Cougar

COUGAR

Real Name: Daniel Tsuchida

Current Alias: Cougar

Identity: Public

Alignment: Good

Affiliation: Youngblood (International Away Team)

Overview

Cougar is a prominent member of Youngblood, specifically serving as a core operative for the International “Away Team” alongside teammates like Sentinel and Brahma. A half-human, half-Jakarran hybrid, Cougar possesses extraordinary feline abilities and a fierce combat instinct. Though he often plays the role of the team’s aggressive “badass,” his backstory is rooted in a deep sense of loyalty to his mother and a complex royal heritage in a hidden civilization of cat-people.

Origin

The character’s history began in 1967 when American paleobotanist Megan Tsuchida was captured during an expedition in the Congo Basin (then Zaire) by the Jakarrans, a secret race of humanoid feline warriors. During her captivity, she fell in love with their ruler, King Khylund, and eventually gave birth to their son, Daniel. Because the Jakarrans viewed half-breeds as an abomination, the family attempted to flee; Khylund sacrificed his life during the escape to ensure Megan and Daniel reached safety.

Daniel grew up in America, largely in seclusion due to his distinctive feline features. He was eventually recruited by the United States government for the Youngblood program, where he adopted the codename Cougar.

Creation

Cougar was created by writer and artist Rob Liefeld, making his debut in Youngblood #1 in April 1992. The character was originally developed for Marvel Comics as a potential member of the New Mutants but was never utilized by that publisher, leading Liefeld to repurpose the design for his independent launch at Image Comics.

Character Evolution

Cougar initially served as the “Away Team’s” primary melee combatant, known for his speed and savagery in the field. His character arc deepened when his mother was kidnapped by his half-sister, Lynx, drawing him back to the hidden city of the Jakarrans. After a brutal trial by combat, Cougar defeated Lynx and was crowned the rightful King of the Jakarrans. Despite his royal duties, he eventually chose to return to Youngblood to fulfill his obligations as a hero, leaving his mother to oversee tribal affairs in his stead.

Powers and Abilities

• Superhuman Speed & Agility: Cougar possesses the natural reflexes and high-velocity movement inherent to his Jakarran ancestry, allowing him to outpace most human opponents.
• Retractable Claws: He is equipped with five razor-sharp, extendable claws on each hand, capable of tearing through dense materials and armor.
• Superhuman Senses: His senses of hearing, sight, and smell are heightened to animalistic levels, making him an expert tracker and scout.
• Accelerated Healing: He can recover from physical trauma significantly faster than a normal human, though he is not entirely immortal.
• Combat Training: Aside from his natural gifts, Cougar has received extensive military and tactical training through the Youngblood program.

Vital Statistics