Stargirl has now completed its freshman season, so we thought we’d play a game of 101 fun facts.
If you’re looking for a comic book show that stays as close to its counterpart as possible, look no further than Stargirl. The series freshman season is a total blast, and we thought we’d dive into 101 fun facts. Be sure to check out our Q&A for Season 1.
[CAUTION: This Post Contains Season One Spoilers]
#1: Sylvester Is Not Starman In The Comics
To begin our 101 fun facts, we thought we’d do one that few people will know.
In Stargirl, Sylvester Pemberton has two superhero alias; the Star-Spangled Kid and Starman.
However, in the comics, he was never Starman. He was the Star-Spangled Kid, and later, Skyman. The original Ted Knight is name-dropped as the creator of the Cosmic Staff by Pat in the series.
Ted’s sons Jack and David also held the title. There’s also a list of other heroes who take on the moniker, including Doctor Mid-Nite himself, Charles McNider.
In Stars and S.T.R.I.PE., Ted Knight offers the Starman mantle to Sylvester, but he declines.
#2: Icicle Differences
Stargirl depicts Jordan Mahkent as a businessman going under the persona Icicle with full-fledged ice powers. However, did you know his name isn’t Jordan in the comics?
Icicle’s civilian name is Joar Mahkent, and he serves as an enemy of the original Green Lantern, Alan Scott. Also, he didn’t have powers the way he does in Stargirl. He has a cold gun ray. His onscreen abilities and icy appearance are from the comic counterpart of Cameron.
Cameron’s powers came about due to his father’s overexposure to his cold ray before his son’s conception and birth. For more on the Mahkent Power sets check out our article.
#3: Good Doggie!
Who loves Pat and Mike’s dog, Max? We certainly do! Here are two small tidbits to add to our 101 fun facts.
The first is a real-life fact. Before being cast as Courtney Whitmore/ Stargirl, Brec Bassinger starred in the Nickelodeon series Bella and the Bulldogs. Max being a bulldog might be a reference to that.
The second fact is Max exists in the comics in a small way. We say this because Max’s comic name is Patton, and he’s a Doberman.
#4: Tigress
Sadistic and ruthless like her husband, Lawrence “Crusher” Crock/Sportsmaster, Stargirl is not the first time Paula Brooks/Tigress has appeared onscreen. For more on the Crocks, check our article on the Crock family.
In the series, she and Larry have a daughter, Artemis, who is equally as competitive.
The character also appears in the animated series Young Justice but under the name Paula Nguyen-Crock. She is estranged from her husband and was once known as Huntress.
Unlike her appearance on Stargirl, Paula and Crock have two daughters, Artemis and Jade and a granddaughter, Lian.
Paul is Vietnamese in Young Justice and has an Asian surname.
In the comics, Paula isn’t of Asian descent. She is Caucasian and originally went under the moniker of Huntress before it changed to Tigress.
Finally, Paula’s costume in Stargirl is a nod to the one worn by her daughter in the comics as the third Tigress.
#5: Courtney Doesn’t Find The Cosmic Staff In The Comics
Courtney finds Starman’s Cosmic Staff as something Pat had been keeping in their basement. However, this isn’t the case in the comics.
During her introduction in Stars and STRIPE, Courtney discovers the cosmic converter belt once worn by Sylvester Pemberton. She wears the belt to annoy Pat in revenge for marrying her mother.
Courtney gets the Gravity Rod after she joins the JSA. Jack Knight wields the Gravity Rod before Courtney.
#6: Joey Zarick Is An Original Character
His life is cut short by Icicle to get William Zarick to comply. However, Joey Zarick doesn’t have a comics counterpart. In the comics, Wizard doesn’t have a family. Also, his surname isn’t Zarick. It is Zard.
Joey’s death shows Courtney that even a superhero can’t save every life.
#7: Dragon King And Dr Ito Are Two Different Characters In The Comics
We didn’t know until Stargirl is Dragon King and Shiro Ito were two different characters in the comics.
The comics version of Dragon King is a scientist during World War II. His appearance in the Stars and STRIPE comic series reveals he has a daughter, Cindy Burman, who follows in his footsteps and becomes Shiv.
Dr Ito once survived Adolf Hitler, but his first name is not known. He is involved with espionage and had at least two aliases.
#8: Sherman And Beverly Hills
In Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E., the school Courtney attends in California is not Sherman High.
She went to Beverly Hills High and lived in Beverly Hills before her mother marries Pat.
Also, Sherman is the name of the Principal of Blue Valley High in the comics.
In Stargirl, Courtney attended Sherman High in Los Angeles before Barbara and Pat get together. The principal of Blue Valley High is Anaya Bowin, a member of the Injustice Society, the wife of the OG Fiddler, and the overbearing mother of Isaac Bowin. In Season 2, Blue Valley High’s new principal’s name is Harold Sherman as in the comics.
#9: Cameron
We’ve already covered the differences with Icicle, but there’s another fact we wanted to cover. This time, with the Mahkent family.
During Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E., Courtney fights Cameron Mahkent, who uses his father’s moniker of Icicle. His father isn’t present.
In the show, Cameron is one of Courtney’s classmates who develops a crush on her, and he doesn’t know his father’s secrets. Nor is he aware he may have the same abilities as Jordan.
He and Henry King Jr are amalgamations of Josh Hamman, a jock, the boyfriend of Cindy Burman, and the love interest to Courtney in Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E.
#10: Henry King Jr/Brainwave Jr
Henry Jr has come a long way since the Stargirl pilot. He goes from being a bully to a hero who sacrifices his life for his new friends.
However, he didn’t play a part in the Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. comic series.
Henry and Cameron Mahkent are amalgamations of Josh Hamman from the comics.
Junior is a jock and Cindy’s boyfriend at the beginning of the series.
#11: Josh Hamman
Courtney’s love interest in the Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. comic series was not Cameron Mahkent. When the character debuted, she becomes involved with Josh Hamman, Blue Valley High’s resident jock and Cindy’s boyfriend.
However, the character is simply a background character who appeared in the pilot episode of Stargirl. He is at the drive-in. Henry Jr and his pals and harass him. Josh also appeared in the ‘Wildcat’ episode during Yolanda’s school presidency speech when Cindy sends the entire school her nude photos.
Henry King Jr and Cameron Mahkent can be considered amalgamations of Josh. Henry is the jock and Cindy’s boyfriend.
Cameron is Courtney’s love interest.
#12: Mary Kramer
In Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E., Courtney meets Mary Kramer on her first day at Blue Valley High and learns she has lived in the town her whole life. She is also one of the few people outside of Pat who knows that her friend is the Star-Spangled Kid.
However in Stargirl, Mary is seen twice in the pilot episode. Once at five years old on Christmas Eve and the final time ten years later to say goodbye to Courtney before she moves to Blue Valley. In the show, she is depicted as Courtney’s best friend from her childhood.
#13: S.T.R.I.P.E.
Pat’s S.T.R.I.P.E. armour plays a massive role in Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. but only plays a minor part in Stargirl.
In the ‘S.T.R.I.P.E.’ episode, Pat explains he built the robot to help Rex Tyler search for the Injustice Society. However, he told him he had to go in alone. The armour went untouched for years. Though, Dugan uses his creation to save Courtney from Brainwave.
During the comics, Pat had used the robot before he crossed paths with the Whitmores.
