King Kong: The Eighth Wonder of the World

King Kong: The Eighth Wonder of the World is a 2023 American comic book written by Scott Snyder and illustrated by Sean Murphy. It began publication on April 7th, 2023 in celebration of the 1933 films 90th anniversary and ran for six issues.
== Plot ==
1946: 10 year Cooper and Ernest Driscoll are seen playing in their parents bedroom when Ernest accidentally knocks over a box, when he goes to pick it up he and Cooper sees pictures of their parents with famed filmmaker, Carl Denham and another one which takes his interest. Cooper and Ernest then go downstairs to kitchen where their parents, Jack and Ann Driscoll are preparing lunch. Cooper and Ernest then show them the picture of them next to the dead body of a giant gorilla like creature. 
When asked if the dead creature they're with is a gorilla, Ann tells her son’s that, "it is a gorilla Cooper and Ernest. But not just any ordinary gorilla, he is King Kong: The Eighth Wonder of the World". Seeing their son’s interest, both Jack and Ann decide to tell Cooper and Ernest of how they met, it involved both Carl Denham and King Kong himself.
1933: During the Great Depression, 23 year old Ann Darrow was working as a vaudeville actress, until one day she and her co-workers are told that their theatre is closing down. Meanwhile famed filmmaker Carl Denham is told by theatrical agent, Charles Weston that no actress will star in his upcoming film due to its secretive nature. Undaunted, Carl and his assistant, Wallace set out to find a woman for his film, they then come across Ann as she attempts to steal an apple. After paying the fruit vendor, Carl and Wallace take her to dinner where Carl offers her the role in his film. 
The next day, they set sail onboard Denham's charted ship, the S.S. Wanderer. During the voyage, Ann makes the acquaintance of a sailor named Lumpy and his pet seal lion named Marge who takes a liking to Ann. Ann also catches the eye of the Wanderer's dashing but gruff first mate, Jack Driscoll. After arriving at certain coordinates, Carl then instructs Captain Englehorn to head southwest, much to the captain and Jack's surprise. Englehorn then explains to Denham that there isn't any land southwest and that its way outside of the shipping lanes, Denham however assures Englehorn that they won't be traveling thousands of miles. Denham then reveals a map that he obtained from the captain of a Norwegian barque, he then explains of how a canoe full of natives from the island was blown to sea. When the Norwegian barque picked them up, only one of the natives was still alive, however the native died before reaching port but not before the captain was able to piece together a map of the island from the natives descriptions. He then explains that the name of the island is Skull Mountain Island, the name coming from its iconic mountain in the shape of a human skull. He then tells of an other iconic part of the island, a large wall build thousands of years ago by an advanced civilization whose descendants, having since slipped back into savagery and superstition, keep the wall in good repair despite no longer having the skills of their ancestors. Denham asks if Englehorn has ever heard the name, Kong to which Englehorn explains he has, believing him to either be a god, demon or spirit from Malay folklore. Denham however believes that Kong is real and intends to film him, much to the concern of Englehorn and Jack. Meanwhile Ann and Jack start to fall in love with each other, even sharing a kiss with each other whilst in the crows nest. 
A day later, the Wanderer reaches the perpetual fog bank that surrounds the island. Eventually the Wanderer breaches the fog bank and reveals Skull Mountain Island, Carl, Ann, Jack, Englehorn, Wallace and several then head for shore in the ships longboats. After landing on the islands beach, they come across the natives village and the massive wall. They then come across the islands natives performing a ritual where they prepare a young girl for sacrifice, the chief then spots the crew and demands they leave. Carl then has Englehorn ask the chief of what's to become of the girl, to which replies that she is to be the Bride of Kong. The chief then notices Ann and offers to trade six of his women for her, Jack refuses and the crew leave, intending to return the next day to build better relations with the natives. That night on the Wanderer, Jack and Ann confess their love for one another, Jack then leaves Ann after being called by Englehorn. Unbeknownst to the crew, the Native Witch Doctor and several warriors sail out to the ship and kidnap Ann, during the struggle the Witch Doctor loses his bracelet. The bracelet is then found by Marge who brings it to Lumpy, who then alerts the crew to Ann's kidnapping. 
