| Character Name: | Wildcat |
| Publisher: | DC Comics |
| Debut: | Sensation Comics #1 (January 1942) |
| Creators: | Bill Finger (writer) Irwin Hasen (artist) |
| Alter Ego: | Theodore "Ted" Grant |
| Alliances: | Justice Society of America Suicide Squad All-Star Squadron Justice League |
| Species: | Metahuman |
| Powers: |
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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.
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.
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]
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 even Superman in the art. He was trained to fighting condition by ex-boxer Joe Morgan; the same man who trained Grant's fellow mystery men, the Atom, and the Guardian.
Ted Grant first donned the Wildcat costume in Sensation Comics #1 (January 1942), the same issue in which Mister Terrific premiered.[5]
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 Grant found himself unemployed in the big city. One night, he saved "Socker" Smith, the heavyweight boxing champion, from a mugging. "Socker" took Ted under his wing, and soon Ted became a heavyweight boxing champion in his own right. 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 the costume of a large black cat. 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. In the story arc, which saw Green Lantern go berserk, and Commissioner Bruce Wayne issue arrest warrants for the JSA, it was Wildcat's ability to look fear in the face that allowed him to defeat the real mastermind of the disaster: the second Psycho-Pirate.
In 1985, during the Crisis on Infinite Earths, Ted's legs were shattered by an out-of-control Red Tornado and he was told he would never walk again. He soon discovered that his goddaughter Yolanda Montez had recently become the second Wildcat.
An Earth-One version of Ted Grant existed Pre-Crisis and teamed up with Batman, himself a retired world heavyweight champion like his Earth-Two counterpart, on five occasions. This version of Ted Grant had a relatively minor career and his origin and early years were not chronicled.[9]
This version of Ted Grant ceased to exist following the events of the Crisis on Infinite Earths, with the Earth-Two version becoming the dominant version in the new unified universe.
After the Crisis, the injuries that Ted had sustained were downgraded from paraplegia to less severe injuries from which he recovered quickly. He was also still a former heavyweight champion of the world. In addition, Ted is credited with being an expert at combat, though he prefers to trade punches as part of his brawling style. Even in his advanced years, on several occasions Ted has knocked out experienced fighters with a single punch.
Later, Ted was present when the JSA willingly exiled themselves into Limbo to prevent Ragnarök as part of a time loop. He remained there for several years until he was freed with the rest of the JSA in Armageddon: Inferno. He was present during the Justice Society's disastrous fight with Extant during Zero Hour and fell victim to Extant's time manipulation powers, which restored Wildcat to his proper age, that of an elderly, sickly man.
In the wake of Zero Hour, Wildcat retired from active crimefighting and again became a full-time trainer in his role as a professional boxer. In private, he continued to train younger superheroes in the martial arts. In addition, new details were revealed about Wildcat's past, one being the existence of two sons. His eldest son Jake was kidnapped by the Yellow Wasp and later murdered by Killer Wasp. His youngest son Tom was raised exclusively by the boy's mother without Ted's knowledge.
Ted also had torrid affairs with Selina Kyle,[10] as well as an affair with a time-displaced Hippolyta.[11]
Twice during his Post-Zero Hour retirement, Ted was severely injured defending innocent lives. He received the first injury defending patrons of the bar Warriors, run by the ex-Green Lantern Guy Gardner.[12] Later, he was injured in rescue operation during a planet-wide snowfall.[13] On both occasions, he was treated on site at Warriors and miraculously recovered from his injuries.
It was later revealed that Ted possesses "nine lives", the result of the magician Zatara altering a curse placed upon him by a sorcerer named King Inferno after Ted refused to throw a boxing match for the wizard. It was intended to transform him into a cat, but instead gave him nigh-immortality, meaning that he can only die if he is killed nine times in rapid succession.
In the "Watchmen" sequel "Doomsday Clock", Wildcat is among the superheroes that return after Doctor Manhattan undos his experiment on the timeline that erased the Justice Society and the Legion of Super-Heroes.[14]
In the pages of "", Wildcat was with Alan Scott, Jay Garrick, and Doctor Fate guarding the Valhalla Cemetery.[15]
In the pages of "The New Golden Age", Wildcat visits Doctor Mid-Nite during her studies of Cherry Bomb and the notes that Human Bomb left behind. He asks her about the situation with Yolanda as she missed her train.[16]
Ted Grant is an expert fighter and a world champion heavyweight boxer at the peak of his physical condition. He is also highly skilled at other martial arts, such as capoeira,[17] hapkido, kickboxing,[18] krav maga, muay thai, and taekwondo.[19] He was given "nine lives" as a result of a magical spell, which explains his longevity; these nine lives have not only kept him young, but also restore him to life if he is explicitly killed.[20] [21] He is also surprisingly strong and superbly agile.
When the Ultra-Humanite mind-controlled all the heroes and villains on Earth, he was unable to control Wildcat. Wildcat's resistance was never explained, other than by Ultra-Humanite quoting Mark Twain who said that a cat can never be "made the slave of the lash". Whether this was another cat-like ability Wildcat gained from the magical spell, or there is another reason, was never explained or referred to again. He can also cut through metal with his claws and land on his feet.
Wildcat had his own rogues gallery during his career:
Wildcat cameos as the world heavyweight champion, defending his title against Cassius Clay.
In Kingdom Come, Alex Ross (and writer Mark Waid) portrayed Wildcat as a humanoid black panther with the soul of Ted Grant. He is seen working with Batman's group and with the other offspring of the Justice League. It is not clear whether or not he dies when the UN unleashes a nuclear attack against the metahumans at the end of the comic.
Wildcat is portrayed as boxer (not superhero) Ted Grant in Prez Rickard's world in The Sandman: Worlds' End.[34] A woman obsessed with Wildcat shoots at Prez and his girlfriend, killing her and injuring him. Prez has Wildcat spend several hours with him while he is at the hospital. It is said that there is no ill will between them – Prez even offered clemency to the assassin, but she was still sent to the electric chair.
In the story Earth 2: Worlds' End (a part of "The New 52" reboot) set in Earth 2, Ted Grant appears as a boxer living in the same World Army refugee camp as Dick and Barbara Grayson during Darkseid's invasion of Earth. After Barbara's death, Ted trains Dick in offensive and defensive fighting techniques and joins him on a mission to recover his lost son.[35]
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.[45]