Ape-Man
(Ani-Men)
Sequence
This profile is meant to be read after our Ani-Men team profile, which explains most of the context and history.
Ape-Man shouldn’t be confused with Man-Ape (M’Baku) or Man-Ape (Eric Gore). That would be silly, ah ah ah.
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Background
- Real Name: Gordon Keefer.
- Other Aliases: “Gort”, “Monk”.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: The Organisation, then the Unholy Three, then the Ani-Men.
- Base of Operations: New York City area.
- Height: 6’5″ (1.95m). Weight: 325 lbs. (147 Kg.).
- Eyes: Brown. Hair: Red.
Powers & Abilities
Keefer was a professional thug.
He was huge and strong, and reportedly had boxing experience. Cap noted that he was better at hitting than at taking hits, though.
He also was an expert climber and acrobat.
It seems likely that he had military experience, perhaps in Việt Nam, since he was conversant with US infantry weapons. He also was a good shot with the Exterminator’s T-Ray pistols.
Gear
The Ape-Man suit had the usual radio headset and the chest camera.
There also were suction cups on the gloves and boots. With these, Ape-Man could climb up high-rise buildings quickly and safely.
Supernature
Ape-Man was then turned into a superhuman by Count Nefaria. He thus became a mutate with a gorilla-like appearance.
His intellect seemed diminished, but he clearly had superhuman strength and durability. There’s too little material to be sure, but “Class 25” seems possible given how he bashed Colossus (Piotr Rasputin).
History
Unlike his colleagues, Monk Keefer was briefly seen before the Organizer recruited his operatives.
He was part of a small crew robbing a Stark factory, and seemed to have been recruited specifically as security. Captain America (Steve Rogers) and Rick Jones stumbled upon the heist.
Monk easily took Jones out, and briefly floored Cap with one punch. But he was then promptly defeated.
He spent but a few months in jail before Cat-Man (Townshend Horgan) freed him. Keefer already knew Frog-Man (François Leblanc) on his new crew.
See our Ani-Men team profile for more.
Description
Keefer was practically always in costume. Maybe he’s sensitive to cold despite his body mass.
He wasn’t originally drawn as big as his official vitals. Said vitals come from retconningMaking changes to a character or story after the fact a minor — but massive — thug seen a few months before into being the same character.
In fact, in Daredevil Vol. 1 #11-12, he’s a bit shorter than the others.
Personality
Like the other Organisation operatives, Keefer is a disciplined professional.
He seemed more brutal than the others, but remained loyal and pragmatic.
As a mutate his diction and intellect were diminished. Oddly enough, he now referred to himself as “Gort” (short for Gordon) rather than “Monk”.
He exulted in his newfound strength.
Ape-Man (Roy McVey)
The second Ape-Man worked for Death-Stalker (Philip Sterling) in 1979. He was seen for but a few pages.
McVey was a greedy idiot, and did not seem as strong as Keefer (though he was even larger). He was enough of an acrobat for the rooftop expressMoving across a dense city using comic book acrobatics (and usually a swingline), though the costume helped.
And, inevitably, he was faster than he looked.
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DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Ape-Man
| Dex: 04 | Str: 04 | Bod: 04 |
| Int: 03 | Wil: 03 | Min: 03 |
| Inf: 03 | Aur: 03 | Spi: 03 |
| Init: 011 | HP: 015 |
Skills:
Acrobatics (Athletics, Climbing): 06, Martial artist (AV, EV): 05, Vehicles (Land): 03, Weaponry (Infantry weapons): 04
Bonuses & Limitations:
Martial Artist (EV) can also be used with his grip, for instance when shredding objects with his hands (+0).
Advantages:
Familiarity (Military equipment & protocols).
Connections:
Underworld (Low).
Drawbacks:
Partial Attack Vulnerability (-1 CS RV vs. Dupe Manoeuvres), Creepy Appearance (Size).
Motivation:
Mercenary.
Occupation:
Mercenary.
Wealth:
004
Equipment:
APE-MAN SUIT [BODY 02, Cold immunity: 01, Enhance (Acrobatics (Climbing)): 02 (cap is 09), Radio communication (includes video): 12].
Design Notes
As with the others (save Leblanc), military experience isn’t clearly shown.
The retcon of him being Monk is kinda weird, and he doesn’t seem that strong in his early appearances. However, 1968 and 1974 material do have him suddenly larger and stronger, so it more or less works out. So to speak.
(Presumably, artists and writers just assumed that a guy in a gorilla suit was a strongman, even though in Wood’s vision he was an acrobat/builderer .)
I considered giving him a 05 with his Weaponry, since he seemed pretty good with a T-Ray pistol. But he also preferred using his fists over a gun. So I guess he was just lucky with a few Weaponry rolls.
Plus, he realised that a Flailing Attack was the way to go with this weapon. This certainly helped with his hit ratio.
