Times Past Thursday - Wildcat's Kids
Looking at the conversation between Yolanda Montez and Tom Bronson at Ted Grant’s funeral in JSA #7, it seems that (for now) no one is stepping up to fill his shoes. But even if they don’t feel up to taking on the mantle of Wildcat, someone might eventually decide to carry that legacy forward.
As Jay Garrick noted in the issue, Ted wasn’t just a hero—he was a teacher and mentor to many. He trained Black Canary, Green Arrow, Batman, Catwoman, and nearly every younger member of the JSA at some point. But most of those characters already have their own legacies to uphold.
If Yolanda or Tom don’t have a change of heart (and odds are one of them will (or Ted has a 10th life up his sleeve)), let’s take a look at a few long-shot candidates who could surprise us:
Jake Grant
Created by: Alan Brennert and Joe Staton
First Appearance: Secret Origins #50 (August 1990)
Jake was the son of Ted Grant and his girlfriend Irina. As a child, he was kidnapped by Ted’s old enemy Yellow Wasp. Despite Ted’s relentless search, Jake was never found. Years later, Yellow Wasp’s son, Killer Wasp, claimed Jake had been raised as his brother—only to eventually kill him out of jealousy for his relationship with his father.
Jake has never appeared on the page, only mentioned briefly in Secret Origins #50 and a few JSA issues. But he’s an intriguing possibility. Maybe Killer Wasp was lying. Maybe Jake was resurrected by Doctor Manhattan, as some JSA members and their families have been. Exploring the life of a lost or returned son of Wildcat just as Ted lost his life could lead to rich character drama. What kind of man did Jake become? Does he even know who he really is?
Hector Ramirez
Created by: Chuck Dixon, Beau Smith, and Sergio Cariello
First Appearance: Batman/Wildcat #1 (Feb 5, 1997)
Hector was a young boxer with a lot of heart and not much experience when he began training with Ted. Shortly after Hector discovered Ted was Wildcat, he took the costume for himself and died fighting Killer Croc in an underground cage match.
He only appeared in one issue, but Hector could also be a candidate for resurrection. He’d be a young man determined to redeem his past recklessness. Could he seek out Yolanda for training, giving her the mentor roll Ted had for so many?
Alexander Montez
Created by: Geoff Johns and Rags Morales
First Appearance: JSA #26 (Jul 18, 2001)
Driven by revenge for his cousin Yolanda’s death, Alex studied dark magic and bound the Eclipso entity to himself using tattooed glyphs and shards of the Black Diamond. His attempt to control Eclipso worked—until it didn’t. Eclipso eventually took over his body, and Alex died in JSA #68.
He later appeared in the New 52 continuity, but stripped of his previous connection to Eclipso. With continuity shifting again in the post-Doomsday Clock era, it’s possible his original story is back in play. If Yolanda is alive again, maybe Alex is too—and maybe he’s seeking redemption, not revenge. Taking on the Wildcat name could be his way of honoring his cousin and atoning for his past.
Whether it’s one of these candidates, or someone entirely new, the legacy of Ted Grant is too rich to be left dormant forever. The question isn’t if someone will take up the Wildcat mantle—it’s when.
