DC Superhero Girls: The Good, The Bad, & The Bizarre

Life has been a bit busy for me these last few months so some Supergirl stuff has slid by without commentary. One of those has been the Lauren Faust led DC Superhero Girls show. There have been some great episodes with some quality Kara moments that I hope to eventually cover.

We’ll start with the most recent episode “#TheGoodTheBadAndTheBizarre’. Of course, for comic fans the title hints strongly at who the villain of the piece will be.

One thing that I have liked about this version of Supergirl has been her sort of irascible personality, ready with a snarky remark and a left hook at all times. She’s fun and way less saccharine than the last DCSHG Supergirl we had.

I don’t even mind her sort of familial rivalry and semi-distaste for Superman in this universe. Here Clark is played up as being perfect and (perhaps appropriately) narcissistic.

This episode plays up both of those aspects of her character.

But we start on a good note.

After months of feeling overlooked and being overlooked, Supergirl is now the darling of Metropolis, considered a hero worthy of bus tours and endorsements. And after feeling bad about herself or ignored for so long, Kara wallows in it a bit.

So you know it wasn’t going to last.

DC Superhero Girls: #CrushingIt

The Lauren Faust led DC Superhero Girls has been a huge hit for me, a sort of step up from the semi-bland prior incarnation. A mix of Looney Tune mayhem with some more subtle messaging has made this an unexpected 'must see' for me.

Last week, Cartoon Network showed a new episode every day at noon. Now while I am thrilled that so much new content came out and on a regular basis, noon is hardly prime time. And I don't know how well the time slot was trumpeted. I hope this wasn't Cartoon Network dumping all the material out at once as a harbinger of cancellation.

Welcome to the half full/half empty life I lead.

Anyways, all the episodes were fantastic. There is a Krypto/Ace the Bat Hound one that is fantastic. There is a Babs/Harleen going to a Batman convention that includes the most annoying Robin you will ever meet. That one also has a 'some days you can't get rid of a bomb' joke!

But for me the best one was #CrushingIt.

In that episode, the normally unflappable Diana is rendered into a giggling, ineffective, and inattentive mess because of a crush she has on Steve Trevor, the first boy she met when she landed in America.

Whether it is volleyball, science experiments, debates, or the class play, Diana can't get her stuff together around Steve.

Perhaps best of all, Steve is played as an average guy. This isn't the strong, fearless leader of the comics. He's just Steve.

All of that, especially Diana's clumsy blushing ineptitude, was enough to make this a winner. But there is a joke run through the episode that made this even better.

DC Superhero Girls #FightAtTheMuseum

I have been pleasantly pleased with the new DC Superhero Girls under the direction of Lauren Faust. As I have said before, this is a wonderful mix of empowering messages, superheroics, and looney tunes action. As someone who lived through the reinvigoration of the My Little Pony franchise under Faust's direction, I feel this show has that same elan. It just checks off all the boxes. I can only hope that it catches fire the way MLP did.

On top of the story, I have also applauded the visual direction of the show with wonderful perspective shots and direction that just elevates it. There is this wonderful energy to the show, a concoction of mature cinematography telling a superhero story.

And I really have been tickled pink by the Supergirl on the show. This Kara is brash, a bit of a hothead, punching first and asking questions later. She is the rebel, the iconoclast throwing shade on Superman. While I am routinely against this persona in the DC continuity, in a side project team show like this, where everyone has a personality trait to demonstrate, I don't mind it. Welcome to the complex personality of this Supergirl fan. Nicole Sullivan does such wonderful voice work, bringing a little conceit, a little snark to the proceedings. And Supergirl has really been showcased. If I recall, Faust said Supergirl was her favorite when she was making Super Best Friends Forever. And this Kara is basically that Kara.

One thing I do know I like about Supergirl as a character is that she is a young hero, on the journey, and learning.

The title of  this episode is #FightAtTheMuseum, I suppose a riff on the Night At The Museum movies. Supergirl has to learn the lesson that might doesn't always make right. She also learns that she can't just punch every problem away. Get ready!

DC Superhero Girls #SuperWho

I have been pretty thrilled with the new DC Superhero Girls and the approach to the characters and stories. As I have said, there is as much Looney Tunes humor in these shows as there is life lessons and values. I don't mind either.

