shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Mar 8, 2015 11:30:59 GMT -5
Star Trek / Planet of the Apes: The Prime Directive #3 (IDW and BOOM!)  writers: Scott Tipton and David Tipton pencils: Rachael Stott colors: Charlie Kirchoff letters: Tom B. Long editors: Sarah Gaydos (IDW) and Dafna Pleban (BOOM!) grade: B- Once you get past the fact that this is a light, substance-less crossover with no intention of doing anything particularly innovative, I have to admit that this chapter was a little fun. The plot hasn't really advanced or expanded at all, characterization is still surface level, the apes are utterly ignored (you can tell the Tiptons only care about the first POTA film -- Zira and Cornelius are utterly substanceless here while Taylor gets all the attention), and while Rachel Stott was clearly given this job because she utterly nails all the faces, she can't do action, panel arrangements, nor original faces to save her life, but watching Taylor and Kirk throw down is pretty accurate to both of their natures. These guys SHOULD be enemies who end up respecting each other; it makes sense. And Kirk finally helping Taylor to realize that the "something better than man" he'd been looking for is the Federation -- well it works. I also enjoyed this one page, where we get a VERY show-accurate overlay of the Enterprise's engineering section:  Overall there's nothing brilliant here; nothing you're missing by not reading it, either as a fan of POTA or of Trek, but it isn't bad for what it is. Minor Detail: in an attempt to be cute, one of the only lines the Tiptons give to Zira and Cornelius this issue is when they have the couple observe that McCoy is very similar in character to Dr. Zaius. I'm sorry, what? Care to explain that instead of assuming we're going to laugh along and get the comparison? |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Mar 8, 2015 21:28:43 GMT -5
Star Trek / Planet of the Apes: The Prime Directive #3 (IDW and BOOM!) writers: Scott Tipton and David Tipton pencils: Rachael Stott colors: Charlie Kirchoff letters: Tom B. Long editors: Sarah Gaydos (IDW) and Dafna Pleban (BOOM!) grade: B- Once you get past the fact that this is a light, substance-less crossover with no intention of doing anything particularly innovative, I have to admit that this chapter was a little fun. The plot hasn't really advanced or expanded at all, characterization is still surface level, the apes are utterly ignored (you can tell the Tiptons only care about the first POTA film -- Zira and Cornelius are utterly substanceless here while Taylor gets all the attention), and while Rachel Stott was clearly given this job because she utterly nails all the faces, she can't do action, panel arrangements, nor original faces to save her life, but watching Taylor and Kirk throw down is pretty accurate to both of their natures. These guys SHOULD be enemies who end up respecting each other; it makes sense. And Kirk finally helping Taylor to realize that the "something better than man" he'd been looking for is the Federation -- well it works. I also enjoyed this one page, where we get a VERY show-accurate overlay of the Enterprise's engineering section:  Overall there's nothing brilliant here; nothing you're missing by not reading it, either as a fan of POTA or of Trek, but it isn't bad for what it is. Minor Detail: in an attempt to be cute, one of the only lines the Tiptons give to Zira and Cornelius this issue is when they have the couple observe that McCoy is very similar in character to Dr. Zaius. I'm sorry, what? Care to explain that instead of assuming we're going to laugh along and get the comparison? Wait, what!? As a fan of both series I don't see a comparison at all, I could see comparing him to Dr. Milo or even Cornelius but there is little in common between Zaius and McCoy. |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Mar 9, 2015 4:56:40 GMT -5
Just realized, too, that the cover doesn't just look bad; it's impossible. How did Kirk make that leap over the rail and get his foot on the chair?
