A Comic Odyssey: Big Julie the Gangster Gorilla

Sunday, 21 February 2021

Big Julie the Gangster Gorilla

I’ve mentioned other DC Comics references in the MC2 before but here’s one I think is too obvious to ignore: Big Julie the Gangster Gorilla. Yes, I have apes on the brain because I’m excited for Godzilla Vs Kong!

Let’s start by looking at Big Julie’s appearances. Julius S. Bridwell first appeared in J2 #9 a criminal gang leader who drew the attention of Assistant District Attorney Sachi Yama. Sachi swore out a warrant for Big Julie’s arrest which led to a shoot out which led to the criminal being riddled with bullets. With the aid of his associate Weasel Whoanellie, Julius was brought to Doc Hackem, a less than reputable medical scientist. Utilizing a unique ‘brain-transference process’ developed and perfected by Doctor Doom, Hackem transplanted the gangster’s mind into the body of a gorilla.

After an initial shock, Bridwell soon saw the benefits of having a more powerful primate physique and returned to his life of crime. Learning that ADA Sachi Yama was scheduled to give a speech at her son Zane’s school, Big Julie attempted to enact his revenge. When things start to go south with the intervention of J2, Bridwell takes Sachi to the roof of the school where he climbs atop a tall tower and attempts to use her as a hostage. This plan fails thanks to a swift and well-placed kick from Sachi Yama which causes Big Julie to drop her. J2 manages to catch his mother and defeat the gorilla gangster while Sachi takes care of his fleeing henchman.

Big Juile’s next appearance would unfortunately be his final, in the pages of Wild Thing #3 where the gangster went on a crime-spree utilizing a helmet device to temporarily mutate people into primates, disorientating them in the process and leaving him free to rob them. J2 attempted to stop his enemy only to wind up mutated himself. Failing, Zane persisted in his efforts and was transformed time and time again, eventually managed to land a hit on Bridwell and destroy the helmet device.

Now let’s talk about the references. Big Julie’s real name, Julius S. Bridwell is actually two references. The first is a reference to influential Silver Age DC Comics Editor Julius ‘Julie’ Schwartz. Following the publication of a story in DC’s Strange Adventures #8 which featured a man trapped in the body of a gorilla, Julius was reportedly asked to replicate the issues high sales. This led to an era wherein a gorilla would grace the cover of a DC Comics titles each month.

The second reference is to Edward Nelson Bridwell, more commonly known as E. Nelson Bridwell, a DC Comics Editor and an Assistant Editor to Julius Schwartz responsible for maintaining and tracking continuity, earning him a reputation as ‘DC’s self-appointed continuity cop’.

Finally, while it’s not a DC reference, we can’t ignore the obvious nod to the original King Kong when Big Julie scales the tower which for some reason is atop Zane’s school building.

Sadly, we could have seen Big Julie again, as artist Ron Frenz noted on Facebook:

Happy World Gorilla Day!

Big Julie, The Gangster Gorilla created by Ron Lim and

The Legendary Tom DeFalco for J2: Son Of The Juggernaut!

It was MY intention to bring Julie over to Spider-Girl under the moniker of Silverback! Circumstance (and DeFalco) prevented that from happening but the idea WAS ultimately retooled!