BALUM	BIOGRAPHY
Created by Kate Worley, Brent Anderson and Ken Branch

PERSONAL DATA

Identity: The general public believes Balum to be a figment of myth
Occupation: Olmec/Mayan jaguar god; god of sun, fertility and rain
Status: Active
Place of Birth: Unknown
Marital Status: Unknown
Known Relatives: None
Base of Operation: Mobile (the heavens and the underworld)
Group Affiliation(s): Olmec/Mayan Gods
Gender: Male
Height: Unknown
Weight: Unknown
Eyes: Red
Hair: Orange fur with black spots
Distinguishing Features: Balum is a humanoid with feline characteristics
First Appearance: Wonder Woman Annual Vol. 2 #4 (1995)
Creators: Kate Worley, Brent Anderson and Ken Branch

OVERVIEW

Balum is the jaguar god woshipped by the Olmecs and the Mayan cultures in Latin America before the advent of the Europeans. Dormant, Balum awoke in modern times to aid Wonder Woman ageinst the Cheetah.

HISTORY

Balum (“jaguar”) is one of the oldest of the Olmec deities, and was later adopted by the Mayan culture as well. The jaguar god was a god of fertility and rain, but also a symbol of royalty, bravery and rebirth. Residing in the underworld at night, Balum is said to travel the sky as the sun in the daytime, only to return to the land of the dead at sunset.

Eventually, the worship of other gods and the advent of Christianity forced Balum into dormancy. Wonder Woman encountered a revived Balum early on in her career, when she accompanied her friend, Professor Julia Kapatelis, to an archeological dig at the site of the ancient Maya city Tzichilan. Attacked by the Cheetah, who was looting the artifacts of Tzichilan, Wonder Woman called upon the Greek goddess Artemis for help. Artemis then awoke a statue of Balum with a magic arrow, and Wonder Woman had to stop the jaguar god from killing the Cheetah. Balum finally agreed to go back to his rest, but cursed the Cheetah.

POWERS AND WEAPONS

The full extent of Balum's powers have not yet been revealed, other than brute strength and feline agility. Artemis resurrected Balum in the form of a huge statue, and it is not known whether this is his true form or not.

CHRONOLOGY

For a definitive list of appearances of Balum in chronological order click here