I remember thinking Wildcat was cool when I was young, but he didn't seem to fit in sometimes. He was basically a really good boxer amongst heroes of incredible power in the JSA. I am glad that he later found his niche as a mentor and trainer to many younger crimefighters. It gives him added depth and a unique place among DC's pantheon of heroes.
Just the idea that he was a mentor to a young Bruce Wayne makes him pretty cool...
ReplyDeleteAgreed.
ReplyDeleteAnd the introduction of his 'nine lives' advantage was rather amusing: quoth Wildcat "the Afterlife has a cat-flap".
^_^
And then there was the 'Raging Cat' story, in JSA, in which he took down all but one member of the Injustice Society's current line-up single-handed... and quite literally "single-handed", at that, because he had one arm in a cast...
Verry impressive.
Yeah, DC has a 'thing' about taking powerless Golden Age heroes and tacking on powers that somehow fit their established names. Wildcat got 'nine lives,' Black Canary got an ultrasonic 'song,' Phantom Lady got the power to phase through objects when she relocated from Earth-X to Earth-1, and Firebrand (or, actually, his sister) got flame powers.
ReplyDeleteI think I remember the original of this cover! The one where a T'Challa has seemingly gone rogue (when it was really one of the Sons of the Serpent)?
ReplyDeleteYup, Avengers #74
ReplyDeleteExcellent rendering, Ross! Is there any chance you might someday do one with Buffy Summers and Luke Skywalker vs. Darth Andeddu?
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my absolute favorite Buscema covers, a masterpiece of staging. Great to see it put to such good use.
ReplyDeleteRip Off