#14: Half-Day
In the ‘Wildcat’ episode, Courtney wears a t-shirt with the words, Half-Day.
The shirt is a callback to the Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. comic to Courtney’s first day at Blue Valley High. She is seen wearing it when she tangles with Principal Sherman and Cindy. The shirt in the episode is identical to the one in the source material.
#15: Rex Tyler/OG Hourman
The episode ‘Hourman and Dr Mid-Nite’ depicts Rex Tyler as a loving father to Rick. He is a car enthusiast, a trait that rubs off on his son in his teenage years.
However, this is quite the opposite of the version of Rex in Legends of Tomorrow. That version comes off as critical and warns the Justice Society not to board the Waverider.
Meanwhile, this differs in the comics as Rex is an absent parent. He is also critical of Rick. Despite this, his son takes up the mantle of Hourman in his dad’s honour during Crisis on Infinite Earths.
#16: Absent/Deceased Parents
There seems to be a pattern with the parents of the kids in Stargirl. They either have one that is either deceased or missing from their lives. Examples include:
- Cameron’s mother, Christine, died of cancer.
- Courtney’s father, Sam, is absent from her life until he reappears.
- Rick’s parents, Rex and Wendi, are murdered by Solomon Grundy.
- Cindy’s mother accidentally died at the hands of her daughter.
- Henry Jr’s mother, Merri, is murdered at the hands of her husband, Henry Snr.
- Mike’s mother’s status is unknown.
- Isaac’s father, The Fiddler, is Missing In Action.
- Isaac’s mother, Anaya, is dead.
- Cameron’s father, Jordan, is now dead after Mike runs him over.
#17: Yolanda’s Connection To The Wildcat Mantle
Stargirl sets Yolanda up as once being popular. However, her life takes a hit when semi-nude photos get leaked by Cindy Burman.
She becomes Wildcat after being inspired by Courtney and the desire to change the outcome of her life.
In the ‘Wildcat’ episode, a photo sits on Yolanda’s mirror at the beginning of a man boxing. We assume this is Ted Grant.
However, in the comics, Yolanda has a direct tie to the Wildcat mantle. Her comics counterpart is the goddaughter of the original Wildcat, Ted Grant.
#18: Mike
Stargirl depicts Mike Dugan as the charming and comedic presence of the Whitmore-Dugan family. He also breaks our hearts at various points. After all, his mother is MIA.
Much of his and his dad’s past is unknown. Though, he mentions to Courtney that something horrible went down.
However, Mike’s depiction in Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. is different to the show.
In the comic series, Mike appears in Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. issue seven. Before this, Pat mentions him.
During his debut, he attends military school before he joins his family in Blue Valley. He and his father are estranged.
In the series, Mike does not attend military school, and he has a love-hate relationship with Courtney. He loves sugary foods and walks all over his father.
#19: Hourman’s Strength
Moving onto fact 19 of our 101 fun facts.
Stargirl fans will know Rex Tyler’s hourglass gave him super strength for an hour per day. It does the same for Rick. However, in the comics, there was an extra component to their abilities.
Rex used a drug called Miraclo to enhance his abilities.
#20: Matt Harris Is Matthew Tyler In The Comics
Stargirl depicts Matt Harris as Rick’s maternal uncle, who hates him. Blue Valley’s resident alcoholic despises his nephew because he had to give up his dramas of being rich.
In the comics, however, Matthew Tyler is a robot created from Rex Tyler’s DNA.
#21: Hawkman Almost Appeared
It’s no secret that Hawkman is a member of the original Justice Society. However, did you know he almost had a cameo? As point 21 of our 101 Fun Facts, it is one point we did not want to leave out.
In an interview on Facebook, the actors behind the Injustice Society revealed there were multiple versions of the opening battle. Some scenes didn’t end up in the final episode, and one of these happened to be a cameo from Hawkman.
From what the actors remember, Hawkman was supposed to fly past Pat as he enters the house. If we had to guess, the reason was to show only JSA members who would later get successors in the form of Courtney, Yolanda, Rick, and Beth.
#22: Sylvester Never Came Back To Life
Fact 22 of our 101 fun facts is the biggest surprise of Season 1; the return of Sylvester Pemberton. It is up in the air whether it is Starman. However, Sylvester is very much dead in the comics and doesn’t come back.
During the virtual New York Comic-Con panel, Geoff Johns states we’ll discover Sylvester’s role during the Season 2 premiere.
We’re likely to find out more about Sylvester’s comeback in Season 3 if the trailer is anything to go off.
#23: Sam Comes Back In The Comics
Onto fact 23 of our 101 fun facts!
Throughout Season 1, we see Courtney concludes her father is Starman. However, her heart shatters when Sam Kurtis suddenly shows up after ten years. He then cons her out of her locket. This moment makes her realise that Pat was always more of a father to her.
In the comics that succeed Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E., Sam returns but is in prison. Courtney confronts him over his crimes and association with the Royal Flush Gang. She denounces herself as his daughter.
#24: The ISA Never Tried To Brainwash The Adults Of America
If you’re familiar with Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E., you may recall the ISA’s plan to brainwash children.
In the show, the plan is to control the brains of the adults in five states of America. When Henry Jr dies, his father absorbs his son’s powers.
Brainwave’s range expands, allowing him to control 100 million adults across twenty-five states. However, of all these individuals, 25% were to die because their minds would prompt them to resist Henry’s control.
#25: Courtney Takes The Items Of The JSA Members That Were Present During The Fight In The Pilot Episode
For fact 25 of our 101 fun facts, we have this doozy. During the early episodes of the season, Courtney ‘steals’ the JSA suits of many of the dead members. However, there’s a little more to this than you might think.
The artefacts Courtney stole include:
- Hourman’s suit and hourglass.
- Green Lantern’s lantern.
- Wildcat’s suit and cowl.
- Starman’s suit (which was in Pat’s possession).
- Doctor Mid-Nite’s suit and goggles (containing Chuck) – Hootie the owl remains at the JSA HQ.
- Johnny Thunder’s pink pen.
95% of the original owners were involved in the series’ opening fight.
There were also members of the OG JSA that didn’t have their items taken. These were:
- The Flash
- Doctor Fate
It is unclear if Hawkman, Hawkgirl, and Sandman had items.
#26: What Happened To Cameron’s Mother?
For number 26 on our list of 101 fun facts, we thought we’d include something about Cameron’s mother, Christine. We know from the ‘Icicle’ episode that she dies of cancer. It’s also apparent that she knows her husband is Icicle.
In the comics, Cameron’s mother is relatively unknown. The only information we have on her is she died in childbirth, leading him to be raised by his father.
Stargirl shows she survives childbirth and sees Cameron grow until her death when he is eight years old.
The reason for her death in-universe was to see how far her husband goes to create Project New America.
#27: Henry Jr’s ‘Revival’ In Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E Part 2 Plays On The Superhero Trope Of Resurrection
Onto fact 27 of our 101 fun facts! If you’ve read comic books, then you’ll know there’s a common theme: resurrection.
Resurrection has become a typical trope for years, and it is often overused. In Stargirl, death is somewhat permanent. Just the first season alone is full of death.
However, the death of Henry King Jr was one of the more gut-wrenching scenes in the whole season. He went from being the school bully to someone who wanted to change. As we became accustomed to seeing him slowly become a hero. Unfortunately, it’s ripped away before it can form roots.
