The history of Koba from the Planet of the Apes reboot trilogy.
A Dark Life[]
Koba was born and raised in a primate research facility. He was taught sign language and was very close to his mother and their caregiver Mary. Like many sign language apes, Koba did not understand that apes who didn't use sign language were like him, and he also wasn't taught what the word "chimp" meant. As a result, Koba regarded non-signing apes as "big black caterpillars", and identified himself with humans.
One day, Mary had a kind assistant handler, Kuo, who left the facility for unknown reasons and was replaced by an abusive, alcoholic man named Roger. Due to being unfamiliar and uncomfortable with Roger's rough handling methods, Koba disobeyed him without even meaning to, causing Roger to physically and verbally assault the little bonobo in a drunken rage. When Koba's mother attacked Roger to defend her son, Roger retaliated by fatally beating her with a sack of oranges. As a result of this incident, funding for the program Koba was involved in was cut, and he was sent off to a new home, which Mary promised would be good.
Koba was sold to a TV studio under the care of the abusive Tommy. There, Koba lived with another ape named Milo who also knew sign language and became friends with him, although they were never as close as Koba was to his mother. Tommy was the producer of a comedy show entitled Monkey of the House, and frequently forced the two apes to do tricks, electrocuting or beating them if they failed or disobeyed. When Milo bit an unruly child in self-defense, Tommy punished the chimp by wiring his mouth shut, which greatly disturbed Koba.
Tommy's show was eventually canceled due to poor ratings and outrage about Milo biting the child. Turning to drink, Tommy began to take his anger out on the two apes. When Koba finally tried to defend himself, Tommy slashed the bonobo's face with a knife, scarring his left forehead, eye, and cheek. However, the knife wound failed to blind Koba's left eye, so Tommy burned and blinded it with a lit cigarette. Tommy eventually killed himself and the two apes attempted to escape his home, only to be captured and separated by animal control officers.
Koba was then sent to a laboratory, where he was subjected to painful experiments and otherwise kept in complete isolation. As a result of boredom, loneliness, and the trauma of the experiments, Koba developed self-harming behaviors such as pulling out his fur and injuring his knuckles while signing them against the floor of his cage.
At one point, Koba became a test subject for a project studying cognitive ability, headed by Steven Jacobs. While there, Koba met neuroscientist Amol. However, just as Amol and Koba were beginning to bond, Jacobs fired Amol after the project proved to be a financial disaster. Afterward, Jacobs confronted Koba in his cage, callously deriding him as a "stupid, ugly monkey" and claiming that he would put Koba down if the choice was his. As a result, Koba developed an intense dislike of Jacobs.
Koba was then sent to other labs, where he was subjected to many more experiments, gaining several more scars as a result, including one on his right arm and one on the left side of his neck. Eventually, Koba was sent to Gen-Sys, where he once met Jacobs, who had become the CEO of the lab. Jacobs sadistically taunted Koba, calling him the "ugliest ape in the world" and telling him that no matter how human he thought he was, he was nothing but an animal. This, coupled with all the abuse and torment he received in his life proved to be the tipping point that would eventually send him down a dark path. Having witnessed humanity's dark side and with those who showed him the good side of humanity gone from his life, Koba developed a strong hatred of humans and decided to focus that hatred focus on Jacobs.
Koba staring at Jacobs after writing his name on the screen.
Shortly afterwards, Koba was chosen by Will Rodman and Franklin to be the first test subject for the ALZ-113 drug, after the bonobo repeatedly held out his hand for cookies. During the test, Jacobs came in to watch and briefly mocked Koba by knocking on the room's window as the bonobo was strapped onto a table for the test. However, just as the gaseous virus was being exposed to Koba, the bonobo suddenly tried to attack his captors, in the process knocking off Franklin's mask and exposing him to the virus. However, the scientists were able to subdue Koba before he could get off the table, and he was forced to breath in the virus.
Battle at the Golden Gate Bridge[]
Afterwards, Koba's intelligence was surprisingly increased to the point where he was able to write Jacobs' name on a writing computer screen, but Jacobs was too overjoyed with the apparent success of the virus to notice Koba's vicious intentions towards him. Koba also scored a perfect score of fifteen on the Lucus Tower, according to a scientist named Linda.
Unknown to everyone, Koba's surprise attack had infected Franklin with the ALZ-113. Franklin quickly became sick and died within a few days, which proved that while the virus improved the intelligence of the apes, it was deadly to humans. Before dying, Franklin accidentally released the virus into the human population, which would kill off most of the world's population as the pandemic reached global proportions.
Koba preparing to push Jacobs off the bridge.
Koba was soon freed by Caesar and joined the rebellion to find haven in Muir Woods Park and was ordered by Caesar to climb the Golden Gate Bridge's high wire supports. During the battle, Buck, a comrade and friend of Caesar's, was killed by Jacobs, who was now dangling from the wreckage of a helicopter on the edge of the bridge. Not willing to kill him but also not caring for him, Caesar left Jacobs in the hands of Koba. He begged for mercy, but Koba pushed Jacobs off the bridge without hesitation, sending a screaming Jacobs and the damaged helicopter falling into the water below.
