The Reef was a prison facility constructed on an island and used by Ape City for the incarceration of ape convicts such as thieves, apostates, adulterers and assailants. The only access to the prison was by boat to a water-level platform, from where a large timber stairway led to the main structure.
BOOM! Studios Continuity[]
Betrayal of the Planet of the Apes[]
In the era twenty years before the arrival of Taylor, the Reef housed the political opponents of Councilor Tenebris and his conservative views, including Timon, Gallus and General Aleron. Timon and Gallus organised a prison riot to cover Aleron's escape, but were almost foiled by Tenebris' agent Ursus who was stationed at the Reef explicitly to monitor Aleron. Ursus burned the wooden stairway in an attempt to prevent Aleron's escape. Ultimately, Tenebris was killed and the political prisoners were granted an amnesty.
Planet of the Apes: Cataclysm[]
In later years Doctor Milo was imprisoned at the Reef by Doctor Zaius for his role in supporting Aleron's human insurrection, but was allowed the freedom to carry on his valuable scientific research from his cell. Soon after, the chimp radical Cadmus also spent time at the Reef before returning to Ape City as a seemingly reformed character.
Novels[]
Death of the Planet of the Apes[]
The inside of the facility
After Security Chief Marcus' death at the hands of a dirty animal, Cerek, as the next in line for the position, was tasked with wiping the slate clean and closing out any important cases left by the previous administration. This entailed clearing the jailhouses of offenders. For some, this meant receiving a slap on the wrist and being released, while for others, it meant being transferred to The Reef.
The Reef was still in use for political prisoners by the time of the arrival of Taylor and subsequently Brent, in the last days of the planet Earth.
Appearances[]
- Betrayal of the Planet of the Apes (issues #2, #3 & #4)
- Planet of the Apes Cataclysm (issues #5, #8 & #10)
- Death of the Planet of the Apes (mentioned)