Henry’s death hit everybody in the feels. Especially his new friends, which includes ex-girlfriend Yolanda. Montez is left devastated by his demise. In ‘Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. Part Two’, we get a shock when Henry shows up in the tunnels.
To our devastation, it’s not Henry. His father, Brainwave, took his son’s form to get Yolanda to lower her guard enough to take him to her friends so he can kill them. Ultimately, this fails as he says ‘your friends’ and not ‘our friends’.
Yolanda realises the mistake and slashes him across the throat.
Having Henry be used (from beyond the grave) as a ploy to get Yolanda to lower her guard is smart. It plays on the idea resurrection is possible but only in extreme cases.
#28: Courtney And Barbara Were Named After Two Women Close To Geoff Johns’ Heart
For fact 28 of our 101 fun facts, we thought we’d include something from behind-the-scenes.
It’s a well-known fact DC Comics loves characters with the same first name. We’ve had multiple Marthas, Jonathans, Catherines (sometimes spelled with a “K”), but what about Barbaras? There’s a number of them, but for anything Stargirl-related, there’s a good reason behind it.
Barbara Whitmore is named after Stargirl creator Geoff Johns’ mother. Stargirl herself Courtney is named in honour of his younger sister after she perished in a 1996 plane crash. The end credits for the Season finale say ‘In Loving Memory of Clo
You can read about Courtney Johns’s tragic story here.
#29: Pat’s Goggles
For fact 29 of our 101 fun facts, we wanted to point out that the goggles Pat is seen wearing prior to Mike’s school calling him in the ‘Icicle’ episode is a nod to Jack Knight, the second Starman in the Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E comic series.
#30: Ted Knight
During the ‘S.T.R.I.P.E.’ episode, Pat explains to Courtney that he doesn’t know how the Cosmic Staff works. Sylvester never built it; the credit goes to Ted Knight. Now, if that name sounds familiar, you’d be right.
Ted Knight is the original Starman in the comics. His successors are his two sons, Jack and David.
How Ted built the staff and when it ended up in Sylvester’s hands is unknown in Stargirl.
Our theory is that Sylvester is given the title of Starman from Ted which prompts him to retire as the ‘Star-Spangled Kid’.
#31: Yolanda And Beth Die In The Comics
Who doesn’t love Beth Chapel and Yolanda Montez? These two ladies kick some serious ass when they’re suited up as Doctor Mid-Nite and Wildcat, respectively. But did you know they met grisly ends early in the comics?
In Eclipso issue #13, Yolanda is killed by Eclipso. Her cousin, Alex, vows revenge for her death, but he becomes a host for the villain. He ultimately commits suicide when Eclipso overpowers him.
Yolanda’s comics appearance only lasted eight years. Her introduction came in March 1985 during Infinity Inc issue #12, while her death came in November 1993.
Beth, in the comics, is a doctor who later becomes Doctor Mid-Nite. During a mission given to her by the government alongside Yolanda, she is sent into battle Eclipso.
Like Yolanda, Beth’s lifespan in the comics only lasted eight years. Her debut came in November 1985 in Infinity Inc issue #19. Her death occurs in the same issue of the Eclipso run that Yolanda’s does.
#32: Joey’s Death Serves As A Wake Up Call To Courtney
Joey Zarick’s short appearance has more impact than people may expect. He is the first person at Blue Valley High to be nice to Courtney. His death at the hands of Icicle pushes her determination to be a better hero.
What’s ironic about how Joey dies is the same fate awaits Icicle at the end of the season.
Brec Bassinger (Courtney) says in an interview that Joey’s death serves as a wake-up call, and no one is safe.
#33: Icicle And Joey Die The Same Way
Death is permanent in Stargirl. Or at least, it is until Sylvester shows up alive. Starman’s killer, Icicle, and his modern-day victim, Joey Zarick, die the same way.
In ‘Icicle’, Jordan kills Joey to get William Zarick to comply with Project New America.
Icicle ices over a bridge, almost throwing the school bus off.
Despite Courtney and Pat saving the students and the bus, Joey is killed by an out-of-control car.
In the season finale, Icicle himself is hit by Mike, driving Sir Justin’s truck. However, there’s a difference. We see Jordan get killed. Whereas with Joey, we don’t. We only see it from Courtney and Pat’s perspectives.
#34: Jakeem
There are references of potential Justice Society candidates across Season 1. One of these is Jakeem, as mentioned in the episode ‘Wildcat’ by Mike.
In the comics, Jakeem is Jakeem Thunder, who wields the Thunderbolt. He also serves as the successor to Johnny Thunder.
Throughout the season, there are constant sightings of a giggling pink pen. Courtney laughs at the idea of the pen being dangerous despite Pat telling her how deadly it is.
#35: The Black Panther Reference
In the episode, ‘Wildcat’, Yolanda Montez becomes the second Wildcat, succeeding the late Ted Grant. When she puts the cowl of the suit on, the suit contorts to her body.
The Black Panther habit does something similar to T’Challa in Black Panther.
#36: 1941 Siegel Way
At the beginning of ‘Hourman and Doctor Mid-Nite’, Rex Tyler sends Pat his notebook containing a code that Rick deciphers years later. The address on the envelope might seem random, but it’s an Easter egg.
The name of the street Pat lives on is Siegel Way. ‘Siegel’ is the last name of Superman creator, Jerry Siegel. The number at the beginning of the address is 1941. It’s the year All-Star Comics Issue #3 came out.
Issue #3 is the comic The Justice Society of America debuts as a group.
The name “Siegel” was also used to create the name of Superman’s grandfather, Seyg-El. For more, be sure to check out our fun facts on Krypton.
#37: Courtney Johns
Stargirl wouldn’t be possible without Courtney Johns. For 37 of our 101 fun facts, the photo above is on the bulletin board in Courtney Whitmore’s room. The girl in the jumper is the real Courtney, the late sister of Geoff Johns. You can read Courtney Johns’ tragic story here.
#38: “Don’t Look At Me, I Took French.”
Now, the line of dialogue said by Cameron in ‘Brainwave’ during the Whitmore-Dugan-Mahkent family dinner might seem like a throwaway line. Though, if you know Icicle’s comic book origins, it’s not far-fetched.
In the comics, Joar Mahkent (Jordan’s comic counterpart) is European. Cameron jokes he took French at school. Moreover, he doesn’t understand his father and grandparents’ evil grace, spoken in Norwegian. Norway is also a European country.
#39: Chemistry Seems To Be A Big Deal
For fact 39 of our 101 fun facts, this one didn’t come to us until we re-watched ‘Hourman and Doctor Mid-Nite’.
When Courtney, Beth, and Yolanda find Rick at Cindy’s Halloween party, they explain who his dad was; the original Hourman.
Rick questions what the hourglass does and what’s s unique about it. Beth explains Rex invented it and gave him super-strength for an hour a day. She declares he was a chemist.
Beth concludes the hourglass only worked for Rex as it tied to his DNA.
Funnily enough, this is not the first reference to chemistry.
In ‘Shiv Part One’, Courtney is forced to team up with Cindy during a science experiment. The supervillainess does not look at the instructions at any point.
Courtney questions her about this and is told that Cindy’s dad would purposely leave the cupboards unlocked. They would do science experiments together, including the one Courtney and Cindy were doing in their class.
She also loves gloating about it, which would likely irk Dragon King privately.
