DC's Has an Ape Green Lantern in 'Planet of the Apes' Crossover

The DC Universe will collide with the Planet of the Apes in a six-issue crossover, and it looks like one of the primates will have some serious willpower. Planet of the Apes/Green Lantern will drop DC’s iconic superhero Green Lantern into Pierre Boulle’s sci-fi franchise Planet of the Apes. Details of the plot are scarce, but series artist Ethan Van Sciver tweeted an image in progress, featuring an ape wielding a Green Lantern ring, presumably chosen for their willpower.

Van Sciver’s preview art hints that at least one intelligent ape is granted usage of a Green Lantern ring, endowed to individuals who have strong willpower. Van Sciver’s sketch is a close-up of an unidentified ape’s arm surging with Green Lantern energy. Van Sciver is one of the most prolific Green Lantern artists in today’s comics, and he’s also drawn for DC’s Superman/Batman, The Flash: Rebirth, and Marvel’s New X-Men.

Planet of the Apes isn’t the only non-DC franchise the Green Lanterns have encountered. Last year, DC and IDW Publishing teamed up for Star Trek/Green Lantern: The Spectrum War, in which the Green Lantern Corps collided with the U.S.S. Enterprise from the Kelvin timeline. In The Spectrum War, some members of the Enterprise were given different Lantern rings. Captain Kirk didn’t get one, and Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps were the only ones with the powerful Green rings. For that, Planet of the Apes/Green Lantern proposes a very interesting development in the Lantern mythos.

DC announced Planet of the Apes/Green Lantern at New York Comic Con this year. The new series wasn’t the only crossover between DC Comics and Planet of the Apes license holder BOOM! Studios; shortly after Comic Con weekend, DC and BOOM! announced Justice League/Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, pairing DC’s best known team with the ‘90s icons.

Planet of the Apes/Green Lantern will be released in February 2017.