Congorilla

Last updated
Congorilla
Congorilla.jpg
Congorilla as seen in the promotional art for Justice League: Cry for Justice by Mauro Cascioli.
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
First appearance More Fun Comics #56 (June 1940)
Created by Whitney Ellsworth (writer)
George Papp (artist)
In-story information
Alter egoWilliam Glenmorgan
Species Human (formerly)
Enchanted golden gorilla (currently)
Team affiliations Forgotten Heroes
Justice League
Notable aliasesCongo Bill
Abilities

Congorilla, originally a human character known as Congo Bill, is a superhero appearing in comic books published by DC Comics and Vertigo Comics. Originally co-created by writer Whitney Ellsworth and artist George Papp, he was later transformed into Congorilla by Robert Bernstein and Howard Sherman. The character first appeared in More Fun Comics #56 (June 1940). [1]

Contents

Publication history

Congo Bill was a long-running DC Comics adventure comic strip, often reminiscent of Alex Raymond's Jungle Jim newspaper strip. Originating in More Fun Comics #56, the strip was a moderate success and ran there until issue #67 (May 1941), after which it moved to Action Comics from issue #37 (June 1941).

Action Comics #191 (April 1954) saw the introduction of Janu the Jungle Boy, a young boy brought up in the jungle after his father had been killed by a tiger. In 1954, DC awarded Congo Bill his own title, published on a bi-monthly schedule, which lasted for seven issues (August/September 1954 – August/September 1955).

Congo Bill encountered the legendary golden gorilla in Action Comics #224 (January 1957). [2] He also encountered the similarly named Kongorilla in Action Comics #228 (May 1957). In issue #248 (January 1959), Congo Bill was transformed into Congorilla [3] and the title of the strip was likewise changed. The Congorilla series ran in Action Comics until issue #261 (February 1960), after which it was transferred to Adventure Comics from issues #270 (March 1960) to #283 (April 1961). [4]

Since the demise of its own series, Congorilla has mainly been seen as a guest star in other titles, including as part of the Forgotten Heroes. The character finally received a mini-series of his own in 1992, where Congo Bill is betrayed by his (now corrupt) ward Janu, who usurps the Congorilla identity and Bill is forced to fight his adopted son to the death. Congo Bill became blind in his left eye, making it hard for him to see after fighting his son to the end. In 1999, DC Comics once again brought Congo Bill back for another four-issue limited series under the company's mature readership Vertigo Comics imprint.

Congorilla returned in the 2009 series Cry for Justice , joining a proactive splinter faction of the Justice League. Following that series, Congorilla became a main character in Justice League of America as a full-time member of the Justice League. [5] He also starred in the Starman/Congorilla one-shot (March 2011) alongside close friend and teammate Starman (Mikaal Tomas).

Congo Bill next appeared in the Rebirth continuity as the warden of Monster Rock, where he trained the hero Damage in controlling his abilities.

Fictional character biography

William "Congo Bill" Glenmorgan [6] was born in 1898, the son of a Scottish gamekeeper. At one point he was a member of the IRA, [7] and during World War I he served as soldier in the Battle of the Somme in France 1916 and also Battle of Flanders Field in Passendale, Belgium. He worked his way up as a spy in Austria. [8] He later became a globe-trotting adventurer, and for a time worked for the Worldwide Insurance Company, protecting policies they had written and saving the company from fraudulent payouts.

Bill grew content to live in his adopted African home, swearing to protect it from harm. There he befriended a witch doctor known as Chief Kawolo. When Kawolo was mortally injured in a fall, he summoned Bill to his bedside and offered him a magic ring. Kawolo told the skeptical Congo Bill that, by rubbing the ring, he could transfer his consciousness into the body of the legendary golden gorilla. He accepted the ring to humor his friend's dying wish. Several weeks later, an earthquake trapped Bill in a deep cave. With no possible escape, Congo Bill hopelessly rubbed the magic ring. Instantly, his mind was transported into the body of the Golden Gorilla. [9] Racing to the cave-in, he used his massive strength to clear the blocked entrance and wondering what had become of his body without him being "home". He realized that when his consciousness entered the body of the golden gorilla, the creature's consciousness entered his own body. Bill decides to use his new powers to fight crime in the jungle. He is later assisted by Janu, a young boy raised in the jungle. [10]

Years later, Bill (now known as Congorilla) is trapped in his golden gorilla form upon the death of his human body and becomes the protector of a band of gorillas, and friend of the South African hero Freedom Beast. When the gorillas and Freedom Beast are slaughtered by hunters, Congorilla decides to seek justice. [11] After the trail leads to the villain Prometheus, Congorilla teams up with Starman, and eventually a splinter faction of the Justice League. After Prometheus's death, Congorilla becomes a full-time member of the Justice League.

