View source for Kenny McFarlane

{{Infobox comics character<!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
|image=Kenny "Kong" McFarlane.png
|caption=Kenny McFarlane as depicted in ''Ultimate Spider-Man'' #15 (January 2002). Art by Mark Bagley.
|character_name=Kenny McFarlane
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]] 
|debut=''[[Ultimate Spider-Man]]'' #1 (September 2000)
|creators=[[Brian Michael Bendis]] (writer)<br/>[[Mark Bagley]] (artist)
|full_name=Kenneth McFarlane
|aliases=Kong, [[King Kong]]
|supports=[[Ultimate Spider-Man|Spider-Man]]
}}
'''Kenneth''' "'''Kong'''" '''McFarlane''' (also known as '''King Kong''') is a fictional character appearing in [[American comic book]]s published by [[Marvel Comics]]. Created by [[Brian Michael Bendis]] and [[Mark Bagley]], the character appears in the pages of ''[[Ultimate Spider-Man]]''. Kenny McFarlane is one of the few characters not based on a counterpart from Marvel's main [[continuity (fiction)|continuity]], being an original Ultimate Marvel invention to the comics, and is indirectly based on Bendis himself. However, his personality is based on [[Flash Thompson]] of the main continuity during his high school years. Several versions of the character are later introduced in the main continuity. 

In ''Ultimate Spider-Man'', despite his apparent lack of intelligence based on being a stereotypical high school bully, Kenny is actually a perceptive teenager and able to deduce Spider-Man's secret identity but keeps this knowledge to himself; he respects the hero's wishes of secrecy and covertly helps him maintaining it. Knowing that Peter Parker is Spider-Man inspires Kenny to be a better person and occasionally help others in need.

==Fictional character biography==
Kenny McFarlane is a student of Midtown High School and friend of Flash Thompson who often works with him to bully [[Spider-Man (Ultimate Marvel character)|Peter Parker]]. However, he is significantly nicer without Flash's influence.<ref>"Ultimate Spider-Man" Vol. 1 #1 (October 1, 2000)</ref><ref>"Ultimate Spider-Man" #10 (July 1, 2010)</ref>

Kenny is present when Peter is bitten by the radioactive spider, and later deduces his secret identity as Spider-Man.<ref>''Ultimate Spider-Man'' #15 (January 2002). Marvel Comics.</ref> He later enters a relationship with [[Kitty Pryde#Ultimate Marvel|Kitty Pryde]] after defending her from Flash's discrimination.<ref>"Ultimate Spider-Man" #200 (April 2, 2014)</ref>

Following the destruction and restoration of the Ultimate universe in ''[[Secret Wars (2015 comic book)|Secret Wars]]'', Kenny joins the U.S. army after graduating.<ref>''Spider-Men II'' #5. Marvel Comics</ref>

==Other versions==
===[[Marvel Universe]]===
====Kenny Kong====
Kenny "King" Kong made his debut in the mainstream Marvel Universe in ''Starbrand & Nightmask'' #1 (February 2016), and was created by writer [[Greg Weisman]] and artist Dominike Stanton. This version is an Asian-American student at [[Empire State University (comics)|Empire State University]] who works at a barista and is in a relationship with his coworker and fellow student Shelley Conklin.<ref>''Starbrand & Nightmask'' #1-3</ref><ref>''[[The_Spectacular_Spider-Man#The_Spectacular_Spider-Men|The Spectacular Spider-Men]]'' #1</ref>   

====Kenny McFarlane Jr.====
Kenny McFarlane's son, Kenny McFarlane Jr., appears in ''[[List of Venom titles|Venom]]'' vol 4. #35 (June 2021), and was created by [[Donny Cates]] and Mark Bagley.<ref>''Venom'' vol. 4 #35</ref>

==Character's name==
Writer [[Brian Michael Bendis]] did not name Kenny McFarlane consistently during his run on ''Ultimate Spider-Man''. In the first scenes, he is called by his nickname [[King Kong]] or simply Kong or even his real name. His last name was hinted to be Harlan in the first issue and his mother called him Clifford in issue #15. While in Ultimate Marvel Team-Up around the same time, in a story also written by Brian Michael Bendis, a teacher calls him Kenny. As a result of this information, in the "Official Handbook of the Ultimate Marvel Universe", he was referred to as "Kong Harlan, aka Clifford Kenneth Harlan". However, in issue ''Ultimate Spider-Man'' #82, his name is finally revealed to be "Kenny McFarlane". He now refers to himself as Kenny McFarlane, and in an interview with Bendis,<ref>[http://www.wordballoon.com/BENDIS.html THE BENDIS TAPES PARTS 1-3]</ref> it is confirmed that this is his real name.

==In other media==

===Television===
[[File:Kennykongtv.jpg|thumb|Kenny Kong as depicted in ''The Spectacular Spider-Man''.]]Kenny McFarlane, renamed '''Kenny Kong''', appears in ''[[The Spectacular Spider-Man (TV series)|The Spectacular Spider-Man]]'', voiced by [[Andrew Kishino]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071011013532/http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0710/08/index.htm Comics Continuum by Rob Allstetter: Monday, October 8, 2007<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref name="btva">{{cite web |title=Kenny "King" Kong Voice - ''The Spectacular Spider-Man'' (TV Show) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/The-Spectacular-Spider-Man/Kenny-King-Kong/ |access-date=September 18, 2024 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.</ref> This version is [[Asian Americans|Asian-American]] and is a member of the Midtown High football team with Flash Thompson and [[Randy Robertson]].

===Video games===
Kenny McFarlane makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in ''[[Ultimate Spider-Man (video game)|Ultimate Spider-Man]]''.

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Spider-Man characters}}
{{Ultimate Spider-Man}}
{{Ultimate Marvel}}
{{Spectacular Spider-Man (TV series)}}
{{Brian Michael Bendis}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mcfarlane, Kenny}}
[[Category:Fictional characters from New York City]]
[[Category:Ultimate Marvel characters]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 2000]]
[[Category:Characters created by Brian Michael Bendis]]
[[Category:Characters created by Mark Bagley]]
[[Category:Fictional actors]]
[[Category:Fictional basketball players]]
[[Category:Fictional school bullies]]
[[Category:Fictional United States Army personnel]]
[[Category:Male characters in comics]]
[[Category:Spider-Man characters]]