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Classic Planet of the Apes #2
Planet of the Apes, Vol. 2: The Devil's Pawn
The classic action and drama of Apes is back in this brand new graphic novel series.
A brand new story in classic movie continuity! The ferociousness of the apes’ plans against humans is revealed. As humans face oppressive tactics not seen in centuries, they choose to fight with newfound viciousness, leading them to commit an act of revolution so severe it will have reverberations for years to come.
A brand new story in classic movie continuity! The ferociousness of the apes’ plans against humans is revealed. As humans face oppressive tactics not seen in centuries, they choose to fight with newfound viciousness, leading them to commit an act of revolution so severe it will have reverberations for years to come.
112 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2012
11 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
Daryl Gregory
152 books1,467 followersAward-winning author of Revelator, The Album of Dr. Moreau, Spoonbenders, We Are All Completely Fine, and others. Some of his short fiction has been collected in Unpossible and Other Stories.
He's won the World Fantasy Award, as well as the Shirley Jackson, Crawford, Asimov Readers, and Geffen awards, and his work has been short-listed for many other awards, including the Hugo, Nebula, and Sturgeon awards . His books have been translated in over a dozen languages, and have been named to best-of-the-year lists from NPR Books, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, and Library Journal.
He is also the writer of Flatline an interactive fiction game from 3 Minute Games, and comics such as Planet of the Apes.
He's a frequent teacher of writing and is a regular instructor at the Viable Paradise Writing Workshop.
He's won the World Fantasy Award, as well as the Shirley Jackson, Crawford, Asimov Readers, and Geffen awards, and his work has been short-listed for many other awards, including the Hugo, Nebula, and Sturgeon awards . His books have been translated in over a dozen languages, and have been named to best-of-the-year lists from NPR Books, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, and Library Journal.
He is also the writer of Flatline an interactive fiction game from 3 Minute Games, and comics such as Planet of the Apes.
He's a frequent teacher of writing and is a regular instructor at the Viable Paradise Writing Workshop.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 19, 2022
This is a pretty awesome series so far - Only thing is ..Voice Alaya or whatever goes real quick from peaceful to...Let's invade haha.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2020
Reprints Planet of the Apes #5-8 (August 2011-November 2011). The apes and humans are at a stalemate. Armed with dangerous weapons, the humans have managed to keep the apes from invading their town while the apes continue to keep the humans locked down. With Bako seeking help from a missing army and Sully trying to negotiate with Brother Kale and his followers, Wyn finds himself in the apes’ next plans for humans…a retraining camp that will help the apes stamp out the stubborn streak in humanity once and for all. A war is coming, and the apes’ numbers are many…
Written by Daryl Gregory, Planet of the Apes Volume 2: The Devil’s Pawn is a Boom! Studios comic book continuation of the classic Planet of the Apes film series which began in 1968. Following Planet of the Apes Volume 1: The Long War, the collection features art by Carlos Magno and was also included as part of the Planet of the Apes Omnibus.
Planet of the Apes will always have leeway with me. There have been some really bad Planet of the Apes stuff, but the ties to my childhood keeps me from hating it. This Planet of the Apes comic book is one of the better tellings of the Planet of the Apes stories and takes a darker tone.
In many ways, this comic book feels a bit more like the original novel La Planète des singes by Pierre Boulle which was published in 1963. Boulle (also known for writing Bridge on the River Kwai) had the apes be more technologically advanced. They had more modern weapons of war and here, the apes have blimps and now they have tanks. The comic started out as more of a simple parable for classism but now it is starting to turn into something different.
With the introduction of concentration camps and Alaya’s increasing power as “Voice Alaya”, it is starting to feel more and more like a tale of World War II. This story isn’t a story of a slow growing power however and it is a story of war between the humans and the apes. With indicators that the humans are going to put up a good fight, the World War II elements of this story probably will be kept as an undercurrent.
I am liking the fact that this series isn’t simply going for an extended fight and that the writers are putting some thought into what they are pumping out. I still am not a big fan of the smaller collections of Boom! and probably would recommend picking up the Omnibus if you are really interested in the series. Stories about the underdogs are always interesting from things like Les Miserables to more modern stories like the limited series V…and this time, it is the humans turn to rise against the apes. Planet of the Apes 2: The Devil’s Pawn is followed by Planet of the Apes 3: Children of Fire.
Written by Daryl Gregory, Planet of the Apes Volume 2: The Devil’s Pawn is a Boom! Studios comic book continuation of the classic Planet of the Apes film series which began in 1968. Following Planet of the Apes Volume 1: The Long War, the collection features art by Carlos Magno and was also included as part of the Planet of the Apes Omnibus.
