Thursday, February 2, 2017

DC Superhero Girls: Batnapped


The first two 'seasons' of the DC Superhero Girls video shorts seemed intent on introducing us to the characters and giving us an overall sense of this particular incarnation of the characters. I enjoyed this new universe for what it was, a fun look at the foibles of being a super-heroic high schooler.

But with success and a following behind them, as well a couple of feature-length films and graphic novels behind them, it was time to take a step forward. The 'trailer' for the third 'season' makes it seem more like a long form story told in chapters as opposed to humorous one-offs. There are sentient Kryptonite chunks playing with the emotions of humanity. There is a Female Fury invasion. And what looks to be plenty of battles. The trailer really had a sort of Super Friends vibe to it.

A last week, the first episode of the season dropped. 'Batnapped' was a nice transition. We definitely get great fun with Batgirl, Supergirl, and Killer Moth!! And we get the seeds of a couple of threads which I think will ultimately bear fruit.

As always, I am very happy that this line exists. On to the episode!



Almost immediately, you get the sense that this season might be a little less silly and a bit more adventurous. We jump right into an air battle between Batgirl and Killer Moth. Killer Moth is in a bug ship protected by force shields. He fires lasers at Batgirl and ends up downing the Batplane.

But this is classic Killer Moth gear here. This isn't a DCSHG makeover. This is the real thing, about as real a Killer Moth I have seen in animation ever.

And when Babs wakes up she is cocooned and strung upside down in a battered 'Moth Cave'.

Things look like they might get downright dangerous.


But then we veer back into the silly.

Killer Moth kidnapped Batgirl because he wants them to be a team! Speaking with a little lisp and talking about her prowess, Moth sounds like a fanboy.

And I love that he took the time to make merchandise! Matching jackets and coffee mugs for the 'Creatures of the Night' team!

There is something quite apt about this since Moth was Batgirl's first enemy. So I thought this was fun!


Back at Super Hero High, we see Dr. Magnus running a shop class. No pipe for the good doctor in this world. Instead he has a lollipop.

We see Wonder Woman working on a motorcycle and Supergirl tinkering with the rocket which brought her to Earth. I was really hoping this would have arms like the Super-Mobile but no such luck. And yes, I know that this is product placement for the eventual toy vehicles. But for now I can roll with it.

And that is because in this scene we meet Lena, the new IT person in the school.She replaced Batgirl when Babs went from administration to student. And she seems quite interested in meeting Supergirl.

We knew Lena Luthor was coming based on Lego toys that had been announced. But here we see her! Fantastic.


Babs is able to trigger her homing device which leads Supergirl (in her rocket) straight to the Moth's lair. Once there, Supergirl flies out and frees Batgirl. Together they easily defeat Killer Moth.

While I think his motivations are amusing, he did threaten the city with his ship and kidnap Barbara. He's heading to jail.

And then we get a great ending for Supergirl and Batgirl fans.

Batgirl tells Killer Moth that she doesn't need a partner because she already has one, Supergirl. And Supergirl is the 'world's finest' partner, nice nod to the classic DC comic title. And then they hug and say they are best friends, as Batgirl and Supergirl should be.

Shea Fontana, the mind behind the Superhero Girls, seems to firing on all cylinders these days. Can't wait to see what is going to happen in those teased episodes! Female Furies!

3 comments:

  1. I was so happy with this episode!

    The last episodes of the past season focused on minor characters, and kind of neglected the female Trinity except for Batgirl. Hey, I get Miss Martian, Starfire, Frost or Katana need and deserve their day in the sun, but let's not forget who the main characters are.

    So I was thrilled to see Batgirl fighting her first enemy. And Supergirl rescuing her. And both girls hugging. The last scene made me smile.

    And Lena makes an appearance! I can't believe Lena Luthor is showing up in comics, tv shows and cartoons. Incredible. And some fans have called her a Supergirl's enemy, which is wildly inaccurate but makes me happy because it means non-fans are finally learning that Supergirl has her own damned Rogues' Gallery!

