King Kong of Skull Island Comes to Comics & Games From Dynamite & DeVito Artworks

July 20, Mt. Laurel, NJ: The King is back! Dynamite is partnering with DeVito ArtWorks to produce an exciting new line of comics and board games based on King Kong of Skull Island, the most comprehensive King Kong Universe ever created. More than just the first giant monster to thrill audiences, Kong became a cultural icon to viewers around the world and this new line of merchandise will thrill and energize Kong fans of all ages.
 
"There is perhaps no more famous giant monster in all of fiction than Kong," said Nick Barrucci, Dynamite CEO and Publisher. "Kong was the first classic giant monster who influenced generations of storytellers in all forms of entertainment. These kinds of figures are such an integral part of comics history, going back to the anthology tales Stan Lee was telling with Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and others before the Fantastic Four brought superheroes back to the forefront. But no comics fan can say no to a humongous, fearsome ape - sometimes with a heart of gold. And adding Joe DeVito to the equation, an artist who I've worked with for nearly 30 years, who is so talented, it's an incredibly rewarding experience. We're excited to also be bringing games to the table, as Skull Island is such a fascinating setting that will translate perfectly!"

After sailing to remote parts of a still unknown and mysterious world, filmmaker and adventurer Merian C. Cooper conceived something so fantastic that it would forever imprint the planet’s collective imagination: King Kong, an immortal Beauty and the Beast tale. A king and a god in his world, Kong, a colossal, terrifying anthropoid, is brought low by his unrequited love for a tiny blond woman, Ann Darrow. This leads to his being captured and brought to New York City in chains, where he escapes to make a spectacular last stand atop the Empire State Building. Protective of Ann to the very end, Kong is finally overcome by a hoard of machine gun firing aeroplanes. Bullet ridden but unbowed, Kong finally plummets to his death a thousand feet below. “The aviators didn’t get him...It was Beauty killed the Beast,” laments Kong’s captor, Carl Denham, in one of the most famous lines in history.

“King Kong has been a passion of mine since I first saw the 1933 classic back in 1960.” DeVito relates, “DeVito ArtWorks has worked exclusively in concert with the Merian C. Cooper Estate in creating “King Kong of Skull Island” to delve into all things King Kong and Skull Island. Now is a perfect time to partner again with Nick and expand still further on another fabulous Kong adventure in comic books and gaming–exciting times ahead!”

Founded in 2002, DeVito ArtWorks, LLC is an artist-driven transmedia studio dedicated to the creation and development of multi-faceted properties including King Kong of Skull Island, War Eagles, and the Primordials. DeVito ArtWorks is founded and led by renowned artist, illustrator and author, Joe DeVito. DeVito ArtWorks is represented by World Builder Entertainment.

Look to Diamond Comic Distributors’ Previews catalog, the premier source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, for our exciting line of King Kong of Skull Island comics and board games that will be debuting soon.

About Dynamite Entertainment
Dynamite was founded in 2004 and is home to several best-selling comic book titles and properties, including The Boys, The Shadow, Red Sonja, Warlord of Mars, Bionic Man, A Game of Thrones, and more. Dynamite owns and controls an extensive library with over 3,000 characters (which includes the Harris Comics and Chaos Comics properties), such as Vampirella, Pantha, Evil Ernie, Smiley the Psychotic Button, Chastity, and Peter Cannon: Thunderbolt. In addition to their critically-acclaimed titles and bestselling comics, Dynamite works with some of the most high-profile creators in comics and entertainment, including Gail Simone, Christopher Priest, Leah Moore, Kevin Smith, David Walker, Vita Ayala, Danny Lore, Neil Gaiman, Garth Ennis, Darick Robertson, Mark Russell, Brandon Thomas, Amy Chu, Reginald Hudlin, Nancy Collins, David Walker, Steve Orlando, Greg Pak, Jenny Frison, Matt Wagner, and a host of up-and-coming new talent. Dynamite is consistently ranked in the upper tiers of comic book publishers and several of their titles - including Alex Ross and Jim Krueger's Project Superpowers - have debuted in the Top Ten lists produced by Diamond Comics Distributors. In 2005, Diamond awarded the company a GEM award for Best New Publisher and another GEM in 2006 for Comics Publisher of the Year (under 5%) and again in 2011. The company has also been nominated for and won several industry awards, including the prestigious Harvey and Eisner Awards.

