Fans of Planet of the Apes have something new to dig into with Planet of the Apes vs. Fantastic Four, and the second issue continues after the strong setup of the first issue. The FF are trapped in the Planet of the Apes timeline, but their powers have been removed and given to key characters from the first Planet of the Apes film. Set after the first film, how might things play out differently if Dr. Zaius, Zira, Cornelius, and Ursus each had a power of the Fantastic Four!?
Something made quite clear after reading Planet of the Apes vs. Fantastic Four #2 is that this is a delight if you’re a fan of Planet of the Apes. A good amount happens in this second issue, leaving readers with plenty to think about. This second issue advances the main plot, sets up a war about to start, introduces a Marvel supervillain into the narrative, and establishes that the FF are needed as teachers, not as heroes. The more tantalizing element, however, is how Josh Trujillo weaves in the first Planet of the Apes film, making this feel almost like a “What If…?” tale, only for the film and not for the Marvel characters.
A key scene has the characters come across the ship George Taylor came in on. This establishes that the FF are learning about what happened just as we did with the first film, aligning the experiences. The story also leans into the film’s themes, such as how orangutans hate chimps, much like the in-fighting among humans in real life. It’s also fairly smart to give a character like Ursus powers, mixing up the apes with powers so they aren’t a team of four.
Apes…with powers?!
Credit: Marvel
On the reverse side, if you’re a Fantastic Four fan, it feels like these characters are bystanders rather than the lead characters. Much of the issue is that they are locked away in cages while the apes do all the talking. Aside from Ben finding the spaceship, this is decidedly light on Fantastic Four storytelling. That said, given the cliffhanger, I’m thinking the FF will be more prominent next issue.
Art by Andrea Di Vito is strong, keeping you invested in the characters even during lengthy dialogue scenes. The opening gives us a taste of action, and it’s fun to see the ape characters use FF abilities. Dr. Zaius’s rocky exterior looks fabulous, and the flame effects as well.
Planet of the Apes vs. Fantastic Four #2 clearly prioritizes the Apes side of the crossover. Trujillo builds on the mythology of the original film while exploring how its story might shift if iconic ape characters gained Fantastic Four powers. The result is a comic that feels like a playful alternate version of the classic movie, complete with political tensions, thematic parallels, and a looming conflict. Fantastic Four fans may wish the team had a larger role, but the creative premise and Di Vito’s strong visuals keep the issue entertaining. If you enjoy the Apes franchise and want to see its world twisted through a Marvel lens, this crossover remains a fun experiment.
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