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Post by thwhtguardian on Mar 9, 2015 10:37:38 GMT -5
Just realized, too, that the cover doesn't just look bad; it's impossible. How did Kirk make that leap over the rail and get his foot on the chair? That seems like more of what you mentioned in your review concerning the portrayal of action. |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Jun 9, 2015 15:56:12 GMT -5
Star Trek / Planet of the Apes: The Prime Directive #4 (IDW and Boom!)  writers: Scott Tipton and David Tipton art: Rachael Stott colors: Charlie Kirchoff letters: Tom B. Long editors: Sarah Gaydos (IDW) and Dafna Pleban (Boom!) grade: D Okay, so let's not pretend to be deep about this. Even four issues in, all the Tiptons are really looking for are excuses to get Taylor, Zira, and Cornelius standing next to the Enterprise crew so that they can cause fans to geek out with cute interplay and witty references. True, it's never actually cute nor witty, but if the reason you bought this book was to see the two franchises interact, then shut up; you're getting it. It just really truly offers nothing beyond such light-hearted fluff. The characters are so poorly written, so lacking in depth, and the plot so utterly stupid. It's just not worth getting into. For what it's worth, this is the closest the Tiptons have come to capturing Zira and Cornelius believably in four issues:  Not much. Really, the only charm I found in this installment was General Ursus being the character we're rooting for as he heroically attempts to single-handedly stop Marius and his army from marching on Ape City. Of course, by showing that the two are both unwilling to break the code of “Ape Shall Never Kill Ape” until the Klingons force them to, the Tiptons inadvertantly send a message that runs completely contrary to a central theme of the film franchise: Apes really ARE better than mankind. Oops. |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Jun 10, 2015 12:58:49 GMT -5
Star Trek / Planet of the Apes: The Prime Directive #5 (IDW and Boom!)  writers: Scott Tipton and David Tipton art: Rachael Stott colors: Charlie Kirchoff letters: Tom B. Long editors: Sarah Gaydos (IDW) and Dafna Pleban (Boom!) grade: C- Yes, that is one cool cover concept. The inside, not so much. This is a very weirdly paced final issue. Both climactic battles (Kirk vs. Kor, Ursus vs. Marius) are resolved effortlessly in nine pages. Really. There's barely any struggle at all. Good just beats bad, almost automatically. The rest is spent on long but forgettable goodbyes designed to painstakingly show how none of this conflicts with the events of the second film (Taylor asked to be put right back where they found him, Zira and Cornelius decide to treat the entire event like a "fever dream"), and we then get three awkward pages of Kor resuming the fight with Kirk in space, the Enterprise pursuing the Klingon ship for three days. This is all interrupted by the blowing up of the Earth (the end of the second film), even though Kirk has been pursuing Kor through space for three days. Somehow, they're right back where they were. Anyway, the one interesting contribution this entire tedious and stupid five issue series makes to the POTA mythos is that Scotty's having explained the slingshot theory of time travel to Cornelius for no good reason last issue ends up being the apes' impetus for traveling back in time for the third film. Cute...kind of. I am REALLY glad this series is over. There'd better not be a sequel. |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Jun 10, 2015 13:10:07 GMT -5
Overview of Star Trek / Planet of the Apes: The Prime Directive (IDW and Boom!)
(2015)
Overview: A five issue limited series shared between two publishers to unite two classic franchises proves every bit as silly and superfluous as it sounds. Though there are a (very) few cute moments, there's no depth to be found, no thrilling storyline nor new insights offered in regard to either property. This is just five issues of two beloved franchises crammed on panel together, quoting classic lines as nods to the reader. Nothing more to see here.
Note: Though overseen by the editors of both the IDW Star Trek line and the Boom! Apes line, there's no continuity to speak of beyond how these events relate to the original Star Trek television series and the first three Planet of the Apes films.
Worthwhile To Read?: Not at all.
Worth Re-Reading?: Not at all.
This volume includes: Star Trek / Planet of the Apes: The Prime Directive #1-5.
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Jun 12, 2015 9:11:03 GMT -5
Predator vs. Aliens vs. Planet of the Apes (commissioned piece from Champion! Magazine, 2012) by Paul Hanley Only became aware of this non-officially sanctioned work today. It's a three page feature (the entire magazine can be purchased via itunes if you want to read it all). Not much to discuss as there is no longer running narrative nor comic continuity within which to set it, but it's pretty darn amusing. Just from the one page preview below, I already like it better than Star Trek / Planet of the Apes: The Prime Directive.   |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jun 14, 2015 11:22:37 GMT -5
That does look pretty awesome.
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Jun 14, 2015 16:31:15 GMT -5
That does look pretty awesome. Even just seeing Dr. Zaius disembowled does the spirit good  |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jun 14, 2015 16:40:43 GMT -5
That does look pretty awesome. Even just seeing Dr. Zaius disembowled does the spirit good What's even better is that I just noticed that it's a mash up with Critters as well, you can see the little fuzzballs in the foliage in the second panel. |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Jun 14, 2015 16:42:00 GMT -5
Even just seeing Dr. Zaius disembowled does the spirit good What's even better is that I just noticed that it's a mash up with Critters as well, you can see the little fuzzballs in the foliage in the second panel. Totally missed that! |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jun 14, 2015 17:19:45 GMT -5
What's even better is that I just noticed that it's a mash up with Critters as well, you can see the little fuzzballs in the foliage in the second panel. Totally missed that! Same here, it wasn't until I was showing it to a friend that I noticied them, my friend pointed out the alien(which I missed some how) and then I saw the crites. |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Jun 14, 2015 19:12:47 GMT -5
Same here, it wasn't until I was showing it to a friend that I noticied them, my friend pointed out the alien(which I missed some how) and then I saw the crites. Actually, I missed the alien too. |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Jun 14, 2015 22:42:00 GMT -5
Here's the other page from that 3-page feature:  I like the Predator-Alien |
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