| Detective Chimp | |
|---|---|
 Promotional art forThe Helmet of Fate: Detective Chimp #1 (March 2007) cover, art byBrian Bolland. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Adventures of Rex the Wonder Dog #4 (July–August 1952) |
| Created by | John Broome Carmine Infantino |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Bobo T. Chimpanzee |
| Species | Common chimpanzee |
| Team affiliations | Justice League Dark Justice League Shadowpact Legion of Super-Pets The Amazing Zoo Crew Bureau of Amplified Animals Chimpanzee Investigations Croatoan Society |
| Notable aliases | Magnificent Finder of Tasty Grubs Detective B. T. Chimp Nightmaster |
| Abilities |
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Detective Chimp (Bobo T. Chimpanzee) is asuperhero appearing inAmerican comic books published byDC Comics. Acommon chimpanzee who wears adeerstalker cap (à la fictionalsleuthSherlock Holmes), Detective Chimp has superhuman-levelintelligence and solves crimes, often with the help of the Bureau of Amplified Animals, a group of intelligent animals that also includesRex the Wonder Dog. He originally appeared in the final years of theGolden Age of Comic Books, continuing into the early years of theSilver Age.[1]
After his initial appearance inAdventures of Rex the Wonder Dog he continued to appear in that title as a backup feature until 1959,[2] at which point he faded into obscurity. Several decades after his last appearance, Detective Chimp appeared in several cameos, namely in a 1981 story, "Whatever Happened to Rex the Wonder Dog?" (DC Comics Presents #35) and later in a brief cameo withSam Simeon inGorilla City during 1985'sCrisis on Infinite Earths. Following these appearances, Bobo started appearing in DC titles with some regularity, appearing in issues ofGreen Lantern,The Flash, and other titles. This eventually led to prominent roles in the 2005Day of Vengeance miniseries and subsequently as a regular in itsspin-off seriesShadowpact. The character has gone on to guest-star in other DC Comics titles, and has been a key member of the second incarnation of theJustice League Dark since its 2018 reboot.
Detective Chimp has made limited appearances in media outside comics, withKevin Michael Richardson andFred Tatasciore voicing him inBatman: The Brave and the Bold andTeen Titans Go! respectively.
When first introduced, Detective Chimp was an ordinary, though intelligent, trained chimpanzee, who acted as a "helpingmascot" for the local sheriff, after helping him to solve the murder of his chimpanzee trainer, Fred Thorpe.[3] He could not speak, but could understand humans and make himself understood. Bobo, a smoker, is a member ofMensa, and had a long-standing partnership with four other detectives as the Croatoan Society. One of the other former members of the Society was the detective/superhero Ralph Dibny (Elongated Man).
The Chimp's origin has been revamped and elaborated on several times since his initial Silver Age appearances. 1989'sSecret Origins (vol. 2) #40 credited the experimentation of a microscopic alien race with Bobo's intelligence. This origin has since beenretconned, notably in theDay of Vengeance six-part limited series. In the latter, it was shown that Bobo was captured inGorilla City in 1953 by Fred Thorpe, who sought to train him for his carnival act: "Bobo the Detective Chimp". For the act, Detective Chimp was trained to answer some detective-related questions using a combination of signals and rewards, giving the illusion that he could "discover the deepest secrets of the public". Bobo formed a strong bond with Thorpe because Thorpe took care of him, and gave him a simpler life than in the jungle. The success of the act lasted until a trip to Florida, at which time Rex the Wonder Dog took him to theFountain of Youth, where he gained the ability to speak to all living creatures, even humans, in their own language, as well as eternal youth. Rex's and Bobo's journey to the Fountain of Youth was originally depicted in the aforementionedDC Comics Presents #35, July 1981.[4] The intelligence Bobo gained put a damper on the success of the sideshow act, and in at least one instance, he decided that a woman had in fact murdered her sister, and shared his insights with the local police.
At some point after this, Bobo was employed by the Bureau of Amplified Animals. It is not known how he left or if the Bureau still exists.[5]
After the death of Fred Thorpe, he began to work by himself. Initially he did quite well, as a chimp detective was seen as a novelty. During this successful period he was visited by another detective, John Jones (actually theMartian Manhunter, during theJLApe crisis), who thought Bobo's agency seemed to be doing better than his own.[6]
However, as an ape, without civil rights and being unable to stand as a juridical person, he could not enforce unpaid bills. When the public began to forget him, he became an alcoholic, never leaving the other-dimensional Oblivion Bar (which changed management twice during his time there), until the establishment was acquired byJim Rook.
