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Kong: King Of Skull Island

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The last 70 years have not been kind to King Kong. "Son of Kong" was a hastily produced sequel that came out the same year as the original. While not bad, it lacked the impact of the original. Still, "Son of Kong" is vastly superior to what we've been subject to since then. The 1960's brought us the Japanese-made "King Kong vs. Godzilla" and "King Kong Escapes." Kong suddenly is grown to Godzilla's height to do battle and played by a guy in a horrible looking monkey suit.

The 1970's were not any better. In 1976, producer Dino De Laurentiis gave us a big budget remake that was universally panned by critics. Incredibly, despite the re-make flopping, a sequel, "King Kong Lives" hit theatres ten years later in 1986 with Kong somehow surviving his fall from the World Trade Center and now in a coma and need of a heart transplant. Uggh!

But finally, King Kong fans have something to cheer about. Kong: King of Skull Island is a new and original novel from Dark Horse Press, created and beautifully illustrated by artist Joe DeVito. The book has been officially authorized by the estate of Merian C. Cooper, King Kong's creator. The book performs as both a sequel to the 1933 classic and a prequel.

Carl Denham, the man who brought King Kong to New York, and was held responsible for his destructive rampage, disappeared soon after Kong's death and has not been seen for 25 years. His son Vincent Denham, who had always doubted the stories about Kong decides to set out on a quest to discover the truth about both King Kong and his missing father. He enlists the aid of Jack Driscoll, the character played in the original film by Bruce Cabot, to take him to the legendary Skull Island.

While going ashore Vincent and several crew members are attacked by the great beasts that live under the depths and he is nearly killed. He's taken in and cared for by the island's natives and meets an ancient looking woman known only as "The Storyteller." The Storytellers are the keepers of knowledge and lore and while nursing Vincent back to health, she begins telling him the stories of how her people first came to the island ages ago.

She tells them how her people, through the use of rare plants and herbs were actually able to control the great beasts who lived on the island including the great apes known as "kongs." Through her stories we learn of the division in her ancestors, the origin of the great wall, and of the early life of King Kong. Vincent also learns how his father's actions of 25 years earlier affected the natives and why a native named Kara holds such hatred for Vincent and his long lost father.

Joe DeVito and Brad Strickland have crafted a powerful and well-thought out story that gives a richness to the background of Kong and Skull Island that we never had before. We see that the natives are not mere savages as we, and even Jack Driscoll, always thought that they were. Weaving their story in the framework of the 1933 classic they've managed to create a magnificent and logical history for King Kong. DeVito's gorgeous artwork which include drawings as well as full color and full page paintings, brings Skull Island to life vividly and he captures the true essence of King Kong as no one else has been able to do since the original film.

This book is an absolute must-have for fans of King Kong!

In the classic film, King Kong, the character of Carl Denham (Robert Armstrong) tells Capt. Englehorn (Frank Reicher) and Jack Driscoll (Bruce Cabot) about the Skull Island natives, and the forbidding Wall that divides their peninsula from the rest of the island. The Wall was "built so long ago that the people who live there have slipped back," Denham says, "forgotten the higher civilization that built it." If you're like me, you've heard that one line and thought, "wow, there could be another entire story right there, contained in that one little line." And artist/author Joe DeVito, in collaboration with author Brad Strickland, has written it. Kong: King of Skull Island is the story of that "higher civilization," and of so much more. It's the story of what happened to Carl Denham after Kong's downfall. It's the story of a great conflict in a hidden land, in a time long before the Venture sailed to Skull Island. And it's the story of how Kong ... became King Kong.

Over the many years since the film was released in 1933, the title character - or various knockoffs of him - has appeared in a staggering number of books, movies, comics ... everything from low-budget giant ape potboilers like Konga, to "Kaiju Eiga" entries like King Kong Escapes, to a Saturday morning cartoon about a big purple gorilla called the Grape Ape. Most of these efforts, it goes without saying, are utterly unworthy to be mentioned in the same breath with Kong. And then, there comes the completely wonderful (as in, literally, "full of wonder") Kong: King of Skull Island. Authorized by the Merian C. Cooper estate, it's one of the very few Kong-related projects - in fact, it may be the only one - ever to reach the lofty heights of Cooper's original.

Any lovers of King Kong, dinosaurs, or fantastica in general, should not let this volume get lost in the current flood of Kong-themed output. This story is a true "labor of love" that took about 14 years to complete, and was conceived, conceptualized, and developed years before a certain blockbuster movie remake was even on the drawing board. The effort and thought that went into the project, not to mention the respect for and appreciation of the original material, become very apparent as soon as the reader dives into the tale. The book serves as both prequel and sequel to the classic story, tying in flawlessly while also enriching and embellishing the events that we remember so fondly. It even answers the venerable question of the giant doors in the Wall, and, well ... just why ARE they there? I had the extraordinary pleasure of seeing some of DeVito's original oil paintings for this book at length and in person and they are nothing short of astonishing; they're unique in a way that I cannot precisely describe. The wondrous art fleshes out the full-length novel and perfectly completes the volume, resulting in a seamless enlargement and enhancement of what is, I think, one of the great original adventure stories of the 20th century. Nothing is forced, nothing is "thrown in" for its own sake just because it would be cool, and even after multiple readings (you will read it more than once) all the pieces - new and old - nestle together with a verisimilitude that utterly satisfies. As Carl Denham himself says, "Holy mackerel, what a show!"

