Last week, on Monday, Sarah had dental surgery. She normally has quite a few aches and pains in various body parts but this was agony. Fortunately I’d taken the day off and, with the wonders of modern pain relief we were able to make her somewhat comfortable. She’s been feeling a little better every day. That’s good. She’s been able to talk almost normally since Wednesday. Also good. Finding things she can eat is a challenge but we’re managing. The healing process is supposed to take about six weeks. We can do it!

While Sarah was getting horrible things done to her mouth I sat in the dentist’s waiting room reading a book. King Kong. The 1932 novelization with the Frank Frazetta cover.

While looking for this cover online I found an earlier version of the image – this was used as a cover for Creepy #11, published in 1966. I’ve read that Frazetta sometimes painted over older paintings. In the newer painting the woman and the log in the foreground look like they’ve been updated a little.

I prefer the original Creepy cover. The color is more dramatic. The paperback cover does feature a larger ape so it’s a more accurate depiction of Kong.

Anyway, the novel. The novel is in public domain so anyone could make an adaptation or a sequel of it. I’ve had a love for the King Kong story and a desire to do some sort of adaptation and sequel myself. The 1933 movie is still under copyright so, to do a Kong story, one has to avoid anything that is movie specific.

There are differences. There’s more character development of Anne and Jack at the beginning of the book. The end of story in New York seems rushed and perfunctory. There’s a suggestion of the spider pit sequence but not enough to suggest that there was big sequence in movie. The biggest difference, for me, is the time I had to digest the story. Movies are time oriented. Until recently you had no control over how you watched them. They start, they run and then they finish. Books, however, are read at the speed of the reader. If I find a part more interesting I can reread it. I can skip to the end. I can set it down for a month and pick it up again. Most notably, I can think about what is written.

I don’t remember him doing it as much in the movie but in the book Denham spends a lot time talking about Beauty and the Beast before they get to Skull Island. Maybe Delos W. Lovelace, the writer of the novel, was trying to foreshadow Anne meeting Kong. As someone who knows the story, it seemed like Denham knew a lot more about Kong and the island than he ever admits. He claims that he needs an actress because his financiers want a woman in his next picture. Pretty faces bring in bigger audiences. Yet, Anne is only actor on the ship. He claims that no “white man” has ever been where they are going. He mentions Kong but doesn’t say what Kong is. Some sort of legend that might not be a legend. He says the map he’s following was made by a sailor who picked up some Skull Island natives who were somehow set adrift and all of them died but one. He’s brought gas bombs to subdue large animals. He seems overprepared for someone who has previously only encountered 20th century mammals.

It’s not that Denham comes across as a villain. Later films will portray the Denham character as, at best, kind of a sleaze. The 1933 Denham is reckless but it’s obvious that, in the film, he’s considered admirable. In the novel, once they get to the island, Denham never seems like he’s got another agenda. He works as hard as anyone else to rescue Anne.

Still …

I keep telling myself that I have other projects that with greater priority. So I satisfy myself with the occasional sketch. 

Or two.

I don’t think anyone will mistake me for Frazetta. I’m okay with that.

Oh yes, the spreadsheet –

Better luck next week.

For you, I hope the next week brings you joy in whatever form you find it.

I’ll see you in seven!