    I hope Lena doesn't follow the villain route because I think Lena fulfills two important roles in the Superman and Supergirl mythos:
    - We know Superman will never manage to save Lex because he's his arch-enemy. However, Supergirl can -and usually does- save Lena from herself. She can succeed where her cousin is doomed to fail. This is her victory.
    - Both Superman and Lex Luthor are two persons with the power to change humanity. However Superman had awesome parents and became a champion and a protector. Lex had a crappy father and became a selfish, obsessed monster. However his little sister is a decent if troubled human being, which shows Lex could have become a good person... but he chose not to.

    Some fans tell that Batgirl was mean to Killer Moth and he was harmless. I don't get it. He attacked Babs. He strafed the batplane and shot her down, which might have killed her. He kidnapped her, taking her to his lair, and stringing her upside down. And then he declared they were partners. He didn't even ask. He assumed Batgirl would agree.

    He may be well-meaning and pitiable, but it doesn't mean he's right. He could have asked rather than behaving as a stalker with a crush on Batgirl. And Babs wasn't even rude when she turned him down. She said "I'm sorry, but I've already a partner".

    "I was really hoping this would have arms like the Super-Mobile but no such luck."

    Heh. I also thought of that.

    "And yes, I know that this is product placement for the eventual toy vehicles. But for now I can roll with it."

    I was a kid back in the 80's, so I'm used to cartoons being used for blatant product placement, and it doesn't me bother at all.

    Besides, it can be justified as Supergirl making research. The knowledge to build and repair machines can come in handy in the future.

    "And then they hug and say they are best friends, as Batgirl and Supergirl should be."

    Amen, brother.

    Since Superman and Batman insist on being at odds with each other, their female protegees can claim the World's Finest title.

    Sometimes I "blame" Superman The Animated Series for people assuming they are/must be friends. Pre-Crisis, their friendship was seldom explored. But after "Girls Night Out", everyone assume that both girls are best buddies.

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  2. I cannot tell you how much a fan I am of this fun, simple, silly at times series which takes something like Superfriends and gives it a nice twist.

    "we see Dr. Magnus running a shop class. No pipe for the good doctor in this world. Instead he has a lollipop."

    Some may call it PC, I just call it Kojak (WHO LOVES YA, BABY?)

    "I was really hoping this would have arms like the Super-Mobile but no such luck. And yes, I know that this is product placement for the eventual toy vehicles. But for now I can roll with it."

    Yeah, like He-Man and She-Ra in my days it was all about toys, but also great adventures and a little bit of a message.

    "We knew Lena Luthor was coming based on Lego toys that had been announced. But here we see her! Fantastic."

    I mean live action, animated and comics...I hope the first will keep Kara and Lena as pals. The animated...well be different, make her evil.

    "Batgirl tells Killer Moth that she doesn't need a partner because she already has one, Supergirl. And Supergirl is the 'world's finest' partner, nice nod to the classic DC comic title. And then they hug and say they are best friends, as Batgirl and Supergirl should be."

    The two of them hugging in the end...SO CUTE! And Supergirl is so adorable! If only the live action show can bring the Domino Daredoll and the Last Daughter of Krypton together.

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  3. Wheee! Glad you finally got around to reviewing this one Anj! And yes, I'm another over-35 XY-chromosomer who's
    TOTALLY loving DHSHG! To TPTB at WB and DC, let Fontana and co keep doing whatever it is they're doing!! MORE!!

    As for the Worlds Finest / Super Best Friends qip at the end of this episode? PURE GOLD!! Now THAT is what Babs
    and Kara's relationship is all about!

    > Speaking with a little lisp and talking about her prowess, Moth sounds like a fanboy.

    Since watching, I'm REALLY curious who they got to voice Killer Moth this episode. Whenever I close my eyes, I
    keep hearing Sid / John Leguizamo for some reason.

    See where Season 3 goes... and I'm also curious what motivation(s) Lena Luthor has. From the original S3 preview,
    she seems benign enough, but from her "nice to meet you... Supergirl" this episode I can't help but ascribe future
    malicious motives to her. Also, in the comics tiein, Luthor attacked the rest of DCSHG so Lena could get a spot
    in the school... so possible movtives for her to go evil?

    Hope one day you can get and review the Superhero Of The Year movie as well, Anj.


    Regards

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