Wildcat

Origin

In the first issue of Sensation Comics of 1942, where he heard about Green Lantern, he was inspired by him and wished to become a hero himself. Even though Wonder Woman was the main star, Wildcat was in the back pages and that’s where he gained his popularity. Wildcat was Ted Grant and a boxer, who met some crooks. He struck a deal with them and they decided to put a poisoned needle in Ted Grant’s boxing glove so making contact with his opponent would allow him to win. The poisoned needle was to weaken his opponent but it instead killed the opponent. All of this was blamed on Ted himself and that’s where he heard about Green Lantern and soon took on the name Wildcat.

After the poisonous needle event, he cleared his name and his adventures began as Wildcat, using a dual identity and keeping his name Ted Grant as well. Wildcat had gained popularity but stayed mostly in the back pages. His most popular adventure was with the Justice Society of America where he was a replacement member. He had also appeared in Comics Cavalcade. He had never made it on to the front cover of Sensation Comics but had remained for nine years in the back pages, where only he and Wonder Woman were left as the characters.

In the 60s, he became a regular member of the Justice Society of America and had many crossovers with the Justice League of America. He also starred with Batman in The Brave and the Bold. His origin story had also taken an updating, as he had become an undefeated champion and retired, training Black Canary, Jack Knight and Batman in boxing. In the 70s, he was back on again with the Justice Society of America and in the 80s, a new Wildcat had emerged. She was named Yolanda Montez, and she had the same fighting skills as Ted Grant, as she was the daughter of Ted Grant’s boxing opponent. She was killed during Zero Hour.

Character Creation

Ted Grant made his first appearance in Sensation Comics #1, 1942. He was created by Bill Finger and Irwin Hasen.

Character Evolution

Father and Son

Wildcat along with Jay Garrick and Alan Scott were working together to reform the Justice Society of America with the recruitment of legacies and past members. Ted was not very interested in any of the formalities of the recruitment he did not care whom was picked he only wanted to get back in the saddle. After the recruits were adopted Ted learns that there is one more on the list a young man named Tommy Bronson this is when Alan and Jay tell Ted that this boy is his son. Ted is dumbfounded and confused but remembers the boy’s mother Yolanda Montez a woman who Ted had relations with and had filled in the Wildcat title. Ted goes to the boy’s home to get acquainted and catch up. Tommy is at first distant but they soon find they have allot of similarities. Ted is surprised when he finds out his boy is not a fighter and has only been in one fight in the Eighth Grade. But then the Wildcat’s family reunion is interrupted by the likes of Vandal Savage. Which it appears Vandal Savage has put together an extermination team for the JSA. He is taking out all of the legacies to wipe the JSA blood off the planet in genocide like fashion. During the resulting fight Ted learns why Tommy does not fight he is a Werecat like his mother. After a hard battle Ted is able to take down Vandal Savage with a fire truck afterward Ted convinces Tommy to join the JSA. Ted begins to train the recruits and show them the ropes in hand to hand combat scenarios. Ted joined the JSA on quest to help the new recruits and grow the bonds between the member

Major Story Arcs

Enter Gog

While on a routine mission to save an apartment building in flames fellow JSA member Starman opens up a black hole in which Earth 22 Superman appears through. Superman warns of the coming destruction of the world by a deity known as Gog and his prophet. Wildcat is one of the few members of the JSA who trust this Superman. Gog’s prophet uses Sandman to transport him to the Brownstone where he engages in combat with the JSA and Wildcat than they are transported to Gog’s temple in Africa where Gog is resurrected. Ted does not trust Gog and encourages the JSA to destroy him before it is to late but Gog is promoting peace so the team leaves him be. Gog makes a new JSA recruit Lance his new Prophet taking on the title of Magog and Wildcat and Lance get into multiple skirmishes over what to do with Gog; Magog is supportive of Gog while Wildcat is not. Eventually the team does destroy Gog.

Haunting Past

Wildcat along with Liberty Belle, Jay Garrick and Alan Scott are trapped inside The Brownstone when Obsidian puts it on lock down Ted is angry and is telling Alan to get his kid under control this creates a mix of interests. Eventually Alan uses the Green Light to fade out Obsidian’s shadows and it is revealed why the lock down happened a ghost known as Kung has entered the Brownstone and teleports Wildcat, Alan Scott, Jay Garrick, Liberty Belle, and Hour Man back in time. It is revealed that Kung fought against Jay, Alan and Ted in WW2. Ted takes this rough because he finds out he is defenseless and does not like the feeling of uselessness. Kung eventually bring them to a beach in the Pacific where physical manifestations of dead Japanese soldiers appear this please Ted because he can hit them and he then engages them in combat. They are than rescued by Spectre who banishes away Kung and sends them back to the Brownstone.