And I have been overall pretty happy with this take on Supergirl. She is the tough one, the 'bad girl', the iconoclast of the group. She is the act first, think later member of the team. And in a group show where each of the friends needs to embody a character trait, it makes more sense for Kara to fit that bill.

It also helps that we have seen that the rough exterior probably hides a softer inside waiting to be nurtured, waiting for her to be confident enough in herself to let herself be vulnerable.

One thing that I didn't think I'd be too keen on is her relationship with Superman.

I'm a big fan of the super-family being family. I don't want Superman to dominate Kara. I don't want him to be the stern father figure. But I do like him being an inspiration for Supergirl, someone she can turn to for advice.

In a recent episode, #SuperWho, we see that it is something adversarial. Supergirl is upset that Superman arrived here first and has become this hero. She doesn't like being in his shadow.

And here Superman seems aloof and something of a narcissist. I always worry about how Superman is being portrayed, especially to people who might not be exposed to him anywhere else.

So yes, #SuperWho is a hilarious episode showing an exasperated Kara trying to find her way in the world. It has a deep cut DC villain. But I wish Superman was shown in a brighter light.

DC Superhero Girls #Beeline

I know that I am beginning to sound like a broken record (a dated reference if there ever was one) but this new take on DC Superhero Girls is a ton of fun and I love it.

As I have said since its debut, the show is a great mix of action and humor. There are deep cuts to the DCU. There is a dollop of adult humor and references, the sort of things to keep the grown-ups happy. And there are messages of pride, empowerment, and inclusion ... but the stories drive the messages, not the other way around.

All the kudos to Lauren Faust for this injection of adrenaline into this franchise.

Take, for example, the latest long form episode airing on the Cartoon Network, #Beeline.

This is a story of Bumblebee learning to be strong, be proactive, and embrace being a hero, someone who puts the well being of others over herself. But we have to get there.

We also get a version of the Legion of Doom and end with a classic superhero trope, the villains and heroes running towards each other.

But the episode opens with a dramatic shot of the heroes running towards the camera, racing to get somewhere 'before its too late!'

What is the threat?

DC Superhero Girls #MeetTheCheetah

DC Superhero Girls #MeetTheCheetah aired a while ago. Sorry it has taken me so long to have it bubble to the top of the pile.

I have been pretty impressed with the show so far. It has had a great mix of action and humor. Each of the characters have a pretty unique outlook and personality. And, under it all, are the social lessons which seem to be de rigueur for cartoons these days. Unlike the old version where those lessons seemed primary, here they seem to be more nuanced. That makes me happy. Cartoons should be fun and educational ... not necessarily preachy.

We finally get a supervillain in the mix and it is classic Wonder Woman nemesis Cheetah. I like how the identity of the Cheetah is a little bit of a mystery here. I am curious if people who have never been exposed to the character anticipated the expected reveal at the end. And we also see the first time that Supergirl needs to be eliminated as a story element because of her power level.

But for me, the best thing about this show so far is that it truly is an all ages affair. Prior episodes have included Spinal Tap riffs and Watership Down references. Here we get pretty much a straight up homage to the Alien movies. And that makes me thrilled.

So far so good for this series! Loving it.

DC Superhero Girls Premiere

As a fan of Lauren Faust's My Little Ponies:Friendship is Magic as well as her take on the Super Best Friends Forever, I have been awaiting the rebranding and re-imagination of the DC Superhero Girls eagerly. Through shorts and interviews, I got the sense this was MLP on steroids, a sort of Looney Tune romp through the DCU while still giving the overall empowering message that the earlier DCSHG was built on.

Last week, the premiere of the show, titled #SweetJustice hit the airwaves and I was delighted.These are sort of side-eyed versions of our superheroes and they do semi-neatly fall into a My Little Pony algorithm. Wonder Woman is Twilight Sparkle, the leader of the group. She holds the team together and wants to train them. Batgirl is the Pinkie Pie here, bringing oodles of energy and sometimes lacking a focus. Babs sometimes gets in her own way but she is utterly sweet. Zatanna is the Rarity here, a stage presence with style. She is reluctant to get into heroing but brings pinache. Bumblebee is the Fluttershy, timid to a fault with power that reflects her lack of confidence. Supergirl is clearly the Rainbow Dash, an act first, rough and tumble with a heart of gold, counterculture tomboy. Which, I guess, makes the vegan and pacifist Green Lantern the Applejack. (Okay that last one is a hard fit.)

