Wonder Woman 1984 - 10 Things You Need To Know About The Cheetah

Before she became the Cheetah, Barbara Minerva was an archeologist. Even though she was obsessed with obtaining ancient artefacts, she coveted Wonder Woman's golden lasso more than anything. Upon her first meeting with the superhero, Minerva managed to grab the enchanted lariat but dropped it as she was unable to control its godlike properties.

To wield the lasso, Minerva believed she needed to be anointed with divine power. She allowed a follower of the plant-god, Urzkartaga, to perform a ritual to endow her with the spirit of a cheetah. (If you're wondering why a plant-god is giving out cheetah powers, welcome to comics.)

The procedure transformed Minerva into a cheetah/human hybrid, blessing her with superspeed, claws, and fangs. Because Amazons are vulnerable to piercing attacks, the Cheetah's razor-sharp claws make her a terrifying adversary.

In fact, Minerva defeated Wonder Woman upon their first encounter and would've killed her if she wasn't saved at the last second by a third party. When Diana realised she narrowly escaped death, it was official that Barbara Minerva was, by far, the most dangerous version of the Cheetah.