Where Man Once Ruled Supreme - Now Rule The Apes!

Planet of the Apes (Magazine) #3 December 1974 Issue - Marvel Comics

Cover art by Bob Larkin. Spawn of the Mutant Pits--Terror On the Planet of the Apes, script by Doug Moench, pencils by Mike Ploog, inks by Frank Chiaramonte. The Abomination Arena--Terror On the Planet of the Apes, script by Doug Moench, pencils by Mike Ploog, inks by Frank Chiaramonte. Manhunt--Planet of the Apes, script by Doug Moench, pencils by George Tuska, inks by Mike Esposito. Based on the movie series. Roddy McDowall interview.

Marvel Comics' Planet of the Apes Magazine was published by Magazine Management Co (under the Curtis imprint) from 1974-1977. Part of their black-and-white magazine line that included Deadly Hands of Kung-Fu, Dracula Lives, Savage Sword of Conan and others, it was the first ongoing comic book series related to the Planet of the Apes franchise. It was also the first medium to introduce original Planet of the Apes material set in a variety of different regions, eras and conditions that had never been seen before, beginning with a non-continuity serial entitled Terror on the Planet of the Apes. This particular feature was really the heart of the magazine as it allowed the creators to go wild with their vision. Other original stories were Evolution's Nightmare, Kingdom on an Island of the Apes, Future History Chronicles, and the movie tie-in Quest for the Planet of the Apes.

Under the editorial reign of Roy Thomas, who personally secured the rights from 20th Century Fox, the 84-page Planet of the Apes Magazine adapted 20th Century Fox's movie projects, the Planet of the Apes (serialised in issues #1-6), Beneath the Planet of the Apes (#7-11), Escape from the Planet of the Apes (#12-16), Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (#17-21) and Battle for the Planet of the Apes (#23-28). This was still an era when book novelisations or comic book adaptations were the only place one could experience the movies beyond their theatrical runs. The stories were generally (but not always) matched up: one chapter of an adaptation and one chapter of an original tale - issue #29 of Planet of the Apes Magazine is the only issue that does not contain a chapter from one of the movie adaptations. The title also contained regular photo features and interviews with cast and crew from the movies as well as the 1974 Planet of the Apes TV series.

See Also:

Adventures on the Planet of the Apes #9 - October 1976 Issue - Marvel Comics