Of course, this is an origin story so we hear how the girls meet and become a team. There is a fight between them, a classic comic trope. We get a good look at all their personalities. And we get a glimpse at a possible hero. And there is a ton of fun and laughs. There might even be a few references for old-timers like me hidden in there.

This being a Supergirl blog, I'll say I was delighted with her characterization. I often describe Supergirl as fierce in her pursuit of justice. This Kara is that times 10. And her desire to be outside the mainstream, probably because of the known difficulty with her relationship with Kal, puts this outside of the norm for the character. But her actions speak loud. I think I am going to love this Supergirl. And I think I will be laughing with her too.

On to the synopsis/review.

DCSHG: Get To Know Supergirl

The premiere of the DC Superhero Girls reboot is happening tomorrow!

My interest has been growing as I see more and more of the shorts that have been released on-line. The latest Supergirl specific short was released last week and is a blast. Here is the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdKPkD9-6Ig

Again, this is a much different take on Supergirl than the prior DCSHG version. And I think one of the aspects of this show is to take a personality quirk and amp it up to 11. Supergirl is the rebel of the group. So that is going to be THE aspect we get.

Now some of what they show resonates a bit in the comic character's history. So I am willing to give this very proactive, punch first Supergirl the benefit of the doubt.

We start out with the whole theme song.

"When the super-me become the super-we."
"Crushing it side by side."

Clearly mutual support and friendship are key themes here. After all, friendship is magic!

I do love the Supergirl scene of her swinging her fist so quick we get after images. Very Mort Meskin!

DC Superhero Girls: Get To Know Supergirl

The new take on the DC Superhero Girls is cranking out new material on YouTube as a sort of preamble to the ongoing show. This has included 'Get to know' mini-sodes about each of the characters.

And finally we got the 'Get to Know' Supergirl short. View here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBJZQGmTS4I

It is clear that Batgirl is going to be the straw that stirs the drink here. She is the narrator of these 'Get to Know' videos. And I love this opening shot of Supergirl rescuing Babs in a classic Superman/Lois pose.

Maybe if we are lucky, Babs will say the classic 'Who's got you?' line.

But the rest of the short gives us a primer on Kara. If we think that the DCSHG are in some ways analogs of show runner Lauren Faust's take on My Little Pony then it is clear that Supergirl is the Rainbow Dash of the group.

And that means Supergirl is 20% cooler.

DCSHG: #StreetStyle

The latest DC Rebirth I have been coming to grips with is the Lauren Faust take on the DC Superhero Girls. It definitely is a rehash of Faust's Super Best Friends Forever, a series I loved when it came out.

The Supergirl in the SBFF's was definitely brash. She was something of an instigator. Maybe even a little punk. We have only seen glimpses of her in the latest DC Superhero Girls shorts but it is clear that she is more of the action oriented, authority-chafing Kara from the SBFFs instead of the awkward, shy, lonely Kara from the Shea Fontana DC Superhero girls. In our quick looks, we have seen her sleep-fly, crashing through buildings. We have seen her toss tacos in a food fight and be called a bully.

Finally, in the #StreetStyle, we actually get a true glimpse into this Supergirl's personality. Here is a link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSb6R4TSIIc


It is funny. I think if this was the comic Supergirl, I'd probably bristle. But here, in the DCSHG, I don't mind this loud Kara. In fact, I think she is kind of fun. And my guess is she will demonstrate the sort of fierce defense of the helpless as well as the fierce pursuit in justice that I love in the character.

On to the short.

DC Superhero Girls #Supersleeper

DC Superhero Girls has been a highly lucrative and rather wide-reaching format since its inception. I have to say I was pretty shocked by how far this property went. From cartoons to clothes to school supplies to Hallmark Christmas ornaments, the Shea Fontana led DC Superhero Girls was a phenomenon.

