In "When We First Met", we spotlight the various characters, phrases, objects or events that eventually became notable parts of comic lore, like the first time someone said, "Avengers Assemble!" or the first appearance of Batman's giant penny or the first appearance of Alfred Pennyworth or the first time Spider-Man's face was shown half-Spidey/half-Peter. Stuff like that.

Today, based on a suggestion by reader Mik. B., we look to see when Tigra first gained a tail in the comics, which Mik noted that she had in her 2002 miniseries but not in her original feature in Marvel Chillers back in the 1970s.

After starting her career as the superhero known as The Cat, Greer Nelson's life took a strange turn in Giant Size Creatures #1 (by Tony Isabella, Don Perlin and Vince Colletta), when we saw Greer shot and almost killed and her life was saved by the scientist behind her Cat powers (and who worked for the guy behind the Cat suit project), who turned out to be a member of the Cat People!...

Greer's old The Cat suit went to Patsy Walker, who used it to become Hellcat.

That brings us to West Coast Avengers #15 (by Steve Englehart, Al Milgrom and Joe Sinnott), where Hellcat teams up with Tigra and the West Coast Avengers.

Greer notes that the costume enhances Patsy...

The heroes are captured by the Cat People, who apparently are a bit nefarious and Patsy decides to give the costume to Greer (who has become human instead of Tigra during her confrontations with the Cat People)...

Greer then explains that the suit was designed to extend women's strength and that it was ESPECIALLY made for Greer....

she also explains that it was designed by Dr. Tumolo, a Cat Person, to FIGHT the evil Cat People...

Finally, Greer is transformed into Tigra against her will, but the suit's ability to enhance women also served to ENHANCE Greer's humanity, allowing her to take control of the Tigra transformation...

And, of course, she now had a tail in her Tigra form!

So there ya go, Mik! Thank for the question!

If anyone else has a suggestion for/question about a notable comic book first, drop me a line at brianc@cbr.com!