Gorilla-Man#Ken Hale

Gorilla-Man is an alias used by three different fictional superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, beginning in 1954 with the character of Kenneth Hale, and continuing with Arthur Nagan, who also first appeared in 1954, and Franz Radzik, who first appeared in 1962.

Publication history

The character of Kenneth Hale first appeared in Men's Adventures #26 (March 1954).{{cite book |last1=DeFalco |first1=Tom |last2=Sanderson |first2=Peter |last3=Brevoort |first3=Tom |last4=Teitelbaum |first4=Michael |last5=Wallace |first5=Daniel |last6=Darling |first6=Andrew |last7=Forbeck |first7=Matt |last8=Cowsill |first8=Alan |last9=Bray |first9=Adam |title=The Marvel Encyclopedia |date=2019 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-7890-0 |page=154}}

Dr. Arthur Nagan first appeared in Mystery Tales #21 (Sept. 1954), and was created by Bob Powell. This story was reprinted in Weird Wonder Tales #7 (Dec. 1974). Steve Gerber created the Headmen after reading the reprint issue. The character subsequently appears in The Defenders #21 (March 1975), 31–33 (January–March 1976), 35 (May 1976), The Defenders Annual #1 (Oct. 1976), Power Man/Iron Fist #68 (April 1981), Marvel Age Annual #1 (1985), The Sensational She-Hulk vol. 2 #1–3 (May–July 1989), Avengers: Deathtrap: The Vault Graphic Novel (1991), Web of Spider-Man #73 (Feb. 1991), Marvel Comics Presents #97 (1992), The Defenders vol. 2 #5 (July 2001), 7–10 (Sept.–Dec. 2001), and Heroes for Hire #6–8 (March–May 2007). Gorilla-Man appeared as part of the "Headmen" entry in the original The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #5, and in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update '89 #3.

Franz Radzik first appeared in Tales to Astonish #28 (Feb. 1962).

Fictional character biography

=Kenneth Hale=

{{Infobox comics character

| character_name = Gorilla-Man

| image = 200px

| imagesize =

| caption = Cover art for Agents of Atlas #2.
Art by Tomm Coker.

| full_name = Kenneth Hale

| species = Human (formerly)
Enchanted Gorilla (currently)

| publisher = Marvel Comics

| debut = Men's Adventures #26 (March 1954)

| creators = Robert Q. Sale (artist)

| alliances = Agents of Atlas
Nick Fury's Howling Commandos
Mercs for Money
Agents of Wakanda

| aliases =

| powers = * Superhuman strength, stamina, durability, speed, agility, reflexes, dexterity, and sense of smell

Immortality
Weapon proficiency
Unarmed combat skills

}}

Kenneth Hale was a happy-go-lucky soldier of fortune. He is characterised as risking his life for thrills, but with a fear of death. He heard of a local tribal legend from Africa that stated, "If you kill the magical Gorilla-Man, you become immortal". The character traveled to Africa to find the Gorilla-Man. Hale abandoned his goal at the last minute, but his encounter with the Gorilla-Man forced him to shoot. The story follows that Hale then became immortal, but at the cost of becoming a Gorilla-Man himself. After operating his own team for a while, Hale retired, residing in a large treehouse near the Congo.Men's Adventures #26 (March 1954). Marvel Comics (New York City).

He served as a guide for the original X-Men and proved himself to be a formidable one. He was given a special yearbook and was acknowledged as an ally, or "X-Ape".X-Men First Class #8. Marvel Comics (New York City).

The character of Hale later worked with the Avengers,{{Volume needed|c=y|date=January 2010}} S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Howling Commandos unit,{{Volume needed|c=y|date=January 2010}} and the Agents of Atlas.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}} During the "Secret Invasion" storyline, Gorilla-Man and Human Robot rescue Namora from the Skrulls.Secret Invasion: Who Do You Trust #1. Marvel Comics (New York City). After Norman Osborn gains a position of power in the American government, Gorilla-Man and the Agents of Atlas begin working against Norman's interests. To stop the acquisition of powerful weaponry, the Agents steal gold from Fort Knox.Dark Reign: New Nation (Feb. 2009). Marvel Comics (New York City).

