Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Who Is Courtney Whitmore?


If you are a DC Comics fan, then chances are that you have some familiarity with Courtney Whitmore. However, how much do you really know about this character?

Courtney is an interesting addition to the DC Comics family of superheroes. She has an interesting history that includes a name change and is instrumental to the success and longevity of the Justice Society of America.

The History of Courtney

According to the DC Fandom, Courtney came upon her superhero status by mistake. She was actually trying to make fun of her new stepfather, Pat Dugan, who was responsible for her having to move from her hometown in California to the boring landscape of Nebraska. She had stumbled upon the equipment he used when he was Stripesy, the only adult who ever acted as the sidekick to a teen superhero.

Wearing a patriotic outfit during her school's spirit week dance as a jab at Dugan, Courtney had no way to know that the Dragon King was planning on attacking. To save the school and bring about order, she and her stepfather came together to defeat the minions.

The result was the creation of a new superhero duo: Star-Spangled Kid and S.T.R.I.P.E. The man that she once had little regard for was now her partner in fighting evil.

After the debut of the duo, Courtney went on to fight evil with Young Justice. She also battled the Dragon King's villainous daughter, her arch nemesis, Shiv. Along the way, she also worked alongside Starman and the Shining Knight to battle the Dragon King.

Wearing a patriotic outfit during her school's spirit week dance as a jab at Dugan, Courtney had no way to know that the Dragon King was planning on attacking. To save the school and bring about order, she and her stepfather came together to defeat the minions.

The result was the creation of a new superhero duo: Star-Spangled Kid and S.T.R.I.P.E. The man that she once had little regard for was now her partner in fighting evil.

After the debut of the duo, Courtney went on to fight evil with Young Justice. She also battled the Dragon King's villainous daughter, her arch nemesis, Shiv. Along the way, she also worked alongside Starman and the Shining Knight to battle the Dragon King.

Alas, all good things must come to an end, and when Starman decided to retire, he passed down his legacy to Courtney, the Cosmic Staff, she was reborn as Stargirl.

All About Stargirl

As Stargirl, Courtney puts her skills in hand-to-hand combat, gymnastics and kickboxing to good use as a junior member of the Justice Society. She made great friendships and learned new skills in her time with them until the group was broken up.

At that point, she began college and made a change to the equipment she used when fighting evil. Instead of the staff, she had a compressed rod that would grow when activated and made her costume appear.

Once the JSA reformed, Stargirl becomes a full member. However, things didn't last as fighting among members led to a split between old and new. Stargirl went with the JSA All-Stars.

The Television Series

The Stargirl television show, produced by Geoff Johns, follows Courtney's adventures as she leads the cosmic staff and inspires the formation of the Justice Society of America. The series began production in March 2019 with the premiere of the first episode in May 2020.

The show focuses on Courtney's origin story as Stargirl. It allows viewers to get to know the teen and her stepfather who is so instrumental in propelling her forward as a superhero. Episodes focus on telling different stories that highlight Stargirl's abilities and Courtney's struggles as a teen.

It airs on the CW network. The overall vibe of the show is very old-school with elements that harken back to the 1980s. It is meant to show the takeover of the JSA by a new generation with a focus on how Stargirl acts as a leader to bring about success. Despite some failures and setbacks, the good over evil trope plays out well in the storylines.

That's A Wrap

Courtney Whitmore is definitely not your ordinary teenager. She has a lot more on her plate than worrying about grades, acne, and who will take her to the next dance. With her alter ego being the amazing Stargirl, Courtney has a lot going on to ensure her life is never boring.

 

 

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