I have to say that as the seasons of shorts moved forward, the stories became a bit more saccharine. The super-heroics were still present. But it was clear there were messages to the episodes. This was a way to discuss bullying, loneliness, missing people, and even therapy. Obviously I am not the target audience but there was a gentleness to the format that made it less adventurous than I am used to in my super-hero tales.

A while back it was leaked that producer Lauren Faust was taking over DCSHG. Faust had done a semi-version of the concept way back in Super Best Friends Forever. But Faust's take on Wonder Woman, Batgirl, and Supergirl was a bit more physical comedy and a bit more snark than Fontana's. They 'feel' very different. Faust made My Little Pony a huge hit. And those early MLP shows had a mix of message and slapstick that just clicked.

So it seemed a bit strange to me that DC would jump rails from a creative standpoint. This is like taking characters from multiple seasons of After School Specials and putting them in Looney Tunes. Even the opening group shot seems a bit more aimed at action than ethics.

I wonder if there is room for two versions of DC Superhero Girls ...

The first DC Superhero Girls episode under Faust was just released on Youtube here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wuex1QPFTlI

There is another short, The Late Batsby, but that is just a retread of an SBFF short so I can't think of it as new.

And so we have #SuperSleeper .

New DC Superhero Girls

With the comic book thought to be cancelled and super-books on a sort of hiatus, I thought I might be scrounging for things to write about here. Turns out I was wrong.

I had heard that DC Superhero Girls was getting a new look courtesy of 'My Little Pony Friendship is Magic' front runner Lauren Faust. Last week we got our first look at the new feel for the team as it becomes a show on Cartoon Network. Here is a link and a blurb:
https://www.dccomics.com/blog/2018/05/21/first-look-lauren-faust-brings-dc-super-hero-girls-to-cartoon-network

The world may know them as Wonder Woman, Supergirl and Batgirl, but not-so-typical teenagers Diana, Kara and Barbara, alongside their Super Hero friends have much more to deal with than just protecting the citizens of Metropolis from some of the most sinister school-aged Super-Villains of the DC Universe. After all, being teens is tough enough, what with school, friends, family and the chaos that comes with managing a social life. But add super powers and a secret identity to the mix, and things can get a lot more complicated.

Sure, gal pals Bumblebee, Zatanna and Green Lantern Jessica Cruz are always there to lend an ear, a shoulder to cry on, and a fist to punch with, but what happens when Diana and her favorite study buddy and fencing partner, Tatsu, can’t agree on how to dole out justice as Wonder Woman and Katana? Or when Barbara finds out her Gotham-Con bestie is teen-fiend Harley Quinn? Along with all their friends, foes and frenemies, this squad of super teens navigates the unique growing pains that come when you’re a teenager trying to fight the battles of the world and the battles of growing up at the same time.

I'm thrilled Zatanna is coming on board. I wonder what will happen to well-established characters like Ivy and Harley. Harley has always seemed to be class clown ... not a teen fiend! Of course, the minor episodes never had members of the student body be villains. This was a very very positive webisode show before. 

Still I trust Faust implicitly. Loved the MLP upgrade. And, yes, loved her work on Super Best Friends Forever.

More Early Christmas: Super Best Friends Forever Supergirl

I was pleasantly surprised to see that the Lauren Faust Super Best Friends Forever DC Collectible figurines came out this week. That makes it an early Christmas gift for myself as well as leaves me plenty of time to wrap up the ones the Supergirls at home wanted (oldest wanted Supergirl too, younger two both wanted Batgirl).

This is one of those fun collectibles, a statue and a small treasure box at the same time. It also came with three faces which can be put on the body so you can mix things up as much as you want. I opted for the more fierce looking expression because that embodied what this Supergirl was in the show.

And, of course, this is as close to the Matrix Costume as you can get complete with red skirt and pointy belt. That is my favorite costume.

Here is the figure from the back, nice solid construction with a nice cape.

I keep waiting to hear that Faust is going to be back to make more of these episodes. This was 5 shorts, around 3 minutes each, last seen new a year ago. And yet we have fan clamor for more and merchandise being produced.

Come DC Entertainment! Do the right thing!

This is a very nice addition to the shrine and a nice early holiday gift to keep me going!

The New And Awful Super Best Friends Forever

I suppose I should no longer be surprised when DC Comics or DC Licensing does something idiotic.

