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An intelligent, highly skilled British anthropologist, Dr. Barbara Ann Minerva is the Cheetah. She had searched out a tribe in Africa who utilized a female guardian with the powers of a cheetah. A band of marauders killed the guardian and most of what remained of her original expedition party, then Barbara, with the aid of the priest, Chuma, the caretaker of Urtzkartaga, took her place after being told that she would gain immortality. Her powers were conferred to her by ingesting a combination of human blood and the berries or leaves of the ancient plant god, Urzkartaga. Unfortunately, as the host for the Cheetah persona was to be a virgin, which Minerva was not, her transformations were part curse and part blessing as she experienced severe pain while in her human form and blood-thirsty euphoria while in her cat form.

This version of The Cheetah came into Wonder Woman's world when Barbara discovered that Diana possessed the Lasso of Truth. As an anthropologist Barbara came to covet the lasso in the hopes to add it to her collection of historical items. Of course Wonder Woman would not allow her to possess it and their initial battle ensued. Over the years Barbara's interest in the lasso waned and she became more interested in besting Diana in battle due to her bruised ego. The two's rivalry has flucuated at times though. Saving The Cheetah's life during an adventure in the country of Muldavia, Barbara aided Wonder Woman when she became caught in the mob war between Paulie Longo and Julianna Sazia in Boston. Seeing her debt paid, The Cheetah has continued in her quest to defeat Wonder Woman at all costs.

For a brief period of time, Minerva lost her powers to the businessman Sebastian Ballesteros, who had convinced Urtzkartaga that he could be a more effective Cheetah than she was. Minerva later killed Ballesteros and regained her powers.

With help from Zoom, Minerva attained a level of super-speed that she previously had not possessed after murdering Priscilla Rich. They later joined the latest Secret Society of Super Villains, and they seemed to be engaged in a sexual relationship, even though Zoom considers himself to still be married to his former wife.

One Year Later, Minerva has had a spell put on her that allows her to look human, even though she still remains in her Cheetah form. She possessed control of three actual Cheetahs and still posessed her super-speed, which was shown in her being able to steal the golden lasso away from Donna Troy several times in battle.

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