At the village Ann is brought into a native hut where she is stripped naked, bathed, adorned in tribal paint, and dressed in native sacrificial garments. She is then brought outside the walls gates and tied to an altar, the natives then rush back inside the village just as Jack, Denham and Englehorn arrive with the rescue party. Outside the wall, Ann is taken by the natives god, a giant gorilla-like creature named Kong. Jack arrives in time to see Kong carrying Ann off into the jungle. Jack, Denham, Wallace and several sailors then head out to rescue, leaving Englehorn and the rest of the crew to guard the gate. Whilst searching the jungle, the crew come across a Stegosaurus which attacks them and kills a crew member before being shot to death before deciding to set up camp for the night. Meanwhile Ann tries to sneak away from a sleeping Kong, however whilst trying to make her way back to the village she encounters a pack of Velociraptors which attempt to kill her, Ann attempts to flee from the raptors but ends up falling into a patch of mud as the pack catches up with her. However before the raptors can devour her, Kong arrives, having being alerted to Ann’s screams. Kong kills several raptors before the remainders of the pack flee, Kong then takes Ann to a waterfall where she washes off the mud. After fending off a pack of Phorusrhacos in a bamboo grove, the crew comes to a swamp, realizing that they can't swim due to their guns and bombs, the men decide to build a raft to cross it. However whilst half way across the swamp, they are attacked by a territorial Brontosaurus who capsizes the raft, destroying it and kills several sailors. Jack, Denham and the surviving sailors manage to reach the shore where they manage to salvage a few pistols and knives. They then come across an asphalt mire where they witness Kong battling four Triceratops, one of which gets stuck in the mire and sinks to its death, he kills one by breaking off its horn and stabbing it to death. He then throws some boulders at the other Triceratops, resulting in them stampeding and impaling Wallace, much to Denham's shock and horror. 
Jack, Denham and the remaining sailors then continue to follow Kong, however they encounter an Arsinoitherium which chases them after being shot by a panicking William. They are chased onto a log crossing a crevasse where they encounter Kong, who then shakes the sailors off the log into the crevasse where they are either killed upon impact or eaten alive by a group of great spiders, two-legged lizards, and octopus-insects, leaving Jack and Denham the only survivors. Ann meanwhile, having been left in a tree by Kong, is menaced by a Tyrannosaurus rex which tries to eat her. However her screams bring Kong to the rescue where after a lengthy fight, kills the Tyrannosaurus by breaking its jaws. Jack and Denham go their separate ways, Jack going after Ann and Kong whilst Denham heads back to the native village for more men and gas bombs. Whilst heading to his mountain lair, Kong and Ann come across a herd of Styracosaurus, one of whose young has gotten stuck in a mud hole. Kong then rescues the infant and reunites it with its mother, an act that greatly moves Ann. Upon arriving at his mountain lair, Kong brings Ann into a cavern where she see's the skeletons of Kong's parents, his brothers, mate and child. Ann then realizes that Kong is the last of his kind and sympathizes with him, however they are then attacked by a Titanoboa which attempts to constrict Kong, however he manages to pry it off and kills it by bashing its head against the rocks. Kong then takes Ann to the top of his lair where he tears off her native outfit, leaving her completely naked, although she briefly covers herself Ann soon stands before Kong unashamed. Jack however accidently knocks over a large rock whilst trying to reach Kong's lair, alerting the giant ape to his presence. Whilst instigating a Pteranodon attempts to fly off with Ann in it's talons, however Kong rescues Ann and begins to fight the Pteranodon. During the fight, Jack reunites with Ann and they begin to descend the cliff face with vine's. After killing the Pteranodon, Kong attempts to reel them up but Jack and Ann drop into the river and are carried away by the rapids. 
After leaving the river, Jack and Ann make it back to the native village where they reunite with Denham and Englehorn who were about to set out with another search party. After learning of their escape, Denham reveals his plan to try and capture Kong. Ann however tells Denham to leave Kong alone, stating that he’s not a monster but merely a misunderstood creature. A sailor on the walk shouts that Kong is coming, everyone then rushes inside and shuts the gates. The sailors, along with the natives work together to keep Kong out by bracing themselves against the gate but to no avail. Kong smashes through the gates and then begins to go on a rampage through the native village along with a group of dinosaurs, destroying several huts and killing several natives. Arriving at the beach, Kong attempts to reclaim Ann but is knocked by Denham with a gas bomb along with the dinosaurs. Putting his foot on Kong, a triumphant Denham announces, “we’re millionaires boys, I’ll share it with all of you. Why in a few months, his name will be up in lights on Broadway. Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World!”. 
