The ApeCast

Jack & Geoffｷs exploration of Malibu's POTA comics continues with a look at issues #3-#5! As Alexander plots to re-take Ape City from the villainous gorilla General Ollo, orangutan advisor Jacob finds himself at an ethical crossroads. Also, a new mad scientist ape bursts on the scene, and a few old favorites (such as Lady Liberty and jump kicks) drop by for a taste of the familiar!

A new Ape-och dawns! Jack and Geoff start discussing Malibu Graphicsｷ early 1990s POTA comic series, with a look at issues #1 and #2! Thereｷs plenty of familiar fun to latch onto: black & white art reminiscent of the old Marvel series, a bombastic and villainous gorilla general, andｷan ape who looks like short-lived 80s fast food restaurant Mac Tonight?! It all starts here!

Another ape-och draws to a close as Jack and Geoff discuss Caesar's Story! Released in 2018 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the POTA franchise, this biography/oral history examines the life of Caesar as written by the orangutan who knew him best: Maurice (with unspecified assistance from some human named Greg Keyes). Will this memoir reveal new insights into the inner lives of these important apes? Will the events of Keyes' earlier novels be canonized? Will we learn how the apes developed their horse husbandry skills? Tune in, dear listener, and find out for yourself!

Giant Monsters and Super Heroes and Super Villains ALL OUT ATTACK!!! Jack and Geoff are joined by Sam Stovold to unpack the smash-tacular conclusion of Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong! As Lex Luthor enacts his MechaGodzillian masterstroke, the Justice League contends with a veritable surf ｷnｷ turf of supervillain-assisted Titanic threats! Listen along and you too will be saying Letｷs squawking go!

Jack and Geoff are kicking off the new year right with a look at 2024's kaiju-sized comic crossover Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong! Packed to the gills with superheroes, supervillains and monsters alike, these first three issues set up an epic conflict to com while still giving your Ape hosts what they want: Godzilla and Kong both proving why they're called king, beam-on-beam action, and tons of Captain Cold!

It's here once again! Jack and Geoff are joined by holiday guests Erin Clarke, Sam Stovold and Kev Young for the annual Christmas Ape-stravaganza! They've got a heapin' helpin' of Ape-cademy Awards to give out, and then it's game time! Xmas stalwarts ORANGUTAN and CHIMP Game are back, along with the all-new, all-thrilling GCOGCOGCO! Will Erin continue her reign of terror? Check your Apesmas podcast stocking for the answer!

The Boom! Era draws to a close as Jack & Geoff take a look at the short comic tale collection When Worlds Collide! While the stories here donｷt actually feature any crossover between the original/contemporary film continuities, they do manage to touch upon a lot of what makes this franchise so great, while giving your Ape hosts one last look at some classic POTA comics creators!

It's here: Jack and Geoff are tackling 2017's War for the Planet of the Apes! There's a lot to say about this trilogy-capping epic, and so Sam Stovold returns to help unpack it all. What is war good for? Absolutely multitudes!

As the march towards War continues, Jack and Geoff discuss some lesser-known works from this era: Planet of the Apes: Last Frontier and the POTA motion books! The former is a Choose Your Own Adventure Book masquerading as a video game, and the latter is a series of digital-only comics published by defunct platform MadeFire. If you havenｷt heard of these, fear not! Your Ape hosts are here to break ｷem all down!

The buildup to War continues as Jack and Geoff discuss the final two issues of Boom! Studios' War for the POTA comic! As ape/human conflict continues to rage across the US, Caesar enacts a bazooka-based plan to distract the murderous Colonel McCullough, and a soon-to-be-prominent chimp finds himself thrust suddenly into solitude.

Jack and Geoff return to the Boom!verse with a look at the first two issues of War for the POTA: the comic book. Acting as prologue to the film while broadening the scope of the titular war, the comic also features the debut of an intriguing new ape: Beardface! All this and an super-sized assortment of Sacred Scrolls!

It's here! For the first time in ApeCast history, there's a brand spankin' NEW POTA movie to talk about!  And to celebrate this most wonderful of days, Jack and Geoff are joined by Eric Ambler, Derek Buckley and Sean Davis for an in-depth discussion of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes!

As the Ape/mutant/gibbon war kicks off in the Hominidae Empire, Jack & Geoff find themselves Bewaring the Planet of the Apes for the last time! Will this Marvel miniseries arrive at a satisfying conclusion despite its truncated length? Will seismic, character-altering events be hand-waved away? Will Nova drive an arrow into a gorilla's brain? Listen on, ye Ape Faithful, and discover the answers!

Godzilla and Kong are back, getting all super-charged and B.E.A.S.T. Gloved as a new threat emerges from Hollow Earth! Jack and Geoff welcome back the GvK crew of Erin, Lauren and Sam to help unpack the smashy, silly goodness of Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire!

