Wildebeest (character)
Wildebeest is the name of several characters appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, primarily in association with the Teen Titans. The first Wildebeest is a moniker shared by members of the Wildebeest Society, a cartel that battled the Titans on multiple occasions. The second Wildebeest, Baby Wildebeest, is a creature created by the Society who was adopted by the Titans.
History
[edit]Wildebeest I
[edit]The first Wildebeest is a poacher, mercenary, and enemy of Chris King and Vicki Grant.[1]
Wildebeest Society
[edit]The second Wildebeest is the founder of the Wildebeest Society, a criminal cartel that conducts underhanded affairs for financial gain. Although the Society has many members (some of whom previously worked for H.I.V.E.), only one Wildebeest operates publicly, giving the illusion that all of their crimes are committed by a single individual.[2]
The Wildebeest Society later falls under the control of former Teen Titans member Jericho, who had been possessed and corrupted by the souls of Azarath. Under Jericho's leadership, the Wildebeest Society attempt to create host bodies for the souls to possess. All of their experiments fail except for the human/panther hybrid Pantha (X-24), who escapes and vows vengeance on the Society. Jericho stages an elaborate hunt to capture the Teen Titans and have them act as vessels for the souls. However, the Titans defeat the Wildebeest Society, with Jericho being killed by his father Deathstroke.[3]
Baby Wildebeest
[edit]Baby Wildebeest is one of two creations of the Wildebeest Society, the other being Pantha. After dismantling the Society, the Titans adopt Baby Wildebeest, who regards Pantha as his mother.[4][5][6] Baby Wildebeest was killed by Superboy-Prime during the 2005 event Infinite Crisis and has remained dead since.[7]
New Wildebeests
[edit]The demonic supervillain Goth allied with Contessa Erica Alexandra de Portanza to create upgraded versions of the Wildebeests which resemble monstrous, anthropomorphic versions of their namesake. Goth commands the Wildebeests to attack JFK International Airport and Grand Central Station before they are defeated by the Titans. Another set of Wildebeests are encountered in Brooklyn by Beast Boy and Flamebird later encounter a separate group of Wildebeests, who were tamed by an unnamed man.[8][9]
Cybernetic Wildebeest
[edit]When Starfire and Tim Drake are abducted from Titans Tower, the Teen Titans work with the Outsiders to find them. Nightwing tracks them to the basement of Titans Tower, where they are being held captive by a cybernetically enhanced Wildebeest. The Teen Titans and the Outsiders defeat the Wildebeest and intend to ship it to S.T.A.R. Labs. However, the transport containing the Cybernetic Wildebeest is intercepted by a mysterious man who was responsible for creating the Cybernetic Wildebeest.[10]
Powers and abilities
[edit]The members of the Wildebeest Society are master tacticians and wear strength-boosting exoskeletons, resembling a monstrous, humanoid version of their namesakes. The New Wildebeests are wildebeest hybrids who possess enhanced strength, while the Cybernetic Wildebeest is cybernetically enhanced.
In other media
[edit]Television
[edit]- Wildebeest appears in Teen Titans, voiced initially by Jim Cummings and subsequently by Dee Bradley Baker.[11] This version is an honorary member of the Teen Titans.
- Wildebeest makes a cameo appearance in the Teen Titans Go! (2013) episode "Campfire Stories".
Video games
[edit]- Wildebeest appears in Teen Titans (2005), voiced again by Dee Bradley Baker.[11]
- Wildebeest appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.[12]
Miscellaneous
[edit]The Teen Titans animated series incarnation of Wildebeest appears in Teen Titans Go! (2004), which reveals him to be a metahuman child with the ability to transform into a wildebeest hybrid.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ Action Comics #483 (May 1978)
- ^ The New Teen Titans (vol. 2) #36 (October 1987)
- ^ The New Titans #71-84 (November 1990 - March 1992)
- ^ New Titans #87 (June 1992)
- ^ Misiroglu, Gina (2012). The Superhero Book: The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Comic-Book Icons and Hollywood Heroes. Visible Ink Press. ISBN 978-1-5785-9397-2.
- ^ Cowsill, Alan (2019). DC Comics: Year By Year New Edition, A Visual Chronicle. DK Publishing. p. 238. ISBN 9781465496089.
- ^ Infinite Crisis #4 (March 2006)
- ^ Titans #35 (January 2002)
- ^ Titans #36 (February 2002)
- ^ Teen Titans/Outsiders Secret Files (October 2005)
- ^ a b "Wildebeest Voices (Teen Titans)". Behind The Voice Actors. Archived from the original on July 20, 2024. Retrieved July 18, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
- ^ Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Archived from the original on October 11, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
- ^ "Teen Titans Go! #16 - Beauty & the Wildebeest (Issue)". Comic Vine. Archived from the original on April 6, 2024. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
External links
[edit]- Wildebeest I at DC Comics Wiki
- Wildebeest Society at DC Comics Wiki
- Wildebeest Society at Comic Vine
- Wildebeest Society at Titans Tower
- New Wildebeests at Titans Tower
- Cybernetic Wildebeest at Titans Tower
