We Finally Know The Real Reason Kong Had To Leave Skull Island

Godzilla vs. Kong is arguably the biggest film of 2021 so far, and its dramatic battle between the two Titans delivers some much-needed blockbuster madness to audiences desperate to return to theaters. But while the focus is (understandably) kept on their conflict, some of the finer details are lost in the carnage.

At the very beginning of the film, we're introduced to Kong's peaceful existence on Skull Island, where he lives in a giant dome that Monarch built to protect him from a violent storm that's been battering the tropical island for some time. It's made very clear that the storm ravaging Skull Island ultimately kills a young girl named Jia's (Kaylee Hottle) parents (along with the rest of their tribe), and Kong sees it as his responsibility to protect her. However, it's also clear that Monarch can no longer keep Kong contained in the Skull Island bubble, evidenced by the fact that he's able to puncture the walls by hurling trees at them.

Because of both Kong's ability to escape and the storm causing death and destruction on Skull Island, Godzilla vs. Kong takes King Kong across the world to another Hollow Earth entry point. Unfortunately, the film doesn't fully explain why the storm was solely focused on Skull Island — only that it would've eventually killed Kong when the containment facility failed. 

Thanks to new material from the MonsterVerse, however, we now have a better understanding of why Kong had to leave Skull Island.

To expand the world of the MonsterVerse a little more, Legendary and Warner Bros. have released a number of graphic novels to look at these versions of Godzilla and Kong. In Kingdom Kong by writer Marie Anello and artist Zid, Kong faces off against Camazotz, who is essentially a giant bat. But it's an appearance in the comic from a recurring character who reveals the origin of the perpetual storm on Skull Island. Dr. Houston Brooks returns in the MonsterVerse graphic novel after Cory Hawkins played him in Kong: Skull Island and Joe Morton portrayed him in Godzilla: King of the Monsters.

When Ghidorah plagues the planet in King of the Monsters, the villainous three-headed dragon is able to whip up devastating storms in its wake to cause even more chaos. As Dr. Brooks explains in Kingdom Kong, the last cyclone on Skull Island is a "gift from the devil to remember him by." Because Skull Island has its own entry point to the Hollow Earth, a "vortex" inside the cavernous tunnel ensures the storm will continuously revolve around it. This is why Kong eventually has no choice but to abandon his home.

It's impressive that Ghidorah's presence is still felt throughout the MonsterVerse, even making something of a return in the ending of Godzilla vs. Kong as the beast's consciousness takes control of MechaGodzilla.

Luckily, the two titular Titans are able to take it down, which could be seen as Kong's revenge for devastating his tropical home. If you're a fan of the MonsterVerse, it's worth taking a closer look at the comics to see what else you might've missed.