Gorilla Grodd Reviews

He might not be as tall as King Kong, or as talented a stage performer as Mighty Joe Young, but Flash comic villain Gorilla Grodd has one over on his big-screen cousins. This would-be world-conquering ape was granted extraordinary intellect and powerful psionic abilities after he and his tribe were exposed to a space-rock (an alien spacecraft in the character's retconned origin) that crashed into the African jungle.

Grodd's lust for power pits him against Solovar, ape-leader of the utopian Gorilla City. When Solovar is captured by humans, Grodd tracks him to Central City (with sinister intentions, of course) where he runs afoul of The Flash.

Since first appearing in The Flash #106 (May 1959), Grodd has assumed a dominate role in the DC Universe. He was once a leader in the short-lived Secret Society of Super-Villains, and is one of the few baddies to have nearly incapacitated Superman.

Much of Grodd's existence has been spent imprisoned in Gorilla City, but he's had little trouble breaking out at will -- seeking freedom each time he formulates another sinister plan to destroy humankind and take over the world. On numerous occasions, Grodd has sought out his old foe, The Flash, in hopes of killing him before he could foil his plans.

Over the years, Grodd has become more and more savage. In an especially gruesome incident, he ravages the African city of Kinshasa (see JLA Classified #103) and eats many of the inhabitants.

Outside of the comics realm, Gorilla Grodd is a recurring villain in the DC Animated Universe, and was featured in the Justice League Heroes videogame.