Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. Forever
[Stargirl and Supergirl fly off]
Justice League: Unlimited “Chaos At The Earth’s Core” (Season 2, Episode 3)
S.T.R.I.P.E.: “Courtney, you slow your butt down!”
Stargirl: “Ugh, my dad.”
Supergirl: “I know. Superman tried to keep me on the farm. Made me hide there for three years.”
Stargirl: “Big deal. I’ve still got a curfew. Enough cosmic energy to trash a city and I can’t stay out past ten.”
A monster rampages through a city. Citizens run for their lives as it tears through buildings. Something hits the creature at it begins to smash a hospital. The monster looks at its attacker and sees a young woman floating in the air, wreathed in energy, and clutching a golden staff. Whitish energy erupts from the staff as she blasts the monster until it knocks her out of the sky.
A flying suit of armor catches the woman before she hits the ground. Missiles and laser cannons appear from hidden compartments as the armored suit attacks the monster. The woman recovers and joins the fight. The monster is soon worn down and knocked out. Their job complete, Stargirl and S.T.R.I.P.E. fly away.
Scene Select
Stargirl is one of DC’s youngest heroes. She’s been part of the Justice League, the Justice Society, and the Suicide Squad. So who is she? How did she get her powers? Let’s find out.
Star Spangled Kid: Stargirl’s Backstory
S.T.R.I.P.E.: “Ask me, Courtney, the only thing that matters is we all pulled through.”
Justice League: Unlimited “Chaos At The Earth’s Core” (Season 2, Episode 3)
Stargirl: “Shut up, Pat. It wasn’t World War III, it was a giant turtle.”
Stargirl debuted in Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. #0 in 1999. She was created by Lee Moder and Geoff Johns, who based her on his late sister, Courtney Johns.
Courtney Whitmore was an average teenage girl who disliked her new stepfather, Pat Dugan. While searching through an attic, she discovered a superhero costume and a device called the Cosmic Converter Belt. When Courtney confronted Pat about them, he admitted that he had once been a sidekick called Stripsey who fought alongside the Star Spangled Kid.
Realizing that it would annoy Pat, Courtney decided to become the new Star Spangled Kid. Unable to convince her to stop, Pat created a suit of mechanical armor called S.T.R.I.P.E. so he could fight alongside her. This dysfunctional duo started out rocky, but eventually became willing partners.
Star Spangled Kid and S.T.R.I.P.E. frequently worked with a reluctant hero called Starman, who wielded a powerful artifact called the Cosmic Staff. He eventually retired and gave Courtney the Cosmic Staff because he knew she would be a great hero. An inspired Courtney renamed herself Stargirl.
Starry Knight: Stargirl’s History
Starman: [narrating] “I see a flash of… I don’t know. I’m not psychic like Charity… but… these days I am a seer of sorts. I see Courtney someday. One day. [sees an image of the future Stargirl] She’ll be magnificent.”
Starman #80
Stargirl and S.T.R.I.P.E. are formidable fighters, but they are even better when part of a team. Both of them have joined the Justice League, and Stargirl was once recruited by the Suicide Squad, but they primarily work with the Justice Society of America. Stargirl was part of a scandal when she dated teenaged JSA teammate Shazam, who the rest of the team thought was an adult.
Stargirl eventually found her long lost biological father, Sam Kurtis. Unfortunately for her, he was a criminal working for the latest incarnation of the Royal Flush Gang. She defeated her father, which allowed her to finally acknowledge Pat as her dad.
Despite frequent appearances, Stargirl is rarely more than a bit player in major stories. She has recently begun working as a mentor for teenage superheroes joining the JSA.
Cosmic Crusader: Stargirl’s Powers and Personality
Stargirl: [ensnaring a monster in cosmic energy] “We’re taking this someplace else. Haven’t you ever heard of innocent bystanders?”
Justice League: Unlimited “Patriot Act” (Season 2, Episode 7)
General Eiling: “Ever hear of acceptable losses? You can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs. This country is halfway down the toilet because of you super-powered types.”
Stargirl: “For the record, I don’t have powers, pottymouth. It’s the staff.”
Stargirl has superhuman strength, speed, agility, and durability from the Cosmic Converter Belt. It also gives her the power to create star shaped energy blasts called Shooting Stars. S.T.R.I.P.E. taught her gymnastics, and she picked up kickboxing while working with the JSA.
The Cosmic Converter Belt is cool, but the Cosmic Staff is Stargirl’s greatest weapon. It gives her the power to fly and lets her manipulate cosmic energy, which can be used to fire stronger energy blasts, manipulate objects, and shield her from damage.
Stargirl was an absolute terror starting out. She was arrogant, bratty, and willing to play dangerous pranks on her stepfather because she didn’t like him. She eventually grew up, mellowed out, and became a friendly, trusted team member. She is also horrible at keeping her secret identity a secret.
The Actors Who Play Stargirl
Giselle Loren – Justice League: Unlimited.
Britt Irvin – Smallville. Hope Levy- Batman: the Brave and the Bold
Natalie Lander – Justice League Action.
Sarah Grey – Legends of Tomorrow.
Brec Bassinger – Stargirl
Didya Get All That?
The Justice Society’s guiding star.
Jared Bounacos has written for Movie Rewind since 2016.
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