KONG: THE GREAT WAR #6, by Dynamite Comics on 10/23/24, brings the wartime thriller to a close when Otto, the last U-Boat officer alive, races to find humanity at the wall with Kong in hot pursuit.
Credits:
- Writer: Alex Cox
- Artist: Tommaso Bianchi
- Colorist: James Devlin
- Letterer: Taylor Esposito
- Cover Artist: Jae Lee (cover A)
- Publisher: Dynamite Comics
- Release Date: October 23, 2024
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Page Count: 22
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of KONG: THE GREAT WAR #6:
First Impressions:
No, your eyes do not deceive you. The frequently-delayed Kong Kong miniseries has returned after a six-month hiatus to bring the wartime race for survival against the titan to a close. Was writer Alex Cox’s take on one of the greatest cinematic monsters worth the wait? No, not really, but at least it’s done.
Plot Analysis:
When last we left the three surviving members of U-184 in Kong: The Great War #5, their attempt to reach and scale Skull Island was hampered at every turn by deadly creatures eager to munch on anything living. In the final moments of the issue, Kong caught up to the fleeing crew with murderous intent in his eyes.
In Kong: The Great War #6, Otto recalls his briefing with his commander to take on the mission to explore nearly uncharted waters. In the present, Otto awakes in the waters of a small lake after leaping off a cliff to escape Kong’s pursuit in the previous issue.
Alex Cox picks up immediately where the last issue left off, adding a crumb of backstory to fill in the gaps. We do learn that U-184’s mission is considered Top Secret, so it’s unlikely help is coming if the U-Boat doesn’t return.
Otto naively believes he will find refuge if his suspicion that humans live on the island proves true. Otto races through the jungle and finds the Great Wall that separates Kong from Skull Island’s natives. He screams for help, but the natives quietly pull back. When Otto sees the pedestal with human sacrifices remains, he accepts that no help is coming.
The issue ends with Otto getting a close-up look at the bottom of Kong’s foot.
Overall, Kong: The Great War #6 ends the survivor’s tale the only way it could. Unfortunately, the story falls on a flat note because Cox doesn’t have anything to say. Kong: The Great War could be summed up as a depiction of shipwreck survivors landing on Skull Island, running for their lives, and then dying. There’s no revelation, conflict, or true journey to speak of, so one wonders whether this story was worth telling at all.
Artwork and Presentation:
Tommaso Bianchi brings the heat with artwork that’s grim, moody, atmospheric, and oppressive in its depiction of fear. While we may not be happy with the narrative, Bianchi presented a terrifying Kong, which is a net positive.
Art Samples:
Final Thoughts:
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KONG: THE GREAT WAR #6 ends the miniseries the only way it could – with death. Alex Cox’s final issue presents a truly terrifying Kong, enabled by Tommaso Bianchi’s excellent artwork, but the story ultimately had nothing to say and arguably doesn’t qualify as a story.
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