Review: Kong - The Great War #1

It would be hard to guess the number of men and women who’ve had the misfortune to find themselves stuck in the middle of Kong Island. Since the 1930’s, we’ve witnessed dozens of mostly film crews and army mercenaries coming head-to-head with the almighty Kong, king of the Monsters!

Part of the reason this story has endured for so long is the alluring drama of seeing men set amidst the beauty of a tranquil tropical island while facing off against the raw power of nature. With ‘Kong: The Great War’, writer Alex Cox, Artist Tommaso Bianchi, and colourist James Develin have dived into that beauty-tinged tension. This first issue presents a fresh spin on this classic story in what promises to be an energetic new series from Dynamite Comics.

The story opens with a confused World War 1 soldier washed up on a tropical shore, unaware of where he is and with a slight case of amnesia. We find out he is the Captain of a sunken Imperial U-Boat, and its stranded crew, who are forced into survival mode as they struggle to make sense of their situation.

As the ragged seaman gets to know their surroundings, we are introduced to the various characters as the Captain regains control and they sets off in search of shelter. Most of the story is told through the mind of the anxious Captain as he pushes through his fears, trying to keep his crew safe as they battle sea monsters and the rugged cliffs toward a heart-pounding showdown in the final pages.

Having previously written Godzilla titles with Dark Horse, Cox is no stranger to the giant Monster genre and provides a story that’s as you would expect, and even casual fans of action-adventure will have seen it all before. Cox breaths life into the familiar story with raw, concise dialogue and the almost poetic first-person narration of the Captain’s strained mind. Ultimately its this well-written narration that begins to carve out a unique place for this series in the collection of King Kong Stories.

Bianchi’s art is top-class throughout. His layouts and energetic style draw you into the protagonist’s struggle with the masterful use of close-ups and vivid action shots that capture the intense, sweat-soaked faces of the shell-shocked crew. In addition, every panel has eye-catching detail, giving depth and energy to the main character’s struggle with his confused thoughts.

The colours by Develin do a fantastic job of creating a Pacific Island vibe with warm sunset tones of purple and Orange that play into the contrast of a life-or-death situation set amid tranquil beauty.

Overall it’s hard to get too excited about a story that’s been so well explored in the past, but ‘Kong: the Great War’ is put together well enough to make it a solid choice if you’re looking for an easy but satisfying read.

Writing – 4 Stars
Art – 4 Stars
Colours – 4 Stars

Overall
4 Stars

(W) Alex Cox (CA) Bryan Hitch

Publisher: DYNAMITE