Gort, the Ape-Man

Gort, the Ape-Man Gort is Gordon Keefer, the original Ape-Man, transformed into the heavy hitter his name suggests. The animal theme has become something much more intimidating than a disguise. Inside Valhalla, he helps the Ani-Men hit the X-Men when they are already worn down. Thunderbird and Banshee are knocked out of the immediate fight, and Colossus has a physically powerful opponent to contend with. Gort does not need an elaborate weapon. His strength is the weapon. He also keeps coming after the battle starts turning against his side. Watching his teammates go down makes him angrier, and he remains dangerous after taking Storm's lightning. Wolverine and Nightcrawler work together to finish the job. The initial assault on the installation shows the same blunt approach. Faced with armed soldiers, Gort throws one of the fallen guards into them. Nefaria wants control of the room, and Gort supplies the violence that gives him time to secure it. His transformation has another side, though. Nefaria reminds the group that becoming human again depends on remembering who is in charge. Gort may look like the strongest presence in the room, but the employer who arranged his new body holds something over him. The extra strength has not made him independent. It has made him more valuable to a man who treats him as property. There is a practical lesson for the new X-Men buried in that brawl. Having Colossus does not mean every strong opponent becomes his private problem. Gort is brought down through several teammates stepping in, covering one another and using whatever opening appears. They are still finding that rhythm under pressure.