#40: The New JSA Are Currently All Female
Remember when a lot of superhero/villain teams were almost all male?
The original Avengers team (in the MCU) is primarily all men with a single woman; Black Widow. Moreover, the original lineup of the Justice League included Wonder Woman as its only female member.
In Stargirl, the original lineup for the Justice Society had Hawkgirl as the only woman on the team.
However, the new iteration is different from the original.
When Courtney reboots the JSA, she is the first female leader and recruits Yolanda as the new Wildcat (Ted Grant’s successor). Beth is the new Doctor Mid-Nite (succeeding Charles McNider). Meanwhile, Rick becomes the second Hourman and successor to his father.
There’s likely to be a few extra additions to the team in Season 2. They will explore the green lantern and the pink pen. If we had to guess, we may get a woman wielding the lantern.
The only two female Green Lanterns we know are Jessica Cruz or Jennifer-Lynn Hayden.
We know Courtney is a feminist as she puts Cindy in place during Season 1. That’s what makes her our little star.
#41: Traumatic Sound Effects That Indicate Painful Past Events
If you listen carefully to the sound effects throughout Season 1, you might pick up on a pattern.
There is a theme of sound effects that hint at traumatic events.
The first sound we hear is the decline of Christine Mahkent’s heart monitor in the flashback in ‘Icicle’. The effect is heard again in ‘The Justice Society’ when Jordan wakes up.
Sound effect two is the horrified screams of Wendi Tyler. It is heard when the car is hit by Solomon Grundy. All this occurs in the hologram shown by Chuck and Beth in ‘Hourman and Doctor Mid-Nite’.
Finally, the third is the screams of MeFinally, the third is the screams of Merri King. These are heard at various points in the storyline involving Brainwave and Henry Jr.
#42: Running Jokes
There is a series of running gags throughout the first season. These include:
- Mike’s ‘coarse’ language.
- Pat and Courtney’s constant argument over who the Fiddler is.
- Courtney and Pat’s excuses to Barbara as to why they keep showing up injured.
- Courtney’s insistence that Starman is her father.
- Mike’s eating habits.
- Rick’s rivalry with Solomon Grundy.
- Jordan having to clean up Larry and Paula’s messes.
- Courtney’s constant disrespect for Pat.
- Sir Justin’s forgetting the simplest of conversations.
- Chuck’s banter with Beth and insulting those he admires or despises.
- The idea of Courtney or Mike driving.
#43: Daddy Issues
There is a load of characters who have father issues in the first season for various reasons:
- Courtney’s biological father, Sam Kurtis abandoned her and Barbara and only returned to their lives when he wanted his daughter’s treasured locket. This incident makes Courtney realise that her mother was right; Pat has always been the father figure in her life.
- Henry Jr’s father, Henry King Snr/Brainwave, bullied him into doing what he wanted. When Henry learned he had powers, he thought he could revert his dad to the side of good but learned he didn’t want to change.
- Cindy’s father, Shiro Ito/Dragon King, sees her as a failure and as a failed experiment. He even has her locked up for ‘bad behaviour’.
- While Beth is not exactly estranged from her father, James Chapel, she feels that her dad sees her as a burden seeing as she is old enough to look after herself.
- Isaac doesn’t see his father, The Fiddler, because he’s in prison for unknown crimes.
- Mike isn’t estranged from Pat Dugan, but he grows jealous of the time his dad spends with Courtney.
#44: Rick’s Protectiveness
Rick’s personality changes across the season in the best possible way. He goes from being a scared little kid not understanding where his parents are going to a teenage delinquent who is constantly getting into trouble.
After learning that his parents were murdered, Rick wants revenge but as a member of the JSA, he also becomes the only boy on the team. He comes to rely on Courtney, Yolanda, and Beth and comes to think of them as friends.
When Courtney ends up in the hospital after fighting Cindy, word gets back to the team. Rick flies into a rage and demands they go after Shiv. He stops when Beth and Yolanda jump in and tell him they’re upset too, but they need to be strategic.
This moment indicates Rick takes his role as the only boy on the JSA seriously. They are his girls. Moreover, this is even more apparent when he questions why Courtney would want Henry Jr to help them.
A third example is during the fight with the ISA where he jumps in to save Pat from Solomon Grundy. He goes one step further and tells Courtney’s dad to rescue Barbara after Jordan kidnaps her.
#45: Evil Cronies
Jordan might have a team behind him, but his most loyal evil cronies aren’t on the ISA. They’re his parents, Lily and Sofus.
They’re raising Cameron while their son is killing the people who exposed Christine to the toxin that gave her cancer. They might look like innocent elderly folk, but their evil ways are evident. They clean up William Zarick’s body without questioning it.
The second time is when they reassure Jordan that what he is doing with Project New America is the right thing.
Let’s not forget that awkward Whitmore-Dugan-Mahkent dinner party with the evil grace. In their native tongue, they praise Barbara but badmouth Courtney.
#46: The Dragon Ring
Here’s a behind-the-scenes fact. The dragon ring you see Cindy wearing with her Shiv armour wasn’t in the costuming arrangement.
Meg DeLacy, who plays Cindy, found the ring when she went shopping one day, and she thought it was perfect for her costume. However, she had to get permission. The producers loved the idea.
#47: The Staff’s Personality
The Cosmic Staff is a character all on its own. Its personality makes it another member of the JSA.
However, in the comics, the staff didn’t have a personality.
It wasn’t sentient.
The personality is exclusive to the television series.
#48: Alex Montez
When Yolanda gets caught up in the nude photo scandal, the only relative who doesn’t see her as a disgrace is her cousin, Alex. It appears they are close and have each other’s backs.
In the comics, Alex reaps vengeance for Yolanda’s death. However, he becomes a host for Eclipso in his grief.
Alex’s attempt to avenge his cousin backfires. His negative emotions become so great that they are sensed by the dark being, resulting in the prince of darkness corrupting him.
Later, he commits suicide.
#49: Rick and Rex Are Polar Opposites
When we meet Rick, he is a hothead looking to blow off steam due to his terrible life. Meanwhile, his late father Rex is a hero.
In ‘The Justice Society’, Courtney attempts to get all the artifacts back from her team. They refuse as they’ve found their new purposes. Pat tries to talk Rick into giving up the hourglass and his dad’s journal.
Rick blows up at him by saying he only thinks of him as everyone else does. The former sidekick tells him that is not how he views him.
Pat sees Rick as a misguided kid.
Looking at Rick and Rex, we see them as polar opposites.
Rick is impulsive. Meanwhile, Rex knew responsibility and understood how addicting the power of the hourglass is.
#50: Mike And Barbara Bond Over Chocolate
Mike might come across as tough. But deep down, he wants a mother’s love. When Barbara marries his father, his wish comes true. He bonds with his stepmother quickly, which is in great contrast to Courtney’s relationship with Pat.
It’s well-known that Mike has an addiction to junk food. Pat, to his best efforts, attempts to get him to kick it but fails. Barbara, however, isn’t as strict and supports her stepson’s chocolate volcano science fair entry.
When Pat is unable to go to the science fair, Barbara goes in his place.
Mike, standing by his entry looking sad when he sees the other parents with their kids, is surprised to see his stepmother running towards him.
Later at home, Barbara claims Mike should’ve won. Not caring about the prize, the little man is glad to spend time with the woman he has come to see as his mother figure.
