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Revision as of 23:14, 15 May 2020

Wildcat

Wildcat

Real Name
Theodore "Ted" Grant
First Appearance
Sensation Comics #1 (January, 1942)
Creators
Bill Finger, Irwin Hasen
Team Affiliations
Justice Society of America, Suicide Squad, All-Star Squadron, Justice League of America
Aliases
None
Base of Operations
Battery Park, New York City
Powers
Nine lives at any given time
Skills and Abilities
Expert combatives fighter, World champion boxer, Peak physical condition, Superb agility, Surprising physical strength
Paraphernalia
Motorcycle

Wildcat (Ted Grant) is a superhero in the DC Universe and a member of the Justice Society of America.

Origin

Ted Grant was a homeless orphan who saved the life of boxer "Socker" Smith.  As thanks, Socker taught him to box.  When Socker was accidentally murdered by criminals, Ted was blamed.  In order to find out Socker's killers, he took a superhero identity to protect himself: Wildcat.

World War II Version

Ted Grant was probably born in the 1910s, the son of Henry Grant. Henry Grant had been a frail child and swore on the birth of his son that the boy would not suffer those same frailties. Throughout his childhood, Ted was trained in all manner of athletics. Of all the sports, however, Ted excelled most in boxing. When he graduated high school, Ted did not pursue a boxing career but went to college, his goal to study medicine. He took part in the college boxing team part-time, however, to keep in shape. His coach was Joe Morgan, a former championship boxer.

Halfway through college, Grant’s father died, and his father’s debts consumed whatever savings he had. Unable to continue in his studies, Grant left school and tried to find gainful employment. Unfortunately, the pre-World War II American economy was unkind to Grant, and he failed repeatedly to find gainful work. One night, he happened upon two muggers assaulting a famous boxer, “Socker” Smith. With Grant’s help, Smith overcame the assailants, an act which earned Grant Smith’s gratitude. Grant joined Smith as a professional boxer under the management team of Flint and Skinner and proved himself championship material. He later became the undefeated heavyweight champion boxer.

In 1941, Flint and Skinner decided to improve their revenues from the gambling circuit by fixing a championship bout between Grant and Socker Smith. They placed a needle containing a sedative in Grant’s boxing glove, assuming that a hard blow from Grant would inject the sedative and knock Smith out. Flint, however, overdosed the needle; when Grant struck Smith, the older boxer was killed from the overdose. Grant was arrested, but his implicators feared he would reveal incriminating evidence to the police. They arranged an “accident” in which the car carrying Grant was forced over an embankment, and the police officers (and presumably Grant) were killed. Grant survived but was blamed for his own “escape.”

A fugitive from justice, Grant wandered aimlessly, trying to think of a way to clear his name. He happened upon a small child who had been robbed of comic book that featured Green Lantern. Unfamiliar with mystery-men, Grant listened as the child described the popular hero. Inspired by Green Lantern, Grant fashioned a costume imitating a large black cat, and took the code-name of Wildcat.

As Wildcat, Grant tracked Flint and Skinner to their hideouts and forced each of them to confess. He then turned himself in as Grant after bringing the two criminals to the law as Wildcat. Satisfied by the justice that he had delivered as Wildcat, Grant vowed to continue on as the feline mystery-man. As Ted Grant, he remained a professional sports figure and strove to become a personal role model for disadvantaged children.

As was the habit of the time, Grant picked up a Man Friday in the form of Hiram “Stretch” Skinner of Corn Corners, Iowa. Skinner (no relation to the original Skinner) was a private investigator, allowing Grant access to a certain amount of casework as an occasional tagalong and frequent rescuer of Skinner. The lanky detective was something of a yokel, never quite grasping that Grant and Wildcat were one and the same. Nevertheless, the two were an effective team throughout World War II. Skinner’s ultimate fate is unknown.

During World War II, Wildcat was a member of the loosely-organized All-Star Squadron. Early in 1942, Wildcat was accosted by a mystical being who had taken the form of Joe Morgan, the boxing champ who had trained Grant in his college days. Morgan had been victimized by an alien radiation that had split him into three magically-powered entities and provoked him to seek vengeance against Grant. As Wildcat, Grant was intercepted by All-Star Squadron members Green Lantern, the Flash, and Wonder Woman, from whom he learned that Morgan had attacked two others, the Atom and the Guardian. The Guardian, the Atom, and Wildcat had all trained with Morgan, but each had sworn off professional athletics to pursue other interests.

The trio ultimately confronted Morgan and defeated him with the help of the All-Star Squadron. After his defeat, Morgan regained his senses and begged forgiveness of those he had assaulted. As the alien radiation fled his body, Morgan died at the side of his former pupils.

