Who the Clix? M'Baku
Who the Clix? is a series of articles featuring information on comic book characters that have been made into figures for the popular tabletop game Heroclix. These articles are meant to help Heroclix players learn more about the characters behind their favorite pieces.
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Appearances in Heroclix: Marvel Wizkids 19, Avengers Defenders War
First Appearance: The Avengers #62 (March 1969)
Team Affiliations: Lethal Legion. Masters of Evil
Powers/Abilities: Expert hand to hand combatant; Superhuman strength, speed, agility, stamina and durability
Created by: Roy Thomas - John Buscema
Character is copyright/trademark Marvel; used under Fair Use
M'Baku is born and raised in Wakanda, growing to be one of the nation's greatest warriors. Once he becomes second only to the Black Panther, he plots to take the throne with the help of the illegal White Gorilla Cult and return Wakanda to a less technological state. To become strong enough for this, he hunts down a white gorilla and kills it, bathing in its blood and eating its flesh. Growing stronger via this ritual, he begins to call himself Man-Ape.
He challenges Black Panther for the throne and is almost killed for his trouble. After being rescued by N'Gamo, he tracks Black Panther to America and travels there to face him again. He joins the Lethal Legion, alongside Grim Reaper, Living Laser, Power Man and Swordsman. M'Baku faces the Avengers alone but is defeated in battle. Determined to have his revenge, he kidnaps Black Panther's girlfriend and lures the hero into a trap. Though Black Panther is captured by the Lethal Legion, he is able to alert the Avengers and they defeat the villains once again. Black Panther exiles M'Baku from Wakanda under penalty of execution.
M'Baku joins another Lethal Legion but leaves when Grim Reaper's racism becomes too much for him to ignore. He travels the world before joining the Crimson Cowl's Masters of Evil who are defeated by the Thunderbolts. T'Challa makes an exception of M'Baku's exile and invites him to the king's wedding to Ororo Munroe. M'Baku proceeds to get drunk and attempt to pick a fight with Spider-Man.
Morlun later attacks M'Baku's people and seemingly kills the villain just after M'Baku sends a warning envoy to Wakanda. M'Baku later appears alive and healthy as part of Purple Man's Villains for Hire.