Man-Ape

Man-Ape
Man-Ape, in Black Panther #49 art by Sal Velluto
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Avengers #62 (Mar 1969)
Created by	Roy Thomas (writer) John Buscema (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	M'Baku
Species	Human Mutate
Team affiliations	Lethal Legion Masters of Evil Villains for Hire
Partnerships	Grim Reaper Saboteur
Notable aliases	White Gorilla
Abilities	Expert hand to hand combatant Superhuman strength, speed, agility, stamina and durability

Man-Ape (M'Baku) is a fictional character, a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is depicted as a frequent enemy of the Black Panther.

He first appeared in Avengers #62 (March 1969) and was created by Roy Thomas and John Buscema.

M'Baku was born in Wakanda, in Africa. He became one of Wakanda's greatest warriors, second only to the Black Panther. He plotted to usurp the throne of Wakanda with the help of the outlawed rival White Gorilla Cult and return Wakanda to a primitive state. M'Baku became a renegade and gains his powers by bathing in white gorilla blood and eating white gorilla flesh, taking the alias of Man-Ape. He fought with the Black Panther and was believed to be dead when the Panther Totem that the Black Panther was bound to crumbled on him. He is revived by his aide N'Gamo and goes to America where the Black Panther is with the Avengers at the time.

He allies himself with the original Lethal Legion made up of Grim Reaper, Living Laser, Power Man, and Swordsman. He is the first member met by the Avengers. He attacks Captain America, but is beaten back by the rest of the Avengers. He then captures the Black Panther's girlfriend Monica Lynne, binding her hand and foot with metal clamps. The Black Panther is lured into a trap and knocked out by an exploding dummy of Monica. He is chained up and meets the other members. The Legion straps him and Monica to chairs before leaving, though he is able to escape and contact the other members, before the Grim Reaper defeats him. The Legion is defeated by the Avengers after Vision overcomes Power Man and frees the other members. Man-Ape bests Black Panther again until he is defeated by Captain America. Black Panther banishes Man-Ape from Wakanda on order of execution if he returns.