Sandbox:Konga
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“
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Konga! Konga! Put me down! Put me down, I say!
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„
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— Dr. Charles Decker (Konga) |
Konga is a giant ape monster that first appeared in the 1961 British-American film Konga, where he began life as a baby chimpanzee and was then mutated with a growth serum into a gargantuan gorilla-like ape by the deranged Dr. Charles Decker. The same year as the film's release, Charlton Comics began producing a comic book series based on the film, and saw a second Konga be created from the same science that created the original one.
Name
Konga's name comes from the "Kong" part in the name of King Kong; this was possible because the producer of the film, Herman Cohen, paid RKO Pictures $250,000 to use King Kong's name for exploitation purposes.[8]
Design
In both his film and comic appearances, Konga greatly resembles a gorilla. The suit that would be used to portray Konga was designed, crafted, owned and operated by American artist George Barrows. He built it in 1949-1950 to get work in jungle-themed adventure movies that were popular at the time. Over the coming decades he and his gorilla suit played parts in many movies and TV shows. It is composed of cast rubber from a plaster mold, and is covered in a blend of both human and yak hair. It is reported that the materials to make the suit cost about $500, which adjusted for inflation is worth more than $7,000 in 2026. Barrows rented his suit out to American International Pictures for a rate of $750 per week, a value of over $8,500 in modern terms.[9] It is reported that filming Konga practically destroyed Barrows' suit, and it was returned to him with a broken lip mechanism and several ventilation holes cut in the suit.[10]
Origins
In the original film, Konga's exact origins aren't described in detail. All that is known is that Konga was a baby chimpanzee that Dr. Charles Decker allegedly grew fond of while stranded in Africa. Decker would later bring him to England and inject him with an experimental plant-based evolutionary growth serum of his own creation that turned him into an adult chimpanzee, a human-sized and later giant-sized gorilla. A side effect of the serum gave Decker psychic control over Konga, and he was made to murder the doctor's enemies.
In the comic adaptation of the film, Konga was a sacred monkey living in Africa who saved the much kinder Dr. Decker's life. Based on his fan-like tail, it is likely that he was a colobus monkey. He then went with the doctor to England, where he was experimented on and mutated into a chimpanzee. In this telling, as a side effect of the process, Konga developed psychic powers and acted out Dr. Decker's violent fantasies by murdering his associates. Eventually, Konga injected himself with more of the serum than was advised and grew to great size.
Years later, in the comic's continuity, Decker's students Bob and Sandra would recreate his experiment on another monkey which they named Konga, who would go on to protect humanity and try to live in peace with them, but despite his efforts, they were always trying to kill him.
History
- Konga (1961)
Konga
When Dr. Charles Decker became stranded in the wilds of Uganda, he claims to have befriended a baby chimpanzee, which he named Konga. The two lived among the Buganda people for a year while Decker performed experiments on the local plants.
On his return to London, Decker told the press that he and Konga had become inseparable friends, but in reality he had been preparing to run experiments on the creature with the aid of his housekeeper, NAME.
Konga and NAME became fast friends while Decker returned to his position at COLLEGE NAME. One night, Decker injected the young ape with a mutagenic serum derived from the rare plants he discovered during his time in Uganda. This injection caused an instant reaction in Konga, who grew in size and maturity to resemble a young adult chimpanzee.
NAME continued to care for him, and he was even able to deliver tea trays to the basement laboratory, where he enjoyed delicious bananas with his friend. This happiness was not to last. Insuffrably petty and resentful, Decker mutated Konga once more, this time resulting in his appearance matching a large, upright gorilla. Immedeately afterward, Decker shined a light into Konga's eyes to hypnotize the beast into following his orders.
Decker then sent Konga to strangle the head of his college Mr. NAME
Comics and books
- Konga (1961–1965)
- Konga's Revenge (1962–1964)
Konga
"Konga"
Konga was a colobus(?) monkey living in Central Africa, where he was revered as a sacred being by the local gigantic tribesmen, most especially by their witch-doctor M'Bontu. He befriended the stranded English scientist Dr. Charles Decker, and after a year spent with him in the jungle, he accompanied him back to England.
Konga's Revenge
"A Mate for Konga"
After being kidnapped by Communists, a mad scientist used his own growth serum to create a female counterpart to Konga named Torga. Unlike Konga, she was violent and angry and, despite his attempts to reform her, these qualities ultimately proved to be her undoing.
"Konga's Revenge"
Konga gets shrunk down to a tiny size and fights a rat.
"The Trojan Queen"
Konga falls in love with a movie star and saves a movie set.
Abilities
Physical strength
TBA
Physical capabilities
TBA
Smelling Communism
In issue #19 of Charlton Comics' comic book series Konga, it is revealed that Konga can smell Communism.[11]
Durability
TBA
Trivia
- While Konga is only 100 feet tall, and much shorter than the famous Elizabeth Tower where he meets his fate, the poster depicts him at almost twice the tower's size. This gigantic form can be measured to approximately 487 feet tall.
References
This is a list of references for Konga. These citations are used to identify the reliable sources on which this article is based. These references appear inside articles in the form of superscript numbers, which look like this: [1]
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