Comixfan Forums - Wildcat II

<img src="http://comixfan.com/xfan/images/headshots/dc/wildcat.gif" align=left hspace=10 alt="Wildcat II">Real Name: Theodore Grant
Former Aliases:
First Appearance: Sensation Comics (1st series) #1
Known Relatives: Dr Henry Grant (father, deceased), Jake Grant (son, deceased), Yolanda Montez (Wildcat III) (goddaughter, deceased)
Group Affiliation: Justice Society of America, formerly All-Star Squadron
Known Allies: Green Lantern I, Flash I, Catwoman, formerly Hippolyta
Major Enemies: Yellow Wasp, Killer Wasp, Huntress I
Height: 5'8
Weight: 171lbs
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Black, greying at temples

Ted Grant was born to a successful doctor. His father however, was a frail and weak old man and so vowed that his son would grow up to be a more healthy and physical man. From a young age Ted was trained in all sorts of physical activities and went to college immersing himself in more sport. Ted's college days ended prematurely when his father's trust fund emptied and Ted was left penniless. Ted was starving and homeless. One night he was about to pass out from hunger when he noticed a man being assaulted by two men. Spurred on by adrenaline, Ted went to the man's aid, only to discover that he had just rescued the World Heavyweight boxing champion, "Socker" Smith. As a reward, Ted was given a job as a sparring partner, which helped to sharpen his already considerable natural boxing talent. Smith's manager, Skinner, saw potential in Ted and started to promote him as a boxer in his own right. Months passed and Ted won his way to the top of the division, the only man standing in his way being the champion, Socker Smith. Skinner placed a large bet on Ted as the underdog and decided to try to make a fortune dishonestly. Placing a needle laced with poison in Ted's glove, Skinner ensured that Smith would not survive the fight. After the fight Ted was immediately arrested for murder and taken to prison, while Skinner escaped. Ted was being transferred to another jail cell when the police car he was being driven in crashed and Ted escaped. Ted realised Skinner was behind Socker's death and so he decided to hunt Skinner and gain a confession. Ted was wanted by the police though and decided, after being inspired by some children discussing the hero Green Lantern, to take a disguise. Wearing a black bodysuit and a mask of a cat's head, Ted located Skinner. Ted beat all of Skinner's thugs and then coerced the corrupt promoter into confessing to the police, thus exonerating Ted. Ted resumed his boxing career and won the Heavyweight title, which he defended successfully for many years. However, he also carried on fighting crime as Wildcat.

Shortly after he started his crime fighting career, Ted met a hillbilly named Hiram "Stretch" Skinner (no relation to the promoter Skinner) who had come from the country to become a private detective. Ted took him on as his assistant and he aided Ted on several cases, never knowing who was behind the Wildcat mask. Ted also met up with the Flash and the Green Lantern, aiding them at a benefit against polio. Ted met the heroes again when he became a member of the All-Star Squadron. Shortly before the end of World War II, Ted joined the Justice Society of America. He only had two cases with the team before he entered into semi-retirement. While he was retired, Ted had a son with his girlfriend Irina. Their son, Jake, was kidnapped by one of Wildcat's greatest foes, The Yellow Wasp. Ted never managed to find his son again despite spending several years searching for him. Distraught, Ted retired from boxing undefeated as World Heavyweight Champion and led a comfortable retirement. Ted wanted to keep himself busy though and so opened a gym in Gotham City, with the intention of training future generations of boxing champions. He also helped to train Dinah Lance, the second Black Canary and Yolanda Montez, his goddaughter, who became his successor. Ted also helped to train a young Bruce Wayne in boxing. Ted only closed his gym when he returned to crimefighting.

Ted returned to fight alongside the JSA. For a time he suffered severe brain damage from a battle with the Icicle and the Thorn worsened this due to a further attack. However, he managed to recover and again joined the team. Ted was one of the heroes that answered the call during a disaster that threatened all of reality. Captured in one of Red Tornado's winds, Ted found himself crippled after being struck by lightning. Yolanda Montez saw this happen and decided to take up the Wildcat legacy. Ted eventually had his mobility returned to him when the JSA journeyed to Limbo, in order to prevent Ragnarok. Ted returned with the JSA after spending three years in Limbo. Tragedy then struck Ted when Yolanda died trying to bring Eclipso to justice. Her family blamed Ted for this but eventually reconciled. Ted was one of the heroes who fought against Extant during the Zero Hour crisis. Ted was aged by Extant to be much closer to his chronological age. He also witnessed a collection of his team mates die before Extant. Ted was considerably older but still immensely fit. Not soon after the fight with Extant he battled the Cheetah in the Warriors bar and joined the JSA when they reformed again, this time with a newer generation of heroes fighting alongside the veterans.

Ted has served with distinction on the team. Despite being limited due to his lack of powers or gadgets, Ted always fights at the front line with the team. He is looked up to by many of the younger people on the team as he has a knack of connecting with the younger generation. Ted recently proved his value to the JSA when he managed to defend the JSA HQ against an attack from Johnny Sorrow's Injustice Society. Despite having a broken leg and being naked, Ted managed to capture all but Sorrow who escaped. During this encounter, the Killer Wasp revealed to Ted that he was the son of the Yellow Wasp and had killed his father and Ted's son out of jealousy. Ted has also been seeing a lot of Catwoman. Despite his advanced age, Ted is keeping the vigilante's attention. While it isn't clear how far their relationship has gone there is certainly plenty of sexual tension between the two. Ted has also had a run in with the latest Crimson Avenger. After being fatally wounded three times, Ted managed to find out that the Avenger blames him for the original Crimson Avenger's death. This situation is yet to be resolved but the Crimson Avenger has granted Ted a stay of execution.

Ted has no super powers as such. He is amazingly good condition given that his body's age is around 80 years old. Ted is possibly the most gifted boxer to have ever lived. His fighting style is a mix of martial arts but relies predominantly on his stellar punching power. Ted is also remarkably nimble and agile. While Ted has no super powers he does have nine lives. During a battle with King Inferno, Zatara granted Ted nine lives. So far he has lost five of them. One against Solomon Grundy, one battling the fifth dimensional thunderbolt Lkz, and three against the Crimson Avenger. These lives are almost certainly what keeps Ted so vital. Ted is also a gifted motor cyclist, at one time using a Cat-cycle which was a modified stunt-cycle.

APPEARANCES:
Adventure Comics #461-462, 464, 466
All-Star Comics #24, 27, 58-63, 66-71, 73
All Star-Squadron #26, 31-32, 53, 59-60
All-Star Squadron Annual #1-2
America vs. the Justice Society #1, 3-4
Armageddon: Inferno #3-4
Big All-American Comic Book #1
Brave and the Bold #62
Catwoman/Wildcat #1-4
Comics Cavalcade #1-2
Crisis on Infinite Earths #5-6
Final Night #1-3
Flash (2nd series) #134
Green Lantern (3rd series) #81
Guy Gardner: Warrior #29
Infinity, Inc. #1-3, 8-9, 16-17, 21-22, 25, 27, 29
JLA #28-31
JLA: Incarnations #1
JSA #1-7, 9-10, 12-17, 19-22, 25-27, 29, 31-32, 34-37, 40, 44-47, 49-
JSA: Our Worlds at War #1
JSA: Secret Files and Origins #1
Justice League Europe #48-50
Justice League of America #46-47, 55-56, 82, 100, 102, 123-124, 147, 183, 193, 232
Justice Society of America (2nd series) #1-7, 9-10
Last Days of the Justice Society Special #1
Robin (2nd series) #31
Sensation Comics (1st series) #1-90
Showcase '94 #8
Sins of Youth: Starwoman and the JSA (Junior Society) #1
Spectre (1st series) #3
Spectre (3rd series) #20, 62
Supergirl (5th series) # 1
War of the Gods #2
World's Finest: Our Worlds at War #1
Young All-Stars #3, 7, 9, 16-17, 27, 30-31
Young All-Stars Annual #1
Young Justice: Sins of Youth #1-2
Young Justice: Sins of Youth: Secret Files and Origins #1
Zero Hour: Crisis in Time! #4-1