#51: Courtney’s Bond With Pat Deepens When She Stands Up For Him
From the moment they met, Courtney never wanted to accept Pat in her life. To her, he is temporary. A placeholder for her biological father.
When the Whitmore-Dugan family moves to Blue Valley, things take a turn.
Upon finding the Cosmic Staff, Courtney becomes reliant on Pat in ways she never thought.
When her stepfather discovers she has taken various JSA artifacts, he orders her to get them back. The plan hits a snag when the new Justice Society refuse.
Courtney, having already dealt with a pissed-off Pat, defends him when the JSA take swipes at him for wanting the items back. She tells them he has a reason for it.
#52: JSA-ISA Foe Pairings
There is no denying that the original JSA and the ISA were enemies but each member had their personal foe. Please note that the following list is incomplete.
- Rex Tyler/Hourman – Larry “Crusher” Crock/Sportsmaster.
- Sylvester Pemberton/Starman – Henry King Snr/Brainwave & Jordan Mahkent/Icicle.
- Ted Grant/Wildcat – Paula Brooks/Tigress?
- Charles McNider/Doctor Mid-Nite – Steven Sharpe/The Gambler.
#53: Three Birthdays Mentioned
There aren’t a lot of birthdays celebrated in most shows. But in Stargirl, we know of at least three; Beth’s, Henry Snr’s, and Christine’s.
We know Beth’s birthday is May 15th. Chuck mentions it.
Christine’s birthdate is unknown. However, her husband and son celebrate in her honour in ‘The Justice Society’.
Henry Snr’s birthdate is October 12th.
#54: The Baseball Bat Bounce
Another behind-the-scenes tidbit for our 101 fun facts surprised us.
It was revealed on the Stargirl Aftershow podcast that the baseball bat bounce Sportsmaster does wasn’t CGI. It also wasn’t done with a stunt double. Neil Hopkins learned how to do it himself.
#55: Hawkins
Mike is the king of name-dropping. In ‘Shiv Part One’, he name drops a woman with the last name ‘Hawkins’. While this mightn’t mean anything huge, but there are a few characters within DC Comics lore with that surname:
- Virgil Hawkins (better known as Static).
- Sanderson “Sandy” Hawkins – the successor of Wesley Dodds/Sandman.
- Star Hawkins.
- Robert Hawkins – father of Virgil.
- Sharon Hawkins – sister of Virgil.
- Jean Hawkins – the late mother of Virgil and Sharon.
#56: Cindy’s Mean Behaviour Doesn’t Just Apply To Her Villainous Persona
Cindy Burman makes it clear there is no difference between her and Shiv.
When we meet her in ‘Stargirl’, she tries to rally Courtney, but things sour quickly. It becomes no secret afterwards there was going to be more butting of heads.
Courtney becomes a thorn in Cindy’s side mainly because she stands up to her. However, things take a deeper downward spiral when Courtney tries to reschedule their hang after being asked to Homecoming by Cameron.
Cindy takes this as an insult. Her day had already taken a massive turn for the worst. She fights with Jenny, who breaks their friendship off.
Unbeknownst to most characters, Cindy’s home life isn’t glamorous. Her father spends most of his time in his lab while she has her stepmother, Bobbie as a companion.
Cindy takes immense pride in not keeping her two personas separate.
#57: Rick’s Appreciation Towards The Girls Of The JSA
Rick Tyler is the world’s biggest softie when it comes to his friends. We see in ‘Shiv Part One’ that Rick has respect for Courtney, Yolanda, and Beth.
In the first scene with the four of them walking together down the hallway at school in ‘Shiv Part One’, Rick graciously falls behind the girls as a sign of respect.
#58: Cameron And Cindy Are Parallels
Cindy and Cameron mightn’t have appeared on screen together, but there are parallels between them. For 58 of our 101 fun facts, here are our thoughts on this idea.
- Cameron’s mother dies of cancer when he is roughly five years old. Cindy is a bit older when she accidentally kills her mother in a fit of rage.
- Cindy knows about the ISA. Cameron is in the dark about the group.
- Cameron was born with his pending powers. Cindy was experimented on by her father.
- Cindy killed her dad. Cameron’s dad was killed by Mike Dugan.
- Cameron has a crush on Courtney. while Cindy is rivals with Courtney.
- Cindy is mean to everyone. Cameron is nice.
- Jordan, Cameron’s father, is the leader of the ISA. Dragon King is an ally of the group.
#59: Cindy Attempts To Bond With Courtney Over Their Dads
From the moment Cindy and Courtney meet, we always knew there would be conflict. As the first half of the season plays out, we learn in ‘Shiv Part One’ that the girls are not so different. They both have ‘dad issues’ first off.
Secondly, Cindy needs a friend after everything that happened with Jenny. She wants Courtney to be her replacement. Then, there is the invite to hang out on the night of Homecoming. We all know how that turns out.
Finally, Seeing Cindy trying to make an effort to be friendly with Courtney shows us that she has some ounce of humanity. Eventually, they become frenemies when they end up stuck in Shadowlands.
#60: Bobbie Is The Stepford Wife
If you thought Cindy had problems, wait until you meet her stepmother, Bobbie. The poor woman is forced to portray herself as a loving mother and wife However, she is treated horribly. This just had to be added to our 101 fun facts.
Cindy treats her like trash. Bobbie tolerates it. She’s a Stepford wife with no trajectory. If Chuck is correct, Bobbie isn’t a person, which is insanely creepy.
#61: Courtney And Pat’s Conversation In The Hospital Is Similar To Peter And Tony’s Confrontation In Spider-Man: Homecoming
When you think Stargirl, your mind doesn’t go straight to Marvel. Ours didn’t until we realised there was a similarity in ‘Shiv Part Two’ to a scene in Spider-Man: Homecoming.
Courtney ends up in the hospital after her fight with Cindy. Pat creates a cover story by crashing his beloved Buick and claiming his stepdaughter is the one driving. He calls Barbara, and she rushes home from her business trip.
Now, you’re probably where the Marvel reference comes in. Well, when they’re still at the hospital, Pat tells Courtney they need to tell her mother the truth.
Courtney is deadset against it because if Barbara knew, she would stop her from being Stargirl.
The scene is similar to the confrontation between Tony and Peter after Stark steps in to rescue a ferry.
When Tony says he’s taking his new suit away, Peter protests. Courtney pleads with Pat not to tell Barbara is similar.
#62: Ed Reilly
The man Jordan meets and kills in ‘Shiv Part Two’ mightn’t be familiar to the average television watcher of DCTV. But if you’re a fan of DC Comics then you might know him. The guy’s name is Ed Reilly.
In the comics, Ed Reilly is the father of Rod and Danette Reilly who both become Firebrand.
Fans of Young Justice will also know the term Firebrand as the name is used for the robot, Red Inferno.
#63: The Beth And Pat Banter Was Improvised By Anjelika And Luke
Here’s another behind-the-scenes tidbit. The banter between Beth and Pat in ‘Shiv Part Two’ was improvised by Anjelika (Beth) and Luke (Pat). There was stuff scripted, but the scenes were funnier improvised.
#64: Anjelika Didn’t Fall Out That Window
Remember that scene in ‘Shiv Part Two’ where Beth falls from the window of Cindy’s bedroom and Rick catches her? Well, it wasn’t Anjelika that did the stunt.
