My friend Rodger tells the story of being a kid, laying on his belly at his friend’s house and watching 2001: A Space Odyssey.  He and his buddy were enthralled by The Dawn of Man scenes in which early man-apes discover the use of tools.  His friend’s father wandered into the room and joined the boys watching the movie while sipping his beer.

The father scrutinized Kubrick’s film for long moments until at last he rendered his evaluation: “This ain’t nothin’ but a damn monkey movie.”

Anybody who’s listened to more than a few episodes of Funnybooks knows I have a deep and abiding affection for monkeys.  Talking monkeys, that is.

I enjoy them in all their forms.  Comics, TV, movies… at the office, in the grocery store… love ’em.  In my homebrew SF game, the local sheriff?  Talking monkey.

I don’t really understand my fascination with talking monkeys.  I just know that I am drawn to them.

With the advent of this week’s release of Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Ideology of Madness will honor the Planet of the Apes franchise for all its done to elevate the dialogue between man and ape.  Additionally, we’ll look at other chatty ape notables.  And we’re giving stuff away!

More on that shortly.

Ain’t nothin’ but a damn monkey movie?  And a damn monkey comic.  And a damn monkey TV show.  And a damn monkey website.