Interview: Ryan Ferrier on BOOM! Studios’ Kong on the Planet of the Apes

Kong on the Planet of the Apes #1 cover by Mike Huddleston

Kong on the Planet of the Apes #1 cover by Mike Huddleston


Ryan Ferrier is the writer of D4ve, Curb Stomp, Hot Damn, Kennel Block Blues, and much more. Now he takes us on the ultimate simian adventure in BOOM! Studios Kong on the Planet of the Apes. Ferrier recently told Westfield’s Roger Ash more details about this upcoming series.

Westfield: How did Kong on the Planet of the Apes come about?

Ryan Ferrier: I’ve been lucky enough to work with BOOM! Studios for a while now, and my love for all things Planet of the Apes is no surprise; I’ve absolutely adored all the Apes series in recent years. Fortunately, when this project came to be, they thought of me and asked if I was interested. I of course flipped my lid about it and got lost in my own head thinking about the story possibilities, and luckily for me it became a reality! I’m very grateful to my editors Dafna [Pleban] and Cameron [Chittock], and BOOM! Studios for letting me work on what is my dream job.

Kong on the Planet of the Apes #1 Subscription Cover by Hans Woody

Kong on the Planet of the Apes #1 Subscription Cover by Hans Woody


Westfield: What’s the setup for the story?

Ferrier: The story takes place very shortly after the events of the first film, with Dr. Zaius and General Ursus heading into the Forbidden Zone to cover up any more evidence of Earth’s past. There, they find the body of a Kong washed up and it all makes sense: Skull Island has always been a part of this continuity, and it still exists. In search of answers, Zaius and Ursus team with Cornelius and Zira and mount an expedition for the dangerous island, but each have their own conflicting ideologies and motivations for discovering the Kong species.

Westfield: Will you be introducing any new characters?

Ferrier: We certainly are! Along with the fan-favorite characters we love so much, it’s been a total honor to create some new characters in this shared mythology. On the human side, from Skull Island, the characters of Ni’Ta and T’Nek will play pivotal roles in the series. I’m also really excited about a new gorilla soldier named Argus, who is mentored by Ursus, for better or worse. And our Kong is one that hasn’t been seen before, with a whole new set of circumstances affecting the character, which has been so much fun to write.

Kong on the Planet of the Apes #2 cover by Mike Huddleston

Kong on the Planet of the Apes #2 cover by Mike Huddleston


Westfield: Since the Apes go to Skull Island, will we see some Ape vs. dinosaur action?

Ferrier: Not just dinosaurs! Skull Island is full of all sorts of nasty monsters. And without spoiling too much, this is an expedition, and what would that be without taking home some souvenirs?

Kong on the Planet of the Apes #1 connecting cover by Carlos Magno

Kong on the Planet of the Apes #1 connecting cover by Carlos Magno


Westfield: You’re working with artist Carlos Magno on the series. What can you say about your collaboration?

Ferrier: Carlos, who’s no stranger to both the Planet of the Apes and Kong worlds, is simply amazing. His level of detail is staggering, and his storytelling abilities are incredible. I can’t wait for people to see his work at its finest on this series. Knowing what he can do with these characters—the action, the emotion, everything—gives me as a writer a sense of comfort knowing that we really can pull this off in a great way, and challenge, knowing that he’s so good and the bar is raised for what we can accomplish. For me, that’s the perfect pairing, and I’m very grateful to be doing this series with Carlos.

The complete connecting cover image by Carlos Magno. The final version will be in color. Click to enlarge.

The complete connecting cover image by Carlos Magno. The final version will be in color. Click to enlarge.


Westfield: Any closing comments?

Ferrier: If you’re a fan of Planet of the Apes and Kong, we’re confident you’re in for a real treat. To bring these massive worlds together is absolutely huge for us, and we’re giving it our full hearts, sweat, blood, and tears—literally and in the pages—to make this awesome. We can’t wait for you to see how it all unfolds starting in November!

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Kong on the Planet of the Apes

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