IDW and BOOM! Bring Star Trek to the Planet of the Apes

The crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise set its phasers to stun against those damn dirty apes.

Over the course of the U.S.S. Enterprise’s trek through the stars, its crew has managed to come across cross paths with the likes of the X-Men, the Legion of Superheroes, and even a certain Gallifreyan Time Lord. Now, thanks to IDW Publishing and BOOM! Studios, the Enterprise’s continuing mission will bring it to the strangest new world yet … the Planet of the Apes.

The upcoming Star Trek/Planet of the Apes: The Primate Directive comic series, published by IDW, marks the first collaboration between BOOM! Studios and another publisher. It’s also marks a unique team-up between CBS (which owns the Star Trek rights) and Fox (which owns the rights to the Planet of the Apes franchise. Star Trek scribes Scott and David Tipton (Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation) will come together to provide the script for the story, while interior art and covers will be handled by British newcomer, Rachael Stott.

“With the Klingons secretly backing a renegade gorilla general in a coup for control of Ape City, Captain Kirk finds himself in the uncomfortable position of having to help out Dr. Zaius’ orangutans,” explains David Tipton. “Taylor won’t be happy with that!”

“Planet of the Apes and Star Trek are groundbreaking science-fiction properties and both deal with many of the same social issues and themes,” says Greg Goldstein IDW President & Chief Operating Officer. “A crossover between the two is a natural and long overdue.”

While I’m not sure exactly how “natural” of a crossover it is, it’s certainly interesting to imagine George Taylor duking it out with Captain Kirk over the affections of the primitive Nova, or Spock taking out Dr. Zaius with a Vulcan Neck Pinch. Neither IDW or BOOM! have given any word yet on just how long Trekkies or “Ape”ies will have to wait before the series hits shelves.