The Archie Comics superhero known as Ivette “Ivy” Velez/The Jaguar is returning for her very own one-shot next year.
At this time, SuperHeroHype can exclusively announce The Jaguar #1. Due to hit comic shops in February 2024, the 32-page one-shot hails from writer Keryl Brown Ahmed (Big Ethel Energy), artist Tango (Fear the Funhouse: Toybox of Terror), colorist Ellie Wright, and letterer Jack Morelli. It features a main cover by Maria Sanapo and Wright, as well as a variant cover by Reiko Murakami.
Check out the cover art for The Jaguar #1 below:
“Something is killing the Pampas cats of Northern Peru,” an official synopsis reads. “A group of zoologists has come together to investigate these mysterious slayings. They know the culprit is a bird of prey, but the method of killing is unlike any of the birds local to the region. It’s going to take someone with apex predator abilities to find out who’s causing these murders … someone like Ivette Velez, aka The Jaguar! But will the predator become the prey?”
The original Jaguar, Ralph Hardy, debuted in 1961 under the Archie Adventure Series banner. The character was a member of the Mighty Crusaders. Archie later licensed its superhero characters out to DC Comics. In 1991, DC introduced a new version of The Jaguar, Maria de Guzman, as part of its now-defunct Impact Universe (where all the licensed Archie characters lived). In 2012, Archie itself launched New Crusaders: Rise of the Heroes under its own Red Circle Comics imprint. That series saw Ivy Velez — Ralph Hardy’s zoological apprentice — take up the Jaguar mantle directly from her mentor.
The legacy of The Jaguar
“Our hero is Ivette Velez, a reserved zoologist whose superhero persona resembles a fierce Jaguar. She specializes in felinology, and when something starts killing off wild cats in Northern Peru, she joins a research trip to ID the culprit. She realizes she’s in for much more than she bargained for when the mysterious predator starts stalking her instead,” Ahmed said of the new one-shot.
“The Jaguar’s gender was updated in the MIGHTY CRUSADERS comics of the 2010s, and the transition was so logical and seamless — Ralph Hardy passes his powers on to Ivette Velez, his protégée,” the writer continued. “I took the opportunity to address the provenance of The Jaguar’s powers and how they’re Ivette’s birthright even before Hardy bestows the Jaguar suit upon her, whereas Hardy sort of stumbled upon them on his travels. Ivette’s destiny may have been written by her ancestors, but she feels so disconnected from her Peruvian heritage that she has to literally walk the halls of their civilization to fully activate the powers within her.”
Ahmed concluded, “The character’s long history and many iterations provided a great creative foundation for me while also leaving plenty of room to explore The Jaguar’s character in ways that felt exciting and authentic. I’m very grateful to Archie Comics for entrusting me with her, and I’m excited to see where she goes next!”
The new one-shot hearkens back to the Crusaders’ early days
“This story was an incredible opportunity for me to go all-in on some classic superhero action,” Tango added. “There’s really nothing I love more than really getting to dig in on the physicality of the characters. I was able to pull from so many of the touchstone series and artists that are really close to my heart … The thing that excited me the most about the project was finding the roots of the Crusaders brand stretch all the way back to the days of Alex Toth and Steve Ditko. Those names hold a real sense of reverence. So, contributing in any way to the timeline of these characters came with a very real sense of responsibility for me.”
Archie senior director of editorial Jamie L. Rotante echoed this sentiment. “When bringing these classic superheroes back to life, it’s our mission to handle each one with care, crafting a story that balances enough familiarity for readers who are aware of the character, with a clear jumping-on point for new readers that we hope turn into new fans,” she said.
“The Jaguar is a spiritual successor to Darkling and Bob Phantom; all origin stories that are less about our heroes discovering their powers, and more about understanding what having these powers means,” Rotante continued. “Writer Keryl Brown Ahmed did a stellar job in crafting a story that’s accessible while also carefully balancing old and new, creating a kick-ass hero for a modern era. Coupled with Tango’s brilliant, action-packed, eye-catching art, this is a comic unlike any superhero tale we’ve done before, and one that can’t be missed.”
The Jaguar #1 goes on sale February 21, 2024 from Archie Comics.
