“I said no solicitors!”
King Kong #2
Monster Comics (April, 1991)
“Kong’s Island” ORIGINAL STORY: Edgar Wallace & Merian C. Cooper (plus adaptation with Delos W. Lovace) COMIC ADAPTATION/ARTIST: Donald Simpson COVER ART: Mark Schultz COVER COLORIST: Tom Luth DESIGNER: Dale Yager EDITORS: Gary Groth & Ryder Windham
Kong takes Ann away and Jack leads a group of others in pursuit, with dinosaurs picking them off one by one. Jack refuses to turn away even as his men are killed (one guys gets run through by a triceratops’ horn). But Kong becomes aware of his pursuers and shakes the log bridge. Jack falls on a ledge but the others find themselves on course for a giant spider web…and possibly the main course!
What they got right: Even with the dinosaurs being dangerous, they do know the difference between a herbivore and carnivore. That was certainly usual for a story from the time period, where every dino ate people. I find it interesting that in this version it’s Jack that’s obsessed with rescuing Ann and getting everyone hurt in the process as they want to turn back. Usually Carl’s the obsessive one in these stories, over getting the film made at all costs. In Peter Jackson’s version, Denham (played by Jack Black) was even trying to film Ann rescue. Like I said, this is my favorite version of Carl and Jack has more life here without being turned into a playwright.
What they got wrong: With the previous issue so long that the synopsis needed two paragraphs, this comic felt really short in comparison.
Recommendation: We’ll continue this comic next week but so far I’m really enjoying it. This may well be my favorite version of the story yet. Give it a look and hope it stays that way.
“Yesterday’s” Comic> King Kong #1
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