Koba and the other apes escaped in Muir Woods Park, where Will had come to find Caesar. Koba attacked him, but was stopped by Caesar before he could kill him. Caesar ordered Koba to leave Will be, an order Koba grudgingly obeyed and then ran off. However, he later rejoined the apes in acknowledging Caesar's leadership.
After the Simian Flu[]
Koba helping Caesar and Blue Eyes kill a grizzly bear.
Ten years after the outbreak of the ALZ-113 virus (also known as the Simian Flu), Koba is now living with Caesar in the ape colony, where he acts as an adviser to his fellow ape Caesar and a mentor to his young son, Blue Eyes. Caesar seems to have forgiven Koba for his attempted attack on Will and the two of them act as friends. During a deer hunt, Koba saves Caesar and Blue Eyes from a grizzly bear for which Caesar expresses his gratitude to Koba.
When a group of humans stumbles upon the ape colony, one of them, Carver, shoots and wounds a young ape named Ash, Blue Eye's best friend. Caesar, Koba, and the other apes rush to their aid and force the humans out. The following night, the ape council decides on how they should deal with the humans. Koba strongly suggests they attack the humans before they can attack themselves, to which many of the apes, including Blue Eyes, agree. However, Caesar disagrees, feeling war will do more harm than good, so he conducts a diplomatic plan to deal with the human threat. The following morning, an entire ape army appears and demands the humans to stay in their land, while the apes stay in theirs.
Koba confronting Maurice about Caesar's whereabouts.
This does not last, for a group of humans led by Malcolm return to talk the following day. Malcolm says that the hydroelectric dam, which is located in the ape territory, is the only chance humans have at regaining power. Caesar allows them in, which angers Koba greatly. This causes an argument, to which Koba reminds Caesar of the mistreatment he suffered at the hands of humanity. Seeing that he offended his leader, Koba asks Caesar for forgiveness, which he accepts. Nonetheless, Koba is still not convinced of the humans' real plans and begins to doubt his leader's loyalty.
Battle for Peace[]
| “ | Humans attack your sons! You let them stay? Put apes in danger! Caesar loves humans more than apes! More than your sons! | „ |
| ~ Koba berates Caesar about his sympathy for humans and apes. |
Koba and his two followers sneak into the human city and discover a vast array of weaponry, which he believes will be used for an attack. Though Koba is caught, he is able to escape with his life by pretending to act like a circus monkey to two guards. Returning to the ape colony to warn Caesar, Koba is dismayed when he learns that the humans are still there. Koba in turn shoves Malcolm's teenage son, Alexander to the ground and prepares to attack him, but is stopped by Malcolm and Maurice. Outraged, Koba confronts Caesar by accusing him of loving humans more than the apes and his sons, which angers Caesar and leads to a violent brawl between him and Koba, which ends with Koba on the floor with a bloodied face. Caesar stops and reminds himself of the one most important rule in the colony, Ape not kill ape.
Koba after killing the two guards and stealing their gun.
Koba again asks for forgiveness and again Caesar accepts. Though now, Koba puts his plans into motion. After talking with Blue Eyes about his father's feelings towards humans, Koba returns to the armory. He performs the circus act again, Koba plays with them and the humans find him funny and laugh along with him, but then Koba starts drinking aggressively, and the humans start being cautious about what Koba will do, Koba sits next to the humans and grabs the rifle, and shoots them. With his new weapon in hand, Koba sneaks back into the ape colony. Before doing so, he ambushes and beats Carver to death, taking his hat and lighter.
As the apes and humans celebrate their teamwork and success in restoring power, Koba secretly orders his two henchapes, Grey and Stone, to set the ape village on fire using Carver's lighter. Koba then sneaks up to Caesar and the two briefly stare at each other before Koba shoots Caesar in the shoulder, badly wounding him and causing him to fall off a ledge to his apparent death. Koba uses this to gain leadership of the colony and, having successfully manipulated the other apes into believing that the humans killed Caesar, convinces the ape clan to turn against the humans and rally as they prepare to attack the city.
Koba relishing the war that the apes are having against the humans.
The attack begins with the apes storming the armory and taking as many guns as they can and moving onto the city. As many apes are getting killed in the ensuing battle, Koba charges in and shoots several of the human guards on top of the tower and takes over a man-driven tank, the last chance of action against the apes. Koba then uses the tank to break through the gate allowing the apes to successfully take control of the human city, though the human leader, Dreyfus, escapes. Koba soon proves to be a cynically unhinged, ruthless, and tyrannical leader to humans and apes alike. This is shown when he demands Ash to kill an unarmed man, but Ash refused as it wouldn't have been what Caesar wanted.
Koba appears to comfort the guilt-ridden Ash at first, but then angrily drags him up to the highest level of the building's foyer and then tosses him down to the ground below, killing him in front of everyone including Blue-Eyes. Shortly after killing Ash, Koba declares himself to be the new leader of the ape colony upon lamenting that Ceaser is gone. He soon furthers his cruelty by forcing all the captured humans into cages and imprisoned other apes, including Caesar's other advisers and his former friends Maurice and Rocket, due to them being loyal to Caesar.
