Wildcat (Ted Grant)

Last updated
Wildcat
Wildcat (Ted Grant).jpg
Wildcat as depicted in JSA Classified #27 (August 2007).
Art by Matt Haley and Jerome Moore.
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
First appearance Sensation Comics #1 (January 1942)
Created by Bill Finger (writer)
Irwin Hasen (artist)
In-story information
Alter egoTheodore "Ted" Grant
Species Metahuman
Team affiliations Justice Society of America
Suicide Squad
All-Star Squadron
Justice League
Abilities
  • World champion heavyweight boxer
  • Master martial artist, hand-to-hand combatant and instructor
  • Peak physical condition
  • Nine lives at any given time

Theodore "Ted" Grant is a fictional character, a DC Comics superhero, known as the original Wildcat and a long-time member of the Justice Society of America (JSA). [1] A world-class heavyweight boxer, Grant became inadvertently entangled in the criminal underworld and developed a costumed identity to clear his name.

Contents

Modern depictions of Wildcat show him to be a rowdy, tough guy with a streak of male chauvinism, leading to frequent clashes with the relatively progressive Power Girl, as well as exploring some of the character's insecurities. Additionally, his longevity has been explained as being derived from a magic spell that gives him "nine lives". Like many older JSA members, he has been a mentor to younger heroes, particularly the second Black Canary.

Ted Grant briefly appeared in an episode of Smallville , played by Roger Hasket. Grant’s Wildcat was also a recurring character on the third season of Arrow , played by J. R. Ramirez, and appeared in Stargirl , portrayed by Brian Stapf. Additionally, Dennis Farina, R. Lee Ermey, and John DiMaggio have voiced Wildcat in animation.

Publication history

The Ted Grant version of Wildcat first appeared in Sensation Comics #1, and was created by writer Bill Finger and illustrator Irwin Hasen. [2] He continued in Sensation Comics until issue #90 (June 1949). [3]

Fictional character biography

Theodore "Ted" Grant is a normal human who was magically given nine lives. He remains at the peak of human condition due to his extensive workouts. [4] He is a world-class boxer who trained Batman, Black Canary, and Superman. Grant was in turn trained by ex-boxer Joe Morgan, who also tutored Atom and Guardian.

Earth-Two

Ted Grant first donned the Wildcat costume in Sensation Comics #1 (January 1942), the same issue in which Mister Terrific premiered. [5]

Wildcat in the 1940s; art by Irwin Hasen. Wildcat-1-.jpg
Wildcat in the 1940s; art by Irwin Hasen.

Wildcat's origin is chronicled in Sensation Comics #1 as well as Secret Origins #3 (1973) and All-Star Squadron Annual #1 (1982). Henry Grant vowed on his baby son's crib that the child would not grow up afraid of life, so he encouraged his son to participate in sports. Orphaned during the Great Depression, Ted becomes a heavyweight boxing champion. He also became tangled unknowingly in his manager's sinister plans. His mentor "Socker" Smith was killed by Grant's managers Flint and Skinner who used a syringe, loaded with poison, in a boxing glove. The dose was only intended to slow down Smith, but the duo misjudged the potency. When Grant was arrested for the crime, Flint and Skinner, afraid that he might know what had really happened, arranged for the young fighter to be killed. Grant escaped the attempt and survived, but the policemen with him were killed. As a result, he became a fugitive. Later, he came upon a child who had been robbed of his Green Lantern comic. The boy, describing the mystery-man Green Lantern, inspired Grant to create a cat-themed costume. He took the name Wildcat and vowed to clear his name. He brought Flint and Skinner to justice; the criminals were forced to confess, clearing Grant's name, and obtaining justice for Smith. Using the identity of Wildcat, Grant continued to fight crime. [6]

By issue #4, Wildcat had a custom motorbike, the "Cat-o-Cycle", and a comedy sidekick named Stretch Skinner. [7] [8]

In the pages of All Star Comics, Wildcat had a few adventures as a member of the Justice Society of America (JSA). In the 1980s, when the All-Star Squadron was published, it created a retroactive continuity in which the majority of WWII mystery-men interacted with each other. Wildcat had a place as a member of that conglomeration of heroes as well. The 1970s run of All Star Comics (1976–1979) had Wildcat play a central role as a JSA member, where he defeats Psycho-Pirate.

