It's made America a ravaged reflection of its former, healthier self. The Simian Flu that began to spread at the end of 2011's Rise of the Planet of the Apes has taken a bite out of humanity and left apes as the emerging superior power in the San Francisco area. Tomorrow sees the release of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and BOOM! Studios has announced a limited comic book series that follows what happened in the ten-year gap between films, as well as a one-shot prequel comic that will be an SDCC exclusive.

Composed of six issues and titled Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, the comic book series will come out this November, with the first issue set to be released in two different covers. The one-shot set to premiere at SDCC is titled Dawn of the Planet of the Apes: Contagion and serves as a direct prequel to the film. This one-issue story arc will be available at BOOM! Studios' booth #2229 during Comic-Con. We have the official press release and a look at all three covers:

July 10, 2014 - Los Angeles, CA - "This November, award-winning publisher BOOM! Studios and Twentieth Century Consumer Products are pleased to announce they will launch DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, a new comic book limited series based on the new film from 20th Century Fox.

Written by Michael Moreci (CURSE, Hoax Hunters), the six-issue series bridges the 10-year gap between the Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes films, chronicling the fall of humanity and the rise of Caesar’s ape civilization. Additional creative team details will be revealed at a later date. While the apes of the world have yet to advance as a species, Caesar (portrayed by Andy Serkis in the films) must find a way to unify them to one cause. On the other side of the country, Malcolm (played by Jason Clarke in the Dawn of the Planet of the Apes film) must venture into the decaying Americas with his family to find a cure for the plague slowly killing his wife, Rita.

“Our Planet of the Apes comics stand out to me as some of our best work," said BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief Matt Gagnon. "This series marks the first time we’ve ventured into producing print comics based on the new films, and we can't wait to explore this world. The new films are so good—we're honored to add to the mythology.”

In addition, BOOM! Studios and Twentieth Century Consumer Products will debut DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES: CONTAGION, a one-shot comic book prequel to the new film, at Comic-Con International in San Diego, California (a.k.a. San Diego Comic-Con), to be held July 24-27, 2014 at the San Diego Convention Center. Written by Caleb Monroe (CLOAKS, STEED AND MRS. PEEL), illustrated by Tom Derenick (Justice League of America, HYPERNATURALS), and featuring a cover illustrated by Garry Brown (SONS OF ANARCHY), the issue follows the story of Ellie (played by Keri Russell in the Dawn of the Planet of the Apes film) as she struggles to find a cure for the pandemic affecting humanity before it claims her daughter’s life. The issue will retail for $5.00 and will be available for purchase exclusively at San Diego Comic-Con at the BOOM! Studios booth, #2229. The DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES: CONTAGION one-shot marks the first time BOOM! Studios has ever exclusively debuted a brand-new comic at a convention.

Directed by Matt Reeves (Let Me In, Felicity), the Dawn of the Planet of the Apes film stars Andy Serkis (The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Rise of the Planet of the Apes), Jason Clarke (Zero Dark Thirty, White House Down), Gary Oldman (The Dark Knight Rises, The Dark Knight), and Keri Russell (The Americans, Felicity). In the film, a growing nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar is threatened by a band of human survivors of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier. They reach a fragile peace, but it proves short-lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth’s dominant species. Twentieth Century Fox will release Dawn of the Planet of the Apes worldwide on July 11th, 2014. For more information, visit dawnofapes.com.

DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES #1 arrives in comic book shops in November with a main cover illustrated by Christopher Mitten (CLIVE BARKER'S NIGHTBREED) for the price of $3.99, and a retailer incentive cover illustrated by Jay Shaw (EVIL EMPIRE). Not sure where to find your nearest comic retailer? Use comicshoplocator.com or findacomicshop.com to find one!"

  • Derek Anderson
    About the Author - Derek Anderson

    Raised on a steady diet of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps books and Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Derek has been fascinated with fear since he first saw ForeverWare being used on an episode of Eerie, Indiana.

    When he’s not writing about horror as the Senior News Reporter for Daily Dead, Derek can be found daydreaming about the Santa Carla Boardwalk from The Lost Boys or reading Stephen King and Brian Keene novels.