Wildcat (DC Comics)

The Ted Grant version of Wildcat first appeared in Sensation Comics #1 and was created by writer Bill Finger, and designed by illustrator Irwin Hasen.[2]

Yolanda Montez

Born with metahuman powers due to the machinations of the villainous Doctor Benjamin Love, Yolanda Montez was the goddaughter of Ted Grant, who was a good friend of her father "Mauler" Montez. As a result of the prenatal treatments given to her mother, Yolanda was born with retractable claws on her fingers and toes and cat-like agility. Initially, she concealed her abilities and lived a normal life. She later became a journalist working for "Rock Stars Magazine". When Ted was injured in the Crisis, Yolanda used her powers to become the new Wildcat.[3] She then joined Infinity Inc. afterwards. She and her Infinity Inc. teammate Beth Chapel were later killed by Eclipso,[4] who would later possess her cousin Alex.[5]

Hector Ramirez first appeared in Batman/Wildcat # 1 (April 1997) and was created by Chuck Dixon, Beau Smith, and Sergio Cariello. He was a boxing protégé of Ted Grant. After learning that Ted used to be Wildcat, Hector aspired to be his successor, something Ted refused. Hector then took one of Ted's old costumes and went out as Wildcat in Gotham City. In an attempt to break up a secret fight club where caged villains fought to the death, Ramirez was himself caught and later killed by Killer Croc in the ring. The operators Lock-Up and Ernie Chubb were eventually apprehended by Ted and Batman.[6]

Bronson as a "were-panther", art by Dale Eaglesham

Thomas "Tom" Bronson is Ted Grant's youngest son.[7] Tom's mother Marilyn had a one-night stand with Ted, and never told him of Tom's existence. Despite the fact that his father was not involved in his life, Tom is not bitter towards Ted. However, he did tell Ted that he had no intentions of becoming the next Wildcat, as he was not a fighter himself.

It was revealed that Tom is a metahuman that can change into a were-panther at will, similar to the Wildcat featured in Kingdom Come.[8] When Ted was attacked by Vandal Savage, Tom changed into his were-panther form and managed to fight against Savage until help arrived.

In Justice Society of America 80 Page Giant Sized (2010), it was revealed that Tom's mother had the same powers as her son, but would change involuntarily every month. After a minor battle involving Ted, Marilyn, and the first Huntress, Ted took Marilyn to see Doctor Mid-Nite, who cured her of the involuntary aspect of her power, allowing her to change at will instead. While she is unconscious, Ted told Doctor Mid-Nite to "fix her and send her on her way" to protect her from his dangerous walk of life. However, Doctor Mid-Nite discovered that she was pregnant and revealed this to his now-conscious patient. She ultimately decided to withhold this information from Ted, but her motivations were unclear. She then raised Tom herself.[9]

Over time, Tom slowly forms a bond with Ted and eventually, after some initial reluctance, agrees to share the Wildcat name with his father. At this point, he is introduced and inducted into the Justice Society.[10]

In a team-up with the Justice League, he talks to Vixen and indicates the presence of enhanced senses.

Later, Tom, now calling himself Tomcat, parted ways with Ted and joined the All-Stars, an offshoot team created by the younger members of the JSA.

In Tangent: Superman's Reign #3, the Wildcat of Earth-9 is revealed to be a large, humanoid, cat creature, a member of the Nightwing organization's Covert Ops team.

• Ted Grant appears briefly in the Smallville episode "Absolute Justice" in a photograph played by actor Roger Hasket.
• Ted Grant appeared as a recurring character in Arrow's third season, portrayed by actor J.R. Ramirez, while Grant's youngest son from the comics, Tom Bronson, was stated as being one of his students.
• Both the Ted Grant and Yolanda Montez iterations of Wildcat appear in the DC Universe series Stargirl, portrayed by Brian Stapf and Yvette Monreal respectively.[11] Montez took up the mantle after Grant fell in battle against the Injustice Society. In this continuity Wildcat's suit has power of its own, able to adjust its size to fit any wearer and possessing extendable claws that can cut through metal, as well as grant the wearer precise balance so that they will always land on their feet or be able to walk narrow surfaces.

• A character based on Ted Grant's iteration of Wildcat called Catman appears in the Justice League episode "Legends", voiced by Stephen Root. The Catman, real name T. Blake (not to be confused with Thomas Blake, another character with the same name from DC Comics), was a superhero and member of the Justice Guild of America in the 1950s from an alternate universe. He was a athletic individual and a skilled martial artist who had a Cat-Cycle as well as retractable claws and a grappling hook. He fought crime alongside his teammates until he was killed in a nuclear war. After accidentally sending themselves to the Justice Guild's universe, the Justice League encountered a projection of Catman and his team created by a mutated child named Ray Thompson.

Wildcat as seen in Justice League Unlimited.

• The Ted Grant iteration of Wildcat proper appears in Justice League's sequel show, Justice League Unlimited, voiced by Dennis Farina.
• Wildcat appears in the Batman: The Brave and the Bold, voiced by Golden Globe-nominee R. Lee Ermey.[12]
• The Ted Grant iteration of Wildcat also appears briefly in the Young Justice cartoon series. In the episode "Humanity"
• The Ted Grant iteration of Wildcat appears as a gym teacher at Super Hero High in DC Super Hero Girls, voiced by John DiMaggio.

• The Ted Grant iteration of Wildcat appears in the animated film Justice League: The New Frontier.
• An evil version of Wildcat from Earth-Three appears in Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, as one of the Crime Syndicate's Made-Men.
• The Ted Grant iteration of Wildcat makes a brief appearance in Teen Titans Go! To the Movies.

• The Ted Grant iteration of Wildcat appears in Batman: The Brave and the Bold video game, voiced again by R. Lee Ermey.
• The Ted Grant iteration of Wildcat appears in DC Universe Online, voiced by Ken Webster.

The Ted Grant iteration of Wildcat was the first figure released in the ninth wave of the DC Universe Classics line and was available in his black and blue costumes.

In 2020 Fisher-Price released a Wildcat 2.5 inch figure as part of their Imaginext DC Super Friends Series 7 Line.

The Ted Grant iteration of Wildcat briefly appears in Robot Chicken DC Comics Special, voiced by Matthew Senreich. He is seen seen fighting alongside the Justice League against the Legion of Doom, and being confused over his fight against Darkseid before being disintegrated by the villain.