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Kong of Skull Island (Collected Editions) #1
Kong of Skull Island Vol. 1
The origin of Kong and the founding of Skull Island—where it all began.
Two fractured and combative civilizations are forced to unite when their island is destroyed. Washing up on the shores of Skull Island, they must defend their people against an endless horde of dinosaurs and monsters. With the help of Kong, lies hope for survival.
BOOM! Studios and DeVito Artworks LLC unleash an original graphic novel. From James Asmus (Thief of Thieves, All-New Inhumans) and Carlos Magno (Lantern City; Planet of the Apes) comes the origin of Kong, created by Merian C. Cooper, and grounded in artist/author Joe DeVito's ground-breaking literary property Skull Island. Exclusively authorized and endorsed by the Cooper family as their official King Kong/Skull Island prequel and sequel origin story.
Two fractured and combative civilizations are forced to unite when their island is destroyed. Washing up on the shores of Skull Island, they must defend their people against an endless horde of dinosaurs and monsters. With the help of Kong, lies hope for survival.
BOOM! Studios and DeVito Artworks LLC unleash an original graphic novel. From James Asmus (Thief of Thieves, All-New Inhumans) and Carlos Magno (Lantern City; Planet of the Apes) comes the origin of Kong, created by Merian C. Cooper, and grounded in artist/author Joe DeVito's ground-breaking literary property Skull Island. Exclusively authorized and endorsed by the Cooper family as their official King Kong/Skull Island prequel and sequel origin story.
112 pages, Paperback
First published February 21, 2017
23 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
James Asmus
309 books67 followersJames began writing for live theater; creating sketch comedy, stand-up, plays and musicals. After a few years writing and performing in New Orleans and Chicago, a run of one his shows in New York garnered an offer to write for Marvel Comics' X-Men. A lifelong comics fan, James pounced on the opportunity and would go on to write Marvel titles like Uncanny X-Men, Captain America & Bucky, Gambit, Runaways, Generation Hope, Deadpool Team-Up and more.
His work for other comics publishers includes Thief of Thieves with Robert Kirkman (creator of the Walking Dead) and The End Times of Bram & Ben (which he co-created with Jim Festante) for Image Comics. In 2014 James signed a year-long exclusive deal with Valiant Entertainment where he wrote The Delinquents and Quantum & Woody - the latter of which received 6 nominations at the 2014 Harvey Awards; including Best Writer, Best New Talent, and Special Award for Humor noms for James.
He currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife Mara and son Devlin. There, James has written for film, television, and video games. But he plans to create comics as long as you'll have him.
His work for other comics publishers includes Thief of Thieves with Robert Kirkman (creator of the Walking Dead) and The End Times of Bram & Ben (which he co-created with Jim Festante) for Image Comics. In 2014 James signed a year-long exclusive deal with Valiant Entertainment where he wrote The Delinquents and Quantum & Woody - the latter of which received 6 nominations at the 2014 Harvey Awards; including Best Writer, Best New Talent, and Special Award for Humor noms for James.
He currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife Mara and son Devlin. There, James has written for film, television, and video games. But he plans to create comics as long as you'll have him.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 3, 2020
This is okay, I suppose, but I wasn’t enamored with it. The idea that giant apes, or kongs as they’re called here, were the product of selective breeding kind of takes the fun out of it. I’m also not digging that Kong’s name was genericized for all giant gorillas. King Kong is not *A* kong, it’s him.
Most of the book is concerned with generic politics between two tribes who are not exactly the Montagues and Capulets (or Hatfields and McCoys) but the split is along similar lines. Pretty much all the stock characters and basic tropes are in play here: the cowardly leader, the hypocritical priest, the two-timing femme fatale, etc.
The art is by turns fine and hard to follow, sometimes on the same page, which is weird.
Overall, though, I really just wanted more giant monster action than this delivers.
Most of the book is concerned with generic politics between two tribes who are not exactly the Montagues and Capulets (or Hatfields and McCoys) but the split is along similar lines. Pretty much all the stock characters and basic tropes are in play here: the cowardly leader, the hypocritical priest, the two-timing femme fatale, etc.
The art is by turns fine and hard to follow, sometimes on the same page, which is weird.
Overall, though, I really just wanted more giant monster action than this delivers.
August 20, 2017
Great graphic novel, though a bit incongruous with the movie
I got this graphic novel after seeing the movie, hoping for an origin story. I got a great origin story with great art, but it was a bit different than the movie.
The kongs are all but sentient, the islanders have a distinct culture with a written language. Again, great tale - but a bit discordant with the movie, where the islanders are silent and Kong is just a great ape. Still - great tale!
I got this graphic novel after seeing the movie, hoping for an origin story. I got a great origin story with great art, but it was a bit different than the movie.
