PG-433

2018

DC

Cheetah is the alias used by several characters in DC Comics, primarily known as a formidable adversary of Wonder Woman. The most well-known Cheetah is Dr. Barbara Ann Minerva, an archaeologist who gains superhuman abilities through a ritual involving the plant god Urzkartaga.

Barbara Minerva's Cheetah first appeared in Wonder Woman (Vol. 2) #7 in August 1987. Driven by a thirst for knowledge and power, she sought immortality and the strength of a predator. The ritual, however, was flawed, granting her the powers of a cheetah but also a painful, uncontrollable transformation cycle and a bloodthirsty nature.

As Cheetah, Minerva possesses enhanced speed, agility, strength, and razor-sharp claws and teeth. She is often depicted as a cunning and savage villain, driven by her primal instincts and resentment towards Wonder Woman. Over the years, other characters have briefly taken on the Cheetah mantle, but Barbara Minerva remains the most iconic and enduring version.