Bollo, the eldest and most respected gorilla at the Zoo-niverse is gravely ill. Bob Fossil persuades Howard to dress in an ape suit, replacing Bollo, so that he can continue accepting sponsorship money for the gorilla. Everything's going smoothly until the Grim Reaper arrives and mistakenly takes Howard to Ape Hell instead. Vince sets off to rescue Howard and they run into trouble when they encounter the Ape of Death who is plagued with problem hair.

In an attempt to compete with daring adventurer Dixon Bainbridge, Howard and Vince set off in search of the Egg of Mantumbi - with the assistance of Gary Numan. Into the whiteness, the nothingness of the Arctic Tundra, the boys come face to face with hideous ice demon Black Frost. Luckily, Vince has befriended a polar bear.

Dixon Bainbridge, owner of the Zoo-niverse, is intent on selling to the highest bidder. There's a road being built through it and ‘if the animals won't work on it, they'll be underneath it'. Howard and Vince embark on an arduous trip deep into the Jungle Room, in search of the only man they think can help save the zoo - Howard's hero, Tommy Nookah.

Howard is hell bent on a career as a serious writer in the hope that he'll improve his chances with Mrs Gideon. However, when famous publisher Hamilton Cork arrives at the Zoo-Niverse, he decides to publish Vince's literary efforts about a pink bubblegum character called Charlie. Meanwhile, Bob Fossil has embarked on a new breeding programme for the pandas.

Vince is convinced that The Human League invented music. According to Vince, Howard's past career as a jazz trumpeter does not measure up. When Vince is offered a chance to join a new band, ‘Kraftwork Orange' with Johnny Two Hats and the Electro Girls, he's intent on leaving everything behind, including Howard.

After Ivan the bear becomes angry and escapes from his cage, Fossil arranges a place for Ivan at an Animal Offenders Institute. All Howard and Vince have to do is get there and back, in one piece, without falling foul of the Hitcher.