In the latter part of World War II, the Justice Society of America contacted Wildcat to help with a case involving a disillusioned youth who wanted to avoid service in the war. He was also contacted shortly after the war to help promote public acceptance of disabled veterans..At or around this time, Wildcat was awarded full membership in the Justice Society.

While most of Wildcat’s adventures resulted from Skinner’s hired casework, he did encounter the occasional super-villain. Notable among these was the Yellow Wasp. The origins of the Wasp are unknown, though his appearance was certainly alien. Whether this was a function of his physical condition or various appliques is uncertain. The Wasp employed a variety of insect motifs in his crimes, such as stinging poisons and waxy adhesives. The Wasp’s main goals were robbery and the acquisition of material gain, but he was largely foiled by Wildcat and Skinner.

Without a doubt, one of Wildcat’s most ambitious foes was the Huntress. A former heroine known as the Tigress turned professional thief, the Huntress resented the way criminals were tracked by the law and resolved to turn the tables. She created a private zoo and captured Wildcat, as well as many local politicians, to serve as game in her own private hunt. Wildcat escaped her traps and defeated the Huntress, sending her to prison.

After several individual forays against Wildcat, the Huntress joined the Injustice Society of the World. There she met “Crusher” Crock, also known as the Sportsmaster with whom she ultimately became romantically involved. Whatever her criminal activities, the Huntress became a regular inmate in any of several federal penitentiaries.

Wildcat had already entered a period of retirement before the House Un-American Activities Committee meetings in 1951 disbanded the JSA. Grant also retired from boxing some years later, an undefeated heavyweight champion. Grant returned to active duty as Wildcat when he joined Starman and Black Canary I against the newlywed criminal duo of the Huntress and the Sportsmaster. When the JSA reformed, Wildcat again became a regular member.

Wildcat never married but did have a brief affair at some point in the 1960s with a woman known as “Irina,” and a child was born. The Yellow Wasp kidnapped the boy, whose fate (and that of Irina) remain unknown. After his retirement from sports, Grant opened a gym that trained aspiring fighters in a variety of martial arts techniques. Among his trainees was Dinah Laurel Lance, Black Canary’s daughter. Wildcat again resumed his membership with the Justice Society in the mid-1960

Arrow Version

Being a Vigilante

Ted Grant is a well known boxer, and six years before the events of season three, he became a vigilante. He patrolled the Glades, trying to keep crime at bay, and eventually took on Isaac as a partner, hoping to change the boy's life in a positive direction. His career came to a sudden end when he and his partner were pursuing a criminal, and their chase led them to a closed nightclub. Isaac reached their destination first and beat the man to death. This caused Ted to retire his heroic activities and cut all ties with Isaac.

Training Laurel

Werner Zytle rigged an explosive device in the arena Ted was fighting in, however the bomb was defused by Arsenal, with the help of Felicity.

Laurel Lance came to Ted concerning Tom Bronson, who was a member of his gym that had been seen at the scene of a crime. He vouched for the boy, though implying that he was indeed lying. He went on to explain how people like the boy seeked the gym to calm themselves, and suggested that Laurel was likely another person like that, giving her a pamphlet were she interested. Laurel later returned, asking for Ted to teach her.

He kept training Laurel, telling her that she moves without control and just lashes out during the sparring. Laurel later told him the source of her anger was that her sister Sara had been killed.

Ted kept training Laurel and offered that they go out to eat together. While they were gone Isaac strung up bodies of criminals in his gym and causing the Arrow to confront Ted. Laurel pardoned Ted, insisting he was innocent. He was later questioned by the police while a unknown woman in the crowd surrounding the crime scene watched on. Later, Oliver found another body in a a storage locker Ted used as a base when he was a vigilante. Here Ted ambushed him, and Oliver and Ted got into a fight before Oliver knocked him down. Ted revealed he had been working as a vigilante six years ago. The pair decided to work together, and they found a clue that let to a hotel. Unknown to them the same woman from the crime scene was tracking them. Here they learned from Ted that his former partner Isaac had came back for vengeance. Ted and Laurel later got taken hostage by Isaac as he held them at gunpoint. Laurel was forced to drive them in her car, however she managed to call Team Arrow, and they came to their aid. During the chase she managed to toss Isaac out off the car, but the car crashed and caught fire. Diggle and Oliver freed Ted and Laurel out of the burning vehicle just before it exploded. Laurel later asked him to be trained like him to be a vigilante and fight crime outside of the courtroom.

Abilities, powers and Equipment

  • Abilities: Extremely talented pugilist (expert boxer),formidable athlete and teacher,
  • Powers: Has Literally 9 lives
  • Equipment: Has been known to have brass knuckles

TV Shows

Comes out in the TV show ARROW and Batman the Brave and the Bold.