KING KONG: THE GREAT WAR #2, from Dynamite Comics on 7/5/23, brings the shipwrecked crew face-to-face with the monstrosities that inhabit Skull Island.
The Details
- Written by: Alex Cox
- Art by: Tommaso Bianchi
- Colors by: James Devlin
- Letters by: Taylor Esposito
- Cover art by: Jae Lee
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: July 5th, 2023
Is It Good?
KING KONG: THE GREAT WAR #2 is starting to show promise as a dark, terrifying tale about a shipwrecked crew barely managing to survive on Skull Island, home of the legendary King Kong. Filled with grim art, disturbing deaths, and deep character pathos, this would be an exquisite second issue in a monster series, except for one minor problem – we’ve seen it all before.
When last we left the U-Boat captain and his ragtag group of shipmates, they survived their shipwreck and impossible monsters to make it through their first night on Skull Island. Now, the group makes a dangerous trek through the jungle to a mountain peak, hoping a camp on high ground will provide enough refuge until they’re rescued.
To be clear, this is a grim, dangerous, dramatic King Kong story from the word go. The sailors show grit and determination, even when they’re faced with monsters they didn’t know existed. When the deaths happen, they find the strength to soldier on, making for characters you can at least respect, despite their national allegiance. Alex Cox creates an atmosphere of fear and dread as thick as jungle humidity, and you can’t help but steel yourself for the next thing to jump up and eat when of the men.
But again, the main down point is the lack of originality. Every King Kong film and written story involving Skull Island follows this exact same pattern. The characters might change, and the circumstances in which they find themselves on Skull Island might be different, but the path is practically identical. That’s not to say this story isn’t well told. It is, but we’re looking for a surprise or something different for this series to justify its existence.
How’s the art? Menacing. Give all credit to Tomasso Bianchi for crafting a dark, foreboding jungle with threats that are seen and unseen. The deaths are shocking in their suddenness, and Bianchi gives each sailor (including the Captain) the look of shock that can only come from a constant state of fear.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our KING KONG: THE GREAT WAR #1 review to find out how the surviving crew managed on their first day and night on Skull Island.
We begin with the crew slowly making their way through the jungle. The captain believes their best chance at survival is to reach a nearby mountain peak for defense and safety until a rescue ship comes. In reality, the captain doesn’t know if rescue will ever come, but all he can do is encourage hope.
Soon, the men encounter one terror after another. Mud pits suck men down in one gulp by faceless, multi-legged creatures lying in wait. Raptor-sized dinosaurs travel in packs looking for their next meal. And as the sun begins to set, the tired, rattled men look for a place to rest.
We conclude the issue with a last meal, a familiar hiding place, and a ditch that isn’t what it seems.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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KING KONG: THE GREAT WAR #2 is a gritty, dramatic, terrifying story about a ship’s crew struggling to survive on Skull Island. The dramatic and horror elements are both executed well through the writing and the art, but the main down point is that this story feels like the same King Koing story we’ve seen before.
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