Anjelika wanted to do the stunt herself, but she was told it was too dangerous given how high up the window ledge was. Instead, her stunt double did it.
#65: The Star-Spangled Bitch
There’s no denying Cindy and Country despise each other. During ‘Shiv Part Two’, the mean girl references to Stargirl’s former superhero name from the comics. She calls her the Star-Spangled Bitch as a nod to Whitmore’s tenure as the second ‘Star-Spangled Kid’.
#66: Snapdragon
Courtney makes a remark to Dragon King that will go over most people’s heads. But not if you’ve read Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. In the comic, the plan to brainwash the kids was called Project Snapdragon.
When Courtney goes up against Dragon King in Stargirl, she struggles to come up with a comeback and uses Snapdragon.
#67: Pat And Beth’s Joke About The Goggles
During their ‘adventure’ in the Burman house, Pat and Beth joke about the goggles. Dugan claims that Chapel is as blind as a bat. Moreover, this is a reference to Beth in the comics where she becomes blind during Crisis on Infinite Earths.
This ‘joke’ is also a reference to the original Doctor Mid-Nite, Charles McNider. In the comics, he became blind but discovered he had perfect night vision.
#68: 1999
Next on our list of 101 fun facts!
Of all the Easter eggs in Stargirl, the security codes are the most subtle. The code on the basement door in the Burman house, which leads to Doctor Ito’s lab, is 1999, as seen in ‘Shiv Part Two’.
This serves as a reference for a couple of things.
Reference one is the birth year of Stargirl actress Brec Bassinger who was born in 1999.
Reference number two is the debut of Courtney Whitmore/Stargirl and Cindy Burman/Shiv in DC Comics. Both their debuts occur during Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E., which started in 1999.
#69: Cindy’s Threat To Kill Her Father Comes True
For 69 of our 101 fun facts, we wanted to say this; Karma is a bitch. In ‘Brainwave’, a locked-up Cindy threatens to kill her father before he closes the sliding window in her face.
In ‘Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E Part Two’, Cindy escapes her cell and kills her father.
#70: Jordan Met Christine In England
We found something interesting that we thought needed to be added to our 101 fun facts out about when Jordan met his wife, Christine in ‘Shiv Part One’. Icicle reveals to son Cameron that he met his mother in London, England.
Neil Jackson, the actor behind Jordan/Icicle is British, not American. With the character meeting his (on-screen) wife in London, this may have been a nod to Jackson’s English upbringing.
#71: Henry Jr Is the Only Character To Have Genetic Ties To Both The JSA And The ISA
Fact 71 of 101 fun facts.
Henry King Junior was one of those characters we went from hating to loving. We could see his life sucked and his terrible behaviour reflected his relationships with his father and Cindy.
We learn in the ‘Brainwave’ and ‘Brainwave Jr’ episodes that Henry has genetic ties to both the ISA and the JSA. It is unclear whether his mother, Merri was a member of the Justice Society when she was alive. But her brother who is Sylvester Pemberton better known as Starman was.
Having his father and uncle serving on opposite sides of the equation would’ve given Henry a choice of which side he might’ve joined.
#72: Mike And Courtney’s Conversation Differs From The Comics
Mike and Courtney’s relationship has always been on-off since their first interaction. They’re different as characters, but over time, they have managed to find the high ground. For point 72 of our 101 fun facts, we had to address it.
Courtney has never hidden her disdain of having Pat as her stepfather and Mike as her stepbrother. However, she has come to see that they are the dad and little brother she never realised she needed.
Mike has lashed out at Courtney for spending more time with Pat than he does. He made us want to tear up when Barbara kicks Pat out of the house. The little dude says his stepsister got her ‘wish’ to get rid of him and his dad.
Eventually, Mike finds out about his dad and Courtney’s superhero lifestyle. While he is accepting in the show, his comic counterpart isn’t.
When Mike discovers Courtney inherited the cosmic converter belt, he argues that it should be his, and they fight over it. The piece of equipment gets broken as a result.
#73: The ISA Wipes Itself Out
As we near the end of our 101 fun facts, our 73rd point was one we didn’t realise until we started browsing through the Injustice Society Stargirl Wiki page. If you pay attention to the ISA throughout season one, you might’ve noticed something regarding their ranks; they were killing each other off.
In ‘Icicle’, Jordan kills William Zarick the same day he kills the Wizard’s son, Joey. It is a way of getting his second-in-command to comply with his demands. When this fails, he freezes him, and orders his parents, Sofus and Lily, to clean up the body.
During ‘Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. Part One’, Anaya is killed by Paula after she criticises her and Crusher’s parenting of Artemis.
Cindy murders her father, Dragon King, for being a horrible parent to her.
The new JSA only killed Henry King Snr/Brainwave and Jordan Mahkent/Icicle as seen in ‘Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. Part Two’.
As of currently, only three members remain alive; Tigress, Sportsmaster, and The Gambler. Rick exiles Solomon Grundy.
The same will happen to the short-lived splinter group Cindy creates; Injustice Unlimited. However, Eclipso wipes the floor with them.
#74: Running Gag Of Names
There is a running gag during the first season where people keep questioning the names of individuals and groups. We’ve already covered a few other jokes above, but this one deserved its point on our 101 fun facts list.
Here are a few of those names:
- Stripsey – called out by Courtney but explained by Pat before realising she’s right.
- Seven Soldiers of Victory – called out by Courtney when she says there is eight people in the photo. Pat explains the group argued about the name. Beth also mentions this.
- Sportsmaster and Tigress – Rick questions the names of Paula and Crusher during the new JSA’s first mission as a team.
- Brainwave and Icicle – Yolanda questions Courtney over Henry Snr and Jordan’s supervillain names.
#75: Jake Austin Walker Almost Didn’t Take The Role Of Henry Jr
By now, we cannot imagine anyone else in the role of Henry King Jr other than Jake Austin Walker. However, he revealed in the ‘Brainwave Jr’ episode of the Stargirl Aftershow podcast that he almost didn’t take the role.
Jake voiced his reluctance to showrunner Geoff Johns who explained the character’s arc from bully to reluctant hero.
After this, he was happy to play the role to the point he read every comic detailing Henry Jr’s role as Brainwave Jr.
#76: Lexi Rabe
If you were anything like us and had to do a double-take during the season 1 finale, ‘Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E Part Two’, you’re not alone. During various points through the episode, a little girl pops up with her brainwashed father. If the child looked familiar to you, you’d get full marks.
This little girl is Lexi Rabe, best known for her role as Morgan Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Fact 76 of 101 fun facts.
#77: Anaya Bowin
Anaya Bowin was known for a couple of things throughout the first season. Here’s our 77th point on our 101 fun facts list.
- Principal Bowin.
- Mom.
- The Fiddler.
She is known to smother her son, Isaac, which he deems embarrassing. It appears she is an amalgamation of the Fidder and Virtuoso from the comics.
In the comics, the Fiddler is Isaac Bowin which is the name of Anaya’s son in the show. Meanwhile, the mantle of ‘The Fiddler’ once belonged to her currently unknown husband.
The Isaac Bowin Fiddler is known for wearing green which is the colour scheme for Anaya.
#78: Cindy’s Wrist Knives
Cindy Burman might be a nasty piece of work, but she is a pretty cool supervillain. For 78 of our 101 fun facts, we wanted to issue behind-the-scenes trivia regarding the wrist knives.
