Issue: Exile on the Planet of the Apes #4
Writer: Corinna Bechko and Gabriel Hardman
Artist: Marc Laming
Colors: Darrin Moore
Letters: Ed Dukeshire
Cover A: Gabriel Hardman with Jordie Bellaire
Cover B: Declan Shalvey with Jordie Bellaire
Cover C: Gabriel Hardman
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
If you’re like me, you like all things POTA. Well, maybe not the Mark Wahlberg version. But besides that, almost all things POTA. And at the end of the previous issue, there was plenty to like: intrigue, betrayal and, best of all, sanctimonious apes. So let’s get to it:
This installment starts mid-battle. General Aleron and his mute human followers try to defend their formerly secret layer in the forbidden zone from Zaius. Meanwhile, Prisca and Milo make their way to Milo’s lab.
As Aleron’s forces fall, Milo uses his scientific knowledge (and his knowledge of his messy lab) to electrocute the chimps who are pursuing them. They are all set to slip out the back when some humans arrive, ready to murder. Fortunately for Prisca, Tern’s wife is among the humans. Recognizing Prisca as a friend of Tern’s, she prevents a chimp dismemberment.
This is all well and good, but the Aleron and the humans — including Tern — have been captured. Prisca orders the humans to flee, but goes back for Tern.
Meanwhile, Aleron has realized the cliffs surrounding his formerly secret layer are unstable. Zaius orders an evacuation as the cliff walls collapse behind them. In the confusion, Tern has made his getaway. He and the other humans flee in boats. At length, they stumble upon (or, perhaps more accurately, they row upon) a familiar sight: The head of the statue of liberty lying on the beach.
Tern figures they have arrived at the right place, seeing as how it’s a statue of a human and all.
Unfortunately, he shows no urge to hurl himself on the sand and declare “Damn you all. Damn you all to Hell!” Not that he could anyway: He’s a mute.
This is a solid installment.
Rating: 3.5 / 5 Stars
