Detective Chimp
Detective Chimp | |
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Common chimpanzee | |
Team affiliations | Justice League Dark Justice League Shadowpact Legion of Super-Pets The Amazing Zoo Crew Bureau of Amplified Animals Chimpanzee Investigations Croatoan Society |
Notable aliases | Magnificent Finder of Tasty Grubs Detective B. T. Chimp Nightmaster |
Abilities |
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Detective Chimp (Bobo T. Chimpanzee) is a
After his initial appearance in Adventures of Rex the Wonder Dog he continued to appear in that title as a backup feature until 1959,
Fictional character biography
When first introduced, Detective Chimp was an ordinary, though intelligent, trained chimpanzee, who acted as a "helping mascot" for the local sheriff, after helping him to solve the murder of his chimpanzee trainer, Fred Thorpe.[3] He could not speak, but could understand humans and make himself understood. Bobo, a smoker, is a member of Mensa, and had a long-standing partnership with four other detectives as the Croatoan Society. One of the other former members of the Society was the detective/superhero Ralph Dibny (Elongated Man).
The Chimp's origin has been revamped and elaborated on several times since his initial Silver Age appearances. 1989's
At some point after this, Bobo was employed by the Bureau of Amplified Animals. It is not known how he left, or even if the Bureau still exists.[5]
After the death of Fred Thorpe, he began to work by himself. Initially he did quite well, as a chimp detective was seen as a novelty. During this successful period he was visited by another detective, John Jones (actually the Martian Manhunter, during the JLApe crisis), who thought Bobo's agency seemed to be doing better than his own.[6]
However, as an ape, without civil rights and being unable to stand as a juridical person, he could not enforce unpaid bills. When the public began to forget him, he became an alcoholic, never leaving the other-dimensional
"Bobo" is not his real name, which he declines to share.[7] Phantom Stranger revealed it to be "mostly an unpronounceable screech and three grunts", which translates as "Magnificent Finder of Tasty Grubs".[8]
Shadowpact
When the Spectre attempts to destroy all magic and began killing wizards, Detective Chimp, while still mostly drunk, coerces a group of mystical characters gathered from the Oblivion Bar into battling the Spectre. This leads to the formation of the group Shadowpact.[1]
Although lacking superhuman powers, Detective Chimp exhibits not only fine detective skills but also the genius of a true tactician. Benefiting from the counsel of the Phantom Stranger (at the time transformed into a mouse), he devises a plan to use the powers of Black Alice and Nightshade to confront the combined menace of Eclipso and the Spectre.
Bobo also helps clean up the demonic damage left from the Rock of Eternity's explosion over Gotham City. He captures the sin of "Sloth", which had possessed his long-time friend Rex the Wonder Dog. After the Rock is reformed, the sins re-imprisoned, and all magical influence cleaned out of Gotham, the dying Doctor Fate gives Detective Chimp his Helmet of Fate. After finding it does not fit him, Detective Chimp convinces Captain Marvel to throw it to Earth, to let fate choose its next bearer.[9]
When the helmet of Doctor Fate returns to Earth, Detective Chimp for a brief time bonds with it, granting him additional powers that he uses to assist the Gotham City police in apprehending the villain Trickster. After struggling against the helmet's temptation, Bobo sends it on to another journey.[10]
Later, it was shown that Bobo occasionally assists Batman in his cases by way of a chat room where they swap theories. The Riddler is also known to chat with them, but he is unaware of the other two's identities.[11]
The New 52
In The New 52, Detective Chimp has been mentioned by Ambush Bug in the Channel 52 feature sections. He later appears as a brief cameo in aiding the Justice League United team rescue Adam Strange from the Zeta Beam[12] and in the 2016 DC Comics Rebirth Christmas Special story "The Night We Saved Christmas".[13]
DC Rebirth
In
New Justice
In the New Justice era, Bobo becomes a central part of a new mystical team called Justice League Dark. This is led by Wonder Woman, and includes but is not limited to, John Constantine, Zatanna, Doctor Fate, Man-Bat, and Swamp Thing. Bobo loses his friend the Blue Devil to mystical purists.