In Crisis on Infinite Earths , Red Tornado shatters Wildcat's legs, and he is told that he will not regain mobility. His goddaughter Yolanda Montez succeeds him as Wildcat.

Post-Crisis

Wildcat and Hippolyta as depicted in Wonder Woman (vol. 2) #185 (Nov. 2002). Art by Phil Jimenez. HippolytaWildcat.jpg
Wildcat and Hippolyta as depicted in Wonder Woman (vol. 2) #185 (Nov. 2002). Art by Phil Jimenez.

Following Crisis on Infinite Earths, Wildcat regains his mobility and rejoins the Justice Society. The group enters Limbo to prevent Ragnarök, but are freed in Armageddon: Inferno. In Zero Hour: Crisis in Time! , Wildcat loses his longevity to Extant and retires. During this time, he has affairs with Selina Kyle and Hippolyta. [9] [10] [11] [12]

Wildcat is not present in The New 52 continuity reboot. In Doomsday Clock , this is revealed to be the result of Doctor Manhattan altering the timeline and erasing the Justice Society from existence. [13] After Manhattan undoes his actions, Wildcat and the Society return. [14] [15]

In JSA #6 (2025), Wildcat is killed by Lady Eve. [16] [17] Shortly afterward, he and several other deceased JSA members return as ghosts and recruit Kid Eternity to protect the rest of the JSA. [18]

Powers and abilities

Possessing no inherent superpowers, Grant is considered a accomplished boxer and mixed martial artist in peak human condition; [19] he is skilled in various disciplines such as capoeira, hapkido, kickboxing, krav maga, muay thai, [20] taekwondo, [21] and boxing, the last of which he typically favors. [20] In addition to his fighting abilities, Grant is a skilled motorist, [20] investigator specializing in sports crimes, and is a proficient teacher of martial arts, teaching numerous civilians and superheroes alike. [19] Later stories revealed he has a nine lives curse, originating from Zatara's alterations to prevent a transformation into a cat. This grants him virtual immortality, provided he isn't killed nine times. [19]

Enemies

Wildcat had his own rogues gallery during his career:

Other versions

In other media

Television

Live-action

  • Ted Grant / Wildcat makes a cameo appearance in the Smallville two-part episode "Absolute Justice", portrayed by Roger Hasket. This version is a member of the Justice Society of America (JSA), who were primarily active in the 1970s, until the government forced them to retire from superheroics. Despite this, Grant remained active as a professional boxer.
  • Ted Grant appears in the third season of Arrow , portrayed by J. R. Ramirez. This version runs the "Wildcat Gym" as a place to help kids on the streets by training them to box in the hopes it will steer them straight. Additionally, he originally operated as a vigilante who fought street crime in a crime-infested district of Starling City called the Glades, but retired after his partner, Isaac Stanzler, beat someone to death; something he felt was morally wrong. In the present, he trains Laurel Lance, providing her the foundation she would later need to become a skilled combatant while training under Nyssa al Ghul. He later helps the Arrow and his allies defeat Stanzler, and stop Daniel Brickwell's siege on the Glades. Grant is wounded in the battle, but survives. [37]
  • Ted Grant / Wildcat appears in Stargirl , portrayed by Brian Stapf. [38] This version was a member of the Justice Society of America (JSA) before being killed in an attack by the Injustice Society. Ten years later, Yolanda Montez inherits Grant's suit and becomes the new Wildcat.

Animation

Film

Video games

Merchandise

In 1973, 7-Eleven had a series of 60 DC based Superhero Slurpee trading cups. One of which depicts Wildcat riding a cat themed motorcycle.