The kongs are all but sentient, the islanders have a distinct culture with a written language. Again, great tale - but a bit discordant with the movie, where the islanders are silent and Kong is just a great ape. Still - great tale!
July 5, 2018
Overall I thought it was okay. Focused so much on the two tribes and not enough on the Kongs. Still, an origin story of sorts, on how the Kongs were brought to Skull Island. But where did the Kongs come from first?
I picked up Volume 2 via Comixology Unlimited so I will give that a read in a little bit.
I picked up Volume 2 via Comixology Unlimited so I will give that a read in a little bit.
August 19, 2017
Detailed visuals with amazing spreads and a deeper sense of lore to add to the Skull Island tradition, but it was hard to tell the rival faction characters apart.
November 16, 2021
The art is nice. Sadly, that's all the good things I have to say.
I don't know if it's because of the writing or the panel compositions, but I had very little idea of what was actually going on. For the longest time, I didnt even know that the Kong trainer and the new Queen were two different characters. Probably because they have no real character to speak of.
The "characters" are just kind of there, and have no real personality or arc about them. They are plot devices. The new queen is treacherous because the story needed a bad guy. The Kong trainer is a brave leader because the story needed a hero. You get no peek into who they are as people, so you there is absolutely no gravity to what transpires.
The whole book is utter chaos, without any hint of craft or care put into it...aside from the amazing illustration that is.
Skip it.
I don't know if it's because of the writing or the panel compositions, but I had very little idea of what was actually going on. For the longest time, I didnt even know that the Kong trainer and the new Queen were two different characters. Probably because they have no real character to speak of.
The "characters" are just kind of there, and have no real personality or arc about them. They are plot devices. The new queen is treacherous because the story needed a bad guy. The Kong trainer is a brave leader because the story needed a hero. You get no peek into who they are as people, so you there is absolutely no gravity to what transpires.
The whole book is utter chaos, without any hint of craft or care put into it...aside from the amazing illustration that is.
Skip it.
June 9, 2019
Prequel With Potential
This comic is a prequel to the Kong Skull Island movie, presumably set far in the past. The story so far is fine, the art sometimes good, but other times it's hard to distinguish one character from another. I like the leading lady, and the concept of the Kongs as a race bred by humans.
It's not anything special overall, at least, not yet. I think there is potential in this series, so if I saw the next volume in the library or on sale for cheap, I'd pick it up.
If you're interested, you might as well read it, but don't have high expectations.
This comic is a prequel to the Kong Skull Island movie, presumably set far in the past. The story so far is fine, the art sometimes good, but other times it's hard to distinguish one character from another. I like the leading lady, and the concept of the Kongs as a race bred by humans.
It's not anything special overall, at least, not yet. I think there is potential in this series, so if I saw the next volume in the library or on sale for cheap, I'd pick it up.
If you're interested, you might as well read it, but don't have high expectations.
May 11, 2017
The beauty of the Kong movies is........Kong. Right? So, James Asmus decides to tell the tell no one asked for, the origin of people no one knows about or cares about. We could have learned how the Kongs were "domesticated" (terrible idea, btw). We could have seen how Kong battled monsters on Skull Island. We could have been shown many things of interest, none are here. The art was fine but the colors were too muddled. Overall, a mess.
May 2, 2021
As a huge King Kong fan, I have some mixed feelings about this. *Spoiler* This island of people have selectively breeded gorillas into the giant Kongs. Then, when a volcano destroys their island they are forced to relocate to Skull Island, and basically become its indigenous people. That's certainly unique. I don't love the Kong origin. I'm not a huge fan of the art either.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2019
The story of two tribes who both train KONGS coming together as the world ends. What to do when SKULL ISLAND is even more dangerous. The art kicks my ass. Hope the story fets stronger in the next volume.
April 25, 2020
An interesting look at two cultures with connections with tribe of Kong like creatures. The destruction of the cultures Island home forces them all to Skull Island where they struggle to keep their culture and their lives.
July 4, 2017
Really surprisingly good. A rich world very well written.
December 29, 2017
Volume One of Kong of Skull Island details the way Kong and his ilk came to Skull Island. It's great to read before the new movie!
November 30, 2019
The art was fair. The story was very complicated concerning the two tribes of people. No background information was given concerning the tribes. There was plenty of action.
May 19, 2020
How do you make King Kong boring? Fantastic art though. Five stars for the art. But the story? Yikes.
August 12, 2024
the first comic I've abandoned in a long long time. There is only so much dialogue about prehistoric societies one can take without Ape Smash in a comic. This one found that limit.
April 10, 2020
The story is all over the place and doesnt connect well with the movies. Mostly focused on the tribes and less on the Kongs. The environment was the only interesting thing in this story
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews