Wildcat II


Personal information
Real Name: Yolanda Montez
Residence: Los Angeles
Occupation: Adventurer, Reporter
First Appearance (Post-Golden Age): Infinity Inc. #12 (March 1985)
Character History
Yolanda Montez was born the daughter of Juan and Maria Montez. While Maria was pregnant, she and her equally pregnant sister were contacted by the genetic experimentalist Dr. Benjamin Love. Both received "genetic help" which was actually the injection of mutagens but Love lost track of them when Maria's sister had to return to Mexico where the children were eventually born. Yolanda was by all appearances normal but her cousin was monstrously mutated, eventually becoming the human shark, Carcharo (Infinity Inc. #26).
The Montez's moved back to Los Angeles where Yolanda grew up, eventually becoming a reporter for Rock Stars magazine. Her father was also known in his youth as "Mauler" Montez, resulting in family friendship with Ted (Wildcat) grant, allowing Yolanda to grow up around a combat culture that stuck with her later in life (Infinity Inc #30).
During the Crisis on Infinite Earths, Yolanda began to manifest the powers imparted by Love's manipulation, developing cat-like speed and agility. When Ted Grant was injured during the Crisis and paralyzed below the waist, she took on his identity as the new Wildcat, joining heroes from Earth-Two in the charge against the Monitor's forces (Crissi on Infinite Earths #5-7, #9-12). Afterwards she joined the membership of Infinity Inc.
In the interim period, while Earths were not fully defined, the new Wildcat was contacted by Helix when her cousin Carcharo made his first appearance. The member of Helix revealed her origins and why she had developed powers and Helix and Infinity Inc. combined to fend off Carcharo, who died from biting into Dr. Bones cyanide-laced flesh (Infinity Inc #26-29).
Shortly after this point, the history of Earth-Two was lost. She was shown to still be active in the early 21st century during a brief interlude with Earth-0 (Justice Society of America Annual #1) but her final fate in this timeline is unknown.
Powers and Abilities
The second Wildcat possessed abilities caused by mutagenic manipulation of her genome. The outcome include enhanced speed, agility and aim, higher than normal strength, resilence and stamina and nails that when sharpened were as effective as the claws of a large feline predator. Trained by her father and mentor Ted Grant in basic boxing techniques, she is an above-average hand-to-hand combatant. The exact metrics of her abilities have not been established.
Weaknesses and Limitations
While enhanced, Wildcat was essentially human. Cornered with overwhelming force, she could be injured or killed by conventional (if above average amount) means.

Multiversity
Earth-0
The history of Wildcat in the post-Crisis timeline is thought to be largely similar to her Earth-Two counterpart. In the two years following Crisis, Montez remains an active member of Infinity Inc. until the group disbands in 1988.
The activities of Wildcatfor the next few years are poorly documented. In 1993, she and Dr. Midnight were recruited by Amanda Waller to launch as assault on Eclipso in the Central American nation of Parador along with several other metahumans such as Commander Steel and the Creeper. The demon was prepared however and systemically wiped out the entire team, murdering Wildcat along with the rest (Eclipso #11-14). She was later memorialized in the superhero cemetery Valhalla.
Earth-2
On the revised Earth-2, Yolanda Montez becomes an avatar of The Red, the element force of life (blood) in this timeline (Earth-2 #10-11). She eventually becomes a member of the Wonders until the Avatar leaves her as Earth-2 is destroyed (Earth-2: World's End #26).
Appearances
Issue |
Comment |
Reprinted in |
1st appearance as Yolanda Montez |
|
|
Becomes Wildcat |
|
|
During the Crisis on Infinite Earths |
Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion Deluxe Edition Vol. 2 |
|
Participates in Crisis |
|
|
Meets Helix, learns origin, vs. Carcharo |
|
|
As part of the Justice Society |
JSA Omnibus #3, Justice Society of America: Thy Kingdom Come |
|
Cameo Appearance |
Justice Society of America: Monument Point |
|
As part of the Justice Society |
JSA Omnibus #3, Justice Society of America: Thy Kingdom Come |