DETECTIVE CHIMP (Bobo T. Chimpanzee)	BIOGRAPHY
Created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino

Detective Chimp (Bobo T. Chimpanzee)

PERSONAL DATA

Real Name: Bobo T. Chimpanzee
Identity: Public
Occupation: Private Investigator
Status: Active
Marital Status: Single
Known Relatives: None
Base of Operation: Oblivion Bar, formerly Africa, later Oscaloosa County, Florida
Group Affiliation(s): Justice League Dark
Group Affiliation (former): Chimpanzee Investigations, the Bureau of Amplified Animals, Shadowpact
Gender: Male
Height: 3'7"
Weight: 76 lbs.
Eyes: Brown/Black
Hair: Black (all over his body)
First Appearance: Adventures of Rex the Wonder Dog #4/2 (July-August 1952): "Meet Detective Chimp"
Creators: John Broome and Carmine Infantino

Aw, the detective thing's just a sideline these days. I make my real money in investments. - Bobo Quote taken from Martian Manhunter Annual #2 (1999)

HISTORY

In the early 1950s, the chimpanzee who would later be known as Bobo the Detective Chimp was still a normal young ape in Africa. When two alien simians named Y-Nad and K-Ram visited our planet, they concluded that the chimpanzees were the dominant species on Earth, since it was the race that looked most like the aliens themselves. Landing in Africa, Y-Nad and K-Ram attempted to make contact with the chimp. But being microscopically small, they and their spaceship were accidentally swallowed by the unknowing primate.

Travelling through the chimp's bloodstream to its head, the aliens used their advanced technology to "amplify" the brain, making its capacity almost as advanced as theirs. With its newfound intelligence, the ape encountered an American scientific expedition and saved its leading scientist from dying at the hands of his treacherous assistant. Content with their work, the little ape-like aliens headed back to their home planet.

Brought back to the United States by the scientist, the chimpanzee now known as Bobo somehow eventually ended up with noted animal trainer Fred Thorpe, who, amazed at the chimp's extraordinary intelligence, managed to refine its skills and teach it many of the ways of human society. When Thorpe was savagely murdered, Bobo came into the care of Sheriff Edward Case of Oscaloosa County. Using his instincts and almost-human intelligence, Bobo led Case to the killers of Thorpe, subsequently becoming the Sheriff's constant companion and unofficial assistant.

Over the years, the Detective Chimp solved numerous cases with and without Sheriff Case. However, advancing age eventually began to slow him down, and Bobo reluctantly started to consider retirement. During a chance meeting with his idol and fellow "advanced beast", Rex the Wonder Dog, Bobo encountered the lost and legendary Fountain of Youth, from which the two animals unwittingly drank. At an instant, Bobo found himself a young chimp again, beginning life anew.

Starting his own private detective agency in Florida, Bobo decided to no longer keep his intelligence and detective skills hidden from humanity. He made quite an amount of money solving local crimes, which he eventually invested and managed to turn into a small fortune.

In recent years, Bobo has somehow mastered the ability to speak in human tongue. For a period, Bobo allied himself with an institution called "the Bureau of Amplified Animals", of which Rex was an agent, too. Bobo and Rex both assisted Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) and Flash (Wally West) in their battle against the alliance of Gorilla Grodd and Hector Hammond.

When last seen, Bobo assisted fellow detective John Jones (a.k.a. the Martian Manhunter) by answering a few questions about Gorilla Grodd, who at the time attempted to take over the world. Appearing a bit arrogant, Bobo wasn't able to tell Jones anything new, except that he once helped Grodd's wife (Boka) divorce him.

Detective Chimp has not been seen since. The current whereabouts of Sheriff Edward Case are unknown.

POWERS AND WEAPONS

The aliens' advanced technology amplified Bobo's brain capacity and intelligence to an advanced human level, which he now uses mainly for problem-solving and deduction. Beastly strong and agile, Bobo still has the instincts of a normal chimpanzee, something that helps him considerably in his detective work.

Bobo is able to communicate with all sorts of animal life. He has always had an overwhelming curiosity about all things human and could understand everything said to him and in recent years has even learnt to speak English.

CHRONOLOGY

For a definitive list of appearances of Detective Chimp in chronological order click here

PROFILE REFERENCES

Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #6 (August 1985)