During his time with the League, Bill faces off against such foes as the rogue Starheart [12] and Eclipso, and becomes close friends with Starman and Supergirl. He is also part of a much larger makeshift Justice League squad when the return of Batman from a seeming death threatens to destroy time and space. [13] After Batman Inc. appoints the vigilante Batwing as the official Batman of Africa, Congorilla realizes that the continent is too big for one hero to handle. He ultimately chooses to resign from the JLA in order to help organize the superheroes of Africa into a more efficient team as well as to find a worthy successor to carry on Freedom Beast's legacy. [14]

In 2011, "The New 52" rebooted the DC universe. Congorilla is among the candidates that the United Nations wanted to join the Justice League International. [15]

In 2016, DC Comics implemented another relaunch of its books called "DC Rebirth" which restored its continuity to a form much as it was prior to "The New 52". Congo Bill and Congorilla are shown to be the wardens of the island Monster Rock. [16]

Powers and abilities

Before becoming Congorilla, Bill is a skilled hunter, explorer, and marksman. As Congorilla, Bill's simian body granted him supernatural strength, stamina, durability, agility, reflexes, and senses, self-healing capabilities, the ability to grow in size, and virtual immortality. In order to become Congorilla, he originally rubs a magic ring, which would swap his consciousness with that of the golden gorilla. [17]

Other versions

In other media

Television

William Glenmorgan appears in the Arrow episode "My Name Is Emiko Queen", portrayed by Edward Foy. This version is a human mercenary.

Film

Congo Bill appears in a self-titled film serial, portrayed by Don McGuire.

Video games

Congorilla appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure . [20]

Miscellaneous

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justice Society of America</span> Superhero team

The Justice Society of America (JSA) is a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. It was conceived by editor Sheldon Mayer and writer Gardner Fox during the Golden Age of Comic Books. It first appeared in All Star Comics #3, making it the first team of superheroes in comic books. Its original members were Doctor Fate, Hourman, the Spectre, Sandman, Atom, the Flash, Green Lantern and Hawkman.

<i>Starman</i> (DC Comics) Fictional comics superhero

Starman is a name used by several different DC Comics superheroes, most prominently Ted Knight and his sons David and Jack.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Tornado</span> Fictional comic book superhero

Red Tornado is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. As the second character to assume the identity of Red Tornado, he is the result of an android being merged with a sentient tornado by T.O. Morrow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Animal Man</span> Superhero in the DC Comics Universe

Animal Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. As a result of being in proximity to an exploding extraterrestrial spaceship, Buddy Baker acquires the ability to temporarily "borrow" the abilities of animals. Using these powers, Baker fights crime as the costumed superhero Animal Man.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyborg (DC Comics)</span> Comic book superhero

Cyborg is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez, and first appeared in an insert preview in DC Comics Presents #26. Originally known as a member of the Teen Titans, Cyborg was established as a founding member of the Justice League in DC's 2011 reboot of its comic book titles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hal Jordan</span> Fictional superhero published by DC Comics

Harold"Hal"Jordan, one of the characters known as Green Lantern, is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created in 1959 by writer John Broome and artist Gil Kane, and first appeared in Showcase #22. Hal Jordan is a reinvention of the previous Green Lantern, who appeared in 1940s comic books as the character Alan Scott.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gorilla Grodd</span> Supervillain from DC Comics

Gorilla Grodd is a supervillain character appearing in American comic books and other media published by DC Comics, primarily as an enemy of The Flash. The character was created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino, and first appeared in The Flash #106. He is an evil, super-intelligent gorilla who gained mental powers after being exposed to a strange meteorite's radiation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ultra-Humanite</span> Fictional supervillain in DC Comics

Ultra-Humanite is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. He first appeared as a recurring adversary of Superman, and was among the first villains faced by him. He was designed to be the polar opposite of Superman; while Superman is a hero with superhuman strength, Ultra-Humanite is a criminal mastermind who has a crippled body but a highly advanced intellect. The Ultra-Humanite served as Superman's nemesis until Alexei Luthor and his Silver Age counterpart Lex Luthor were introduced in the comics. The origins of the super-criminal known as the Ultra-Humanite are shrouded in mystery. Even he claims not to remember his true name or appearance and attributes his vast intellect and mental prowess to scientific experiments of an unknown nature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shade (character)</span> Comics character

The Shade is a comic book character developed in the 1940s for National Comics, first appearing in the pages of Flash Comics in a story titled "The Man Who Commanded the Night", scripted by Gardner Fox and illustrated by Hal Sharp. Debuting as a villain, the Shade was best known for fighting against two generations of superheroes, most notably the Golden Age and Silver Age versions of the Flash. He eventually became a mentor for Jack Knight, the son of the Golden Age Starman, Ted Knight, a hero the Shade had also fought.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DC One Million</span> Crossover comic book storyline

