A world-class heavyweight boxer, Grant became inadvertently entangled in the criminal underworld and developed a costumed identity to clear his name. Modern portrayals of Wildcat show him to be a rowdy tough guy with a streak of male chauvinism, leading to frequent clashes with the feministic Power Girl. The character's insecurities have been explored as well. Meanwhile, a magical "nine lives" spell has explained his vitality at an old age. Like many older JSA members, he's been a mentor to younger heroes, particularly Batman and Black Canary