October is officially here, which means the new super heroic world of DC Super Hero Girls is headed our way. Teenage versions of comic-book icons star in this new, innovative franchise that will let the younger female crowd connect with the likes of Supergirl, Wonder Woman, Batgirl and many more.
Warner Bros., DC Entertainment and the toy company Mattel aim to reach out to girls from ages 6-12 with a new line of toys, books, graphic novels, digital content, apparel and animation that encourage female empowerment in pop culture.
“It’s fun for all of us to be involved in something that’s going to play into the girl-power aspect of what kids and parents are looking for,” says Diane Nelson, president of DC Entertainment and president/chief content officer of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.
“I don’t think anyone can argue against the fact that we have the best female superheroes and characters in all of comics,” says Geoff Johns, DC’s chief creative officer and writer of Justice League. Super Hero Girls “is one of the most important things that we’ll be a part of so far since DC’s been formed. It’s a huge statement and opportunity.”
It goes without saying that superheroes have appealed main to boys and men, though in recent years their popularity has shifted to appeal to a female audience as well, with high-profile television and film projects coming soon, from CBS’ Supergirl coming this month to Warner Bros.’ Wonder Woman film currently being developed. However, Nelson stated that with DC Super Hero Girls, DC “saw an opportunity to do something that hasn’t existed in the marketplace yet.”
The first animated short “Welcome to Super Hero High” introduces the primary conceit of this girl-centric universe, where familiar characters such as Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn and lesser-known ones like Bumblebee, Katana, Miss Martian and Cheetah walk the same hallowed hallways as regular teenage students.
Check out the animated short below:
Excited yet? Of course you are, but there’s still more cool stuff emerging from this new universe. I believe I mentioned a line of toys and some animation. We have provided images of some of the new toys as well as animation below.
DC has plans to put Super Hero Girls everywhere kids are. It will have dedicated Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts, there are even plans for TV specials and direct-to-video projects, plus kids will be able to read the characters’ adventures in a middle-grade novel series and in DC graphic novels. The first, written by Shea Fontana and scheduled for July 2016, centers on the young heroines working together to escape the clutches of the villainous Lex Luthor so they don’t miss their semester finals.
Fans also can expect construction sets from LEGO and toys from DC’s key partner Mattel, which has its own experience in girls’ toys with the ever popular Monster High, Ever After High and the iconic Barbie brand.
If you haven’t already, you should probably tell that little superhero fan in your life about this exciting new franchise and what it has to offer. After all, the holidays are right around the corner. Though, if you don’t have a little superhero fan in your life, you can take this opportunity to get him/her interested in comics.
Source(s): USA Today