Planet of the Apes will always have leeway with me. There have been some really bad Planet of the Apes stuff, but the ties to my childhood keeps me from hating it. This Planet of the Apes comic book is one of the better tellings of the Planet of the Apes stories and takes a darker tone.
In many ways, this comic book feels a bit more like the original novel La Planète des singes by Pierre Boulle which was published in 1963. Boulle (also known for writing Bridge on the River Kwai) had the apes be more technologically advanced. They had more modern weapons of war and here, the apes have blimps and now they have tanks. The comic started out as more of a simple parable for classism but now it is starting to turn into something different.
With the introduction of concentration camps and Alaya’s increasing power as “Voice Alaya”, it is starting to feel more and more like a tale of World War II. This story isn’t a story of a slow growing power however and it is a story of war between the humans and the apes. With indicators that the humans are going to put up a good fight, the World War II elements of this story probably will be kept as an undercurrent.
I am liking the fact that this series isn’t simply going for an extended fight and that the writers are putting some thought into what they are pumping out. I still am not a big fan of the smaller collections of Boom! and probably would recommend picking up the Omnibus if you are really interested in the series. Stories about the underdogs are always interesting from things like Les Miserables to more modern stories like the limited series V…and this time, it is the humans turn to rise against the apes. Planet of the Apes 2: The Devil’s Pawn is followed by Planet of the Apes 3: Children of Fire.
December 30, 2014
Summary: The war between the apes and the small human part of the city has started. Will the humans be crushed under the endless number of ape soldiers?
What I liked:
- Instead of plunging us deep into action territory, volume two expands the lore and the world
- Through flashbacks we learn more about the history of the characters, and we get internal monologues of characters that only played a minor role in the first volume. Their voices add a new dimension to the story. They all have their own agenda, and it'll be interesting to see how that works out
- Things get really, really bad in The Devil's Pawn. Humans start dropping like flies, and the ape leader Voice Alaya becomes more and more evil
- She even erects work camps for the humans. We all know what happens when you start putting people in work camps
- Even though there are plenty of bad things happening, there is a glimmer of hope by the end
- The art is still absolutely fabulous
What I didn't like:
- Because these volumes are pretty short, and there was so much story to tell, we lose track of some of the important characters
- Some scene transitions were a bit abrupt
- The plights of our characters didn't pull my heartstrings as much as you'd expect. The first volume was stronger emotionally
Verdict: More information heavy than I was expecting, but still high in tension and conflict.
What I liked:
- Instead of plunging us deep into action territory, volume two expands the lore and the world
- Through flashbacks we learn more about the history of the characters, and we get internal monologues of characters that only played a minor role in the first volume. Their voices add a new dimension to the story. They all have their own agenda, and it'll be interesting to see how that works out
- Things get really, really bad in The Devil's Pawn. Humans start dropping like flies, and the ape leader Voice Alaya becomes more and more evil
- She even erects work camps for the humans. We all know what happens when you start putting people in work camps
- Even though there are plenty of bad things happening, there is a glimmer of hope by the end
- The art is still absolutely fabulous
What I didn't like:
- Because these volumes are pretty short, and there was so much story to tell, we lose track of some of the important characters
- Some scene transitions were a bit abrupt
- The plights of our characters didn't pull my heartstrings as much as you'd expect. The first volume was stronger emotionally
Verdict: More information heavy than I was expecting, but still high in tension and conflict.
November 18, 2014
Daryl Gregory and Carlos Magno continue their epic sage of the downfall of human/ape society with Planet of the Apes: The Devil’s Pawn. Using the Lawgiver’s death as a pretext to launch a military campaign, Alaya lays siege to and raids the human community of Southtown; meanwhile the humans begin to sabotage the ape industrial factories and start to arm themselves. The series is especially action-packed and gritty; effectively using the framing and panels to create a mood. And, the storytelling is well-paced, gradually building the suspense and intensity throughout the four issues. An impressive follow-up to The Long War, The Devil’s Pawn is full of exciting thrills.
December 2, 2021
The social commentary in this story is very fitting for December 2021. I've always enjoyed how Planet of the Apes speaks to how humans treat each other poorly. I got this for sale when Hastings was going out of business. It does an excellent job of creating it's own world where you want to root for humans and apes as well as loathe those on both sides who are evil. I've finally been able to find the first one in this series so I'm looking forward to reading that one as well.
January 16, 2013
My only complaint is that these volumes are way too short... a beautifully drawn, increasingly complex, engaging addition to the PoA mythology. More please!
February 10, 2014
Volume two in the graphic novel series... I've gotten the first four from the library... the story is pretty good so far... in this one war breaks out...