I have disappointed lately in the comics and in the movies. So why not the toys?

And so I provide this link to The Outhousers and there story covering a new look at the Super Best Friends Forever: http://www.theouthousers.com/index.php/news/123360-dc-shocker-wb-merchandising-ruins-super-best-friends-forever.html

And the above picture is that new promotion for the characters.

The horror. The horror.

Did we really need to morph the BFFs into Bratz-style girls? Giant eyes. Microscopic waists. Smothered in pink. Donna's jumpsuit becomes a mini-dress.And Batgirl looks like she is leaning against a stripper pole.

It is the most generic and most depressing interpretation there could be.

What is this for? Dolls? Party favors? A new cartoon series (shudder).

I hope they aren't calling them the Super Best Friends Forever. Because this look is about as far away from that interpretation of the characters as possible.

It just doesn't make sense.

Especially when Lauren Faust's real Super Best Friends Forever is out there. It was wildly popular. People are clamoring for more. And we have a variety of body types and not a drop of pink. It has a more classic interpretation of the characters' costumes.

And we have seen these characters in stories. In five brief shorts, we got to know their personalities.

Why not leverage the popularity of this existing interpretation? It is beloved.

Smack that face into your palm SBFF Supergirl!

You wouldn't be happy seeing that first picture either!

San Diego Comic-Con Exclusives Include SBFFs!

Heading to the San Diego Comic-Con is sort of a bucket list event for me. I just can't imagine ever having the free time or liquid cash to be able to do such a thing.

If I could ever do it, it would be this year because of this DC exclusive just revealed: a three-pack of Lauren Faust's Super Best Friends Forever. Here is a link of all the exclusives:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2013/05/20/dc-comics-comic-con-exclusives/2325889/

It is hard to get any sense of the size of these things. I can't tell if they are plastic or more like statues. What we do know is the three-pack costs $49.99. So I would hope they aren't 2 inch plastic things.

Regardless, I want these badly but will have to wait for someone to put them on an internet auction site.

Let's face it, Super Best Friends Forever was a great series of shorts in the DC Nation block and I can only hope that at some point Warner Brother and DC Entertainment will do the right thing and let Lauren Faust make more of these cartoons.

2012 Supergirl Year In Review: Non-Comic Stuff And Best Moments: Honorable Mentions

Welcome to the first day of a three day wrap-up of Supergirl in the year 2012! It has been a pretty hectic year with Supergirl growing in her own book, the Earth 2 Supergirl becoming Power Girl on Earth 1, a variety of non-comic stuff, and ... as usual ... a couple of perplexing moments of continuity.

The schedule for this wrap-up trilogy will be as follows:
Today: Non-comic stuff and the Honorable Mentions for the year's Best Supergirl Moments.
Tomorrow: The Top Ten Supergirl Moments of 2012
The Following Day: The Top Three Supergirl Face Palm Moments of 2012

I have done the year wrap-ups for a while now and the Face Palm Moments is a new category. And I didn't know if I should start with the face palms or end with them. I think I made the right decision.

What I would like to do is open this up to you all as well. So feel free to post/email any of your favorite or least favorite moments from the year and if I get enough response I'll put together a 4th post, the 2012 readers' wrap-up.

On to the celebration ... beginning with the non-comic stuff.

For me, the biggest non-comic Supergirl news of 2012 was Super Best Friends Forever. The DC Nation block added DC short films between episodes of Green Lantern and Young Justice. They made a brilliant move in having Lauren Faust of My Little Pony:Friendship is Magic fame create 5 Super Best Friends Forever short films. 

In short, they were spectacular. A wildly manic and optimistic Batgirl, a hotheaded Supergirl, and an older, slightly more mature Wonder Girl teaming up as the Suh-Buffs, taking down the bad guys and relying on each other. They were action filled and laugh out loud funny. Each member got a short where they were in the spotlight and then there were 2 of them as a legit team.

I gushed over them when they aired. The supergirls at home loved them and have asked when they will get more. Unfortunately, Faust said there will be no SBFF in the upcoming season of the DC Nation block.

I truly hope they weren't a brilliant flash in the pan, here and gone before we knew it. There needs to be more! It seems like such a no-brainer, tapping into to multiple markets and opening up wild licensing opportunities.

