King Kong (comics)
Throughout the decades King Kong has been featured in numerous comic book publications from numerous publishers.
King Kong in comics
Various
King Kong
Various
RKO comic strips[edit]
In 1933, RKO (the studio that produced King Kong and The Son of Kong) created comic strips for each respective film in their pressbooks. These strips were published by newspapers across the country weeks leading up to each film's release as part of a pre-release publicity campaign and were illustrated by Glenn Cravath.[1][2][3] When The Son of Kong strip was published in Spain, it featured additional artwork not seen in the American strip by Tomas Porto. These were published in Movies Celebs (Famous Movies) #12 by Editorial Swan in 1942.[4][5]
The King Kong Show[edit]
A mini-story (called "Kong Joins the Circus") which was based on the King Kong from The King Kong Show was published in the one-shot comic America's Best TV Comics by Marvel Comics in 1967.[6]
In Japan, the cartoon version of King Kong appeared in a comic strip in issue #34 of the Japanese magazine Shonen Magazine. In this issue, published in 1967, Kong battles a living version of the Statue of Liberty brought about by Dr. Who.[7] This strip was based on the American cartoon series which was animated in Japan by Toei Animation. Shonen Magazine would publish numerous strips based on the 1960s King Kong cartoon throughout the show's run in that country, featuring adaptations of various episodes, but also original stories.[8] Hikari No Kuni Comics from Japan had comic magazines based on the series as well.[9]
Gold Key Comics[edit]
Gold Key Comics, a subsidiary of Western Publishing, put out an adaptation in 1968, drawn by Alberto Giolitti with a cover painting by George Wilson (other credits are unknown),[22] while Golden Press also released the comic (with the Whitman logo) as part of a Treasury Edition release.[23] This oversized comic was commissioned by Merian C. Cooper and was based on the 1932 novelization by Delos W. Lovelace (of which Cooper owned the copyright) rather than the 1933 film. It was reprinted a few times upon the release of the 1976 remake, not just in the U.S (by Golden Press),[24] but other countries as well, translated into Dutch,[25] Swedish,[26] German[27] and Norwegian editions.[28]
King Kong the Robot[edit]
In 1964, the British comic company IPC Media created a character in the pages of Valiant Comics called Mytek the Mighty.[29] This character was a giant robot ape[30] that was built by a Professor Boyce. He appeared in various issues published by IPC well into the 1970s. When these comic strips were published in France from 1972–1974, the character's name was changed to King Kong the Robot.[17][31] When the 32-issue comic was reprinted as various collections it was renamed Super King Kong.[32]
Boom! Studios[edit]
From July through December 2016, Boom! Studios published a six-issue series called Kong of Skull Island.[41] Working with the Cooper estate[42] and Joe DeVito's company, the series tells the origins of King Kong and the denizens of Skull Island. The series was extended,[43][44] ultimately running 12 issues. In February 2017, Boom began reprinting the series as a three-volume trade paperback.
In October 2017, Boom! published a one-shot comic book titled Kong: Gods of Skull Island.[45]
From November 2017 to April 2018, Boom! published a six-issue crossover series with Planet of the Apes called Kong on the Planet of the Apes.[46] The series was collected as a trade paperback in October 2018.[47]
In May 2018, a one-shot comic book was published called Kong of Skull Island 2018 Special #1. The story features Vikings landing on Skull Island.[48]
Legendary Comics[edit]
From April though November 2017, Legendary Comics published a four-issue miniseries based on the film Kong: Skull Island, called Skull Island: The Birth of Kong.[49][50] In the miniseries, which acts as both a prequel and a sequel to the film, Kong's backstory and origins are revealed: his kind were killed eons ago in a brutal war with the reptilian monsters known as the Skullcrawlers when they invaded Skull Island. Kong's parents were the strongest and the last two of his race to survive, and during the final battle with the Skullcrawlers, Kong was born in the melee and sealed inside a cave to protect him by his mother. His parents died in the battle, leaving Kong an orphan and the last of his kind shortly after he was born.[51] The series was collected as a trade paperback in December.
In April 2021, Legendary Comics released Kingdom Kong, a prequel to the film Godzilla vs. Kong. The story concerns Monarch's attempts to clear a path into Skull Island's Hollow Earth portal, while lingering remains of King Ghidorah's global superstorm from Godzilla: King of the Monsters begin to move dangerously close to Skull Island's barrier storm. Monarch discovers too late that the storm is being manipulated from within the Hollow Earth caverns by Camazotz, a bat-like Titan prophesied by the Iwi to engulf their world in darkness and challenge Kong for rule over the island. Though Kong is able to defeat Camazotz and drive him back into Hollow Earth, it is too late and Skull Island's storm has engulfed the island permanently, setting the stage for Godzilla vs. Kong.
In May 2021, Legendary Comics released Monsterverse Titanthology Vol 1. This collection reprints both the Skull Island: The Birth of Kong trade along with the Godzilla: Aftershock trade from 2019.[52]
In October 2023, both Legendary Comics and DC Comics published a seven issue miniseries called Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong which features King Kong and Godzilla battling heroes from the Justice League.[53] To promote the series, both characters appeared on variant covers on other DC titles. Kong appeared on the variant covers for Detective Comics #1074,[54] Batman and Robin #2,[55] and Shazam! #4.[56] The first two issues were reprinted as Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong: Monster-Sized Edition #1 in March 2024.[57]
A graphic novel prequel to Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire called Godzilla x Kong: The Hunted was released in February 2024.[58] The Kong side of the story follows Raymond Martin, a wealthy trophy hunter that poaches superspecies with the use of a mech suit. Having managed to gain access to Hollow Earth, he has his sights set on battling Kong, which proves to be his downfall.
Dynamite Comics[edit]
Devito partnered with Dynamite Entertainment to produce comic books and board games based on the property.[59] The first is a six issue series called King Kong: The Great War which started getting published in May 2023.[60]
These include: