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.