Having been experimented on from a young age, Cindy is enhanced to be a super-soldier of sorts by her father, Dragon King. One of those enhancements was knives that come out of her wrists. We like to think of her as the DC Comics version of Wolverine. Is that wrong?
It is easy to assume that they are CGI. It was revealed by Meg DeLacy that the knives weren’t added in post-production. The knives were real and were attached to her wrists, just not under the skin. She became so comfortable with them that she often forgot she had them on.
#79: Most Of The Surviving ISA Legacies Have Two Parents In The ISA Or Agree With The Group’s Message
Coming in at 79 on our 101 fun facts list is a little something extra regarding the ISA legacies.
Of all the kids that survive Season One, a number of them had both parents serve on the Injustice Society in some capacity.
- Artemis – her parents, Tigress and Sportsmaster are both members of the ISA.
- Cameron – his father Jordan Mahkent is the leader of the ISA. His late mother, Christine supported what the group stood for. As do his grandparents.
- Isaac – both his parents, Anaya Bowin and his father, were known as The Fiddler, but at separate times.
#80: Oliver Queen And Roy Harper Exist On Earth-2
It should be noted that Stargirl within the large DCTV multiverse can only exist because of the rewriting of the multiverse. Oliver Queen sacrificed himself in the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover that took place across December 2019 and January 2020. It’s a shame Arrow ended. It would’ve been cool to have Roy and Oliver somehow end up on Earth-2.
The Seven Soldiers of Victory were seen in a group photo in ‘Shining Knight’. Two characters that stood out; two guys that were dressed up like Robin Hood.
These two ‘Robin Hoods’ are Oliver Queen and Roy Harper. They are both part of the Seven Soldiers of Victory in the comics. The way these two dress is reminiscent of the comics.
#81: Pat Considers The Original JSA To Be His Family The Same Way Rick Considers The New JSA To Be His
Pat and Rick are very different characters. But, they do share a similar view. That is what we want to explore for point 80 of our 101 fun facts
During an early conversation with Courtney, Pat mentions the original JSA, where he served as Starman’s sidekick and became his family.
Rick Tyler, the son of Pat’s late friend and teammate Rex Tyler, comes to see the new JSA consisting of Courtney, Beth, and Yolanda as his family.
#82: The Feeling Varies
There is a parallel between the relationships between Barbara and Jordan and Courtney and Cameron.
Barbara and Jordan become good friends to the point the supervillain develops a crush on his co-worker. Outside of the innocent flirtations, that was as far as it went. It was unreciprocated on Barb’s end. Though, that’s not the way Icicle saw it since he kidnaps her.
There is instant chemistry between Courtney and Cameron to the point where it’s flirtatious and reciprocated on both sides. #CamneyForever!
#83: Ferrigno
If you were paying attention to the credits of the ‘Pilot’ episode and ‘Hourman and Doctor Mid-Nite’, you might’ve spotted the name Lou Ferrigno Jr.
Almost thirty years ago, Lou Ferrigno played the Hulk half of the David Banner/Hulk duo on television and a handful of films associated with the Marvel character.
His son, Lou Ferrigno Jr, plays Rex Tyler, the father of Rick.
#84: The Gambler’s Granddaughter Appeared On The Flash
Stargirl depicts Steven Sharpe/The Gambler as a self-serving dude who doesn’t appreciate other people’s opinions. He is the only ISA member who doesn’t have a child in the picture.
In the comics, Steven Sharpe III had at least one son, Steven Sharpe IV. Through him, the Gambler had a granddaughter named Rebecca, who became the supervillain, Hazard.
Becky appeared in the fourth season of The Flash. She is a blackjack dealer with lifelong bad luck. She becomes a victim to Clifford Devoe and becomes a meta-human who can give someone bad luck but give herself good luck.
Fact 84 of 101 fun facts.
#85: The Shade May Become Good Or Neutral
As we move closer to Season 2, we wanted to point something out about The Shade. During Season 1, the character is mentioned by Dragon King. He appears twice; once in shadow form. Then, the second is in person, but his face isn’t shown.
In the comics, The Shade is primarily a bad guy. But he has teamed up with Starman. He has played the antihero at one time or another.
#86: The New JSA V. ISA Fight In The Season Finale Had To Be Earned
Point #86 of 101 Fun Facts.
The final fight between the new JSA and the ISA is INCREDIBLE to watch. It was the television version of the final battle in Avengers Endgame. However, when it came to behind-the-scenes, the cast had to earn the chance to do this fight. Earning it; it would make it memorable for the audience.
As promised, the cast worked insanely hard, and the fight turned out better than we could’ve hoped.
#87: Jordan’s Dark Humour Might Mean Something More Later Down The Track For Cameron
In ‘Shiv Part One’, Cameron goes to his father for advice regarding how to ask out Courtney. Jordan explains how he asked out Christine all those years ago.
He humours his son, telling him he killed a rival suitor who also had his eye on Christine.
To the audience, we know Jordan isn’t joking. However, Cameron thinks he’s kidding around.
As of the Season 1 finale, Cameron is an orphan. Given Jordan’s death, how the younger Mahkent’s mind works might not be the same as it once was.
There’s the likelihood Cameron will no longer see anything as humourous. Therefore, this could lead him to want revenge for his father’s death.
#88: Neil Jackson And Nelson Lee Have Worked With Geoff Johns Before
If you’ve been following Geoff Johns’ career then you may know he co-created Blade: The Series with David S. Goyer. The show was short-lived and ran for only one season.
Two members of the main cast were Nelson Lee who played Shen and Neil Jackson who was Marcus Van Sciver. Geoff remained in contact with them and asked if they wanted to join Stargirl.
#89: Yolanda’s Killing Of Brainwave Will Have An After Effect
Going into our final points for our 101 fun facts, we wanted to address Yolanda.
After her ruthless slaughtering of Brainwave in ‘Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E Part Two’, her actions will trigger an aftereffect she won’t see coming.
During Season 2, Yolanda will enter dark territory as she deals with what happened. She might have avenged Henry, but killing his father is not the answer.
After all, she lectured Rick about his desire to murder Solomon Grundy but turned around and murdered someone herself. It will impact her friendship with Courtney and her membership in the JSA.
#90: There Are Not Too Many Siblings
For number 90 of our 101 fun facts, we wanted to talk about how there appears to be a lack of siblings.
From the first episode, it became apparent that siblings are almost non-existent. Most characters are only children.
Siblings that we have confirmed are:
- Merri King – the sister of Sylvester Pemberton.
- Matt Harris – brother of Wendi Tyler.
- Mike Dugan – stepbrother of Courtney Whitmore.
#91: Solomon Grundy Is The Stargirl Version Of The Hulk
If you’re a comic book nerd, you might’ve noticed how similar Solomon Grundy is to the Incredible Hulk. However, they have two different backstories.
Solomon Grundy was once Cyrus Gold, a merchant with wealth that lived in the 19th Century. He is murdered and resurrected fifty years later. Upon returning to life, he became a villain, later controlled by the Injustice Society.
In 2011, Grundy is tasked with killing Rex Tyler and his wife, Wendi. Upon finding the couple, he struck their car, which hit a tree and killed them. This event leaves their son, Rick orphaned and in the hands of his Uncle Matt.
When comparing Grundy with the Hulk, there’s a massive difference. Both are prone to violent outbursts and are huge in mass.
