Wildcat (Yolanda Montez)

Yolanda Montez is a fictional superheroine in DC Comics' shared universe, the DC universe. Her first appearance was in Infinity Inc. # 12 (March 1985). She was created by Roy Thomas and Todd McFarlane.

Character evolution

La Garro appearing alongside the founding Infinitors.

Roy and Dann Thomas originally intended to create a Canadian superheroine named "The Lynx" for new 1980s-era descendants of the All-Star Squadron. Later, in promotional material for the new Infinity Inc. series appearing in All-Star Squadron #28, a Catwoman like figure, riding what is referred to as a cat-cycle, appears alongside the Infinity, Inc. group. A caption refers to her as "La Garro". She however, never appears in any of the team's adventures, or its comics. However, the character ultimately appears as Wildcat

Fictional character biography

Maria Montez and her sister are given experimental drugs by the mad gynecologist Dr. Benjamin Love while they are pregnant. Doctor Love keeps close tabs on most of his experiments, but loses track of the sisters when they travel to Mexico. In Mexico, Maria's daughter Yolanda is born on the same day her sister gives birth to Carcharo. Yolanda and her mother return to America to reunite with Mr. "Mauler" Montez. As a child, Yolanda manifests her superhuman powers, but is unaware of why she was born a mutant.^[1] She grows close to her godfather, Ted Grant, who is the mystery man Wildcat, who operated during the 1940s. Years later, during the Crisis, Grant is crippled while saving a child.^[2] Yolanda assumes his identity to honor her godfather and the principles he represented.^[3]

Ted Grant is at first annoyed with this new superheroine, but when he discovers she is his god-daughter, he gives Yolanda his blessing.

As the second Wildcat, she joins Infinity Inc. and fights alongside them.^[4] During her time on the team, she has a very flirtatious relationship with Nuklon even though he only has eyes for Fury. In a 1987 crossover special, Yolanda assists in the liberation of the country of Markovia from the influence of the Psycho Pirate.^[5] She stays with the team until it disbands.^[6]

Shadow Fighters

She withdraws from active heroing, but is later brought out of retirement to fight Eclipso.^[7] She joins a mixed team of superheroes, which include Major Victory, the first Steel, Creeper, Peacemaker and what is assumed to be the Mark Shaw Manhunter. They call themselves the Shadow Fighters.^[8] Several Shadow Fighters, including Wildcat, infiltrate the small country that Eclipso has conquered. Using various forms, he kills them all; Yolanda is slain personally with a stroke of his sword.^[9]

Several of the surviving members of the team risk their lives in order to retrieve the bodies of the dead.^[10] Her body was then brought by her mother to a witch who was able to bring Yolanda back to life; however, this was exposed as a scam by the original Wildcat.^[11]

Yolanda is also the cousin of former JSA Museum curator Alexander Montez, who later defeats Eclipso and gains his power; all in an attempt to avenge Yolanda.^[12] Alex ultimately loses control of Eclipso and commits suicide.^[13]

The New 52

After DC rebooted its continuity in 2011 as part of The New 52, Yolanda Montez appears in the series Earth 2: Worlds' End in 2014 as the Avatar of the Red on the world of Earth 2, the force of nature connected to "animal life",^[14] making her an analogue of Green Lantern (Alan Scott) who is the Avatar of the Green ("organic life",^[14] primarily flora) and Solomon Grundy who is Avatar of the Grey (death). The new interpretation of Yolanda is a red-haired Mexican student. She is shown to have acquired the role by intercepting the messenger of the Red, a horrible animal hybrid, as it came to claim her brother as the Red's Avatar. Pleading with it to take her instead, she is instantly transformed into a large red demon with horns. She united with the other Avatars of the Parliament of Earth to face off against the New Gods, demonstrating an ability to shapeshift.^[14] Later, she is captured by the evil New God Desaad and transformed into an enormous, ferocious shapeshifting red monster loyal to Darkseid.^[15]

Powers and abilities

Yolanda's superhuman powers include retractable claw-like fingernails and cat-like agility.

References