Ape-Man (mutated)
| Dex: 06 | Str: 10 | Bod: 08 |
| Int: 03 | Wil: 01 | Min: 03 |
| Inf: 03 | Aur: 02 | Spi: 03 |
| Init: 014 | HP: 015 |
Skills:
Acrobatics: 06
Advantages:
Conditional Soaking (Blunt/Unarmed), Lightning Reflexes.
Connections:
Ani-Men (Low).
Drawbacks:
Strange Appearance.
Motivation:
Mercenary.
Occupation:
Mercenary.
Wealth:
004
Equipment:
RADIO HEADSET [BODY 01, Radio communications: 10].
Ape-Man (Roy McVey)
Very little material once again. Possible numbers :
- All Mental and Mystical Attributes at 02.
- Five Hero Points.
- Skills limited to Acrobatics (Athletics, Climbing): 05, Martial artist (AV): 05, Vehicles (Land): 02.
- No Drawbacks nor Advantages.
- MIA toward Greed.
- Possibly one AP of Growth, but it’s cosmetic.
DC Adventures RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Ape-Man (Monk Keefer) — Averaged PL 4.2
| STR | STA | AGL | DEX |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03 | 02 | 04 | 01 |
| FGT | INT | AWE | PRE |
| 05 | 01 | 00 | 01 |
Devices:
Ape-Man costume ● 3 points (Removable) ● Descriptor: Technology
– Immunity 1 (Enviro cold).
– Enhanced Skill (Athletics 4 (Limited 2 to the Climbing application).
– Enhanced Advantage (Second Chance (failed climbing attempt)).
– Feature (Transmits video and audio back to base in real time).
Combat Advantages:
Close Attack 1, Defensive Roll 1, Power Attack, Ranged Attack 1.
Other Advantages:
None demonstrated
Skills:
Acrobatics 5 (+9), Athletics 6 (+9), Expertise (Infantryman) 4 (+5), Insight 1 (+1), Perception 2 (+2), Ranged combat (Infantry weapons) 3 (+5), Vehicles 3 (+4) (Limited 2 to common land vehicles).
Offence:
| Initiative +4 |
| Unarmed +6, Close, Damage 3. |
Defence:
| Dodge | 05 |
| Fortitude | 06 |
| Parry | 06 |
| Toughness | 02*/03 |
| Will | 02 |
* Without Defensive Roll.
Complications:
- Mercenary He’s a thug for hire.
- Ape-erance Keefer is retconned as being large enough to easily spot.
- Ape temper Ape-Man usually auto-fails attempts to recognise an in-combat manoeuvre to dupe him into a bad position.
Powers Levels:
- Trade-off areas. Attack/Effect PL 5, Dodge/Toughness PL 04, Parry/Toughness PL 5, Fort/Will PL 3.
- Points total 57. Abilities 34, Defences 7, Skills 11, Powers 0, Devices 3, Advantages 4. Equiv. PL 4.
Notes
See the DCH ones.
Ape-Man (Monk Keefer, mutated) — Averaged PL 8.4
| STR | STA | AGL | DEX |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 07 | 04 | 00 |
| FGT | INT | AWE | PRE |
| 05 | 00 | 00 | 00 |
Powers:
Simian physiology ● 1 point ● Descriptor: Unrevealed source
– Protection 2 (Limited 1 to blunt and unarmed descriptors).
– Enhanced Advantage (Improved Initiative).
Combat Advantages:
Close Attack 2, Defensive Roll 3, Improved Initiative, Power Attack.
Other Advantages:
Equipment 1.
Skills:
Acrobatics 5 (+9), Athletics 2 (+12), Close combat (Unarmed) 2 (+9), Perception 2 (+2)
Equipment
Radio headset ● Feature ● 1 point
Offence:
| Initiative +8 |
| Unarmed +9, Close, Damage 10. |
Defence:
| Dodge | 10 |
| Fortitude | 11 |
| Parry | 10 |
| Toughness | 07*/10 |
| Will | 02 |
* Without Defensive Roll.
Complications:
- Mercenary He’s a thug for hire.
- Ape-erance Keefer is now visibly inhuman.
Powers Levels:
- Trade-off areas. Attack/Effect PL 10, Dodge/Toughness PL 10, Parry/Toughness PL 10, Fort/Will PL 7.
- Points total 82. Abilities 52, Defences 16, Skills 6, Powers 2, Devices 0, Advantages 6. Equiv. PL 6.
Ape-Man (Roy McVey)
Very little material once again. Use Keefeer’s base numbers, but :
- DEX, INT, AWE, PRE at 00.
- No Power Attack.
- Two fewer Ranks in Athletics, Acrobatics.
- No Expertise Skill.
- Complication about beeing duped replaced by one about greed.
- Possibly Feature 1 (exceptionally big), but it’s cosmetic.
Source of Character: Older Marvel comics.
Helper(s): Darci.
Writeup completed on the 12th of January, 2020.