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The Verger was a mutant who lived beneath the radiated ruins of New York City in the latter half of the 40th century. He was a member of the Fellowship of the Holy Fallout, charged with the sacred responsibility of overseeing the Divine Bomb. As the caretaker of their cathedral, the Verger's duty was to ensure that their God’s will always took precedence over the desires of the Fellowship. He was also tasked with safeguarding the holy power that the bomb possessed, ensuring it was neither misused nor exploited.[1]

Beneath the Planet of the Apes[]

Verger2

The Verger was a high-ranking religious leader among the mutant community and possessed the ability to project his thoughts directly into the minds of others. Although he was more than capable of physically speaking, his evolved persona preferred communication through telepathy. He was the first mutant encountered by John Brent after he and Nova found their way into the underground city. He was alone in the cathedral worshipping at the altar of the Divine Bomb. He ordered Brent to be taken for interrogation.

Novels[]

Death of the Planet of the Apes[]

Adiposo, acting on orders from Caspay, was instructed to input the coordinates of the Ape City to prepare the bomb for firing. He approached the Verger, who granted the Inquisitor access to the Divine Bomb after confirming that the order came directly from His Holiness himself. The Verger escorted Adiposo to the green copper shelter doors beneath the altar, unlocking them before leading him down the winding spiral staircase.

At the church, Mendez XXVI sensed the deaths of Ongaro and Caspay, realizing that the Fellowship’s way of life was now at risk. Even if they survived the apes' attack, they would need to restructure and preserve any remaining assets. Knowing the Verger’s value, His Holiness made his choice—speaking aloud, he relieved the Verger of his duties just before ordering him to find shelter.

During the gorilla army's invasion of the city, the Verger barricaded the cathedral doors, bolting them shut before escaping through the catacombs. As he moved through the tunnels, he passed a contingent of gorillas sweeping through an adjacent subway station, unnoticed in the shadows. Making his way toward the plaza beyond, the Verger was intercepted by Jaffe, the young son of Marcus, whom Ursus had promised would find revenge for the death of his father.

Both stayed still. The Verger probed the young gorilla's mind, sensing the depths of savagery that could drive apes to bring even a child to war. Jaffe heard a voice in his head warning him to return to his family rather than wage war here. Afraid, Jaffe fired at the Verger. The mutant fell to the ground and revealed his inmost self unto his God before being gunned down, over and over again, by the young gorilla.

Comics[]

Beneath the Planet of the Apes Goldkey-The Verger and Brent

Gold Key's Beneath the Planet of the Apes Adaptation[]

After Brent broke free from the mutants' psychic control, he entered the church in an attempt to keep Nova safe. There, he was greeted by the Verger, who was in the midst of a prayer to the Divine Bomb. Just as Brent was about to head outside, the Verger stopped him, informing the stranded astronaut that both he and Nova were being taken as prisoners for interrogation.

Marvel Comics' Beneath the Planet of the Apes Adaptation[]

Beneath the Planet of the Apes Marvel Magazine-The Verger and Brent

Once Brent regained control of himself, he entered the church, where the Verger was about to reveal his inmost self to his God. The keeper of the Bomb quickly noticed the astronaut and assured him there was no need to worry about Nova. Brent countered that while the mutants did not inflict physical harm, they could attack one's psyche. The Verger remained still until the guards arrived to take the astronaut to the Inquisitors for interrogation.

Beware the Planet of the Apes[]

One of Ivana’s premonitions showed Brent meeting the Verger and being brought before the mutant Inquisitors. In that vision, she caught a glimpse of Nova before waking up.

