Apes 'N' Capes 1

“There is a hairy hero in all of us. Like it or not, our DNA is hardwired that way.

Like the air we breathe, we share that DNA with our closest primate relatives. Somewhere along that path, we lost the essence. Apes ‘n’ Capes is a story that brings us together again.”

            I didn’t think that a comic called “Apes ’n’ Capes” would make me cry. About a month ago, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Every day is a struggle between crippling lows and ambitious highs. And that, my friends, is what Apes ’n’ Capes is all about.

            You aren’t a dumb fat monkey in a tree, lying down and waiting to die. You evolved from a complicated line of organic life that started before even MEMORY existed. You know silver-back gorillas? Those aggressive punch machines that break zoo glass for fun? You have 95 percent of their DNA in you.

            Scientists and other egg-heads always say “mankind is at a turning point” this and “this is a critical time” that. But the truth is, every second you are alive is a turning point. As far as we know, nothing else in this universe is alive. Billions of stars with billions of planets, but so far this is the only one with life on it.

            I’m bipolar, and you know what else is? Planet Earth. Being bipolar doesn’t mean I’ll go whacko over a sandwich or something (not anymore at least), it means I have a need to sort things into good or bad. North and South. The North Pole, and the South Pole.

            Bipolar disorder can be harnessed to do amazing things, but only if an orangutan in a cape kicks my ass and helps me.

            You can learn a lot just from stepping back and appreciating nature. You can learn even more from appreciating everything. Don’t let bears in board rooms take away your soul.

PS: The art is just as fantastic as the concept and writing. At first I thought “duh black and white, cheapo comic alert”, but there is color when there needs to be. Matt Rooke possess tremendous talent, each panel helping to carry Grainne McEntee’s effortlessly fantastic words.

Read this comic book!