Any good superhero adopts a theme, and for many of those heroes, their theme is related to an animal. While some heroes like Spider-Man adopt the sensibilities of creepy crawlies, others like Vixen or Beast Boy draw on the entire animal kingdom. However, it takes a special hero to find inspiration in a house pet.
Cats are a critical aspect of human mythology. They've symbolized stealth, slyness, and magic for a millennium. Additionally, big cats often represent things like royalty and power. The pages of comic books are rife with superheroes who, in utilizing these themes, have become some of the most iconic characters ever created.
10 Wildcat Wears War-Worn Whiskers
While several characters have borne the name "Wildcat" in DC Comics, the most iconic is Ted Grant: the original. Grant is generally portrayed as an older hero, largely due to the fact he's a key member of the Justice League-predecessor: The Justice Society of America.
Aside from a mystical spell that granted the character a constantly-regenerating set of nine lives, Grant has no metahuman powers. He generally relies on his skill as a former champion boxer and has trained heroes like Black Canary, Superman, and Batman. Wildcat is often translated to other DC media in this mentor role.
9 Black Cat Is More Than The Shadow Of The Cat
On the surface, Felicia Hardy seems nothing more than Spider-Man's Catwoman. The black-leather-clad burglar has an on-again, off-again relationship with the web-slinger, leading to them teaming up on several occasions. Even if one doesn't believe creators Marv Wolfman, Keith Pollard, and Dave Cockrum when they say the character is an independent invention, Black Cat has proven to be her own hero.
The Black Cat's saga is one of self-determination. After being assaulted by a boyfriend, Hardy vowed to never let such a thing happen again. She became an expert martial artist and thief, later demonstrating unconscious probability-affecting powers. One of Spider-Man's most interesting rogues, Black Cat remains an ever-shifting point of interest in the Spider-mythos.
8 Bronze Tiger Is A Cougar of Karate
Perennial Suicide Squad member Bronze Tiger, aka Ben Turner, has a storied (if sordid) history in the pages of DC Comics. Initially introduced as a skilled martial artist in the pages of Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter, the Tiger has become one of the DC Universe's most enduring antihero assassins.
Though never forgotten in various DC media adaptations, Bronze Tiger's best stories are in the pages of John Ostrander's Suicide Squad. Alternately a man seeking redemption and a vicious killer, the Tiger became a leader in the squad and ultimately overcame his demons. Now boasting the ability to take on a half-man, half-tiger form, Bronze Tiger's pathos lies in his struggle with his own viciousness.
7 Shadowcat Now Leads Her Own Pride
Kate Pryde has gone by various names in Marvel continuity, but her most well-known codename is undoubtedly Shadowcat. The long-time X-member has been a critical part of the team since her introduction in the "Dark Phoenix Saga." She's served as a reader surrogate until the eventual introductions of the New Mutants and Jubilee.
Though Pryde is generally only tangentially cat-related, Kate (formerly Kitty) is in many ways the heart of the X-Men. Generations of readers grew up alongside her, becoming intelligent leaders, independent thinkers, and even fashionistas. Now a nation-maker on Krakoa, Shadowcat's journey from teen to queen is one of the most satisfying in comics.
6 Dex-Starr Is A Good Kitty
Any cat-based exploration of superheroes would be incomplete without Dex-Starr, the Red Lantern Corps's resident ring-bearing cat. For a member of an anger-based group of space soldiers, Dex-Starr is unusually sympathetic – though that's perhaps something to do with him being a housecat.
Before he brought the battle to the spaceways of the DC Universe, Dex-Starr was the pet of a woman living in Brooklyn. Unfortunately, she was murdered in a break-in and Dex-Starr was thrown out by the police. His vengeful desire brought him a Red Lantern ring, and since then, Dex-Starr has been DC's best-selling murderous space cat.
5 Hellcat Showed Her Claws After Years Of Being Controlled
Patsy Walker wasn't made to be a superhero. Created in 1944, Walker starred in humorous teenage girl-oriented comics like Miss America and Girls' Life. Her eponymous title was published continuously from the '40s until the '60s and Walker's trajectory turned towards superherodom.
As the Hellcat, Walker became a more feminist hero. She divorced her abusive husband, took (temporary) control of the stories that had been published using her name, and joined a superhero non-team, the Defenders, to battle unnatural evils. A humorous character with a compelling story, Hellcat remains one of Marvel's most fun felines.
4 Catman Went From Lamb To Lion
Between Catwoman, Wildcat, and Bronze Tiger, what room is there in the DC Universe for a Catman? Plenty, as it turns out. Though initially nothing more than a player in Batman's rogues' gallery, Catman's transition from sad sack to badass is one of DC's most satisfying character arcs.
The renaissance of the Catman began under writer Brad Meltzer, who brought the character into the modern era as a past-his-prime foe easily beaten by Green Arrow. However, it was writer Gail Simone who took Thomas Blake and made him a tiger, helping him find redemption in defending wild lions and finding purpose among the Secret Six. Though still relatively minor, Catman is one of the coolest characters in comics.
3 Tigra Embraces Her Feline Side
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When most heroes adopt a theme, it's often confined to their costumes. However, this isn't the case for Greer Nelson, aka Tigra. Following a non-powered stint as the crimefighter known as the Cat, Nelson took on her new moniker when a hidden culture of cat people resurrected her as their were-cat defender.
Tigra embraced her new feline form wholeheartedly, wearing little to cover her furred body and even grooming herself in front of her West Coast Avengers teammates. Her enthusiasm for felinity aside, Tigra has repeatedly shown herself to be a stalwart Avenger, a loyal friend, and a thoughtful mentor in the Marvel Universe.
2 Catwoman Is The Coolest of Cats
Except for the Joker, the most critical figure in the Bat-mythos is Catwoman. Selina Kyle's will-they, won't-they relationship with The Dark Knight and her uneasy peace with both sides of the law have made compelling stories for over 80 years. However, Catwoman is defined by far more than her relationship with Batman.
The character is an undisputed icon. She's a symbol of sexuality without being exploitative, and her guile and utilitarian self-interest make her a power player in the DCU. Regardless of the interpretation, Catwoman oozes coolness, confidence, and a catlike canniness that makes her one of fiction's strongest characters.
1 Black Panther Is The King of the Cats
Following a half-century of obscurity, the Black Panther has pounced to the height of popularity. The King of Wakanda has become a pop culture icon because of his political significance, imaginative visuals, and, of course, his cool cat motif.
T'Challa and his fellow Panthers have always been a crucial part of both Marvel and comics in general, as the Orphan Prince was the first black superhero to appear in a major American comic book. Aside from this critical significance, his sleek and feline design has always made the character stand out, while his in-story importance has driven crossover after crossover. When the claws come out, the Black Panther is the best cat-themed superhero.