Cheetah

"*Not a curse, Diana. A blessing.*"
―Cheetah to Wonder Woman[src]
**Dr. Barbara Ann Minerva** was a British archaeologist who became the feral **Cheetah** after contact with the blood of African plant god Urzkartaga. The avatar of the Cheetah is required to be a virgin, in which Minerva isn't, this predicament leads to her form being imperfect, deranged, and violent.

Cheetah has been an enemy of Wonder Woman and Vixen. She was later recruited by Lex Luthor to be apart of his Legion of Doom. After the defeat of the Legion she is taken to Belle Reve where she would be chosen by Amanda Waller for the next Task Force X mission, she was ultimately freed by the circumstances of that mission.

Later, she was contacted by her old friend Wonder Woman to help her in fighting the sorceress Circe. She was later recruited once again by Wonder Woman to fight the great battle against Darkseid, where she met her fate.

## Biography

### Early life

Barbara was born in Nottingham, England in 1982. Sometime in her life she became an archaeologist and befriended the Wonder Woman herself, Diana Prince.

### Discovery of Urzkartaga

In 2019, she and Diana is tasked to observe the ruins of Urzkartaga, the oldest known human settlement dating back 14,500 years ago in the African country of Zambesi. There she meets a Zambesian woman, Mari McCabe.

#### Defeat

After her defeat she is sent to prison in Paris. Not for long though as she receives a visit from Lex Luthor, who wishes to recruit her into his Legion of Doom.

### Legion of Doom Campaign

Cheetah meets with the rest of the recruits.

#### Lex Luthor's presidential campaign

After Luthor's farce scheme is partly ruined by the Question, he held a meeting with Cheetah and the rest of the complete Legion of Doom.

#### Recapture

Cheetah is sent to Belle Reve along with Deathstroke after the Legion of Doom's failure.

## Personality

Barbara is an intelligent, sweet, and curious woman. But alas curiosity killed the cat, or should I say, birthed the cat, the moment she touched that unusual substance left by the ancient Zambesian people.

## Powers and abilities

### Powers

* **Divine Empowerment**: Barbara transformed into a humanoid Cheetah by way of the blood of a plant god. This physiology gifted her with an array of superpowers:
	+ **Enhanced Intelligence**: The transformation enhanced her brain capacity.
	+ **Superhuman Strength**: The Cheetah possesses strength beyond a normal human and on par with an amazon such as Wonder Woman.
	+ **Superhuman Speed**: As a humanoid Cheetah, the most primary power of her is she can run much faster than any normal human possibly can. Fast enough to dodge bullets and hits.
	+ **Superhuman Agility**: Barbara's agility and coordination are enhanced beyond human limitations.
	+ **Superhuman Stamina**: Barbara is able to run for hours at a time without tiring.
	+ **Superhuman Reflexes**: Barbara's reflexes are enhanced enough to allow her to dodge bullets and keep up with Diana in battle.
	+ **Accelerated Healing Factor**: Cheetah is able to recover quickly from flesh wounds.
	+ **Claws**: Barbara grew sharper claws after becoming the Cheetah.
	+ **Fangs**: Barbara also grew sharper fangs.

### Abilities

* **Archaeology**: She has vast knowledge of archaeological history.
* **History**: Along with her being an archeologist she also learned about the history of the world.
* **Tactical Analysis**: Cheetah is a cunning strategist.
* **Skilled Combatant**: She has learned some fighting techniques prior to becoming the Cheetah and her talent grew exponentially ever since.

## Relationships

	+ Diana/Wonder Woman - former enemy
* Legion of Doom
	+ Lex Luthor - recruiter and leader
	+ Slade Wilson/Deathstroke - recruiter
	+ Leonard Snart/Captain Cold
	+ David Hyde/Black Manta
	+ Carol Ferris/Star Sapphire
	+ Teth-Adam/Black Adam
* Task Force X
	+ Rick Flag
	+ Floyd Lawton/Deadshot
	+ Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn
	+ George Harkness/Captain Boomerang
	+ Abner Krill/Polka-Dot Man
	+ Nanaue/King Shark
* Donna Troy
* Cassie Sandsmark
* Artemis of Bana-Mighdall
* Parisian Police Department
* A.R.G.U.S.
	+ Amanda Waller - manipulator
* Gorilla Grodd - target
* Bane
* Circe
	+ Bestiamorphs
* Darkseid's Elite
	+ Darkseid
	+ Gilotina - killer
	+ Parademons

## Trivia

* Kate Beckinsale, Keira Knightley, and Natalie Dormer was considered for the role before Hayley Atwell was cast.

## External Links

* Cheetah on DC Database
* Cheetah on DC Extended Universe Wiki
* Cheetah (character) on Wikipedia