As Beware the POTA races towards its Jarl-tacular conclusion, Jack & Geoff are joined by Sam Stovold for a discussion about Hominidae culture, far-from-leftfield Wizard of Oz references, and all kinds of new Nova shenanigans!

After Dawn of the POTA--and before the impending War--Jack and Geoff find themselves once again reading an interstitial novel by Greg Keyes: War for the POTA: Revelations! As Caesar and company reel from the conflict in San Francisco, a new human threat--led by a soon-to-be-familiar Colonel--arrives from the north. Meanwhile, ancillary and new ape characters alike assert themselves as the ape/human conflict moves inexorably towards War!

It's an exceedingly rare occurrence, but every once in a while Jack & Geoff find themselves discussing a Planet of the Apes movie. And with this look at Dawn of the POTA, they find themselves discussing an all-timer! Barm and Kev Young join the pair as they bask in this masterpiece's masterful ape acting, superlative special effects, and compelling characterizations. You will believe an ape can cry!

And why exactly should one Beware the Planet of the Apes #2? Does it have anything to do with the other group of mutants in Yankee Stadium? Or maybe it's the secret society of gorillas with the gibbon underclass living nearby? Whatever the reason, Lucius-seekers Zira and Cornelius are about to find out, and Nova, Jack, and Geoff are the humans along for the ride!

Before the dawn of the era of this podcast where Jack & Geoff watch and discuss Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, it's Before the Dawn! This bite-sized promotional comic was released online in advance of the movie, as were three short films under the same banner. Your Ape hosts are here to discuss all of these, plus a look at the mobile game Plague Inc.—specifically its Simian Flu DLC—and the VR game Crisis on the POTA!

New year, new comic, classic apes! Jack and Geoff return to the Planet of the Apes in its final pre-Taylor days in Marvel's Beware the POTA! And of what exactly should Zira, Cornelius and new human companion Nova beware? The sinister shrouded sniper perched within the ruins of Yankee Stadium for a start! Marvel's new pulse-pounding prequel begins here, and your Ape hosts are ready and rarin' to regard, recount and review away!

It's that time again! Jack and Geoff are joined by Erin Clarke, Sam Stovold and Kev Young for our annual holiday ape-tacular! We're honoring 2023's top ape—amongst various other favorites from the year—in the Ape-cademy Awards, and then it's games galore in our annual movie trivia festive fracas!

It's a battle of the disfigured apes as Jack and Geoff look at the final two issues of Boom!'s Dawn of the POTA! While the ape-enslaver Pope faces off against everyone's favorite one-eyed bad boy chimp, Malcolm and co. attempt to free their son from a group of marauders with a surprising market for their human wares! It's a thrilling conclusion to a tale that adds onion-like layers to one character in particular from its cinematic namesake, and your apes hosts are here to peel it all back!

Jack and Geoff are joined by Kev Young to round out Nihonvember with an eagerly-awaited look at Army of the Apes! This 1974 Planet of the Apes-inspired Japanese TV series has plenty of stylishly-dressed apes, a precocious kid with a snake in his shorts, and a comfortably rhythmic pursuit/capture/escape plot structure. And your Ape hosts are here to break it all down!

Nihonvember begins as Jack and Geoff discuss the first four episodes of Message From Space: Galactic Wars! This late 70s Japanese TV series wears its Star Wars influences on its sleeves while still carving out a unique, apey niche. It's all here: likeable leads, space battles, ninjas upon ninjas upon ninjas, and a certain ape-man who brings it on!

The plot thickens as Jack and Geoff look at issues #3 and #4 of Boom!'s Dawn of the POTA! While Malcolm and his new companions embark on a stealthy rescue mission, an increasingly-megalomaniacal Pope forces Caesar into a decision that threatens his entire ethos! All this, plus a polar bear eating a chimp! You don't want to miss it!

Jack and Geoff kick off their coverage of Boom! Studios' Dawn of the POTA comic series with a look at issues #1 and #2. As Malcolm and family contend with a bleak, violent post-apocalyptic wasteland, Caesar and his band of merry apes celebrate life and ponder the future. Meanwhile, a new disfigured chimp channels some of that Ursus energy, shotguns abound, and your Ape hosts ponder exciting potential Disney sci-fi crossovers!

Jack and Geoff return to the world of Boom! POTA comics with a look at Dawn of the Planet of the Apes: Contagion. Released right before the movie that shares its title, this one-shot comic may be little more than an appetite-whetter, but your Ape hosts are here to break it down nonetheless! Also: exciting Marvel POTA news, and a brief tour through the history of (largely Japan-centric) King Kong games!

Jack and Geoff bid adieu to Juliana Tobon, Pug and the rest with a look at the fifth and final issue of Marvel's POTA series! It's a mixed bag here, as ostensibly-climactic showdowns and character motivation alike are glossed over in order to wrap things up. Nevertheless, your Ape hosts find things to enjoy here, and ponder the future of Marvel's forays into the world of POTA.