Unbeknownst to Koba, Caesar is still alive, is found by Malcolm and his family, and gets healed back to health. When Malcolm goes to their former home to find medicine, he is discovered by Blue Eyes, who is brought to his father before turning on Koba when Caesar reveals that Koba is the sole reason that led to Caesar's assumed death and the battle between apes and humans. The father and son recoil and realize they must put an end to Koba's tyranny. Blue Eyes frees the humans and apes taken prisoner by Koba and learns that Koba has sent for the women and children, including Caesar's wife, Cornelia, and his infant son, Cornelius. Fearing his entire family may be at risk, Caesar knows he must act.
Showdown and Defeat[]
Koba facing off against Caesar.
Caesar, his loyal followers (including Maurice), and Malcolm head to the city towards the tower where Koba and his followers have made their base. Malcolm leads the apes into the tower and is rejoined with Dreyfus and a few other surviving humans. Malcolm learns that Dreyfus has rigged the tower with C-4 explosives. Malcolm holds the men at gunpoint as Caesar confronts Koba at the tower. The two begin to exchange words with Koba telling Caesar he does not belong to the ape clan and reminding him that he has been replaced.
Caesar warns Koba of the danger he is forcing their species into when going to war against humanity, but Koba shouts out his determination that Apes will win, copying Caesar's last quote "Apes together strong". Koba insults Caesar's leadership by calling him weak, but Caesar remains unaffected, quietly retorting "Koba weaker". Koba points a gun at Caesar, but instead drops it and angrily attacks his former friend; the two apes then engage in a brutal fight. At first, Koba appears to have the upper hand, but Caesar uses Koba's hatred of humans against him and is able to wound the bonobo in his side. Just as the two primates continue to fight, Dreyfus detonates the C-4, killing himself and his two accomplices, but Malcolm survives by ducking under the platform they were on. The tower partially collapses and many of the apes are left in the rubble.
Koba opening fire on Caesar and the other apes.
While Caesar and Blue Eyes help the wounded apes, Koba finds a gun, leaving behind an ape under the rubble to get it no less, and starts wildly shooting at Caesar and the other apes, killing one and injuring Maurice. Enraged, Caesar dives at Koba and tackles him, leaving him dangling on a ledge over the 250 foot deep, fiery shaft in the center of the tower. Koba, clinging for dear life is approached by Caesar. Pleading for his life, Koba reminds Caesar of the colony law: "Ape not kill ape". Caesar grabs Koba's hand and initially considers saving him. But just as he nearly pulls Koba up to safety, Caesar takes a good look at all the apes Koba had traumatized, which he believed Koba was too cruel and dangerous to be left alive.
Unable to forgive or forget Koba's actions, Caesar turns to look at Koba one last time and coldly claims that, due to Koba's betrayal and crimes, Koba is no longer a true ape. Having disowned him, Caesar lets go of the surprised Koba's hand, sending the screaming treacherous bonobo falling onto a damaged crane after hitting a connecting wire, which then collapses into the deep, fiery shaft with Koba still on it, sending the vile creature falling to his death and ending Koba's reign of terror for good, thus avenging all the apes (including Ash) and humans he had killed. Caesar would later mourn for Koba's death because of the former friendship they had with each other before it was destroyed.
Despite Koba's downfall and demise, his actions made it impossible for the apes to make peace with the humans, resulting in the impending war with the humans to come. Therefore, even though Koba didn't live to see it, he got exactly what he wanted in death: war with humanity.
Aftermath of the Crusade[]
Despite his death, Koba's legacy still haunts Caesar. He appears twice as a hallucination, first after Caesar accidentally kills the cowardly gorilla traitor Winter by smothering him, his face bloodied as he taunts a traumatized Caesar with the words "Ape not kill ape." The second time is when Red arrives to cut Caesar down from his crucifix, a bloody-faced Koba telling his old enemy that he cannot save his people.
Caesar finally accepts the fact that he may be starting to become similar to Koba and stays behind to finish off the Colonel while the rest of the apes flee into safety. In the end, however, Caesar maintained his compassion and sympathy towards humans as he opted to leave the Colonel, the man who destroyed his family and harmed his colony, deciding his own fate upon seeing him succumb to Simian Flu which threatened to devolve him.
In an almost ironic way, the actions of Koba eventually caused the death of Caesar, who ended up being shot by a human soldier named Preacher following the death of Colonel McCullough.
Koba himself had gone down as a monster and a traitor to the ape colony for his betrayal against Caesar and nearly causing the destruction of the Ape colony. Despite his actions, however, Koba was viewed as a martyr by many of the apes who were loyal to him. After his death, they questioned Caesar's leadership and ended up defecting to the human military instead as they were only loyal to Koba. Many of the apes, such as Red, later became "Donkeys" for the human military arm known as Alpha-Omega and collaborated with them during the Human-Ape war.