KONG: GODS OF SKULL ISLAND SC
*****ADVANCE SOLICITED FOR MARCH 2019*****
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Retail Price: $14.99
Writer: Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Paul Allor
Artist: Chad Lewis, Carlos Magno
Cover Artist: Jeremy Simpson
Synopsis:
The story of Kong has endured for centuries—from the time of the Vikings to turn of the century England.
Now, journey deep into Skull Island with two new stories that take a captivating look at one of the greatest
monsters in history.
Discover the beauty and fury of the mythic Kong sanctuary in this collection featuring work from Eisner
Award nominee Phillip Kennedy Johnson (Jim Henson’s Power of the Dark Crystal) and writer Paul Allor
(Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) with stunning art by rising star Chad Lewis (Planet of the Apes
Visionaries) and critically acclaimed illustrator Carlos Magno (Kong on the Planet of the Apes).
Collects the Kong: Gods of Skull Island #1 and the Kong of Skull Island 2018 Special.

Ryan Ferrier (Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II, D4VE) and Carlos Magno (Kong of Skull Island, Planet of the Apes) present the damn dirty crossover event you demanded! !
Following the events of the first Planet of the Apes film (1968), Dr. Zaius and General Ursus lead a small group of soldiers to the Forbidden Zone to destroy any remaining evidence of Taylor’s time among them. To their surprise, they discover...a Kong!
Now they must venture to Skull Island with Cornelius and Zira to discover the truth, but they may not survive the deadliest journey of their lives! 
Collects the complete 6-issue series.

Synopsis:
Paul Allor (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and Dan McDaid (Big Trouble in Little China, Judge Dredd) present a new look at the mysterious history of Skull Island.
When an early Viking expedition washes ashore on Skull Island, they see only the promises of wealth in the island’s riches, and not the dangers.
Decades pass as the Vikings attempt to bend the powerful island to their will — or die trying. 

KONG ON THE PLANET OF THE APES TP
JUN181245
(W) Ryan Ferrier (A) Carlos Magno (CA) Faye Dalton
Ryan Ferrier ( Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II, D4VE ) and Carlos Magno ( Kong of Skull Island, Planet of the Apes ) present the damn dirty crossover event you demanded! !
Following the events of the first Planet of the Apes film (1968), Dr. Zaius and General Ursus lead a small group of soldiers to the Forbidden Zone to destroy any remaining evidence of Taylor's time among them. To their surprise, they discover...a Kong!
Now they must venture to Skull Island with Cornelius and Zira to discover the truth, but they may not survive the deadliest journey of their lives!
Collects the complete 6-issue series.
In Shops: Oct 10, 2018
SRP: $19.99

MECH CADET YU #11
JUN181250
(W) Greg Pak (A/CA) Takeshi Miyazawa
The penultimate issue of the smash series, as Stanford, Park and Skip must save the world...but first they have to save each other.
In Shops: Aug 08, 2018
SRP: $3.99

MECH CADET YU TP VOL 02
JUN181249
(W) Greg Pak (A/CA) Takeshi Miyazawa
The second Sharg war has begun. As the alien invasion grows to a worldwide threat, the Mech Cadets answer the call alongside their robos to defend the planet. First year students, however, are grounded and forbidden from fighting on the front lines. But while training in secret, Stanford, Park, Olivetti, and Sanchez will discover that their enemy takes more shapes than they could have ever known.
Collects issues #5-8.
Everyone should be reading Greg Pak's Mech Cadet Yu . It's an amazing book, and a ton of fun. Also, Takeshi Miyazawa's art kicks ass." - Marjorie Liu ( Monstress )
In Shops: Oct 17, 2018
SRP: $14.99

Series Finale!
​​It all comes down to this: the final confrontation between Kong and those damn dirty apes who tore him from his home!

​Having brought Kong from Skull Island to Ape City to quell the uprisings, Zaius realizes the situation is rapidly spinning out of control, as Kong is not the only visitor from Skull Island…

When a coup is formed to take Ewata from power and show the Tagu and Atu people the dangers of the Kong, Skull Island is thrown into chaos. From James Asmus (All-New Inhumans) and Carlos Magno (Kong on the Planet of the Apes) comes the authorized conclusion to the origin of Kong. Collects issues #9-12.

KONG OF SKULL ISLAND 2018 SPECIAL
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Retail Price: $7.99
Writer: Paul Allor
Artist: Dan McDaid
Main Cover: Dan McDaid
Incentive Cover: Julio Das Pastoras
Paul Allor (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and Dan McDaid (Big Trouble in Little China, Judge Dredd) present a new look at the mysterious history of Skull Island.
When an early Viking expedition washes ashore on Skull Island, they see only the promises of wealth in the island’s riches, and not the dangers.
Decades pass as the Vikings attempt to bend the powerful island to their will — or die trying.

​The armada completes their treacherous journey and Kong is revealed to Ape City.