Ken Hale

Kenneth "Ken" Hale, also known as Gorilla-Man, is a fictional adventurer and an evolved ape featured in comic books originally published by Atlas Comics, and later by Marvel Comics. He first appeared in Men's Adventures #26 in March, 1954. He was regularly featured in the Agents of Atlas comic book series.

Biography
Ken Hale was a soldier of fortune who longed to unlock the secret of immortality. Traveling through the wilds of Africa, he learned of a great ape which he believed held the key towards unlocking the secrets of eternal life. Through this interaction, the gorilla forced Hale to kill him, and upon his death, the curse of the Gorilla-Man passed onto Hale, transforming him into an intelligent, immortal ape.