KONG: King of Skull Island is an amazing and highly exciting book that tells several stories about the origin of King Kong and his enemies, the natives that inhabit the island, the strange assortment of dinosaurs (...or are they?) that live there, and the characters involved in taking Kong off the island. I was "hooked" from the instant I started reading it; there are plot twists you'd never expect and creatures on the island that give a whole new spin to the evolution of dinosaurs. It's like being inside a dream, the book is alive! The whole story is written well and is accompanied and complimented by stunning visuals. I loved how the artwork, created by Joe DeVito, followed the story and would give you even more of a thrill. I found myself taking all the free time I could in my hectic schedule to read this book and am wanting to read it again and again. I am hoping someday that this book will be made into a movie because the creatures in it are so unique and interesting! If you're a kid at heart, if you love adventure, if you're a dino fan and especially a KONG fan, BUY THIS BOOK!

I bought this book the moment it came out. I've been an ardent King Kong fan for over thirty years. I've seen the 1933 masterpiece countless times. Still, I've always had the same questions so many of us have had: Where did Kong come from? Who built the wall on Skull Island and why did they make a gate big enough for giant creatures to walk in AND out of? What happened to Kong's body after it fell from the Empire State Building? What happened to Carl Denham after Kong's rampage and death in New York City? How could Skull Island, with its monstrous creatures, still exist? WHO IS KING KONG? Without giving anything away, I can say that these questions and many, many more are skillfully (and satisfyingly) answered in Kong: King of Skull Island. This is no flight of fancy "what if" sort of book. Authorized by the Merian C. Cooper (Kong's creator) estate, Kong: King of Skull Island is both prequel and sequel to the original novel that lead to the 1933 film classic. Aside from answering many questions that generations of moviegoers have had, Kong: King of Skull Island is, in and of itself, a fantastic and very lavishly produced book. Every bit of hand drawn and painted art in this book is fit to be framed. Joe DeVito and Brad Strickland (with John Michlig) expand upon the world of Kong and the natives of Skull Island. If this were a book just of Joe DeVito's incredible pictures, or just of Brad Strickland's masterful words, it would be worth every penny of the cover price. What a treat it is to have both! If you're a fan of King Kong (and who isn't), gorgeous artwork and great storytelling, buy this book. Highest recommendation! Thank you Joe, Brad and John!

I am a long-time fan of King Kong and I was very excited to learn there was a new story that told of Kong's origin. I am very happy to report that Joe's book, Kong: King of Skull Island, is a thrilling book to read and view. The story draws you in from the beginning and the artwork is absolutely unmatched to date. Each and every paragraph and picture puts you right in the thick, steamy jungles of Skull Island.

My plans were to read the book on quiet evenings after work, but once I started to read on a rainy Saturday morning, I didn't stop until I had enjoyed every last word. If you are a fan of King Kong I have just one thing to say. Buy this book! It really is an absolute must have for anyone who loves the story of King Kong.

Michael A. Martin

in 1933, a new location was added to the geography of imagination: after jules verne's center of the earth, conan-doyle's lost world, and edgar rice burroughs's land that time forgot( works in need of illustrations similar to the present book) skull island, the home of king kong. and now, this book has finalized the cannonization of kong in this historic prespective by it's seamless blend of historic and evolutionary speculation, a dramatic flair all too rare in modern story telling , and an over-all sense of reverence to the adventure writers (and dinosaurs!) of yore. the result is a book worthy of it's classical sources and predecessors, especially in light of the transition from film-based material to fiction. i, as a dinosaur fetishist, found myself giggling with delight every 5 pages or so( "haha! there's a nifty idea for you!") at the glorious story and breath-taking illustrations in this masterpiece. a feast for readers and paleontology buffs alike. i have no doubt that we can expect many great things from mr. De.vito. this book is proof!

I read the book in two days and I loved it. While I still love "Son of Kong" and "Mighty Joe Young", I accept this book as canon. Also, the estate of Merian C. Cooper approved it, so it's true canon. It does pay tribute to the "burning of Atlanta", from "Gone With the Wind". True Kong fans know, the main burning scene, was the old Skull Island wall being burnt down.

Tempting to give away the ending, but I won't. It's a must a true collectable, for any Kong fan's library.

Reading "Kong: King of Skull Island" was a real treat! I found the book to be well written and beautifully illustrated. This book makes Skull Island come alive with very realistic settings and credible native peoples. We learn how the wall that isolates the native population from the islands creatures came to be. And of course we learn of Kong. What his early life and death struggles were like. How he came to be the last of his kind and why he chose skull mountain as his stronghold.

I felt the writing perfectly captured Kong's nature showing us a complex creature of almost human longings yet still a very frightening beast. Hats off to Joe DeVito and Brad Strickland for crafting an engaging and thoroughly enjoyable book.

Ever since I was a kid, I have always been into King Kong. Sadly, Ive seen alot King Kongs, and well it always hasnt been a pretty picture! Some have portrayed him as a giant clown in a rubber suit crashing through cardboard buildings. Others have played Kong off as an overgrown pervert, while others made him into a freak of nature with a temper to match! Alot has been lost throughout the years. I guess for a while I thought it was always going to be that way, but not with Kong: King of Skull Island! Let me tell you...this book is great!!! If you are like me and are tired of all the Kong wannabees! You got to get this book! It has alot of beautiful paintings and it explains alot about the mythos of KING KONG! Lets face it, the original movie left us wanting more. This book gives you that and then some! I wont spoil the details! You just have to see it to believe it! Now, get the book! and oh yes...have a nice day!

WOW, is the only word to describe the collaborative works of Mr. Joe DeVito and Mr Brad Strickland. I found myself wisked away by the fantastic writing for this book, that can be compared to the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs. DeVito and Strickland together paint a lavish and lush backdrop with their words and illustrations, putting the reader smack into Skull Island throughout the whole adventure. Without ruining the story for you, many questions of where Kong came from and how the island came to be will be answered, as well as many questions you didn't even know you had. So congratulations are in order for Devito and Strickland. You have created a story that even Merian C. Cooper would be proud of. YOU NAILED IT!