King Kong (comics)

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.

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.

[9] From 1965 to 1969 a Mexican comic company called Editorial Orizaba published a series based on King Kong.

[20][21] 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.

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.

When these comic strips were published in France from 1972–1974, the character's name was changed to King Kong the Robot.

Other notable changes include the addition of a character totally original to this comic, Denham's assistant Wally, and an extended sequence of several dinosaurs joining Kong in attacking the native village.

There were plans on doing a comic adaptation of the 1933 film, as well as pitting King Kong against the Aliens, the Predators and even the Rocketeer (in a story written by Dave Stevens).

Tarzan on Skull Island) story as well, by Frank Cho, but the problems over the complicated and muddled rights to the King Kong character killed these plans.

[38] As well, Dark Horse published a mini-comic called King Kong: The 8th Wonder of the World Special Edition that was packaged with the Target Corporation exclusive DVD release of the film in 2006.

They also were able to strike a deal with Joe DeVito a year earlier, to publish an illustrated novel (in both hardcover and softcover editions with differing cover art) called Kong: King of Skull Island.

[39] Authorized by the family and estate of Merian C. Cooper, the book was created and illustrated by Joe DeVito, written by Brad Strickland with John Michlig, and includes an introduction by Ray Harryhausen.

They "serve" a gigantic lone dromaeosaur named "Gaw", who was originally the beast that the Skull Islanders appeased with human sacrifices instead of Kong.

[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.

[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.

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.

[57] A sequel series was announced at the New York Comic Con called Justice League Vs Godzilla Vs Kong 2 for summer 2025.

[59] 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.

Devito partnered with Dynamite Entertainment to produce comic books and board games based on the property.

[63] The character Warlock from the New Mutants turned into Godzilla and then King Kong during a rampage through New York City in Web of Spider-Man Annual #2 from 1986.

[64] In Webspinners: Tales of Spider-Man #1 from 1999,[65] Peter Parker is seen watching the film King Kong at a cinema alongside Quentin Beck.

When he returns to his home world, he is inspired to make a TV series based on the character, only to be accused of ripping off King Kong.

Robot encounters a giant female ape referred to as "Mrs. King Kong" on Dinosaur Island, who saves him and his allies from a Tyrannosaurus.

A comic strip adaptation of the original film appeared in issue #887 of the French magazine Pif gadget in 1986.

[84] Avatar Press featured King Kong as a metaphor for Willis O'Brien in Cinema Purgatorio #4.

[88] In Japan, King Kong was featured in a Japanese manga in 1947 that was illustrated by Osamu Tezuka and published under the "Red Book" banner by Fuji Shobo.

As a tie-in for the Japanese release of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, a four-page manga called Which is Stronger!?

[93] Outside of these cameos and one-shot appearances, King Kong has been spoofed and has influenced other giant apes in comics for many years.