True to his word, a few months later in New York, Kong is about to put on display in the theatre under the name King Kong: The Eighth Wonder of the World. Both Ann and Jack, now engaged to be married, attend in evening attire, although Ann is reluctant to attend to how Kong is being treated. They are both meet by Denham who informs them that they are about to begin. Denham then goes out on stage where he reveals a subdued Kong, bound in chrome steel chains to the stunned audience. However whilst a group of photographers take photos of Ann, Jack and Denham, Kong believes that Ann is in danger and as a result breaks free from his bonds and causes the audience to flee in terror. Kong then proceeds to go on a rampage through New York, killing several citizens and even destroying a steam shovel that tries to fight him. Ann and Jack flee to their hotel room where Ann tries to convince Jack to let her find Kong and calm him down, Jack refuses however, not wanting her to get hurt. Kong however finds them and breaks through the window to grab Ann, Jack attempts to stop him, but Ann assures him that she’ll be alright before being carried away by Kong. 
Racing outside Jack meets Denham and a group of police officers, they race up to the roof and see Kong heading off with Ann in the direction of the Empire State Building. Jack then theorises that it resembles his lair on Skull Mountain Island, meaning Kong will most likely head for the tallest building in Manhattan where he thinks he’ll be safe. Kong then begins to climb the Empire State Building, realising that Kong is outside of their shooting range and even if they could shoot him, they’d only risk hurting Ann, Denham suggests using airplanes from the nearby airfield. 4 Curtiss F8C biplanes take off into the air, they arrive at the Empire State Building just as Kong reaches the top. The planes begin to shoot at Kong just as he puts Ann down, despite her begging not to as the planes will kill him. Jack, Denham and the party arrive at the top of the Empire State, Jack calls out to Ann and tries to reach her, however he is held back by the police. Meanwhile Kong battles the biplanes, even managing to take one out. However a combination of machine gun and his wounds soon begin weaken him, Ann attempts to get the biplanes to stop but to no avail. Sensing that his end is near, Kong gives one more defiant roar before picking up Ann to look at her one last time before reuniting her with Jack. Kong then succumbs to his wounds and falls off the Empire State Building to the streets below, as he lies dying in a pool of blood and broken concrete Kong sees a vision of his family beckoning to him to them as he finally dies. 
Reaching the streets below, Denham approaches the now lifeless body of Kong and looks sadly at him. A policeman then tells Denham that the airplanes got him. Denham however sadly states, “oh no it wasn’t the airplanes. It was Beauty killed the Beast” before respectfully closing his eyes. 
1946: After finishing her story, Copper and Ernest are in awe before asking their mother if the story is truly real, to which Ann states that it is before telling them that it’s lunch time. Later that night, Jack wakes up and finds that Ann isn’t in bed with him. He finds her sitting outside in the garden, sitting down beside her, Jack asks if she stills thinks of Kong. Ann replies that she does, but she also states that she’ll never give up him or their sons. Jack and Ann then return to bed, Ann later has a dream of Kong, alive and well on Skull Mountain Island, roaring triumphantly. 
== Characters and creatures ==
=== Characters ===
* Carl Denham - A famed filmmaker who is known for his films shot in exotic locations. He plans to film his next movie on Skull Mountain Island after obtaining the map from a Norwegian captain, however no actress will work with Denham due to his reckless and secretive behavior. Fortunately Denham managed to hire Ann Darrow after she attempted to steal from a fruit vendor and after treating her to dinner, hired her as the leading for his next film, 
* Ann Darrow - A beautiful vaudeville actress who was put out of work after her theater closed due to the Great Depression. After meeting Denham, Ann was offered a part in his next film to which she agreed, whilst on the S.S. Wanderer she met and fell in love with its first mate, Jack Driscoll. After arriving at Skull Mountain Island, she is captured and offered as a sacrifice by the natives to Kong. At first she was terrified by Kong, however he had saved her from several dangers, she realized that he meant her no harm soon formed a bond with him and is later devastated when he was killed.
* Jack Driscoll - The gruff but dashing and handsome first mate on the S.S. Wanderer who is Ann's love interest. At first he was against Ann being on the Wanderer due to believing that it was no place for her, however as the voyage goes on Jack soon falls in love with her. Later when Ann is taken by Kong, Jack sets out to rescue her, eventually he ends up being the only survivor but succeeds in rescuing Ann from Kong. After Kong’s death, he and Ann got married and they eventually had two sons named Cooper and Ernest.
* Captain Englehorn - The skipper of the tramp steamer, the S.S. Wanderer, whose ship Denham has chartered several times before. Having worked with Denham before, Englehorn is used to his eccentric behavior and has even formed a sort of friendship with him. During their voyage to Skull Mountain island however, Denham’s intention to either film or capture Kong has Englehorn concerned that Denham is entering a dangerous situation. Whilst on Skull Mountain Island, Englehorn remained behind in the native village, whilst Jack and Carl went to rescue Ann.
