In this review of Planet of the Apes Vs Fantastic Four #3, as Red Ghost, Doctor Doom and General Ursus prepare for conquest, the FF find the super-powered Doctor Zaius to be a handful, while Reed discovers just where (and when) they are.
Planet of the Apes Versus Fantastic Four #3
Writer: Josh Trujillo
Artist: Andrea Di Vito
Main Cover: Greg Land
Variant Covers: Cory Smith, Marcus To, Pete Woods, Scott Hepburn
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: April 15, 2026
This review contains spoilers
Planet of the Apes Vs Fantastic Four #3 begins with Red Ghost, Doctor Doom and General Ursus admiring their handiwork as the ape rebellion has destabilized the region, allowing all three villains the possibility to achieve their respective evil goals for the planet. Red Ghost gloats over knowing that Reed Richards’ Di-Quantum Stabilizer would rob the FF of their power, but he didn’t bank on Apes getting them as a result.
Meanwhile outside Ape City, the Thing-powered Doctor Zaius decides it’s clobberin’ time for the depowered FF team (fortunately, Cornelius and Zira are able to counter his attacks with their own borrowed abilities). After Zira knocks some sense into Zaius, the FF coach the Apes through using their abilities to dredge up Colonel Taylor’s sunken spacecraft. With some effort, they are successful, but they are interrupted by an attack by two of the Red Ghost’s Super-Apes.
Zaius objects to Cornelius and Zira fighting the other apes and gets the Super-Apes to calm down. Over in Ape City, riots threaten to tear the city apart as the ape captain orders his soldiers to fire on the maddening crowd. Inside, President Gaius orders the Ape Council to evacuate as he awaits the imminent attack.
Planet of the Apes Vs Fantastic Four #3 ends as Gaius’ remaining Ape guards are flash fried and the President comes face-to-face with Doom, Red Ghost and General Ursus, now clad in his own version of Doom’s armor.
Analysis
Planet of the Apes Vs Fantastic Four #3 ramps up the action, drama and tension while allowing for more enjoyable interactions between the Fantastic Four and the superpowered Cornelius, Zira and Doctor Zaius, while Doom, Red Ghost and General Ursus set aside any prejudices to form a cohesive unit bent on world domination.
Writer Josh Trujillo makes fast friends of Reed, Susan, Cornelius and Zira while keeping each of them in character. The ship dredging team-up expands on the mutual admiration Cornelius and Zira have for their human counterparts and vice versa, while Johnny pipes up with an occasional observation and Ben Grimm manages to find common ground with the irascible Doctor Zaius.
Zaius’ character shockingly pivots between his outright (violent) contempt for the Fantastic Four (and all humans really) and his strict adherence to the lawgiver’s tenet of “Ape shall not kill ape” which provides for his surprise bonding with two of the Super-Apes (they’re supervillains dude). Meanwhile, Doom and Red Ghost are their scheming, arrogant selves while the super-powered Ursus happily joins their ranks.
Ironically, Ursus comes off as less of a cosmic powered loose cannon than Zaius, but as much more willing to buck tradition (and Ape law) as he apparently killed at least two Ape soldiers during his storming of the Ape Council. The script informs as it moves the plot along without bogging down the pace of the story, and Reed’s realization about when and where they are is hinted at without needing full explanation (or an iconic symbol buried in the sand).
Trujillo hinting through Reed Richards that the Planet of the Apes is this Fantastic Four’s distant future is intriguing. With only one more issue to go, this brisk crossover remains entertaining while the inevitable and looming final showdown should hopefully lead to a satisfying wrap up.
Artist Andrea Divito provides a Marvel Comics art style with plenty of gorgeous visuals and action set pieces to match the thrilling script. The characters are recognizable, even when Zaius is embedded in orange rocks and Cornelius’ hairy limbs stretch across the panels. The ship rescue, the various battles, the villains posturing, the deadly riots and even the quiet moments of introspection and conversation attract attention.
Final Thoughts
Planet of the Apes Vs Fantastic Four #3 provides another exciting chapter in this fun crossover that moves the plot forward, informs the reader and dazzles the eye with gorgeous artwork. The characters and the 1960s vibe gives fans of both franchises something to enjoy.
