My back issue project of late last year was the early '90s Impact Comics line DC put out with the old Archie heroes, so welcome to the first of those titles.
The Jaguar followed Maria De Guzman, freshman college student from Brazil, moving to Elm Harbor, Michigan. A sleepy little college town, which happens to have stuff like government laboratories hidden beneath it, and weird alien Sasquatches out in the boonies. Maria struggles to fit in, not aided by a cruel Queen Bee character who singles her out for torment, especially once they end up as roommates. (Messner-Loebs does expand on what's going on with Traci later, using her eventually as comic relief, and confidante.)
When Maria's attacked by a bunch of assholes while out for a nighttime jog, she transforms into a huge, feral warrior woman. Messner-Loebs initially plays it as Maria remembering the transformation as more of a dream, as The Jaguar was something her aunt told her about as a protector of the rain forest, and which terrified Maria. Maria eventually accepts that she's the one changing, and by halfway through the series has even learned to revel in her abilities.
David Antoine Williams was series artist for the first four issue, and there are similarities between his work and a Rich Burchett or Ty Templeton. Smooth, solid lines. Straightforward designs without a lot of messy cross-hatching or anything like that. Wojtkiewicz takes over as artist in issue 5, and ends up drawing 7 of the remaining 10 issues.
Williams' version of the Jaguar seemed like something Adam Hughes or Terry Dodson might draw. Buff, prominent, rounded hips and chest, just all around big. Wojtkiewicz tones that down a bit while maintaining the musculature. He also emphasizes the animal aspect more. Hair a bit wilder, shading the face to make the green eyes stand out more. When she runs, he draws her up on the balls of her feet and leaning forward, like she's a moment away from dropping to all fours.
Messner-Loebs has Maria gradually embrace being the Jaguar, trying to use it to do good. When she's approached about joining a super-team (because they tried hard to interconnect the books), she agrees. For someone who was frightened by her aunt's admission she'd killed men with this power, Maria doesn't seem that frightened of losing control herself once she understands what's going on.
Unfortunately, the Impact line went under from poor sales, so the book ended at 14 issues. Worse, it ended on a cliffhanger, as Maria and Traci fly to Brazil to investigate the murder of Maria's father and the seizing of her family's assets.
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