Of course, we all wailed and gnashed out teeth for more Cosmic Adventures too. And that seemed like a similar no-brainer.

Bring back the SBFFs!!

Continuing the multi-media portion of the wrap-up, we learned in July that a DC Animated movie was being made of Geoff Johns' Brainiac storyline. And Supergirl's voice will be done by Castle actress Molly Quinn.

Blog friend Gene, who usually has his finger on the pulse of these things, thinks the movie will be out around June to coincide with the Man of Steel big screen feature.

Brainiac occurred just as Sterling Gates took over Supergirl. Johns really had a handle on what Supergirl should be like. In fact, Supergirl saving the Earth from Brainiac's solar aggressor was the number one Supergirl moment from 2008. I look forward to seeing this movie and another animated Supergirl feature.

As for merchandise, the New 52 Supergirl was one of the first characters to get a statue bust. This statue just came out and looks wonderful. It also is bigger and wider than prior DC Collectible busts. It is pretty impressive. 

And as recently seen on this blog, Hot Wheels came out with a Supergirl version of the 1938 Dodge Airflow mini-tanker.

I am glad that DC continues to market the more classic versions of Supergirl's statue on these ancillary memorabilia items. This car is just fantastic. I mean ... who would ever think there would be a Supergirl toy car?

And now, on to the Best Supergirl Comic Moments of 2012. As always, a lot happened over the course of the year. In her own title, the year started with Kara still lost and wondering if Krypton still existed. She had to learn the hard way that there is tragedy in her life, that she is on a new world she needs to make her home, and that she is also has the ability to help people. I feel like her character has slowly started to turn the corner in the book. It has felt like this Supergirl now realizes this is her home and it is time to make it feel like one.

On top of her own title, she has appeared in the main Superman title a couple of times, had a powerful and revealing encounter with Superboy in his title, and is one of the family in the Superman Family Adventures. And, we currently are blessed ... sort of ... with 2 Supergirls because Power Girl in Worlds' Finest was once Supergirl on Earth 2 and we have seen some of those adventures.

One thing to note ... there hasn't been an 'event' comic since the New 52 came about as the characters are still getting settled. I, for one, applaud it.

With that much happening, limiting myself to ten 'best' moments was too hard. And so here are the 5 'almost in' moments, the Honorable Mentions, counting down.

Number five honorable mention: The Corona Wave (Supergirl #7)
When we first read Michael Green and Mike Johnson's ideas on this new Supergirl, part of what they said was that she would have some different powers than Superman. I will admit that initially I was against this. But the instances of these new powers have been limited.

The Corona Wave (my name for it) ... or fireball effect ... or whatever you have named it is an interesting new power. I think Supergirl has a sort of automatic defensive mode with her powers. One is a sort of super-intuition, an activation of her super-senses when something is about to happen. And then this one, a sort of concussive blinding blast of her absorbed sun power when she is in extreme danger.

I still don't know how I feel about it but one thing for sure, it is a new wrinkle for the character and worth mentioning.

Number four honorable mention: The Costume (Supergirl #0)
There hasn't been many truly joyous moments in this book for Kara as she struggles on Earth.

So the glimpse we had of her on Krypton, caring for baby Kal and having some nice father/daughter discussions with her father, showed us the heart of who she is.

We had learned early on that the Supergirl costume had some sort of ritual significance on Krypton. Here, just prior to the destruction of Krypton and the trip to Earth, Zor-El had Kara try it on. I loved this happy panel of Kara, a sort of normal adolescent modeling new formal wear and asking her father for his opinion. There is a sort of innocence here ... and joy.

I keep hoping we will see some of these emotion on Earth.

Number three honorable mention: Silent Scream (Supergirl #5)
I thought this panel was a powerful one. Amidst the ruins of Argo City, Supergirl has no choice but to accept the sad truth. Krypton is gone.

It loudly echoes the silent scream panel of from Sterling Gates/Jamal Igle when Kara is holding Zor-El's body.

I have always said that Supergirl's story is about the journey, is about the becoming of a hero. The last incarnation, the Sterling Gates Supergirl, felt like a journey of maturation, of overcoming snap judgments and poor decisions to become a better hero.

