Monkey Business: Monsieur Mallah

Continuing my ongoing survey of The Great Apes of DC Comics with a simian supervillain of The Doom Patrol: 

Name: Monsieur Mallah

First Appearance: Doom Patrol #86 (1964)

Powers and Abilities: In addition to superhuman strength, speed, reflexes, and agility, Mallah possessed an I.Q. of 178. Intellectual abilities included speaking several languages and expertise in many areas of science, technology, and combat/firearm skills.  

History: After capturing a gorilla in the wild, an unnamed scientist experimented on the animal with "secret teaching methods" and shock treatments until its intellect was increased to genius level. Further educating the gorilla, now named "Monsieur Mallah", the scientist made Mallah his loyal personal assistant. After the scientist's death, Mallah followed his master's instructions and placed his brain into a special container to keep it alive. With world domination as their new goal, the disembodied scientist (now calling himself "The Brain") and Monsieur Mallah formed a criminal organization known as The Brotherhood of Evil.  Years later, the Brain and Monsieur Mallah were exiled to a prison planet where they were both beaten to death by fellow super-criminal Gorilla Grodd.

Ah, but let's not end Monsieur Mallah's story on such a dreary, depressing note.

Instead, let's think of the better days...when a machine gun-toting, beret-wearing genius gorilla shared a special friendship...and the crazy dream of world domination...with a brain in a jar.

Comments

[ShadowWing Tronix]

He would later appear in the Teen Titans cartoon hunting young superheroes for the Brain along with a villianess rip on Plastic Man (don't recall her name).

[Pat Curley]

SWT, the stretchable villainess was probably Madame Rouge, another member of the Brotherhood of Evil.

The thing that gets me about that cover is the giant-screen TV. All the DC heroes (and many of the villains) had them well before the rest of us.

[Shar]

I love Monsieur Mallah; he was truly a prince among simians. Inexplicably, he's not included in a forthcoming book (October) called "DC Comics Goes Ape!", a collection of DC stories featuring--you guessed it--apes!

[Mark Engblom]

"...a forthcoming book (October) called "DC Comics Goes Ape!", a collection of DC stories featuring--you guessed it--apes!"

I had no idea! Cool! I'll definitely be checking that out. Thanks for the heads up, Shar!

[De]

Didn't Mallah speak with a French accent like the other members of the Brotherhood of Evil (except the Brain)?

[Mike]

And it was later revealed they are gay lovers. Don't forget that!