Titano

Titano
Titano attacking the Daily Planet building in the style of King Kong, from Showcase Presents Superman Volume 2 (2006). Art by Curt Swan and George Klein.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Superman #127 (February 1959)
Created by	Otto Binder Curt Swan
In-story information
Species	Common chimpanzee
Notable aliases	Super-Ape, Toto
Abilities	Super-strength Able to project kryptonite beams via his eyes

Titano the Super-Ape is a fictional character, a supervillain that appears in American comic books published by DC Comics, primarily as a foe of Superman.

Titano first appeared in Superman #127 and was created by Otto Binder and Curt Swan.

The pre-Crisis Titano first appeared in Superman #127 (February 1959). Originally named Toto, he is a common chimpanzee who was dubbed "one of the world's most intelligent apes". Rocketed into space, he and his ship were bombarded with radiation, which changed him into a giant ape with incredible strength and the ability to emit beams of Kryptonite radiation from his eyes. This made the ape a difficult menace for Superman to face. Writer Martin Pasko revived Titano in Superman #324 (June 1978).

The pre-Crisis Titano appears in a dream of the character Ambush Bug.

The post-Crisis version first appeared in the "Tears for Titano" story in Superman Annual #1. Titano was originally a normal baby chimpanzee used in cruel scientific experiments for the U.S. government. This lab is headed by Dr. Thomas Moyers, an irresponsible man who caused the creation of Rampage, the super-strong alter-ego of Dr. Kitty Faulkner, also in the employ is Amanda Waller operating under the orders of Sarge Steel. The chimpanzee gains his name from a mean-spirited joke by the other staffers.

A brief visit by Lois Lane to the government laboratories ended soon after Titano tried to escape his tormentors by leaping into Lane's arms. An accident caused the ape to gain super-strength and grow to enormous proportions. Attempting to kill Moyers, whom he saw as his tormentor, Titano was stopped by and engaged in a battle with Superman. The presence of Lane causes Titano to calm down, as he considered her a friend. Moyers used his equipment to reverse the transformation. The reversal is too much for the chimpanzee, who dies in Lane's arms. She later writes the Daily Planet article "Tears for Titano" in honor of the animal.