This Supergirl seems like a journey through sadness. This Kara has a very different feel. She grieves for her loss and has to overcome it. It is that acceptance of her tragic past and the ability to still do good, to still do what is right despite a heavy heart that seems to be the undercurrent of this Kara. And this panel says that best.

Number two honorable mention: Save the World (Worlds' Finest #1)
We haven't seen much of the Earth 2 Supergirl instead seeing her Power Girl adventures. But the glimpses show just what a great and sort of throwback character she was. We will see a couple more moments in the actual Top Ten list.

Here, in Worlds' Finest #1, we see the event that led her to be marooned on Earth 1. After the Trinity has been killed, Supergirl and Robin try to end the war in one swoop, flying into the boom tube to battle (they think) Steppenwolf.

There is such a look of determination on Supergirl here as she hurtles towards this fight. This guy just killed Superman. He isn't a pushover. But nevertheless, there is Supergirl ... doing the right thing and carrying on, being a hero.

Number one honorable mention: I Remember Now
Maybe the biggest ongoing storyline in Supergirl, part of the initial hook of this new incarnation, was the mystery behind Kara's origin. She didn't remember how she got into the costume, into the pod, rocketed from her doomed planet. Part of her inability to grasp her new life is it that came as a complete shock. Even time made no sense. How could baby Kal be a man?

In Supergirl #13, all those lost memories flood back into her consciousness. Being experimented on by World Killer scientist Zor-El. Drugged and put into a rocket. Alura shooting Zor-El with a stunner. While Supergirl had mostly accepted the loss of Krypton, these new details ... the bizarre way Zor showed his love for his daughter, that her parents are really dead, that time has passed without her ... are horrific. It again shows that this is a journey of grief. There are some elements of Peter David's story here. And there is some of Sterling Gates' here as well.  But it is the core of the character, to continue to see the best no matter what happens, to continue to do what's right no matter what, that is the essence of Supergirl. She has some answers here now ... but it isn't the end of this journey; it's the beginning.

And so that wraps up the first part of the Review and the Honorable Mentions of the Top Supergirl Moments of 2012. Tomorrow ... the top ten!

Super Best Friends ... Forever?

One of the true pleasure of this last year were the DC Nation shorts that accompanied the Green Lantern/Young Justice block on Cartoon Network.

And one of (if not the) best short series was Lauren Faust's Super Best Friends Forever. The five shorts were so wonderful. It was a perfect mix of silliness and action. Each of the characters had a distinct personality. There was a short that showcased each of them and a couple to show the team dynamic. And there was a lot of laugh out loud moments. That can't be easy to do in 1 1/4 minute piece.

Yet, creator/producer Lauren Faust pulled it off. In particular, this quick-tempered mischievous Supergirl was a joy to behold.

With a new season coming up, Faust tweeted that she had been missing the Suh-buffs (as well as posting this pic).

Sue from DC Women Kicking Ass asked the obvious follow-up question. How many new shorts will we be seeing in the new season?

Faust unfortunately said that there will be no new shorts.

In a subsequent tweet, Faust said that she wasn't available to do more when the time came for shorts to be produced. I can (hopefully) infer from that tweet that DC and WB wanted more but Faust couldn't make them. That would be more palatable than simple rejection as it would mean the WB recognized the quality of the shorts and hoped to have further SBFF shorts.

I hope that the bloom doesn't fall off the rose of SBFF and we will see more in the future. If not, this was a brilliant if short-lived short series. It would be a shame if it stopped here.

2012 Jack O' Lanterns

One of my favorite parts of Halloween is carving jack o'lanterns.

Now I have done years with themes and years without themes and I thought this was a themeless year.

But taking a step back, I guess I have to say this was a Faustian year for my pumpkins.

First off, after years of carving, I finally decided to try to do a Supergirl jack o'lantern. And the Super Best Friends Forever Supergirl seemed a perfect choice. I am pretty happy the way this turned out. I knew it would be challenging to pull off and it was. It looks better in person than this picture shows; you can barely see the cape in this pic. Of course, this Supergirl is the brain child of Lauren Faust.

