Kong: King of Skull Island

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 th

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

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!

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 t