Planet of the Apes makes an interesting social commentary on American Identities. The final scene is essential in this commentary. In the final scene, Taylor and Nova travel to the Forbidden Zone, where it is revealed that it is actually New York City and he sees the charred remains of The Statue of Liberty. Prior to this, Dr. Zaius had the remains of the human civilization destroyed. Taylor cries out, in disbelief that the apes destroyed this mark of humanity. He refers to them as “maniacs” saying they “finally did it”. Although the comment on the surface may be referring to the apes, the commentary it makes on identities reflects on human’s self-destructive nature. At the time when the film was created, environmental crises and the effect humans had on Earth were beginning to become more prominent. The film shows the severe effects of this; believing that eventually humans could harm the Earth to the degree that it was able to be taken over by Apes. Americans at the time were beginning to behave in ways that would eventually harm them and the film tries to act as a foreshadowing of what could occur if we continue to behave in this manner. It also makes a comment on the lack of ability for Americans to take responsibility for their actions. The characters in Planet of the Apes do not ever consider the planet they are on is Earth despite several clues throughout the movie. This idea is similar to the one presented in the graphic novel Black Hole. Black Hole also focuses on the idea of self-destruction. The characters in this novel are aware that people they are engaging in sexual behaviors with are “sick” with the illness; however they so despite this, for personal gain. Similarly, people at the time when Planet of the Apes was filmed knew acting in a way could eventually lead to permanent damage being done to the Earth, but continued the behavior anyway. Both works make a commentary on acting in careless manners by showing the extremes that could occur. In the case of Planet of the Apes, it is an ape civilization taking control, in the case of Black Hole it is the humans growing mutations. Both works also use mutations. The characters in both are considered grotesque. In Planet of the Apes, it is disturbing to see the parallel view of apes in control and humans as subservient to them. In Black Hole, humans grow appendages that cause social isolation. This is part of the social commentary the authors are trying to make as they are making the point that if the inner self is acting in a greedy or disgusting way, then that is what the outer self will reflect. Both films also make a comment on the idea of paradise gone awry. In the Planet of the Apes, it is more explicit: the apes specifically say New York City was supposed to be paradise. In Black Hole, Charles Burns utilizes the teenage paradise and distorts it. Both use the idea of Americans taking paradise and destroying it through their own behaviors.