Last year I did Rainbow Dash from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. The MLP fever remains strong in my house and so I thought I would do another pony as a jack o'lantern. So this is Pinkie Pie. Again, I think this one came out okay. And, much like Supergirl, this version of Pinkie Pie is the creation of Lauren Faust.

This year, the oldest Supergirl at home and I teamed up to carve a Princess Luna jack o'lantern. Looks like she is a chip of the old block, even if I did the exacto-knife work. And of course, Princess Luna is part of the Lauren Faust MLP empire.

Thus three Faustian jack o'lanterns were in front of my house last night.

A last minute addition to the jack o'lanterns was this Mockingjay symbol from the Hunger Games. The oldest supergirl at home loved this series so I thought I would give it a whirl.

Of all the pumpkins I carved this year, I think this one is my favorite.

I also had the time to carve one for a family member who is a huge Bruins fan. I like this one a lot too.

Hope everyone had a happy Halloween!

Super Best Friends Forever Short #5

 Sometimes you don't know how good something is until it is gone.

Sometimes you know right away how great something is and can only watch as it slips away.

The fifth and final Super Best Friends Forever DC Nation short aired Saturday and, as always, it was fantastic. It was bittersweet. Because as fantastic as it was ... it was the final episode.From the first episode, I think everyone fell in love with these versions of these characters: the hotheaded Supergirl, the serious Wonder Girl, and the excitable Batgirl.

'No Fight Girls' has the team face off against Solomon Grundy. Well, trying to face off with him. Grundy is either a sexist or a chivalrous. Because he simply keeps saying 'Grundy no fight girls!'. Here is a link to short in its entirety on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=CKhcHhsRzpw

Seriously, I love the team pose above, especially Batgirl trying to strike fear into the hearts of men.

But despite trying to fight him, Grundy no fight girls.

When he tries to walk away, the SBFFs try to insult him into a battle. They each say a line in a zombie like drawl ... even Wonder Girl. it's a little sign of her lightening up.

Here Batgirl is wondering if it might 'rraaaaaainnnn'.

But even with those barbs, Grundy won't fight.

The dialogue here is hilarious as the SBFFs try to convince him to fight. Supergirl says it'll be fun. Wonder Girl promises that they'll let him almost win. They even throw themselves literally around his leg to beg him for a brawl.

But Grundy is stubborn and sheds them with his mantra that he 'no fight girls'.

Of course, it doesn't matter if he won't fight them.

They are 'equal opportunity butt kickers'. And so we get a great montage of action shot in which they defeat Grundy making him reconsider his views.

Now I know I tend to overanalyze things but even though this was 5 shorts at just over a minute each, I think I have seen some progression of characterization here. It is clear that Wonder Girl is still the most serious of the group but she is cracking jokes here. Supergirl still has a temper but merely facepalms at being called the 'suh-buffs' rather than berating her friends. I really like all these characters, especially Supergirl.

I just can't believe given the quality of these cartoons, the buzz around these shorts, the cred that Lauren Faust brings to the table, the power of the Brony/Pony audience, and the licensing opportunities that this is the last SBFFs cartoon.

 The last that is, unless DCE decides to do the right thing and greenlight more.

Do the right thing DCE!

And thank you Lauren Faust!

At Long Last ... More SBFFs!!

After a long hiatus, the Saturday morning Cartoon Network DC Nation block is all new!

And while seeing a CGI Guy Gardner on Green Lantern will be cool, as will the reintroduction of the original Speedy to Young Justice, The thing I am most excited to see is the new episode of the SBFFs 'Don't fight girls.'

Here is the released preview of the episode over on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=pOlQ3U4SvBg

There is so much goodness in this short preview. One, I love how the three look like a true team, complete with dramatic poses. In particular, Batgirl, doing her best to seem scary, is fantastic. I also love that Wonder Girl is smiling, a little break from the more serious Donna we have seen early in this series.

But I also love that Wonder Girl still calls the team the 'Suh-beffs'.

And I love Kara's response to that team name. Is there anything better than a Supergirl facepalm?

The release of the preview made the internet rounds yesterday, getting links and love on some of the bigger sites. Everybody seems to love this series and creator/producer Laurne Faust! Let's hope DCE does the right thing and signs on for more episodes in the future. Or better yet, how about a series??

Can't wait to see this!