MuleSkinner Book Recommendation # 6:

Wonders of the World; “King Kong (Le Robot)” (Comics Series)

In cinema, King Kong better (than any other), represents one of the earliest, and also the most original mythical monsters. It probably successfully helped in shaping the genre of (in)human beasts in later b-production series of flicks. However, for me the first touch of that King Kong magic wasn't from the movies but instead from comics. To be more precise, I first encountered that gigantic monkey on the pages of The Mytek, black-and-white comic books from early 1970s . Though, I may have seen earlier the original stories more loyal to the story-plot of the movie, at least that renown powerful magazine cover where ape hangs at the top of Empire State Building. But the actual first Kong stories I read were on the pages of The Mytek, where apes character was re-invented and transformated for a gigantic robot.

Mytek, was drawn and created by comics artist Tom Tully. The robot-ape itself was only loosely in origin and appearance resembling the actual Kong: according to story it was the creation of a scientist, whose labs (that also resembling the original story), were situated on the mysterious lone island inhabited by native tribe. But in other characteristics, this gigantic robot ape was different. Mytek was fuelled by solar-batteries at its back, and had various mechanical extra abilities, like flashlights in eyes, etc. In many of the stories it had as an opponent a similarly huge robot, Gorgo, made by another scientist (and reflecting his characteristics in outer appearance). If I remember correct Gorgo used to be equipped with various extra weapons and devices, but Mytek always relied on similar qualities as King Kong, mostly its enormous sheer strength. Ultimately, as usual as unavoidable in superhero comics, the ape always survived whatever hits it had been receiving. In some parts of the story, Mytek and Gorgo even traveled to the grounds of the moon on their fights(can't be sure though, as I don't have the comic books preserved.)

What made Mytek some kind of specialty was the robots relatively low intelligence, but at the same time uncertainty from whether it was sometimes showing real signs of human kind (quite like the original King Kong). Robots qualities actually varied in series from sometimes seeming to be capable operating by itself, but it was also often depicted as being handled by people sitting on operation desks at the head. To think some comparisons, the one obvious example that comes to mind is quite surprisingly the Carl Barks duck story 'The Giant Robot Robbers'. Mytek indeed represented more traditional and idealistic values than the more pessimistic robot-human/animal transgenesis presented often fx on movies of the time. The robot-ape also somehow carried more uncomplicated qualities of robotics, actually more typical in the times of King Kongs origins in 1920's and 30's.

In addition to our reviews, as well as for some pics of the comic books, from web one can at least check the french site devoted to subject - there's fx the original magazine covers ranging from -72 to -74, total of 16 numbers which quite possibly contain all episodes published (As King Kong Le Robot, name Mytek was publiced in France). Also, on human-robot relations in serie mentioned in preceding chapter and also interesting comments on robots (Des)cartesian nature one can check the post on Kokkeli-blog (in finnish,though; 'koulupoikavuosien kartesiolainen jättiläisrobotti').


In my own memoirs, I find Mytek mostly fitting as continuing the tradition of 'eastern giants' from pre-cyberpunk robotics stories. Namely, Isaac Asimov ^{(Later corrected: Well, actually he was russian-born american, anyway, I still found the stories brilliant...)} and Stanislaw Lem as most renown writers. In fact, Myteks characteristics meet requirements that Asimov sets on for 3 Laws of Robotics . Also, that can be said from the occasional uncertainty on the 1st rule which was somewhat similarly to Asimovs novels used effectively in early parts of the story. Also, as Myteks main existence served mainly to fulfill the human motives, it was as such, mainly a mechanical existence. But, like later androids of a kind, also Mytek couldn't avoid touching the questions crucial for the existence of robots kind, creature resembling its creator in characteristics. In that, it also fits to the tradition of horror fiction, originating and influenced, most likely from Shelleys Frankenstein. So, in combination I find it but attractive in its lack of pessimism and despair connected to most human – robots relations (in literature and film), but also as a good comic book example from the best qualities of monsters and wonders in horror/scifi B-flicks.

The reader might have noticed, I've not much even mentioned other participants in Myteks adventures(well, robots the main figure and I can't quite return the names of other characters in my mind...) Similarly, one might have noticed, the series leaves aside one of the most forceful aspects in original King Kong; the Beauty and the Beast theme. But, as for any childish/boyish comics follower thats just an unnecessary extra turn in plot, not indispensable part of it.

As for the inclusion of comic books in these recommendations, we could have chosen from many different alternatively good series. There's of course plenty European comics classics in addition to Tintin(Herge) or fx the Sandman and Hellboy I was also thinking as quality comics of recent times. But, Myteks less renown and as such somewhat more 'pulp', not so much a subject of these recommendations so far. It also dates back to 1970s, a decade when comics were actually in general more inventive and numerous than these days when most everything (on regular market-shelves) is quite stereotypical and most often boringly drawn.

However, being relatively unfamous, some kind off-shoot creation in comics, Mytek may be hard to obtain as the original comic books. If there has been later reprints of the series I've so far not come to terms with them. Thats a pity, for its certainly more original and inventive than Captain America (as for some example of unsuccessful comparison). Also, Robot Kong could have made a great b-movie of its kind, but typically that hasn't ever been even been on planning state, probably...