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

Wildebeest I

The first Wildebeest is a poacher, mercenary, and enemy of Chris King and Vicki Grant.^[1]

Wildebeest Society

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

Main article: Baby Wildebeest

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

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

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

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

See also: Baby Wildebeest § In other media

Television

• 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

• 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

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]