Reading List: Cheetah, Part 2

With the help of Greg Potter and George Perez, DC Comics relaunched its Wonder Woman title in 1987. Her continuity was rebooted and she was given a new origin. By erasing the narratives that existed previously, this gave the creators a chance to reinvent several of Wonder Woman’s most dangerous enemies.

Arguably, the most successful reinvention was that of the Cheetah. George Perez introduced readers to Barbara Ann Minerva, a power hungry archaeologist who wants nothing more than true divinity and the death of Wonder Woman.

Below you will find a list of the most notable appearances the modern Cheetah has made since her introduction in 1987. Watch out for those claws!

Wonder Woman v2 #7-9 (1987)

Barbara Ann Minerva made her first appearance in Wonder Woman v2 #7, which led to her dramatic transformation into the Cheetah two issues later.

Along with her faithful servant Chuma, archaeologist Barbara Minerva flew from her home in England to the United States to meet the media sensation known as Wonder Woman. Intending to steal her golden lasso, Minerva’s plan goes off the rails when the lasso violently rejects her.

Not one to give up easily, Minerva is transformed into the Cheetah through an ancient ritual and attacks the Amazon at her Boston residence. What ensues is a knock-down drag out fight between the Amazon Princess and her most dangerous foe.

Read these issues online on Comixology.

Wonder Woman v2 #27-35 (1989)

In one of George Perez’s most epic storylines, the Cheetah successfully steals Wonder Woman’s mystical lasso. The Amazon Princess pursues the feline fatale to Africa, where she learns of the Cheetah’s origins and of the long lost tribe of Amazons known as the Bana-Mighdall.

Wonder Woman v2 #94-95 (1995)

After losing the title of Wonder Woman to the Bana-Mighdall Amazon named Artemis, Diana is captured by the combined forces of Poison Ivy, Cheshire, and the Cheetah. She must defeat these deadly foes without her Gods-given gifts.

Read these issues online at Comixology.

Wonder Woman v2 #118-119 (1997)

In these John Byrne-penned issues, the Cheetah returns more dangerous than ever. These issues mark a few dramatic twists and turns, which ultimately lead to Diana’s shocking death at Neron’s hands a few issues later.

Read these issues online at Comixology.

Wonder Woman v2 #186-187 (2002-2003)

After Minerva loses her divine powers to the businessman known as Sebastian Ballesteros, she strikes a deal with the spirit of vengeance to reclaim her mantle.

This two-part story serves as the ultimate climax for Phil Jimenez’s run on Wonder Woman. It is dramatic and manages to wrap up all his most pressing plot points.

Read these issues online at Comixology.

Catwoman: When In Rome (2005)

Even though she’s largely been Wonder Woman’s number one nemesis, the Cheetah makes a surprising appearance in this mini-series helmed by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale.

Suspecting that she may have family ties to the mafia, Catwoman travels to Italy to learn the truth about her heritage. This vacation turns deadly when she is forced to face off against the nefarious Cheetah.

Read these issues online at Comixology or purchase the trade paperback on Amazon.

Wonder Woman v3 #1-4, Annual #1 (2006-2007)

Following the dramatic events of “Infinite Crisis,” Donna Troy takes over as Wonder Woman. In her first outing, she is attacked by the combined forces of her sister’s enemies. The Cheetah returns and is revealed to now be able to control her transformations. 

Read these issues online at Comixology or purchase the graphic novel on Amazon.

JLA: Wedding Special, Justice League of America v2 #13-15 (2007)

Following the wedding of superheroes Green Arrow and Black Canary, Lex Luthor assembles an army of supervillains to bring down the Justice League of America. The Cheetah joins this anti-Justice League and faces off once more against the Amazon Princess.

Read these issues online at Comixology or purchase the trade paperback on Amazon.

JLA: Salvation Run (2008)

In this company-wide crossover, DC Comics’ most dangerous villains are transported to an uninhabited island to repent for their crimes. The Cheetah is amongst these criminals and quickly aligns herself with Lex Luthor in order to get back home.

It’s worth noting that the Cheetah was also featured in the issues of Catwoman that tied into this event.

Read these issues online at Comixology or purchase the trade paperback on Amazon.

Wonder Woman v3 #26-33 (2009)

When Gail Simone took over Wonder Woman’s title, fans were excited to see what the critically-acclaimed writer would do with the Amazing Amazon. In 2009, she launched an epic six-part storyline known as “Rise of the Olympian.”

In this event, Wonder Woman faces off against a deadly new foe known as Genocide and deal with the machinations of the Greek Gods as they launch a plot against the Amazon Princess. On top of all of this, she must contend with the return of the Cheetah.

Read these issues online at Comixology or purchase the graphic novel on Amazon.

Justice League #13-14 (2012-2013)

In 2011, DC Comics rebooted its continuity and relaunched 52 new titles under an initiative known as “The New 52.” As part of this, Wonder Woman was given a new origin and the story of the Justice League’s first meeting was retold.

Geoff Johns re-introduced the Cheetah into the New 52 in this two-part story. Minerva is portrayed to be an enigmatic and manipulative woman, who gains divine powers through the use of a mystical dagger.

Read these issues online at Comixology.

Review: Demi Lovato, The Neon Lights Tour

In support of her fourth studio album, Demi Lovato embarked on her third headlining concert tour in February, 2014. Dubbed “The Neon Lights Tour,” this show emphasized Demi’s rock star stage presence and killer vocals, as well as her down to earth persona that has engaged fans since her debut.

Opening with her hit single “Heart Attack,” Demi rose from beneath the stage and belted it out like no one else can. Decked out in torn leggings and a spiked leather jacket, she came out in full rock star regalia. Her charisma was undeniable. She segued into a remixed Here We Go Again era single “Remember December.” Stripped of its more rock-tinged elements, it was performed in an electronic style that suited Demi’s new sound perfectly. This was followed by a track from her most recent album (“Fire Starter”) and a non-single song from Don’t Forget  (“The Middle”). Things picked up when she brought down the show with “Really Don’t Care.” Fans belted out the words and lost their minds as supporting act Cher Lloyd joined Demi for her rap verse.

While the night was full of uptempo anthems and dance tracks, some of the more poignant moments in “The Neon Lights Tour” came from the ballads she performed. “Catch Me,” another track from Here We Go Again, was sung as she played the acoustic guitar before transitioning into a downtempo version of “Here We Go Again.” Similarly, “Nightingale” and “Warrior” received much love from the audience. These ballads proved to be crowd-pleasers and showcased her vocals flawlessly. However, it was the Frozen ballad “Let It Go” that truly made the audience go wild. There wasn’t a single person who didn’t sing along.

Other highlights from the night included performances of “Made in the USA” and “Neon Lights.” The former received thunderous applause when she sang the final words as “Made in Canada,” while the latter had the entire stadium jumping in tune to the club beat. The encore was equally as satisfying. She concluded the show with the Unbroken era hit “Give Your Heart a Break” and her signature song “Skyscraper.” Both were engaging and compelling, giving fans a chance to see Demi’s authenticity and talent without the bravado put on by flashy videos or pyrotechnics.

Overall, “The Neon Lights Tour” was a wonderful display of everything that Demi Lovato represents. It had a dash of rock star swagger, a pinch of sass, and a whole lot of heart. From confetti to elaborate light displays, the staging was impeccable. Her vocals were spot-on and she didn’t miss a note. While she could have included more songs from her fourth album DEMI on the setlist, it was nonetheless satisfying to see her reference her entire discography in one night. However, if there was one thing to take away from her performance it is that she is an inspiring young woman who believes in female empowerment and self-improvement. In times like these, this type of selflessness and genuine care for others is rare. Demi Lovato is more than just a pop singer, she’s an inspiration.

Reading List: Cheetah, Part 1

Since her introduction in 1941, Wonder Woman has faced some of the most colorful villains in the world of comics. However, none of her enemies have quite captured the imagination of readers as much as the nefarious Cheetah. Known for her spotted catsuit and psychotic demeanor, this villainess is certainly as dangerous as she is beautiful.

To celebrate this iconic femme fatale, below is a list of some of her most notable appearances. In part one, we will explore the capers of the first two women to use the name of Cheetah – Priscilla Rich and Debbie Domaine.

Wonder Woman #6 (1943)

In this 1943 origin story, Priscilla Rich is introduced as a wealthy socialite whose vanity proves to be her downfall. At a charity event, the beautiful and generous Wonder Woman upstages Rich. This incident causes her to fly into a jealous rage thereby losing her sanity. She dons a cat costume and from then on goes by the identity of the Cheetah.

Seeking revenge, the Cheetah steals the funds from the charity and attempts to frame Wonder Woman for the crime. Thankfully, the Amazing Amazon is able to defeat this feline fatale and clear her name.

Sensation Comics #22 (1943)

Despite supposedly making repentance for her past crimes, the Cheetah comes under suspicion when a navy submarine goes missing. Priscilla Rich’s dark side proves to be too powerful and is revealed to still be under the influence of her villainous alter ego. She captures Wonder Woman and her ally Etta Candy, but is defeated when her sanity fails her.

Wonder Woman #28 (1948)

Imprisoned on Paradise Island for rehabilitation, the Cheetah is freed by a Saturnian villain named Eviless. Together with four other villains, Cheetah returns to Man’s World as part of the group known as Villainy Inc. They manage to capture Wonder Woman, but their plans unravel when Etta Candy and Steve Trevor interfere. Once Wonder Woman is freed by her allies, she defeats Villainy Inc. and returns them to their incarceration on Paradise Island.

Read this issue in Wonder Woman: The Greatest Stories Ever Told, available on here on Amazon.com.

Wonder Woman #160 (1966)

On the tail end of the Silver Age of comics, Wonder Woman’s title was revamped to tell stories from the Golden Age. The very first villain to make an appearance during this time was her iconic nemesis Cheetah.

In this 1966 adventure, Wonder Woman is blinded by jealousy when the Cheetah hypnotizes Steve Trevor into kissing the feline fatale. Temporarily overcome by this emotion, the Cheetah manages to remove Wonder Woman’s indestructible bracelets. This causes the Amazing Amazon to go berserk. The day is saved and Cheetah is returned to prison once Steve manages to return the bracelets to Wonder Woman’s possession.

Read this issue in Showcase Presents: Wonder Woman Vol. 4, available here on Amazon.com.

Wonder Woman #230 (1977)

During the first season of the wildly popular live-action Wonder Woman series starring Lynda Carter, DC Comics decided to set her comics in the same setting as the TV series – World War II.

Set in DC Comics’ alternate universe known as Earth-Two, this adventure is a retelling of Cheetah’s origins. Once again driven mad by the public’s love for Wonder Woman, socialite Priscilla Rich transforms into the Cheetah and hatches a plan to kill the Amazing Amazon. However, before her scheme can be fully enacted Rich’s mind reverts back and she warns Wonder Woman of the assassination plot.

Wonder Woman #274-275 (1980-1981)

Long after the original Cheetah’s retirement, Priscilla Rich’s niece Debbie Domaine is kidnapped and is transformed into the second Cheetah. This new Cheetah is twice as dangerous and even more unpredictable than her predecessor. Enraged by the damage inflicted on the Earth by careless humans, Domaine seeks to eradicate those responsible for the world’s ills.

Wonder Woman #323 (1985)

As DC Comics moved towards its universe-altering Crisis on Infinite Earths, Debbie Domaine made her final appearance in this 1985 issue of Wonder Woman.

When Etta Candy becomes Wonder Woman, she is faced with the harrowing experience of defeating the Amazing Amazon’s most dangerous enemies. Doctor Psycho, Angle Man, Silver Swan, and Cheetah all come together in their desperate effort to kill Wonder Woman once and for all.

Review: X-Men, Second Coming

Second Coming is one of the best X-Men storylines in recent years. It is cohesive, thrilling, and, most importantly, emotional. It focuses on the return of the so-called mutant messiah known as Hope. Many consider her to be the saviour of mutantkind and will usher them away from the brink of extinction. This, of course, makes her a target for those who wish to wipe out all those with an X-gene.

Spread out across all of the primary X-Men titles from 2010 through 2011, Second Coming is the brilliant conclusion to what could informally be known as the Messiah trilogy. For casual fans of the X-Men, this story will be largely confusing and may be overly complex. It weaves in the narratives of dozens of characters and operates on the foundation of several exisiting storylines. In order to understand what is going on, it's essential to be familiar with such concepts as M-Day and the Cooperstown Massacre. For those who have been reading the X-Men for years, this will be a non-stop action ride that has its fair share of triumph and heartarche. Writers Mike Carey, Craig Kyle, Chris Yost, Matt Fraction, and Zeb Wells do an incredible job piecing together this intricate web of narratives. Cyclops, Wolverine, and Hope are the emotional core of this crossover. They are written well and are each very layered in their characterizations.

There are several standout moments in Second Coming. Some are as small as Hope eyeing a hair brush set in a drug store, while others are as big as the epic battle that sees the X-Men facing off against the deadly Nimrod Sentinels. As mentioned previously, this event is very emotional. Characters are gravely injured while others become casualties during the X-Men's fight to protect Hope. While this contributes to the gravity of the narrative, there are other themes at work as well. A particular point of conflict arises concerning Cyclops' decision to commission a group of killers to carry out covert missions to assassinate threats to mutantkind. When this secret team is exposed, it has dire consequences and opens up discussions regarding the true nature of heroism. For this reader, the most poignant moment of Second Coming arrives during the denouement. Storm, known for her strong set of morals, confronts Wolverine about his active participation in Cyclops' team of killers. The scene is tense and impeccably well-written. Storm's words are cutting and brutally honest. While the world operates in shades of grey, Storm makes it perfectly clear that the X-Men are moving far too close to the darker end of the spectrum.

As referenced above, Second Coming isn't the most accessible of narratives. For anyone new to the world of the X-Men, it will leave you with far too many questions to be able to comprehend the storylines. Nevertheless, it is incredibly detailed and is a thoroughly satisfying read that is sure to leave the veteran reader with some kind of emotional response. Second Coming has its share of flaws, but it is one of the most impressive offerings by Marvel in recent years. It shows the world once more the difference people can make when they band together to fight for a common goal. It's powerful.

Rating: A