEATED APE

                Again? They are occurring more readily now.  This is worrisome.

                SECOND SUITED APE

                Shall I inform the council, sir?

3.  A wide panel showing both Apes.

                SEATED APE

                No.  I shall do it.

                SECOND SUITED APE

                And the child?

4.  We are now in a hospital where doctor Apes have just delivered a baby.  However this baby is human.

                CAPTION (Seated Ape)

                Put it with the others.

Planet Of The Apes -Observe & Report -Dan Hill

Page 22

22.1
We OPEN on a CLOSE UP of a young CHIMPANZEE as it sits staring back at us from behind bars.

CAPTION

I often sit and stare at them, wondering what lies behind those eyes.

22.2
TWO SHOT: On the left side  of the panel stands a boorish looking ACADEMIC TYPE wearing glasses, a lab coat and a check shirt. He's making notes on a clipboard, looking towards the chimpanzee who's in the middle row of a stack of cages that lead off into the background. All of them contain other chimps.

CAPTION

Do complex machinations ever simmer to the surface of what passes for a brain in there?

22.3
TIGHT SHOT on the chimp as it eats a banana messily.

CAPTION

Or are they just slaves to their primal urges; eat, kill, fuck.

22.4
Angle on the lab worker looking over his glasses towards the chimp, disdain across his face.

CAPTION

I never get an answer.

CAPTION

By now I don’t expect one.

22.5
Similar to 22.2 but the lab worker is further down the row of cages in the background, checking up on the other chimps.

CAPTION

Instead I carry on observing. I carry on making notes...

22.6
Tight on the chimp as he grips the bars of his cage. He looks left, his gaze following the lab worker’s route.

CAPTION

...waiting for the day we rise up.

Why Planet Of The Apes?

It started with Pierre Boulle's novel, published in 1963 as the race towards Kennedy's 'New Frontier' began to heat up. Next came the infamous Heston starring movie, released in 1968 a year before Armstrong set foot on the moon, amidst the height of the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War and the ever looming threat of the cold war and nuclear doom.

The franchise's strength lies in its ability, like all good sci-fi, to play on the issues we are dealing with in the now (something the Burton remake seemed to miss completely) with the recent 'Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes' introducing more modern fears in the shape of biotechnology and gene therapy, as well as marrying fantastic special effect work with Andy Serkis' performance as Caesar (mirroring John Chambers groundbreaking work on the original movie).

The 'Apes' franchise has existed in all manners of media: books, movies, toys, animated series and of course, comics. This particular ball was set into motion with  a Manga adaptation of the movie back in the late 60's before Gold Key did their own take for American and Western audiences. In the mid to late 70's Marvel picked up the baton, creating original material set in the Apes universe that featured work from such luminaries as Doug Moench, Gerry Conway and George Tuska.

The license then passed through a number of publishers (including Malibu and Dark Horse) before finally finding a home at Boom! who have so far produced two excellent mini-series in Betrayal Of The Planet Of The Apes and Exile On The Planet Of The Apes (seriously, check out that artwork).

I chose 'Planet Of The Apes' as this weeks pick as it will allow the Thought Balloon writers (and those playing at home) a free reign of genre with an almost infinite canvas. The franchise has run the gamut from the straight up science-fiction/adventure of the original movie to the more nuanced political thriller on show in Boom's recent comic efforts. The Apes franchise also allows us to explore ourselves as a species, holding a mirror up to our greatest fears and questioning our more destructive, primal impulses.