"DC One Million" is a comic book crossover storyline which ran through an eponymous weekly miniseries and through special issues of almost all of the "DCU" titles published by DC Comics in November 1998. It featured a vision of the DC Universe in the 853rd century, chosen because that is the century in which DC will have published issue #1,000,000 of Action Comics if it maintains a regular monthly publishing schedule. The miniseries was written by Grant Morrison and drawn by Val Semeiks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doctor Destiny</span> Fictional DC Comics character

Doctor Destiny is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tasmanian Devil (DC Comics)</span> Comics character

The Tasmanian Devil is a fictional superhero appearing in DC Comics. A pacifist Australian metahuman able to turn into a giant aggressive Tasmanian Devil, he first appeared in Super Friends #7, with his first canonical DC Universe appearance being in Infinity, Inc. #32. In Justice League Quarterly #8, he is revealed to be gay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brain (DC Comics)</span> Comics character

The Brain is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Commonly as a frequent enemy of the Doom Patrol and the Teen Titans, he is a French genius and criminal mastermind.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monsieur Mallah</span> Fictional character from DC Comics

Monsieur Mallah is a supervillain in the DC Comics Universe. He is the gorilla servant of and, in time, the partner to Gorilla Grodd and the Brain, while serving as an enemy of the Doom Patrol, Justice League, and the Teen Titans.

Space Cabbie is a science fiction character in DC Comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Lightning Saga</span> Comic story arc

"The Lightning Saga" is a comic book crossover story arc that took place in DC Comics' two flagship team books: Justice League of America and Justice Society of America. It was written by Brad Meltzer and Geoff Johns, and illustrated by Ed Benes, Dale Eaglesham, and Shane Davis. It is notable for re-introducing the Legion of Super-Heroes in the post-Infinite Crisis era.

<i>Justice League: Cry for Justice</i>

Justice League: Cry for Justice is a seven-issue comic book limited series, written by James Robinson, drawn by Mauro Cascioli, and published by DC Comics in 2009. It follows the adventures of a spin-off Justice League, led by Justice League veterans Green Lantern and Green Arrow, and composed of Starman, Congorilla, Freddy Freeman, the Atom, and Supergirl. They are seeking a more proactive stand for seeking justice following the apparent deaths of long-standing Justice League members Batman and Martian Manhunter during the Final Crisis event.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Janu the Jungle Boy</span> Comics character

Janu the Jungle Boy is a fictional character published by DC Comics. He is a young boy brought up in the jungle after his father has been killed by a tiger, and who appears as a sidekick to Congo Bill, who adopts him as his ward. Janu first appears in Action Comics #191, in a story written by Jack Miller and drawn by Ed Smalle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Starman (Mikaal Tomas)</span> Fictional comics superhero

Starman (Mikaal Tomas) is a fictional character in DC Comics and is one of the Starmen within the DC Universe. He is notable as one of DC Comics' earliest openly gay superheroes.

References

  1. ↑ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 343. ISBN   978-1-4654-5357-0.
  2. ↑ Rovin, Jeff (1991). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Cartoon Animals. Prentice Hall Press. p. 54. ISBN   0-13-275561-0 . Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  3. ↑ Schelly, William (2013). American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1950s. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 215. ISBN   9781605490540.
  4. ↑ Mitchell, Kurt; Thomas, Roy (2019). American Comic Book Chronicles: 1940-1944. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 26. ISBN   978-1605490892.
  5. ↑ Morris, Jon (2015). The League of Regrettable Superheroes: Half Baked Heroes from Comic Book History. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Quirk Books. pp. 142–143. ISBN   978-1-59474-763-2.
  6. ↑ Justice League of America (vol. 2) #47 (September 2010). DC Comics.
  7. ↑ Evans, Chris (April 5, 2010). "WC10: Spotlight on James Robinson". Comic Book Resources . Retrieved June 17, 2010.
  8. ↑ Justice League of America (vol. 2) #44 (June 2010). DC Comics.
  9. ↑ Markstein, Don. "Congorilla". Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived from the original on 17 September 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  10. ↑ Greenberger, Robert (2008). "Congorilla". In Dougall, Alastair (ed.). The DC Comics Encyclopedia. New York: Dorling Kindersley. p. 87. ISBN   978-0-7566-4119-1. OCLC   213309017.
  11. ↑ Justice League: Cry for Justice #1. DC Comics.
  12. ↑ Justice Society of America (vol. 3) #41 (September 2010). DC Comics.
  13. ↑ Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #1-6 (May–November 2010). DC Comics.
  14. ↑ Justice League (vol. 2) #60. DC Comics.
  15. ↑ Justice League International Vol. 3 #1. DC Comics.
  16. ↑ Damage Vol. 2 #14-16. DC Comics.
  17. ↑ Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe Vol. 1 #5 (July 1985). DC Comics.
  18. ↑ Davis, Alan (w, p), Farmer, Mark (i). JLA: The Nail #3. DC Comics.
  19. ↑ Flashpoint: Grodd of War one-shot (June 2011). DC Comics.
  20. ↑ Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Congorilla - videogame by Orca". International Arcade Museum® - Killer List of Videogames®. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.