Ken Hale

Adventurer Ken Hale sought out a legendary gorilla in the jungles of Gorilla Island, believing killing the beast would cure his fear of death. Instead, slaying it transferred a ancient curse onto him, transforming him into the Gorilla-Man — an immortal, super-strong gorilla who retains his full human mind and voice.

Few characters can claim a Marvel debut stretching back to 1954 and still be making waves nearly seven decades later, but Ken Hale is exactly that kind of enduring discovery. Emerging from the pulpy, monster-tinged pages of Men's Adventures in the Golden Age — courtesy of creator Robert Q. Sale — he's a figure who somehow bridged the gap between mid-century adventure comics and the modern Marvel universe with remarkable staying power. His 71 catalog appearances span series as varied as Nick Fury's Howling Commandos, Atlas, and Deadpool & the Mercs for Money, and he keeps genuinely distinguished company: Namora, Venus, Jimmy Woo, and Bob Grayson are among those who share his adventures. With two key issues to his name and a publishing history running all the way to 2023, Ken Hale is the kind of deep-cut Marvel character that rewards the curious collector who digs past the headliners.