What You Need to Know Before Watching Stargirl
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This article may contain spoilers for the TV show Stargirl on the CW.
Stargirl is one of the latest in a long line of comic-book-to-television adaptions. Unfortunately, these adaptations sometimes leave out details that may have people who haven't read the comics scratching their heads. Although Stargirl can stand on its own without additional explanation, there are things you should know before watching.
The Real-Life Stargirl
Developer and producer Geoff Johns modeled the character after his sister who died tragically at 18 years old. In various interviews, he has stated that both Stargirl and his sister share more than just the name Courtney. He often mentions that he developed the character to be a tribute to his sister's vivacious spirit and eternal optimism. He wanted his sister's positive outlook to shine through the character.
As with all adaptations, he took some creative license with her character. This doesn't detract from the character at all. It makes the story unique even if you've read the comics.
Name Confusion
There are some easily confused names in both the comics and the television show. The most prominent issues stem from the Justice Society of America and the Justice League of America. In the television show, these two are used somewhat interchangeably.
To be clear, the Justice Society generally refers to the organization's previous incarnation, also known as the Golden Age. The Justice League refers to the Silver Age of the comic. The show calls it the JSA, an abbreviation of the Justice Society of America, to circumvent any confusion.
The Dragon King
The Dragon King is a confusing character in both the comics and the television show. The comics were deliberately vague even during the WWII era, where he is portrayed as a Japanese person and therefore part of the Axis Powers. During this time, he performs various weapons experiments, and the common belief is that he was somehow affected by his work.
His exact origins are sketchy in both the comic and the television show. The season finale leaves the viewer with the question of whether he is truly dead because they do not know why he's been alive so long in the first place.
The Staff
The comic and television series deviate when it comes to explaining the Stellar Staff. In the comics, the staff has a mental bond with its user. In the television series, the staff seems to have a mind of its own. This may have been added for comic relief, but comic readers might be a bit confused by the sudden change.
Merged Origins
Stargirl's origin is merged in the television show, presumably to make it less confusing. It is a combination of Stargirl's comic book origin story and the second Star-Spangled Kid's origin story. Since the various iterations of Starman, Stargirl, The Star-Spangled Kid, and The 2nd Star-Spangled Kid are very similar, it gets very confusing to provide a believable origin story on screen
You can watch and understand Stargirl without reading the comic, but knowing a bit about the characters makes it easier and more enjoyable. As with any on-screen adaptation, the writers took creative liberties with each of the characters. This makes for an original story about an established and ever-evolving character that audiences love to love.