Hulk can return to human size and allow Bruce Banner to take over. Grundy, however, cannot return to his human instincts as he has no humanity remaining.
#92: Orphans
Fact 92 of 101 fun facts, and we now have 9 to go!
Stargirl seems to have a habit of making children orphans in the most brutal of ways. Let’s go over them:
- Rick Tyler – Rick is left orphaned when his parents’ car was thrown into a tree by Solomon Grundy.
- Isaac Bowin – Okay, Isaac isn’t orphaned as his father is still alive, but the Fiddler is in prison. His mother is killed for questioning Tigress and Sportsmaster on the way they parent.
- Cameron Mahkent – Cameron’s mother died of cancer when he was eight. His father is run down and killed by Courtney’s stepbrother, Mike.
- Cindy Burman – Okay, this one is a bit odd given that Cindy killed both her parents, but she’s still an orphan regardless.
- Henry King Jr – With his mother dead, Henry Jr was an orphan for a short time while his father was in a coma.
#93: Blue Valley Was Once Home To A Member Of The Flash Family
For point 92 of our 101 fun facts, we wanted to go a bit off-topic as this tidbit is relevant to the Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E.
While not addressed in Stargirl, the Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. comic series showed a nod to the Flash family. There is a sign which says Blue Valley was the home to Kid Flash himself, Wally West.
Blue Valley is a location in the Arrowverse. It’s mentioned that Izzy Bowin was due to play a gig there in Season 4.
Also, there was a line in an early version of the Flash pilot script where Joe mentions Barry had gone to Blue Valley because he discovered that there was “a girl who could defy gravity”.
Going back to Stargirl, a version of the Flash does exist on the new Earth-2 but is killed by the ISA. This was Jay Garrick rather than Barry Allen.
#94: Knocking Out The Second-In-Command
94th point of our 101 fun facts.
Jordan Mahkent is a ruthless killer. There’s no denying that, but he has a habit of killing the second-in-command of groups. Look at what he did to his ISA lackey, William Zarick.
Firstly, he kills Joey to get The Wizard to comply. When that doesn’t work, Jordan murders him and has his parents clean up the mess.
Years earlier, however, Jordan is lead to believe he killed Starman, who more than likely was Doctor Mid-Nite’s second-in-command.
#95: Jenny Williams Might Become The New Green Lantern
When you’re associated with Cindy Burman, you’re expected to be a mean girl too. That means not asking questions and no standing up to Queen Bee. Or, should we say, Queen Cindy?
We wanted to point out the already looming possibility that Jenny Williams might become Jade, a Green Lantern and a new member of the JSA.
Jenny might’ve followed Cindy around and acted as her lapdog, but she wasn’t blind to how the mean girl treated her. In ‘Shiv Part One’, we got a look at the cheerleading co-captain standing up to her best friend. We never thought this would happen, and it gave us respect for her.
Where does the Green Lantern tease come in? If you look at the necklace Jenny is wearing – as seen in the above image – it looks similar to the logo Alan Scott’s daughter Jennifer-Lynn Hayden wears on her Jade suit.
After digging around on the Jade page on Wikipedia, we noticed something interesting in the alias panel.
Jade goes by two names; Jen or Jennie-Lynn and she was a member of the JSA.
Sure, a necklace and a name aren’t exactly clues to who she might become. But, she does have a connection to Henry King Jr in the comics. They had feelings for each other and served on Infinity Inc together.
#96: Infinity Inc References
One group that has not been referenced in Stargirl is Infinity Inc. But, many of its members have appeared in some form during Season 1. Let’s take a sneak peek.
- Henry King Jr – founder of Infinity Inc alongside his uncle, Sylvester Pemberton. Appears as a teenager in Stargirl and is the son of ISA member Henry King Snr/Brainwave. Is killed by his father.
- Sylvester Pemberton – leader and co-founder of Infinity Inc. Is killed in the pilot of Stargirl during a fight with the ISA. He battles his brother-in-law, Brainwave as Starman. Is revealed to be alive in the final scene of ‘Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E Part Two’.
- Beth Chapel – becomes Doctor Mid-Nite but is killed by Eclipso. Is a teenager in Stargirl and joins Stargirl’s JSA.
- Yolanda Montez – becomes Wildcat, succeeding her godfather, Ted Grant but is killed by Eclipso. Is a teenager in Stargirl. Use to date Henry King Jr before a nude photo scandal ends their relationship thanks to Cindy Burman. Joins Stargirl’s JSA.
- Rick Tyler – becomes his father, Rex’s successor in the mantle of Hourman. Had a close bond with Beth Chapel. Teenager in Stargirl and is the only guy on the new JSA.
#97: BVHS’ Mascot Is Not The Prairie Dog In The Comics
See the happy little prairie dog in the above image? He’s the mascot of Blue Valley High School. However, this isn’t the case in the Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. comics series.
The mascot was the Blue Valley soldiers in the comics.
According to Shawn McBee, the show’s graphic designer and the host of the Stargirl Aftershow podcast, he designed the BVHS mascot to be the soldier and there was a cut of the scene where Courtney walks past it when she enters the school on her first day.
However, someone pointed out that it was historically inaccurate to have a soldier so it was changed to the prairie dog.
#98: Yolanda Is The Queen Of Getting Alter Egos Wrong
Yolanda has gone through a lot in just the first season. This is expected to continue in the second, but she has great moments too. One of the running gags is how she keeps getting people’s alter egos wrong. So far, she’s gotten incorrect:
- Courtney – calls her Miss America and not Stargirl.
- Beth – Captain Mid-Nite not Doctor Mid-Nite.
- Justin – Silent Knight instead of Shining Knight which Rick yells at her through the comms.
#99: Henry’s Personality Changes When His Dad Ends Up In A Coma
Henry Jr grew up very quickly. He goes from a bully to a bullying victim during the first couple of episodes.
His life changes when Courtney unintentionally puts Brainwave in a coma. Henry is devastated and the only thing he can focus on is being there for his father. Unbeknownst to him, his grief of potentially losing his dad triggers his powers.
As time goes on, we see a new side to Henry that we hadn’t seen previously. Upon discovering his powers and accidentally killing someone, he begins to think the same way his father does; that the world is full of bad people.
Thanks to Courtney, he realises his dad is wrong and there might be a chance for him to be pulled back to the side of good. In the end, Henry died protecting those who genuinely cared about him.
#100: Capes Were A Bad Idea!
As we reach the end of our 101 fun facts, we wanted to include a line that should’ve been uttered by Pat a long time ago: “No capes!”
Despite a lot of the characters having capes, they were a hassle. Cameron Gellman (Rick) and Nelson Lee (Dragon King) have both said in interviews that doing the simplest of things while wearing their capes wasn’t easy.
Lee even said that he couldn’t even walk backwards or do his own stunt work without tripping.
#101: True Family
We’ve already covered the whole Pat and Rick see their respective version of the JSA as family. However, this time we’re going to add in a couple of things; how certain characters have found their own sense of family.
Let’s begin with Sir Justin.
When he served as the leader of the Seven Soldiers of Victory, his men were just like him; ordinary. None of them had superpowers. As far as he was concerned, they were his family until his memories were stolen from him by Dragon King.
Next up, we have Courtney.
Having been raised by her single mother, Courtney always wanted her father to come back into their lives. When Barbara marries Pat, she gains a paternal figure in her new stepdad. She even gets a sibling in stepbrother Mike.
