Since Dayton Ward let the ape out of the bag a few weeks ago, I guess it’s time for me to announce it here.
My next published project? The Sacred Scrolls: Comics on the Planet of the Apes.
The book will be published by Sequart Organization, and co-edited by me and Rich Handley, publisher of Hasslein Books and renowned POTA expert.
The official release for the book reads as follows:
The Sacred Scrolls: Comics on the Planet of the Apes
edited by Rich Handley and Joseph F. Berenato; essays by Samuel Agro, Joseph F. Berenato, Stephen R. Bissette, Joe Bongiorno, Joseph Dilworth Jr., Dan Greenfield, Ed Gross, Rich Handley,Zaki Hasan, Terry Hoknes, Doug Moench, John Roche, Lou Tambone, and Dayton Ward; cover byPatricio Carbajal
Since the 1970s, the Planet of the Apes franchise has frequently delved into the world of comic books. Some stories have made the Lawgiver proud, while others have brought shame to Ape City. In the comics arena, not all apes are created equal — but for fans, that’s half the fun of reading them.
More than 150 POTA comics have been published during the past four decades, from Gold Key, Marvel Comics, Power Records, Brown Watson Books, Editorial Mo.Pa.Sa., Malibu Graphics, Dark Horse, Mr. Comics, and BOOM! Studios. Writers have explored the settings, concepts and characters from the films (and occasionally the TV series), while introducing an array of new characters and scenarios. Back stories have been revealed, plot holes filled in and histories extrapolated upon. The comics have employed multiple genres and styles, taking readers to distant villages, ruined cities and oceanic civilizations — and have even seen the apes battle alien invaders from War of the Worlds and Alien Nation. It’s been quite the madhouse, to be sure. But by and large, the Apes comics have remained true to novelist Pierre Boulle’s simian spirit.
Sacred Scrolls: Comics on the Planet of the Apes will examine the entire history of POTAcomic books, from Gold Key to BOOM! and everything in between. This anthology will feature insightful, analytical essays about the franchise’s four-color continuation, from popular comic historians, novelists, bloggers and subject-matter experts — topped off by a foreword from comics legend Doug Moench, who penned the much-beloved Marvel run. If you’re eager to learn more about Apes lore, then you’ll need to get your stinkin’ paws on this volume.
The book is slated for a 2015 release.
jfberenato.wordpress.com 
I’d never heard of Planet of the Apes comics. But then, I’ve only ever existed on the periphery of the comic book industry. I read webcomics, and I’ve learned a lot about the history and culture of comics from the authors of those webcomics (most of whom grew up reading print comics and thus talk about them a lot). I’ve also got a good friend who can rant for hours about anything comic related.
One day I’m going to pick up some actual print comics. I’ve always been interested in certain characters and stories, and I love the movies that are coming out based on comic franchises.
How do you make it to our age, and love science fiction and fantasy, and have NEVER picked up a comic book?
I picked up one.
When I was about 12.
I blame my parents for never encouraging me in such endeavors. I didn’t learn how awesome comics were until a much later age, and I haven’t gotten around to actually finding some physical comics yet.