Notes[]

Appearances[]

Gallery[]

External links[]

References[]

Planet of the Apes - The Original Pentalogy Series
Planet of the Apes (APJ) Movies
Planet of the Apes | Beneath the Planet of the Apes | Escape from the Planet of the Apes | Conquest of the Planet of the Apes | Battle for the Planet of the Apes
Unused Scripts/Cancelled Movies
Planet of the Men | Return to the Planet of the Apes
Main Ape Characters
Zira | Cornelius | Zaius | Ursus | Milo | Caesar | Lisa | Virgil | Aldo | Cornelius II | Lawgiver
Supporting Ape Characters
Hunt Leader | Julius | Marcus | Galen | Honorius | Maximus | President of the Assembly | Lucius | Minister | Minister | Frank | Mandemus
Main Human Characters
George Taylor | Nova | John Landon | Dodge | John Brent | Mendez XXVI | Caspay | Ongaro | Albina | Fat Man | Lewis Dixon | Stephanie Branton | Otto Hasslein | Armando | Breck | MacDonald (Conquest) | MacDonald (Battle) | Kolp | Mendez I
Supporting Human Characters
Stewart | Maddox | Verger | General Winthrop | General Faulkner | The President | Chairman of the President's Committee of Inquiry | E-1 | E-2 | Inspector Hoskyns | TV Newscaster | Mrs Riley | Mutant Captain | Jake | Jake's friend
Animals
Horse | Gorilla in Zoo | Heloise | Salome
Items / Weapons
Hasslein Curve | Sacred Scrolls | Human Doll | Alpha-Omega Bomb | Grape Juice Plus
Important Events / Battles
Dog and Cat Plague | Ape Rebellion
Locations
Bellatrix | Orion | Earth's Moon | Ape City | Forbidden Zone | Statue of Liberty | Queensboro Plaza | Radio City Music Hall | Grand Central Terminal | New York Stock Exchange | St. Patrick's Cathedral' | New York City | Jefferson Public School | Los Angeles | Los Angeles Zoo | Forbidden City | Ape City (Caesar's City) | Council
Comic Adaptations
Beneath the Planet of the Apes (Comic Book) | Beneath the Planet of the Apes (Power Records) | Escape from the Planet of the Apes (Power Records) | Battle for the Planet of the Apes (Power Records)
Comic Books by Marvel Comics
Planet of the Apes Magazine
Comic Books by Malibu Graphics
Planet of the Apes (Malibu Graphics) | Ape City | Planet of the Apes: Urchak's Folly | Planet of the Apes: Blood of the Apes | Planet of the Apes Annual | Planet of the Apes: Sins of the Father | Planet of the Apes: The Forbidden Zone
Comic Books by MR Comics
Revolution on the Planet of the Apes | Empire on the Planet of the Apes
Comic Books by BOOM! Studios
Planet of the Apes (BOOM! Studios) | Planet of the Apes Special | Planet of the Apes Spectacular | Planet of the Apes Giant | Betrayal of the Planet of the Apes | Exile on the Planet of the Apes | Planet of the Apes: Cataclysm | Planet of the Apes: Ursus | Planet of the Apes: The Time of Man | Planet of the Apes: The Simian Age
Non Canon Comic Books/Crossovers by BOOM! Studios
Star Trek/Planet of the Apes: The Primate Directive | Planet of the Apes/Green Lantern | Kong on the Planet of the Apes | Tarzan on the Planet of the Apes
Current Comic Books by Marvel
Beware the Planet of the Apes
Novel Adaptations
Beneath the Planet of the Apes (Novelization) | Escape from the Planet of the Apes (Novelization) | Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (Novelization) | Battle for the Planet of the Apes (Novelization)
Original Novels
Conspiracy of the Planet of the Apes | Planet of the Apes: Tales from the Forbidden Zone | Death of the Planet of the Apes
Other Books
The Making of Planet of the Apes | Planet of the Apes Artist Tribute | Planet of the Apes (Little Golden Book)
Soundtrack Music
Planet of the Apes (Soundtrack Album) | Beneath the Planet of the Apes (Soundtrack Album) | Escape from the Planet of the Apes (Soundtrack Album) | Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (Soundtrack Album) | Battle for the Planet of the Apes (Soundtrack Album) | Music Of The Planet Of The Apes
Games
Revenge of the Apes | Planet of the Apes Roleplaying Game