July 30, 2021
The second installment of this series picks up where the last book leaves off. War has
come to Mak, and the people of Southtown are greatly outmatched by the apes. The mayor of the humans, Sully, scrambles to prepare her people for conflict. She searches for supplies and warriors to help her people survive the bloody conflict soon to come.
This book was great, repairing many of the negative aspects of the first volume. The
characters become much more established, and although the reader won't be able to relate to the characters, they still will be able to find them enjoyable. Along with this, the world undergoes development with some flashbacks and explanations for the city and its inhabitants. The conflict in this book was also great. Readers will be captivated by the battles fought in the book brought to life with vivid illustrations. It gives the war much more weight because the reader will see the effects of battle in the illustrations with death and destruction ravaging the city.
-Vince R.
come to Mak, and the people of Southtown are greatly outmatched by the apes. The mayor of the humans, Sully, scrambles to prepare her people for conflict. She searches for supplies and warriors to help her people survive the bloody conflict soon to come.
This book was great, repairing many of the negative aspects of the first volume. The
characters become much more established, and although the reader won't be able to relate to the characters, they still will be able to find them enjoyable. Along with this, the world undergoes development with some flashbacks and explanations for the city and its inhabitants. The conflict in this book was also great. Readers will be captivated by the battles fought in the book brought to life with vivid illustrations. It gives the war much more weight because the reader will see the effects of battle in the illustrations with death and destruction ravaging the city.
-Vince R.
April 2, 2024
This is a great time to be a Planet of the Apes fan. Between the most recent movie and these comic books from Boom, quality for the franchise is at a high not seen in 40 years. Daryl Gregory is a great writer, and he gets what the Apes universe is all about. I am really enjoying seeing the relations between apes and humans strained to the breaking point, and the fallout which becomes “the way things are” in the first film. I try not to use the word great often or lightly, but this is a great title.
September 9, 2018
Realmente enganchada, quiero saber cómo continúa y, sobre todo, cómo termina.
Como punto neagativo, siento que le falta un poco de desarrollo, como si hubiera partes que no he leído.
Como punto neagativo, siento que le falta un poco de desarrollo, como si hubiera partes que no he leído.
March 19, 2019
hard to put down, I'm really into this steampunk apes revival
July 6, 2022
Serinin diğer kitaplarını beğenmediğimi hatırlıyorum.
January 12, 2023
Quite good fun, great visual storytelling within.
December 30, 2023
The tension between humans and apes grows stronger with the terrorist attack of a mask human. The war is declared. In the spirit of the original work.
September 18, 2025
Volume 2 of Daryl Gregory's Planet of the Apes from Boom Studios, set 1300 years before the 1968 movie. A really good story with great graphics. Now I need to get Volume 3.
July 23, 2013
As much as I loved the setting and political thriller genre of the first volume, this one's even better. The tension between apes and humans is maxed out and breaks in a visceral way that made me want to cheer. Carlos Magnos' art continues to amaze. I don't know how he cranked these out as single issues every month while keeping up the detail and visual world-building, but he never let up on the quality.
April 14, 2014
The unrest in the human part of town rises to the level of open rebellion, and the two adopted daughters of the lawgiver are now enemies. The highlight of this volume is the explanation of the origin of the "Beware the beast Man..." verse from the Lawgiver's sacred scroll. It clears up the inconsistency with the Lawgiver as a character who believed in friendship and harmony between apes and humans. And it is a pointed commentary on those who take any sacred text too literally.
August 2, 2014
It's a Planet of the Apes comic.
June 25, 2020
Another really great Apes book. Decided to revisit the Boom Studios run of POTA and it is surpassing my memories of it. Great story and art.
September 16, 2015
I den spännande andra delen utvecklar det sig till fullt krig mellan aporna och människorna. Absolut tillräckligt bra för att fortsätta att läsa del tre.
February 15, 2017
Decent
Again, not quite in the same timeline as pota, what with the apes having tanks and such, but there introduction of the 29th scroll, beware the beast man, was interesting.
Again, not quite in the same timeline as pota, what with the apes having tanks and such, but there introduction of the 29th scroll, beware the beast man, was interesting.
September 6, 2013
Good story about what the apes plan on doing against the humans....next! :-)
September 23, 2017
Vol 2 of BOOM! comics POTA run.
Again, I love the art and enjoy most of the characters. But I dislike the flip flopping some of those characters do.
A daring move is made here, in regards to the most well known of The Lawgiver's scrolls....
Again, I love the art and enjoy most of the characters. But I dislike the flip flopping some of those characters do.
A daring move is made here, in regards to the most well known of The Lawgiver's scrolls....
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews