Wildcat

**Wildcat** is a legacy name of feline-themed vigilante super-heroes started by *Ted Grant*. Despite having no powers, he uses his abilities as a world-class champion boxer to fight crime and also has a modified Indian stunt motorcycle. He has been a member of the Justice Society of America, Suicide Squad and All-Star Squadron.

## Origin

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. Henry Grant was a good man but a push over as well as a risk taker. He took it upon himself to make sure his son Ted would never be taken advantage. Henry taught Ted how to box and when he reached maturity, Ted had become a wildcat in the sport of boxing. Unfortunately, Henry's shortcomings left him penniless and he was unable to put Ted through college. Ted had no other choice but to take on the loading jobs in the East End warehouse district.

It was on one fateful night at the warehouse that Ted's life would change forever. One of the warehouse unloaders was being ambushed by a couple of thugs. Ted fights off the thugs and the unloader is astonished by how Ted is able to read each thug's move before they make it. The thugs run off in fear and Ted recognizes the unloader as Mike "Socker Smith" Muldoon, a washed up prize fighter. Muldoon decides to promote Ted as the next heavyweight champion of the world. After a string of knockouts in pro bouts, Ted was eventually hailed as Wildcat.

Ted inspired Muldoon to take up boxing again and soon both men gained even more notoriety. Fans of both Muldoon and Grant wanted to see who would come out on top in a match up. A local crime boss named Victor Moretti wanted Muldoon to take a dive but Muldoon refused after Grant backed him up. Left with only one option, Moretti decided to buy the loyalty of Ted's manager Flint "The Skinner" Fain. Fain put a poisoned needle in one of Ted's boxing mitts. The needle was triggered to spring with the push of a remote control button in Fain's possession.

During the fight, Moretti gives Fain the signal and Fain activates the trigger. Within a few seconds, Muldoon began staggering around the arena until he finally collapsed. The authorities found the needle and Ted was placed under arrest. Moretti began to panic because Grant could implicate him in what had happened in the ring. Moretti tells Fain to fix the problem by making sure Ted doesn't get to the precinct. Fain uses his car to run Ted's police transport off the road. The cops were killed but Ted survives.

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. As Wildcat, Ted made Fain confess to the poison needle. Fain was arrested for murder of Muldoon and Moretti followed soon after.

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 one of Ted Grant’s boxing friends. she was also Ted's goddaughter. She spent several years happily being Wildcat II until she was killed by Eclipso.