Kona, Monarch of Monster Isle
Art by Vic Prezio
Kona, Monarch of Monster Isle is a fictional American comic book character who was featured in his own self-titled series, published by Dell Comics in the 1960s.
The character was created during a period of transition for Dell Comics. Up until 1962 Dell had been the official comic book publisher for Western Publishing, the licenser for Walt Disney, Hanna-Barbera and Warner Bros. among others. This relationship ended when Western made the decision to start its own comic book publishing company, Gold Key Comics.
Faced with the prospect of losing the rights to all of the series they were publishing, Dell began a large scale campaign in which numerous series and characters were created. This was designed to allow Dell to survive as a company past the point of Gold Key's creation. Of the characters created during this period, Kona was one of Dell's most successful creations.
Publication history
Kona debuted in Four Color Comics #1256 (dated February 1962) before his own self-titled series started a few months later with issue #2 (dated June 1962). Kona, Monarch of Monster Isle would run to issue #21 (dated June 1964). The series was plotted by Don Segall, scripted and drawn by the great Sam Glanzman. Later stories were scripted by Paul S. Newman.
Fictional character biography
Kona saves the lives of Dr. Henry Dodd, his daughter Mary and his grandchildren Mason and Lily after this group crashes their army surplus blimp on the prehistoric Pacific island that Kona calls home. Befriending them, Kona becomes their protector and saves them from many huge animals and monsters.
Dr. Dodd and his family eventually escape from the island, but later return to get Kona. After this Kona travels the world with them as their protector from the many huge monsters they encounter.
References
- Kona, Monarch of Monster Isle at Don Markstein's Toonopedia
- comicbookresources.com Oddball Comics
- INSANE COMICS FROM THE PAST