Miscellaneous

Reception

IGN listed Wildcat as the 71st greatest comic book character of all time stating that, due to his age as a superhero, he is almost more mystifying than the Spectre. [46]

References

  1. ↑ Markstein, Don. "Wildcat". Don Markstein's Toonopedia . Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  2. ↑ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 327. ISBN   978-1-4654-5357-0.
  3. ↑ Benton, Mike (1992). Superhero Comics of the Golden Age: The Illustrated History. Dallas: Taylor Publishing Company. p. 180. ISBN   0-87833-808-X . Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  4. ↑ Greenberger, Robert (2008). The Essential Batman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. pp. 374–375. ISBN   9780345501066.
  5. ↑ Nevins, Jess (2013). Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes. High Rock Press. p. 293. ISBN   978-1-61318-023-5.
  6. 1 2 Sensation Comics #1 (January 1942)
  7. 1 2 Sensation Comics #4 (April 1942)
  8. ↑ Mitchell, Kurt; Thomas, Roy (2019). American Comic Book Chronicles: 1940–1944. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 140. ISBN   978-1605490892.
  9. ↑ Wonder Woman (vol. 2) #185 (November 2002)
  10. ↑ Catwoman: Year One (February 1989)
  11. ↑ Guy Gardner, Warrior #38 (January 1996)
  12. ↑ The Final Night #1–4 (November 1996)
  13. ↑ Doomsday Clock #12 (December 2019)
  14. ↑ Dark Nights: Death Metal #2 (September 2020)
  15. ↑ Justice Society of America (vol. 4) #6 (November 2023)
  16. ↑ Dyce, Andrew (April 2, 2025). "After 83 Years, DC Officially Kills Off One of Its First Golden Age Superheroes". Screen Rant . Retrieved April 19, 2025.
  17. ↑ JSA (vol. 2) #6 (April 2025)
  18. ↑ JSA (vol. 2) #7 (May 2025)
  19. 1 2 3 Manning, Matthew K.; Wiacek, Stephen; Scott, Melanie; Jones, Nick; Walker, Landry Q. (2021-07-06). The DC Comics Encyclopedia New Edition. Penguin. ISBN   978-0-7440-5301-2.
  20. 1 2 3 52 #23 (October 2006)
  21. ↑ Birds of Prey #78 (March 2005)
  22. ↑ Sensation Comics #13 (January 1943)
  23. ↑ Sensation Comics #10 (October 1942)
  24. ↑ Sensation Comics #16 (April 1943)
  25. ↑ Sensation Comics #68 (August 1947)
  26. ↑ Sensation Comics #6 (June 1942)
  27. ↑ Sensation Comics #21 (September 1943)
  28. ↑ Sensation Comics #3 (March 1941)
  29. ↑ Sensation Comics #18 (June 1943)
  30. ↑ Sensation Comics #20 (August 1943)
  31. ↑ Sensation Comics #25 (January 1944)
  32. ↑ Sensation Comics #66 (June 1947)
  33. ↑ JSA #9 (April 2000)
  34. ↑ DC: The New Frontier #2 (April 2004)
  35. ↑ Sandman (vol. 2) #54 (October 1993)
  36. ↑ Earth 2: World's End #6 (January 2015)
  37. ↑ Guggenheim, Marc (May 16, 2023). "Did you guys just kill off wildcat? please say no". Tumblr. Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  38. ↑ Holbrook, Damian (December 17, 2018). "DC Universe's Stargirl Casts Brian Stapf as Wildcat". TVInsider. Archived from the original on December 21, 2018. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
  39. ↑ "Catman Voice - Justice League (TV Show)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved April 8, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  40. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Wildcat Voices (DC Universe)". Behind The Voice Actors. Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved April 8, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  41. ↑ "Collider Confirms Rumors: Batman: Brave and the Bold to Feature Green Lantern Guy Gardener!". Collider. Valnet. August 18, 2008. Archived from the original on September 27, 2008. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
  42. ↑ Harvey, James (January 6, 2024). "Check out a selection of images provided by Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment from the upcoming Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part One. The animated movie arrives Jan. 9, 2024 on digital and Jan. 23 on physical". Twitter. Archived from the original on January 7, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  43. ↑ Brooke, David (July 12, 2025). "'Superman' reveals Hall of Justice mural: 300 years of heroes on display". AIPT. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  44. ↑ Eisen, Andrew (October 4, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN . Archived from the original on July 31, 2024. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  45. ↑ "Wildcat". www.comicbookbin.com. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  46. ↑ "Wildcat is number 71". IGN. Archived from the original on November 28, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2011.
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