Don't stand for no disrespect

Eventually Magog begins to become more and more rebellious and start challenge Jay, Alan, and Ted’s leadership. This angers Ted more than it does any of the other elder Society members and he attacks Magog and they have a brief skirmish which ends in Magog blasting Ted in the chest. The fight is than broken up by Power Girl who seems to be on Magog side. This upsets Ted even more because of the close bond he and Power Girl share. As Magog continues to question the leadership of the Senior Society members this just fuels teds rage and causes him and Magog to continue fighting in words. As the team is slowly being divided they are attacked by a large group of super villains led by Johnny Sorrow who destroy The Brownstone. The team is being destroyed by the Villains until Dr. Fate shows up and uses scare tactics to frighten the attackers away. With the Brownstone destroyed the team separates into two groups those led by Power girl and Magog and Those led by the Senior Society Members.

Mordru attacks

Ted’s new team moves into an old JLA base on the outskirts of the City where Ted begins to become close friends with Mr. America. It is here that The Sorcerer Mordru comes in a astral form and posses the body of Dr. Fate he then sends the JSA into pocket Universes where they are all faced with challenges created specifically for them. Ted is sent to a dimension filled with monster sized Teddy Bears that when Ted punches them they just absorb his punches and begin to smother him. As Ted say “A fight he can’t punch his way out of”. Ted and the rest of The JSA are eventually saved by Dr. Fate who over comes Mordru and defeats him.

Nazi fight

The team was infiltrated by The Fourth Reich who begins to attack and destroy their new base. Ted confronts and attacks Captain Nazi who in results kills him. Ted is revived due to his meta abilities and saved by Mr. Terrific who defeats Captain Nazi. The Fourth Reich reveal The Darkness Engine that was crafted to subdue any form of meta powers they then trap the team in Shadow of War’s cloak. As of now The JSA are positioned in the future where it is revealed Ted was killed in the Nazi extermination camps

Blackest Night

Ted was in New York City during Blackest Night where he was defending STAR Labs while Mr. Terrific tried to come up with a plan to destroy the Black Lanterns. Ted stood by Mr. Terrific's side with Power Girl in case the base was infiltrated. Ted's real compassion for Kara showed when he comforted her while Mr. Terrific autopsied on her cousin. Then Ma Hunkel screamed and Ted and Kara went to investigate and it was Kara's step mother Lane Lois of Earth 2 as a Black Lantern. She wanted Kara's help and Ted went along with it as long as she staid inside the Labs under Ted's surveillance. It is than that it is revealed that it was a trap Ted does not blame Power Girl for her actions and understands. He than continues to fight off the Black Lantern horde until Mr. Terrific completes his weapon and takes out the Black Lanterns in the Tri-State area.

Powers

Wildcat, before living the life of a super hero, was a professional boxer. Fighting crime using his Boxing skill, Ted is an expert hand-to-hand combatant. Besides being considered the World's Greatest boxer to ever live Ted is a master in Krav Maga, Muay Thai, Hapkaido, and Capoeira. He has trained the likes of Batman, Barbara Gordon, Superman, Mr. Terrific, Black Canary and numerous others. Ted is known for being able to knock out highly trained fighters in one hard hit. As well Ted has in circumstances has shown the ability to read body movement and predict and know where his opponent will strike before they do allowing himself to defend against it.

Wildcat has extra lives, as seen in the brief skirmish between Power Girl, Wild Cat and the new Crimson Avenger in which Wildcat was shot several times but did not die. It has recently been revealed that Ted has an endless number of extra lives as well his other meta abilities include slowed aging, and heightened senses his eyes are sharp enough to see farther than any other human and he can see perfectly in pitch black. All this powers were granted to him by Zatara who countered King Inferno's curse to turn him into a cat because he refused to throw a fight.

Ted though aged has the body and strength of a man in his twenties who engages in constant workout as well Ted's physically attributes are all peak human.

Ted is also an Ace fighter pilot able to pilot all form of air craft he was a pilot in WW2 and is the JSA's resident pilot.

Other Media

TV

Wildcat appears in the JLU episode "The Cat and the Canary" alongside Black Canary. Bruce Timm originally planned to use Catwoman in the episode, but due to the ban of using Batman characters in animation at the time, he was stuck with Wildcat. Wildcat, as in the comics, trained Black Canary. Spending most of his time fighting metahuman criminals in the villain Roulette's underground casino/fight club gets Dinah a bit worried about him. She, along with Green Arrow tries to rescue him. Canary is then set up to fight Wildcat, but Arrow steps in and fights him for her. Ollie is almost killed by Ted, but manages to survive. Black Canary then lets loose a sonic scream, which destroys the House and allows them to escape with Wildcat. At the end of the episode, Wildcat goes for a therapy session with the Martian Manhunter.

Wildcat is voiced by Dennis Farina.

Wildcat has made a number of appearances on Batman: the Brave and the Bold. This version is voice by R. Lee Ermey.

Batman Brave and the Bold Wildcat

Young Justice

Smallville

• Wildcat was shown in Smallville: Season 9. The actor that played as Wildcat was Roger Haskett.
• Wildcat was framed by the Government Agency but later on he was eventually released.
• At the time of Icicle's defeat, Carter Hall A.K.A Hawkman, had mentioned of Ted and all the other old JSA team, may still in fact be alive and may have children or prodigies. So in conclusion, Ted may in fact have a daughter or a son (prodigy).
• Wildcat's costume was shown as a display.