JOE CASEY. JOE KELLY. DUNCAN ROULEAU. STEVEN T. SEAGLE. The men from Man of Action take on the actions of monkeys in Animal Planet’s new series, Dark Days In Monkey City (every Tuesday at 10pm starting February 24). The series will be using graphic novel-style animation production elements “to accentuate the dramatic and violent reality of the story,” according to the nicely-worded press release. That story is a real-life war between two monkey tribes in Polonnaruwa, aka Monkey City. Monkey War – this is why we have TiVo!

According to the Animal Planet website, in the first episode “The Temple Troop has dominated Monkey City for years, but times are changing. Internal friction and power plays for the throne have weakened them. And aging King Lear must fend off potential rebellion for his crown.” To add to the high drama of the show, many of the characters have Shakespearean names.

Those graphic novel elements were provided courtesy of Man of Action, the creative development company formed by Casey (Codeflesh and The Death Defying Devil), Kelly (Bad Dog), Rouleau (The Great Unknown), and Seagle (American Virgin, Soul Kiss). They are also the creators of Cartoon Network’s smash hit Ben 10. You can find out more about Man of Action’s other projects by visiting their own website.

There’s a group interview with the collective Man of Action over at the Animal Planet website. It delves into their work on Dark Days in Monkey City, comics graphic novels, and so much more. Here’s a sampling: “Comic books are a medium, nothing more nothing less. However certain subject matter is rarely tested inside the graphic novel. Dark Days in Monkey City takes the notion that these natural behaviors and occurrences are also great stories. The graphic novel just simply puts a dramatic framework over that conceit.”

Dark Days in Monkey City debuts February 24 at 10pm, but this first episode is repeated February 25 (1:00 am and 5am), March 1 (10pm) and March 2 (1am and 5am).