| Titano | |
|---|---|
Titano attacking the Daily Planet building, from Showcase Presents Superman Volume 2 (2006). Art by Curt Swan and George Klein. |
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Superman #127 (February 1959) |
| Created by | Jerry Coleman Curt Swan |
Titano the Super-Ape is a fictional character appearing in DC Comics, primarily as a foe of Superman. He was clearly inspired by King Kong.
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The Pre-Crisis Titano first appeared in Superman #127 (February 1959). Originally named Toto, he 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.[1]
This version appears in a dream of the character Ambush Bug.[2]
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. This scientist is not associated with Moyer's Titano project. 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 Dr. Thomas 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. Lois later wrote the Daily Planet article "Tears for Titano" in honor of the animal.[3]
Another version of Titano later appeared as the mascot of Titano's Pizza. Television advertisements showed a giant ape in a chef's hat defeating "Turtle Boy", who represented the slower delivery of other pizzerias. However, Turtle Boy (played by Jimmy Olsen) proved to be much more popular than Titano, and the commercials were discontinued.
In Action Comics #854, a monkey experimented upon by the Kryptonite Man was imbued with Kryptonite radiation, gaining the ability to grow in size and fire kryptonite beams from his eyes, like the pre-crisis Titano. He was eventually calmed down by 'Mr. Action' (Jimmy Olsen) and placed in the care of STAR Labs.[4]
Titano's pre-Crisis version would make a reappearance of sorts in Superman/Batman #28, as a guise for a shape-shifting telepathic alien entity.[5]
An Antimatter version of Titano, appeared near the end of Grant Morrison's JLA: Earth 2. This version is actually a genetic experiement conducted by Brainiac and Ultraman (Subject 773, "Ultra-Titanus") freed by Brainiac. and fires Anti-Kryptonite beams at Superman. Being an opposite version of Titano, the beams make him stronger. He is later caught by Kyle Rayner the Green Lantern.
In the New 52 revamped DC Universe, Titano was redesigned and given a new origin. Titano was now only slightly bigger than a regular gorilla and not as gigantic as the earlier versions, as well, he was now albino with white fur. He also was given a new origin where now he was a genetic mutation created by a deranged biophysicist.[6]
Characters based on Titano have occasionally appeared in comics homaging the Silver Age Superman.