Stepping away from the usual talking apes, Jack and Geoff discuss talking alien robot gorillas and their companions in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts! The two also share their histories with the franchise, discuss its star-studded 1986 animated installment, and have a grand ol' time along the way! Also: Geoff talks way too much about Optimus Prime.

It's all-out war in the Atlantic in Marvel's POTA #4! As Juliana Tobon and her human & ape companions engage Exercitus Viri in cruise ship combat, Jack and Geoff revel in the simple pleasures: Oreo-like page composition, death-defying ship-to-ship leaps, and a chimp firing a bazooka. Also, Pug speaks!

Days after the events of Rise of the Planet of the Apes, San Francisco starts to sizzle in Greg Keyes' sequel/Dawn prequel novel Firestorm! As the ALZ-113 retrovirus cuts a catastrophic swath through humanity, Caesar and his ape crew strive to stay one step ahead of the humans hell-bent on their fiery destruction! And your Ape hosts are here to unpack this unrelentingly bleak tale, full of fascinating characters on both sides of the ape/human divide, unnervingly prescient speculations on pandemic behavior, and lots and lots of FIRE!

Love blooms and danger looms in issue #3 of Marvel's Planet of the Apes! As Juliana Tobon and her crew transport a thousand apes on a cruise ship across the Atlantic, we learn more about the origins of Exercitus Viri and check in once again with the Smartest Gorilla in the World! Meanhwile, Jack and Geoff discuss the issue's real-world parallels, delight in apes at sea, ponder classic action movie one-liners, and repeatedly fail to remember something Caeser said!

Jack and Geoff are joined again by Barm for a look at Netflix's documentary Chimp Empire! The Ngogo chimpanzees of Uganda—despite a resource-rich environment—have splintered into two warring factions. Seemingly inured to human contact, the apes go about their brutal business as cameras capture it all, telling a compelling tale that vividly illustrates how close to us these primates truly are.

The ALZ-113 pandemic continues to spread as Jack & Geoff look at issue #2 of Marvel's POTA! As UN Peacekeeper Juliana Tobon arrives in Ghana with her precious ape cargo and receives further marching orders, we see both extremes of current ape/human relations around the world, and learn more about a certain French gorilla who inspires true esprit de corps!

After nearly a decade in the post-Burton doldrums, the POTA franchise was ready for a revival, and it came in the form of an unassuming tale about a scientist. a chimp, and a certain experimental virus. And thus a new Ape-och rises! Jack and Geoff are joined by Derek Buckley for a look at the film's exploration of classic POTA themes, the new territory it carves out for itself, and the creation of a new ape protagonist for the ages!

Marvel Comics is back in the Planet of the Apes game! It's the early 2010s, and a mysterious new virus is ravaging humanity while imbuing apes with increased intelligence--and the wherewithal to use street signage as weaponry--a radical terrorist group is waging war against a convenient scapegoat for this new pandemic, and a young UN Peacekeeper is doing her part to ensure the survival of the apes! It's a tantalizing start, and your Ape hosts are here to break it all down!

A new Ape-och begins, as Jack and Geoff move into the modern POTA era with a look at Rise of the Planet of the Apes…the comic! Boom! Studios released this short comic prequel online prior to the release of the film, and while it may have little in common with what it precedes, it does whet the appetites of a couple of Apes fans hungry to sup upon the bountiful saga of Caesar!

Another Ape-och draws to a close, as Jack and Geoff discuss the final tale in the Boom! Studios Before the Fall Omnibus, The Scroll! As they see where things all began for Aleron, your two Apes hosts reflect on the Betrayals, Exiles and Cataclysms that preceded, and look towards cinematic tales of mo-capped cgi apes and the myriad works they spawned! Also: with Marvel fever a-boiling over ‘round these parts, a look at the glut of recent Marvel POTA variant covers! Which Marvel superheroes went ape the best? Listen and find out!

The final cataclysm is about to catalyze, as Boom! Studios' POTA Cataclysm draws to a close! Jack and Geoff are talking hastily-resolved chimp uprisings, shocking mutant impersonation reveals, and a new spin on the classic tale of a science chimp, a spaceship, and the lake keeping them apart. And while Boom! is once again cutting things a little short conclusion-wise, there's still plenty to enjoy and discuss as your Ape hosts say farewell to Dr. Z and the gang for the foreseeable future!

With the strange case of the mutant apes behind them, Jack and Geoff return to Ape City for more classic inter-/intra-ape conflict as Boom! Studios' POTA Cataclysm nears its end! The chimps are a-fomentin', Dr. Zaius is inching ever-closer to his movie incarnation, and Cornelius is just trying to find some candied ginger for his crush. It's setting up what promises to be a thrilling climax, and your Ape hosts are here to break it down!

