In Review: Return to Skull Island #2 – Kong Faces Deadly Threat

Synopsis: Kong has his first encounter with the newest and biggest threat to Skull Island – leaving a trail of suffering and destruction in its wake!

Meanwhile, the team struggles to evade the toxic tendrils that are tightening their grip on the island.

The Story

On the island, the group struggles to evade the toxic tendrils that are slowly engulfing everything. Meanwhile, David and Kala, the leader of the native people, worry whether Kong will recover enough to confront and neutralize the island’s latest threat. Elsewhere, Annie, who once lived on Skull Island with her giant pet dog, is struggling to adapt to life with her family and has been expelled from school for breaking a classmate’s jaw. Her family agonizes over what is right but ultimately decides they must take Annie back to the island and take steps to make that happen.

Artwork

Christopher Jones continues to deliver fantastic artwork, perfectly capturing the style of the animated Netflix show. I especially loved the panel showing Dog’s expressions when Annie calls him fat—it’s hilarious and full of personality. The new monsters emerging on the island while Kong is incapacitated are also a great addition, adding tension and intrigue. Additionally, the illustrations of Kong remain true to the animated series, reinforcing this comic as a natural and faithful continuation of the show.

Overall

It’s no secret that I’ve absolutely loved the recent revivals of King Kong and Godzilla in movies and TV. When it comes to comics, though, it’s been a hit-or-miss affair for me. This one, however, feels about as good as it gets—it continues the story of the animated series while introducing new characters and expanding the mythology. I particularly enjoyed seeing the return of Annie, who was such a key player in the show. I loved how feral she was in the series, and seeing that personality transplanted into a modern-day American school was really fun. Overall, I’m thoroughly enjoying what this comic adds to the story and can’t wait for the next issue.