* Wallace - Denham’s loyal assistant who accompanies him on his expeditions. Whilst on Skull Mountain Island, Wallace was among those who volunteered to rescue Ann from Kong. However during the search, the crew encountered a pair of charging Triceratops, one of which impaled Wallace, much to Denham’s horror.
* Lumpy - An African American sailor onboard the S.S. Wanderer as well as its cook. Lumpy was among the first to befriend Ann during the Wanderer’s voyage to Skull Mountain Island, Lumpy was given the bracelet that belong to one of the natives who had kidnapped Ann. Lumpy then altered Englehorn and the crew who then launched a rescue party. 
* Marge - Lumpy's pet sea lion. She is a friendly and playful sea lion who befriends Ann during the voyage to Skull Mountain Island, whilst at the island, she found the bracelet belong to one of the natives who kidnapped Ann before bringing it to Lumpy who then sounded the alarm.
* William “Bill” Thompson - The bigoted second mate onboard the S.S. Wanderer. He is a rude and unpleasant man who doesn’t get along with his shipmate's and is widely disliked by them, he is also shown to be quite misogynistic towards Ann, believing that her only place is "in the kitchen". After Ann is taken by Kong, William votes that they leave her to her fate and leave Skull Mountain Island, only to be forced on the rescue party by a fed up Captain Englehorn, later when fleeing the Brontosaurus after it capsized the rescue parties raft, Bill attempted to escape the dinosaur by climbing up a tree, only to be caught and bitten to death.
* Native Chief - The leader of the natives of Skull Mountain Island. When the Denham party arrived and unknowingly interrupted their sacrificial ceremony, he demanded that they’d leave but after seeing Ann, the chief became determined to sacrifice her to Kong. After the crew of the Wanderer refused to to trade Ann for six of his tribes women, the chief sent the witch doctor and several warriors out to the Wanderer to kidnap Ann and bring her back to the village.
* Witch Doctor - The witch doctor and spiritual leader of the natives of Skull Mountain Island. After the crew of the S.S. Wanderer refused to give them Ann, the witch doctor and a few warriors snuck out to the ship during the night and brought her back to the village for sacrifice to Kong. 
* Charles Weston - A theatrical agent who has helped Denham on several occasions. He met with Denham to inform him that no actress would work for him, mainly due to his often reckless and secretive nature.
* Cooper and Ernest Driscoll - The 10 year old twin son’s of Jack and Ann. In 1946 they were getting something out their parents bedroom when they stumbled across some pictures of them, Carl Denham and Kong, when asked about it Jack and Ann decide to tell them the story of how they both met and Kong.
=== Creatures of Skull Mountain Island ===
* King Kong - A giant anthropoid ape resembling a gorilla who lives on an uncharted island in the South Pacific. He is worshipped as a god by the natives of Skull Mountain Island, who twice a year sacrifice one of their women and a few pigs to him. At one time he had a family consisting of his mother, father, two brothers, mate and child until they tragically all died leaving him alone and the last of his kind. Years later, Ann was offered to him as a sacrifice, 
* Stegosaurus - A famous plate backed and spiked tailed dinosaur from the late Jurassic period. It was the first creature encountered by the crew of the Wanderer during their search for Ann and Kong, it attempted to charge at them before being felled by a gas bomb and then shot to death.
* Velociraptor - A famous sickle toe clawed small carnivorous dinosaur from the late Cretaceous. A pack of 7 encountered Ann whilst she was trying to escape from Kong, they chased her before she fell into a mud patch. But before they could devour her, Kong came to her rescue. Kong killed four raptors by either stepping on them or eating their heads off, causing the rest of the pack to flee.
* Phorusrhacos - A species of giant flightless fleshing eating bird from the Miocene. A pack attacked the crew of the Wanderer whilst they were passing through a bamboo grove,
* Brontosaurus - A famous giant long necked dinosaur from the late Jurassic period and the largest creature on Skull Mountain Island. It encountered the crew of the Wanderer whilst they were crossing the swamp during their search for Ann and Kong, it overturned their raft and mauled two sailors in the water before chasing them onto land where it mauled Bill Thompson who attempted to escape the giant dinosaur by climbing into a tree.
* Triceratops - A famous three horned dinosaur from the late Cretaceous period. Ann and Kong encountered a group of four whilst travelling through an asphalt mire whilst on their way to Kong’s lair, they then charged at Kong believing him to be a threat. One of them became trapped in the mire whilst another fought Kong before having its horn broken off and stabbed to death. Kong then through hardened slabs of asphalt at the others, resulting in them stampeding and impaling Wallace.
