DC Comics' Wild Dog first introduced the title character in September 1987 over a four issue mini-series created by Max Allan Collins (Road to Perdition), Dick Giordano (Green Lantern) and Terry Beatty (The Batman Strikes!).  Wild Dog was notably one of the first new DC superheroes created after Crisis on Infinite Earths. The Wild Dog character has since gone on to appear on Arrow season 5 on The CW, where "Wild Dog" is the alias of Rene Ramirez: a former Navy sailor who takes to Arrow’s crime-fighting efforts on the TV series.

Despite some tinkering with the details, The CW's Arrow TV series has adapted several elements of the Wild Dog character faithfully from the comics (to the delight of fans), including the memorable red dog mascot that adorns his hockey jersey and, of course, his vigilante motivation. Now it remains to be seen how the show approaches the character's origins/backstory.

The CW has released an official synopsis for episode 13 of Arrow season 5, titled “Spectre of the Gun” and due to premiere on February 15th. There's evidence that the show’s backstory for Wild Dog might incorporate more of his DC comics background, as the following synopsis for "Spectre of the Gun" illustrates:

A traumatic attack on City Hall triggers painful memories for Rene (Rick Gonzalez) about his family. Flashbacks reveal how Rene went from simple family man to a hero named Wild Dog. Meanwhile, Oliver (Stephen Amell) must deal with the perpetrator behind the attack and realizes the best way to do so is as Mayor Queen instead of the Green Arrow. Tensions run high in the Arrow bunker.

Wild Dog’s appearance in the current season of Arrow resembles his appearance in the 2008 comic book run of Booster Gold. In that alternative timeline, he joins a team of Green Arrow’s revolutionaries that are working against Maxwell Lord. While Maxwell Lord was has appeared on season one of Supergirl (performed by Peter Facinelli), Booster Gold has yet to appear on any of The CW's DC TV series - though, that may be because he has a movie in the works.

Fans are also responding to the introduction of Wild Dog this season, which focuses on getting back to the basics of the Arrow TV show property. Whereas the original Wild Dog comic may have been DC's response to Marvel's The Punisher, his execution on Arrow is reminiscent of such characters as Oliver and Diggle. He is likewise arguably the most compelling new addition to the current Arrow team.

Arrow season 5 continues next Wednesday with "Second Chances" on The CW. “Spectre of the Gun” airs on February 15th.

Source: The CW