Return to Skull Island? Some of us never left. Seriously, the announcement of this comic from Titan and Legendary is good news from a few angles. First, it continues the world-building of the Monsterverse, which lumbers between scary as heck and occasionally silly. (As kaiju stories sort of should.)
Second, it gives Legendary Comics a better platform. The publishing arm of Legendary does some really solid comics that tend to be noticed by those already paying attention to Legendary. Teaming with Titan gives an extra boost that’s sorely needed in the chaotic landscape of comics distribution. Second and a half, they’ve provided a timeline for when this comic takes place — firmly after Kong: Skull Island and the events of the animated series on Netflix, Skull Island, but before Legendary’s take on Godzilla.
Third, artist Christopher Jones gets a chance to shine. He’s been doing solid work on Doctor Who comics for years, as well as working on Young Justice in both animation and comics. For any book trying to capture that “adventure animation” feel, Jones should be a go-to choice. Take a look at these sample pages and you’ll see why. (The cover for issue #1 is by Inyhuk Lee.)
From Titan Comics:
Set against a backdrop of giant monsters and deadly intrigue, the comic follows a group of survivors stranded on the perilous island in the South Pacific. As they uncover its dark secrets, they face life-threatening challenges and fight for survival in a land where every creature is a threat—including Kong himself. The series is written by Simon Furman (Transformers) and illustrated by Christopher Jones (Doctor Who: Once Upon a Time Lord).
Titan Comics editor Louis Yamani shared his excitement about the new comic series: “Skull Island’s shadows hide untold stories, fierce battles, and creatures unlike anything seen before. Marrying brilliant illustrations and epic storytelling, we see a new side to Kong and his kingdom. We can’t wait to share more this June!”
“Partnering with Titan Comics on Return to Skull Island allows us to expand the Monsterverse in exciting new ways. Bringing Skull Island from TV to comics lets us dive deeper into its mysteries, offering fans thrilling new adventures in Kong’s world” said Robert Napton, SVP & Publisher, Legendary Comics.
The first issue will be solicited in the April edition of Diamond PREVIEWS, and fans can pre-order from their local comic shop and Forbidden Planet for UK & Europe.
In addition to running Fanboy Planet, Derek has contributed stories to Arcana Comics (The Greatest American Hero) and Monsterverse Comics (Bela Lugosi's Tales from the Grave). He has performed with ComedySportz, City Lights Theater Company and Silicon Valley Shakespeare, though relocated to Hollywood to... work in an office? If you ever played Eric's Ultimate Solitaire on the Macintosh, it was Derek's voice as The Weasel that urged you to play longer. You can buy his book "I Was Flesh Gordon" on the Amazon link at the right. Email him at [email protected].