Dawn of DC
Dawn of DC
In the Knight Terrors story arc of the Dawn of DC publishing initiative (2023), Detective Chimp and several other members of Justice League Dark fall victim to the spells of Insomnia, becoming trapped in his Knightmare Realm. Remaining awake through the chaos, Zatanna and Robotman team up to defend the unconscious Wonder Woman and Detective Chimp against Insomnia's Sleepless Knights and Sleeping Queen.[16][17]
The New Golden Age
In the pages of "The New Golden Age", Detective Chimp accompanied Doctor Fate in looking for Deadman to see if he can help them understand Hauhet, who is the new guiding force of the Helmet of Fate.[18] When a Huntress from a possible future arrived in the present after her visit to 1940, she finds herself in the company of Doctor Fate, Detective Chimp, and Deadman. Detective Chimp states to Huntress that they can do some introductions over a round of drinks where Deadman will pay for the first round.[19] After Huntress told her tale to them about her future and her encounter with Per Degaton, Detective Chimp and Deadman plan to take the snow globe that was in Huntress' possession to Madame Xanadu to see if she can provide some answers for them.[20] Upon Madame Xanadu getting a reading from the snow globe, she informs Detective Chimp and Deadman that they have to get the snow globe back to Huntress or else Per Degaton will kill her without it. After Per Degaton was repelled, Detective Chimp was with Madame Xanadu and Deadman when they tell the Justice Society of America what Per Degaton plans to do. Detective Chimp even mentions that Per Degaton is doing a sacrificial ritual all across the time stream with this time period being the last line of defense against him.[21] Detective Chimp was with Madame Xanadu, Deadman, and the JSA when they arrive at the area where Huntress was speaking with Batman at.[22]
Powers and abilities
Detective Chimp possesses no unusual physical abilities, save the level of agility and
Perhaps because a chimpanzee's muscles are much denser than a human's, Detective Chimp is unable to swim.
Other versions
Tangent: Superman's Reign
In
DC One Million and Dark Nights: Metal
In
In other media
Television
- Detective Chimp appears in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson. This version speaks with a pronounced English dialect.
- Detective Chimp appears in the Teen Titans Go! episodes "You're Fired!" and "DC", voiced by Scott Menville in the former and Fred Tatasciore in the latter.
Films
- Detective Chimp appears in Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold, voiced again by Kevin Michael Richardson.
- Detective Chimp appears in Teen Titans Go! To the Movies.
Video games
- Detective Chimp appears as a playable character in Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, voiced by Dee Bradley Baker.
- Detective Chimp was originally set to appear as a playable character in Injustice 2, but was cut for unknown reasons.[26]
- Detective Chimp appears as a playable character in Lego DC Super-Villains.
Miscellaneous
- Detective Chimp appears in Gorilla City.
- Detective Chimp appears in a self-titled issue of the DC Comics Super Hero Collection.
- Detective Chimp appears in the Injustice: Gods Among Us prequel comic. John Constantine recruits him to join Batman's Insurgency in combating Superman's Regime. During a meeting at Jason Blood's home, Chimp convinces the uncertain Harvey Bullock not to leave, bonding with him over being outside of their respective elements. However, Bullock unknowingly broke the protective seal, allowing Mister Mxyzptlk disguised as the Spectre to attack, vaporizing Bullock and Blood. Chimp gets caught in the blast and loses an eye, but is rescued by Alfred Pennyworth, who joins Zatanna and Harley Quinn in traveling to the Tower of Fate so they can resuscitate him. Harley and Klarion the Witch Boy eventually revive Chimp, who is forced to wear an eye patch. After Sinestro kills Klarion, Chimp reveals that the latter's magic was keeping him alive and fades from existence.
References
- ^ OCLC 213309017
- ISBN 0-13-275561-0. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
- ^ Markstein, Don. "Detective Chimp". Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
- ^ Wells, John (May 2013). "Flashback: Whatever Happened to...?". Back Issue! (#64). TwoMorrows Publishing: 51–61.
- ^ Green Lantern vol. 3 #30
- ^ Martian Manhunter Annual #2
- ^ Day of Vengeance #4. DC Comics.
- ^ Shadowpact #7. DC Comics.
- ^ Day of Vengeance: Infinite Crisis Special #1. DC Comics.
- ^ Helmet of Fate: Detective Chimp #1. DC Comics.
- ^ Detective Comics #845
- ^ Justice League United #16, DC Comics
- ^ DC Comics Rebirth Christmas Special 2016. DC Comics
- ^ Dark Nights: Metal #3 (October 2017)
- ^ Justice League Dark #1 (2018)
- ^ Radtz, B. (July 19, 2023). "Knight Terrors: Wonder Woman #1: What Can Spook The Goddess of Truth?". Comic Watch. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
- ^ "One of DC's Strongest Heroes Has a Deep Dislike for the Doom Patrol". CBR. July 14, 2023. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
- ^ The New Golden Age #1. DC Comics.
- ^ Justice Society of America Vol. 4 #2. DC Comics.
- ^ Justice Society of America Vol. 4 #3. DC Comics.
- ^ Justice Society of America Vol. 4 #4. DC Comics.
- ^ Justice Society of America Vol. 4 #5. DC Comics.
- ^ Justice League Dark #6 (2018)
- ^ Morrison, Grant (w), Abell, Dusty (p), Royal, Jim (i). "Crisis One Million" DC One Million 80-Page Giant, no. 1,000,000 (August 1999).
- ^ "DC Comics Unveils Earth 53 in 'Dark Knights Rising: The Wild Hunt'". DC.
- ^ "'Injustice 2' Concept Art Reveals Scrapped Characters Including Constantine, Penguin, and More".