"Bobo" is not his real name, which he declines to share.[7]Phantom Stranger revealed it to be "mostly an unpronounceable screech and three grunts", which translates as "Magnificent Finder of Tasty Grubs".[8]
When theSpectre attempts to destroy all magic and began killing wizards, Detective Chimp, while still mostly drunk, coerces a group of mystical characters gathered from the Oblivion Bar into battling the Spectre. This leads to the formation of the groupShadowpact.[1]
Although lacking superhuman powers, Detective Chimp exhibits not only fine detective skills but also the genius of a true tactician. Benefiting from the counsel of the Phantom Stranger (at the time transformed into a mouse), he devises a plan to use the powers ofBlack Alice andNightshade to confront the combined menace ofEclipso and the Spectre.
Bobo also helps clean up the demonic damage left from the Rock of Eternity's explosion overGotham City. He captures the sin of "Sloth", which had possessed his long-time friend Rex the Wonder Dog. After the Rock is reformed, the sins re-imprisoned, and all magical influence cleaned out of Gotham, the dyingDoctor Fate gives Detective Chimp his Helmet of Fate. After finding it does not fit him, Detective Chimp convincesCaptain Marvel to throw it to Earth, to let fate choose its next bearer.[9]
When the helmet of Doctor Fate returns to Earth, Detective Chimp for a brief time bonds with it, granting him additional powers that he uses to assist the Gotham City police in apprehending the villainTrickster. After struggling against the helmet's temptation, Bobo sends it on to another journey.[10]
Later, it was shown that Bobo occasionally assistsBatman in his cases by way of achat room where they swap theories. TheRiddler is also known to chat with them, but is unaware of their identities.[11]
InThe New 52, Detective Chimp has been mentioned byAmbush Bug in the Channel 52 feature sections. He later appears as a brief cameo in aiding theJustice League United team rescueAdam Strange from the Zeta Beam[12] and in the 2016DC Comics Rebirth Christmas Special story "The Night We Saved Christmas".[13]
InDC Rebirth, Detective Chimp, a.k.a. Bobo, has appeared in theDark Nights: Metal event, is one of the survivors of the invasion of the Dark Nights (alternate versions of Batman from a Dark Multiverse) and is seen at the Oblivion Bar alongside theJustice League,Kendra Saunders, Doctor Fate and others. Bobo's close friend Nightmaster, the owner of the Oblivion Bar, is killed during the confrontation.[14] Bobo later takes over the bar and Nightmaster's mystical duties.[15]
In theNew Justice era, Bobo becomes a central part of a new mystical team calledJustice League Dark. This is led by Wonder Woman, and includes but is not limited to,John Constantine,Zatanna,Doctor Fate,Man-Bat, andSwamp Thing. Bobo loses his friend theBlue Devil to mystical purists.
InKnight Terrors, Detective Chimp and several other members of Justice League Dark are cursed byInsomnia and temporarily trapped in his Nightmare Realm.[16][17]
InThe New Golden Age, Detective Chimp,Doctor Fate, andDeadman investigate Hauhet, the new guiding force of the Helmet of Fate, and help theJustice Society of America battlePer Degaton.[18][19]
Detective Chimp possesses no unusual physical abilities, save the level of agility andphysical strength that comes with being a chimpanzee with human knowledge of movement and tools. He is capable of conversing with all animals, regardless of origin, in their own language, including all spoken and written human languages. He is also one of the most highly skilled investigators in the world, with detective skills rivaling those ofRalph Dibny andBatman. Bobo has an Intelligence Quotient estimated to be higher than 98 percent of the adult (human) population, as evidenced by hisMensa membership and his ability to decode the long-unsolvedVoynich manuscript.[20] Detective Chimp's hyper-intelligence has shown to have its downsides however as he has claimed it is difficult for him to concentrate without the help of alcohol to focus his mind. For a brief time, Detective Chimp also had additional sense-expanding powers granted by the Helmet of Fate.