* Arsinoitherium - A strange rhino like mammal from the Eocene. A lone bull encountered the crew of the Wanderer after they escaped a pair of Triceratops, a panicked William shot it, thus enraging it. The Arsinoitherium then chased the sailors onto the log bridge where it kept them trapped between itself and an enraged Kong.
* Great Spider - A species of giant arachnid that lives in the crevices of Skull Mountain Island. A group of them attacked the surviving sailors who had been shaken off the log by Kong, they then began to fight among the two-legged lizards and octopus-insects for the carrion.
* Two-Legged Lizard - A species of giant lizard two only two legs that lives on Skull Mountain Island. A group of them attacked and began eating the surviving sailors who had been shaken into the crevice by Kong, they began to fight with the great spiders and octopus-insects for the carrion. Another lizard began to climb the crevice wall to attack Jack Driscoll, however he cut the vine it was climbing.
* Octopus-Insect - A strange insect resembling a hybrid between an octopus and a spider that lives in the crevices of Skull Mountain Island. A group of them attacked and began devouring the sailors who had survived being shaken off the log and into the crevice by Kong, they even began fight between the great spiders and two-legged lizards for the carrion.
* Arthropleura - A species of giant millipede from the Carboniferous that lives in the crevices of Skull Mountain Island. A pair joined in the feeding frenzy on the crew
* Tyrannosaurus Rex - A famous carnivorous dinosaur from the late Cretaceous period and the top predator of Skull Mountain Island. A lone male came across whilst she was in a dead tree by Kong, it saw her and attempted to devour her, however he screams brought Kong charging to the rescue. Kong and the Tyrannosaurus then both began a fierce duel which eventually ended with Kong killing the Tyrannosaurus by breaking its jaws.
* Styracosaurus - A spike frilled dinosaur from the late Cretaceous period. A small were seen by Ann and Kong whilst they were on their way to Kong’s lair, one of their juveniles had gotten stuck in a mud hole and couldn’t get out. Kong however rescued the juvenile and reunited it with its mother, an act that greatly moved Ann. 
* Titanoboa - A giant anaconda like snake from the Eocene. A Titanoboa snuck into the grave site of Kong’s family, it then proceeded to attack Kong and attempt to constrict him. Kong however was able to pry the snake off and kill it by bashing its head against the rocks.
* Pteranodon - A well known pterosaur from the late Cretaceous period. A Pteranodon nesting near Kong’s lair swooped down and attempted to fly off with Ann whilst she was in her own, however Ann’s screams altered Kong who fought and slayed the Pteranodon by breaking its neck.
== Differences from the original film ==
Due to copyright the comic isn't actually based on the 1933 film, rather it is based on the 1932 novelization by Delos W. Lovelace and features several differences from the film:
* The comic is frame story being told by Jack and Ann to their son’s.
* The ship is called the S.S. Wanderer instead of the S.S. Venture.
* Charlie the Chinese cook and Second Mate Briggs are replaced with a character from Delos' novel, a black sailor named Lumpy.
* Lumpy has a pet sea lion named Marge instead of a monkey named Ignatz.
* The comic features a completely original character, Denham’s assistant Wallace.
* The comic also features several scenes not featured in the 1933 film, these include the infamous spider-pit scene, Kong battling a herd of Triceratops, and the crew encountering an Arsinoitherium.
* Skull Island is called Skull Mountain Island.
* Like the 1976 remake, Ann is dressed in tribal garments for her sacrifice to Kong.
* There is a waterfall shower scene like the 1976 remake.
* Kong is joined in his attack on the native village by several dinosaurs.
* Like in the 1976 and 2005 remakes, Ann grows to care for Kong and is devastated when he is killed.
* There is a battle between Kong and a steam shovel. 
* There is a prologue and epilogue set in 1946 where Jack and Ann are married and have two son’s named Cooper and Ernest.
== Trivia ==
* Jack and Ann's twin son’s Cooper and Ernest named after Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack the directors of the original King Kong.
* Marge is based upon Esmeralda from Disney's 1954 film adaptation of Jules Verne's 20'000 Leagues Under the Sea.
* One of the theatre patrons in the final issue resembles Fay Wray, the actress of Ann Darrow in the original King Kong film.
* The Stegosaurus, Brontosaurus, Triceratops, Tyrannosaurus rex, Saurolophus, and Pteranodon resemble the main characters from the Land Before Time films. 
* The fight between Kong and the steam shovel was taken from the script of the cancelled 1976 film, The Legend of King Kong.
Category:King Kong
Category:Giant Monsters
Category:Action/Adventure
Category:Romance
Category:Dinosaurs