It seems that the progression of the Supergirl TV series has been faster than a speeding bullet.
It was only days since the buzz that Greg Berlanti was working on the script to CBS picking up a full season order of the superhero series.
But there is little wonder there. With the market all hot and bothered for anything comic-book related, CBS is late to the comic-property party, as ABC snags Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Agent Carter, Fox debuts Gotham, NBC rallies behind Constantine and TNT is developing Titans, based on the long running Teen Titans franchise. It seems only logical that the Eye would make a quick lunge for the female-focused prime-time series featuring a caped crusader.
Following the adventures of Superman’s blonde bombshell teen cousin Kara Zor-El/Linda Lee, a refugee from Argo City, as she adapts to life on Earth.
The series hits all the sweet spots: Appeals to women, appeals to 18 – 25 year old men, appeals to advertisers, movie-franchise possibilities, enough super friends and villains for spin-offs if the getting is good.
All it needs is for it to be good. Really good.
So, will a comic-book adaptation aimed at ladies win, lose or draw?
Let’s take a look at a few past attempts:
The legend. The icon. The fashion icon. Lynda mother-fucking Carter.
You best bow down when you hear her name.
As Wonder Woman, she inspired millions of girls to steal gold bracelets to deflect imaginary bullets, tie up their brothers with gold thread and wear red socks over their shoes. We spun in the backyard before we battled our siblings and we stood defiantly with our hands on our hips as we defended club houses and bedrooms against tyranny and evildoers.
Oh Christ, and that theme song.
If Supergirl is even ⅛ as good as Wonder Woman, we will have a hit on our hands.
Winner: Smallville
No one expected Smallville to be on the air for 10 years. Not the creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, not the WB/CW network, not the actors, not the writers. No one. Seriously. It’s longevity shocked the shit out of everyone.
The nighttime soap was about 25% comic and 75% sex appeal, a winning formula for the long-running series. While it played with the Superman mythos and backstory, it did a great job with re-creating and re-defined characters such as Lana, Lois and Lex for a new generation.
Also, the amount of time they were able to get Tom Welling to take his shirt off was just fucking impressive.
Loser: Birds of Prey
Was this aimed at the ladies? The marketing sure made it seem that way. Lasting only a single season in 2002, the WB drama centered on the women in Batman’s life who take up the mantle of crimefighters after the Bat abandons Gotham.
By all accounts, this should have been a hit with DC fans. It hit all the right notes…on paper. Harley Quinn, a post-Killing Joke Barbara Gordon…hell, even Alfred was around.
But alas, nobody cared.
Draw: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Admittedly, this was kinda kicky in it’s first year. But from a comic fan point of view, it fizzled. But what it lacked in rich backstory, it made up for in shirtless images of Dean Cain. It also unleashed Teri Hatcher unto a naive world.
However, the show had enough sexual chemistry and fans for the series to last four years. But when it ended, it just ended. No wrap up or wedding episode. Just a sad little cliffhanger that will never, ever be resolved. Unless some sad fan takes it to Kickstarter or something.
Yeah. Please don’t do that. I’d rather give my money to Potato Salad Guy.
Winner: Electra Woman and Dyna Girl
What? You never heard of Electra Woman and Dyna Girl?
Your life is half lived.
Starring Deidre Hall and Judy Strangis, this was part of the Krofft Supershow on Saturday mornings.
Together, they fought terrible villains, awful special effects and conventional acting techniques in the name of kiddie entertainment.
