Kong On The Planet of the Apes is a 2017 comic published by Boom! Studios, written by Ryan Ferrier with art duties by Alex Guimaraes and Carlos Magno. The comic being a crossover between two of fiction's most famous Ape-related franchises.
Following the events of the original Planet of the Apes film, Dr. Zaius and General Ursus lead a small group of soldiers to the Forbidden Zone to destroy any remaining evidence of Taylor's time among them. To their surprise, they discover...A KONG! Now they must venture to Skull Island with Cornelius and Zira to discover the truth, but they may not survive the deadliest journey of their lives!
This work includes examples of:
- Amazon Chaser: Ursus is implied to have a thing for Amari, a Gorilla General from an Ape tribe living in what used to be Kenya.
- Be Careful What You Wish For: N'ita chafed at the idea of becoming her tribe's Story Teller (something assigned to her) and never being able to see the world outside of her island home. She ends up getting a twisted version of this when she's kidnapped, treated like an animal in Ape City, and ultimately dying the ruins of New York City with Kong thousands of miles from home.
- Crossover: Between two of fiction's most famous ape series.
- Downer Ending:
- Both Kong and N'ita die from their wounds in the Forbidden Zone, the rest of the expedition's findings are ordered to be covered up, and Ursus is declared a hero while Zaius, Cornelius, and Zira take the blame for Kong's rampage.
- The book even takes the time to setup the plot points of Beneath the Planet of the Apes and it's own Downer Ending.
- Distant Sequel: Zaius has human newspapers that show the events of the original King Kong happened in this universe.
- Expansion Pack World: In addition to bringing in Kong and Skull Island, the series shows Ape City from the films isn't the only Ape society on the planet. The expedition to Skull Island makes contact with one in what used to Kenya.
- General Ripper: Ursus, as expected. His first proposal when returning from Skull Island is to return with a military expedition to wipe out the remaining human population.
- Giant Animal Worship: In addition to the usual native tribe on Skull Island to sees Kong as a deity, even characters like Cornelius, Zaius, and Ursus (initially at least) believe Kong to be a deity-like being.
- Identical Grandson: The Kongs featured here are implied to be descendants of the original Kong from the 1933 film. The male one even having the same fate as it's ancestor did of being captured and dying in New York.
- Interquel: In addition to picking up directly where the first film ends, the final two issues take time to setup the events of Beneath and Escape with Milo discovering Taylor's crashed ship and the bomb worshipping Mutants.
- Ms. Fanservice: N'ita is a toned, muscular, woman who wears very flattering jungle garb.
- Mythology Gag:
- Needless to say, a lot of classic lines from the original Apes films are recited here.
- As with the original Kong, this Kong also dies in New York City note .
- Non-Malicious Monster: As usual with Kong. His rampage through Ape City is motivated by wanting to protect his friend, N'ita, and his poor treatment by Ursus and Zaius.