Operating on his own, Gorilla-Man tracked heroin dealers to an underground facility in Chinatown, San Francisco. There he teams up with Wolverine, Master Po, and Fat Cobra, who are part of a larger group seeking to stop the heroin shipments. They discover a vast underground empire, looking to control all crime above ground. Working together, the heroes manage to obliterate the criminal group.Wolverine: Goodbye Chinatown (March 2012). Marvel Comics (New York City).

As part of the 2016 Marvel NOW! branding, Gorilla-Man appears as a member of Domino's incarnation of the Mercs for Money.Deadpool & the Mercs for Money vol. 2 #4 (Dec. 2016). Marvel Comics (New York City).

Black Panther later visits Gorilla-Man and persuades him to join the Agents of Wakanda.Avengers vol. 8 #12. Marvel Comics (New York City).

During The War of the Realms storyline, Gorilla-Man is seen talking to Ursa Major in the Wundagore Zoo in Transia, discussing about an undercover operation he's running for Black Panther, until Ka-Zar picks him up and takes him to Avengers Mountain. He helps Black Panther destroy the enemy forces that were attacking the mountain by activating a weapon inside the Celestial's body, but gets wounded after a few Dark Elves infiltrate the mountain. While recovering, he talks to Odin and it is later revealed that he betrayed the Avengers for Dracula's Legion of the Unliving. He's later seen helping Ka-Zar and Blade in fighting Roxxon's Berserkers when infiltrating their secret base in Antarctica.Avengers vol. 8 #19–20. Marvel Comics (New York City).

=Arthur Nagan=

{{Infobox comics character

|character_name = Gorilla-Man

|image =

|caption =

|full_name = Arthur Nagan

|species = Human mutate

|publisher = Marvel Comics

|debut = Mystery Tales #21 (Sept. 1954)

|creators = Bob Powell

|alliances = Headmen
A.I.M.
Circus of Crime
Lethal Legion

|aliases = Dr. Ruhart Gnaan

|powers = *Superhuman strength, stamina, durability, speed, agility, reflexes, and dexterity

Surgery mastery

}}

Dr. Arthur Nagan is a former surgeon who took the organs from gorillas to use in people. However, his scheme was thwarted by the gorillas who somehow transplanted his head onto a gorilla's body.Mystery Tales #21. Marvel Comics (New York City). He is a member of the Headmen and has fought the Defenders on several occasions.The Defenders #21The Defenders #31–33. Marvel Comics (New York City).The Defenders Annual #1. Marvel Comics (New York City). Upon his release from prison, he attacked Power Man, who was temporarily de-powered.Power Man and Iron Fist #68 (April 1981). Marvel Comics (New York City). He is a former member of the Lethal Legion.Marvel Age Annual #1. Marvel Comics (New York City).

He later rejoined by the Headmen and participates in the plan to give his ally, Chondu, a new body — specifically, the body of a clone of She-Hulk. The Headmen hire the Ringmaster and his Circus of Crime, then later Mysterio to test She-Hulk for compatibility. She is subdued and cloned, but escapes with the aid of Spider-Man.The Sensational She-Hulk vol. 2 #1–3 (May–July 1989). Marvel Comics (New York City). Nagan is arrested by the New York city police. Nagan is seen without the Headmen during a Vault outbreak. He and Frenzy, being held in neighboring cells, are freed by Electro.Avengers: Death Trap: The Vault #6–8. Marvel Comics (New York City).

The Headmen tracked Spider-Man to a party Alicia Masters was hosting to procure Spider-Man's body for Chondu. Human Torch and Spider-Man defeated the enemies and the Headmen were soon arrested. Web of Spider-Man #73. Marvel Comics (New York City). Later allied with the A.I.M., they plotted to control an ancient space-god to rule the world. They resurrected the alien space god Orrgo and conquered the world with him, but the Defenders quickly defeated Orrgo and the Headmen.The Defenders vol. 2 #5. Marvel Comics (New York City).The Defenders vol. 2 #9–10. Marvel Comics (New York City).

Nagan and the Headmen then fought the Heroes for Hire while attempting to transplant Chondu's head onto Humbug's body.Heroes for Hire vol. 2 #6–8. Marvel Comics (New York City).

It is revealed in the Guardians of the Galaxy series that Nagan is one of the inmates left behind in the Negative Zone's Prison 42. There, he is involved in a fight with Star-Lord, who is trying to stop Blastaar and his horde from invading Earth via the closed portal in the prison.Guardians of the Galaxy #9. Marvel Comics (New York City).