The ape mutants are real, and they must be reckoned with! Continuing further into the cavernous depths of Boom! Studios' POTA Cataclysm, Jack & Geoff encounter a mutually-beneficial survival-collabo between chimps of varying scientific fields, tactical discussion between long-married orangutans of status, and the first signs of a chimp-first political uprising! Also: a refence to the classic arcade game Rampage!

December! The nog is flowing, the fireplace is stoked, and on your radio it's the annual ApeCast Apesmas Extravaganza! Erin Clarke, Kev Young and a jetlagged Sam Stovold are all here as we honour 2022's most notable ape—and other favorites from the year—in the Ape-cademy Awards, and play two games: C.H.I.M.P. Game and the all-new, all-thrilling O.R.A.N.G.U.T.A.N.!

Back to all things cataclysmic, as Jack and Geoff look at issues 5 and 6 of Boom! Studios' POTA Cataclysm! As Ape City begins to rebuild from the devastation wrought by the destruction of the moon, an increasingly frazzled Dr. Zaius readies a multi-faceted expedition—one that will ensure the city's continued survival while uncovering a bizarre new mystery! Cornelius and Milo are in fine form, Jack is waxing rhapsodic about classic cave vibes, and there's a whole new kind of mutant in town to ponder!

Jack and Geoff temporarily shift away from the cataclysmic events on the POTA for a look at writer/director Jordan Peele's superlative Nope! With returning guest Barm, the three unpack the film's surprising—and harrowing—ape appearance, as well as everything else that works about this masterfully-crafted piece of sci-fi/horror movie magic. Is it safe to say your Apes hosts liked this one? YEP.

The fall of the moon was just the beginning, as Boom! Studios' POTA Cataclysm continues! Amidst rising flood waters and increasing Ape casualties, Cornelius harnesses the heroism within, a familiar threat reveals a new face, and Dr. Zaius confronts a grim succession of shocking revelations! Your Apes hosts are swept along for the ride, as they also discuss the story's similarities to familiar 00's TV favorites and ponder the future of the franchise!

And now for something completely CATACLYSMIC, as Jack and Geoff look at the first two chapters of Boom! Studios' twelve-part POTA: Cataclysm! As a strangely knowledgeable pistol-packing ape priest wreaks catastrophic havoc, ape faces both new an familiar find themselves thrust into a desperate fight for survival! This one may well prove polarizing, and your Ape hosts are here to get into it!  *NOTE* Due to what is most likely mutant interference, a strange beeping noise emerges in the recording around 40 minutes in. Our apologies if the noise causes any listener to strangle any nearby mute human companions.

As the Apes world Terns, so too do Jack and Geoff as they turn towards the conclusion of Boom! Studios Exile on the POTA! A massive showdown is a-brewin', as Dr. Zaius and his army of the apes square off against General Aleron, Tern, and their sign-languagin' human crew. Is there any hope for Aleron's seemingly ill-fated human experiment? Will the Statue of Liberty serve once again as a beacon of hope to those seeking freedom? Can a Covid-ridden Jack overcome the viral strain being placed upon his voice? Listen on, Ape Faithful!

After the Betrayal cometh the Exile! Jack and Geoff continue their exploration of the Boom! Apes' oeuvre with a look at the first half of Exile on the POTA! As chimp scientist Prisca adjusts to a disturbing new job, a series of increasingly-bold human incursions force Dr. Zaius' hand! There's tons more of that Boomy goodness here, and your Ape hosts are on it! Also: the pressures of Japanese high school baseball culture, early 2010s J-pop, and the magic of twilight in both real and video gamed form!

Jack and Geoff are joined by Sam Stovold for the conclusion of Boom! Studios' Betrayal of the POTA! As Aleron adjusts to life in prison, Dr. Zaius goes on an innocence-shattering journey of discovery. Meanwhile, your Apes hosts discuss bonobos in the classic POTA, frustratedly-sighing Batman supporting characters, and the prospect of Indiana Jones dropping an f-bomb.

A new Ape-och dawns as Jack and Geoff begin looking at Boom! Studios' Betrayal of the Planet of the Apes! This first miniseries (collected in the Boom! Before the Fall Omnibus) sees the return of some familiar ape faces while introducing intriguing new ideas. Apes Alcatraz? A female orangutan who actually speaks? The most sartorially styling gorilla in POTA history? They're all here, and your Ape hosts are ready to dive right in!

Jack and Geoff are joined by Sam Stovold for a look at the 1998 Mighty Joe Young remake! And while this Disneyfied version of the story doesn't really hold a banana to its predecessor, it does boast some great practical ape effects and a charismatic cast. And that's more than enough for the Ape crew to chew on! Also in this ep: a climactic Ape host head-to-head Lost/The Wire character name-off battle!