Looks like Wonder Woman and company are heading back to high school: DC Entertainment's 'Super Hero Girls' website is now alive and kicking.
Aimed at girls 6-12, the Super Hero Girls line is DC's attempt to draw interest to the DC universe. DC revealed plans for its all-female line-up last April, along with its partnership with Warner Brothers and Mattel on the project. As DC stated in its press release:
"Beginning in Fall 2015, DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation, Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Mattel join forces to launch DC Super Hero Girls, an exciting new universe of Super Heroic storytelling that helps build character and confidence, and empowers girls to discover their true potential. Featuring DC Comics' most powerful and diverse line-up of female characters as relatable teens, DC Super Hero Girls will play out across multiple entertainment content platforms and product categories to create an immersive world."
So far, familiar faces include a number of superheroes and super villains, including Wonder Woman, Batgirl, Supergirl, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Katana, and Bumblebee. Right now, there isn't much you can do on the website, other than read the quick bios of each teenage superhero and supervillain. However, it won't remain that way for long: the website is a diving board for a slew of new introductions, such as an updated, kid-friendly artistic style and overhauled origin stories for each respective character, as well as original digital content and interactive customized play. Other plans for the line include TV specials, direct-to-video movies, books, and clothing.
This will also be a first for Mattel, which plans to launch its first-ever line of superhero action figures for girls, fashioned in the likeness of the brand's characters.
Also notable is the diversity of the line-up, which features Bumblebee, DC's first WOC superhero, and Katana, a Japanese martial artist and warrior. Some have pointed out that this might be a direct result of DC's reputation for lack of representation in its comics and other media platforms. The most recent example? The DCYou campaign, a series of ads to promote the post-Convergence line-up which promised to highlight "Fan-Favorite Characters, Top-Notch Talent, Diverse Stories and DC Fans," but only managed to spotlight an almost entirely white male cast.
Whether or not the decision to diversify the Super Hero Girls cast was a case of goodwill or good PR, it's still a win-win for variety and representation.
The brand will fully launch this fall.
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