He sided with Blastaar's forces when the Shadow Initiative invaded to take the prison back. Despite inflicting heavy casualties on the Shadow Initiative's forces, Nagan and his allies were betrayed by fellow inmate Hardball. Hardball killed the Negative aliens but let Nagan live.Avengers: the Initiative #27. Marvel Comics (New York City).

During the "Fear Itself" storyline, Nagan is among the criminals who escaped from the Raft after Juggernaut destroyed it. He was detained by Justice.Avengers Academy #15. Marvel Comics (New York City).

During the "Secret Empire" storyline, Gorilla-Man appears in an underground lair where he was building an army of Gorilla-Men. These Gorilla-Men are the results of gorilla heads being surgically-attached to human bodies. He then finds Robert Maverick who just turned back from his Red Hulk form. While attempting to pull Maverick's head out of his body to strengthen his Gorilla-Men army, Gorilla-Man and his Gorilla-Men are attacked and defeated by Squirrel Girl, who unleashes her flying squirrels on his army.U.S.Avengers #5. Marvel Comics (New York City).

=Franz Radzik=

{{Infobox comics character

|character_name = Gorilla-Man

|image = 200px

|caption = The Franz Radzik version of Gorilla Man. From Tales to Astonish #28.

|full_name = Franz Radzik

|species = Human (formerly)
Gorilla (currently)

|publisher = Marvel Comics

|debut = Tales to Astonish #28 (Feb. 1962)

|creators = Stan Lee, Larry Lieber (writers)
Jack Kirby (artist)

|alliances =

|aliases =

|powers = *Superhuman strength, stamina, durability, speed, agility, reflexes, and dexterity

}}

Franz Radzik, a scientist who created an electromagnetic ray machine to transfer his mind into a gorilla's body was known as Gorilla-Man. He was sent into deep space on an experimental rocket ship and first appeared in Tales to Astonish #28 and 30. The former story was reprinted in Adventure into Fear #5, the latter in Gorilla Man #3.{{Clear}}

Powers and abilities

As Gorilla-Man, Kenneth Hale possesses the body of a mountain gorilla, while retaining his normal human intelligence. He has access to various weapons with a preference for firearms. Even as a human, he is skilled at fighting. Hale also has been cursed with virtual immortality and maintained the same level of physical prowess over decades.Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #4 (September 2008)

The Arthur Nagan version of Gorilla-Man is an experienced transplant surgeon and inventor. His large gorilla body possesses immense physical attributes.Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update Vol 1 #3 (October 2010)

The Franz Radzik version of Gorilla-Man has similar powers as the other two, but it left him unable to speak.

Other versions

In an alternate Earth that appears in Avengers Forever #4–5, a similar version of Hale as Gorilla-Man appeared in the Avengers of the 1950s.Avengers Forever #4. Marvel Comics. Their timeline was destroyed by Immortus.Avengers Forever #5. Marvel Comics.

On Earth-O-Men, Ken Hale appears as the Gorilla-Man on an Earth dominated by the Skrulls.Paradise X: Heralds #3. Marvel Comics.

In other media

The Ken Hale incarnation of Gorilla-Man appears as a playable character in Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 via the "Agents of Atlas" DLC.

Collected Editions

class="wikitable"

!Title

!Material Collected

!Published Date

!ISBN

Gorilla Man

|Gorilla Man #1-3 and material from Weird Wonder Tales #7, Tales to Astonish #28 and 30, Avengers vs. Atlas #4, X-Men: First Class #8 and Men's Adventures #28.

|December 15, 2010

|{{ISBNT|978-0785149118}}

References

External links

[https://www.marvel.com/characters/gorilla-man-kenneth-hale Gorilla Man (Kenneth Hale)] at Marvel.com
[https://www.marvel.com/characters/gorilla-man-arthur-nagan Gorilla Man (Arthur Nagan)] at Marvel.com

Category:Animal superheroes

Category:Characters created by Jack Kirby

Category:Characters created by Larry Lieber

Category:Characters created by Stan Lee

Category:Comics characters introduced in 1954

Category:Fictional gorillas

Category:Fictional human–animal hybrids

Category:Fictional inventors in comics

Category:Fictional mercenaries in comics

Category:Fictional surgeons

Category:Gorilla characters in comics

Category:Howling Commandos