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New Kick-Ass Web Series for Black Female Superhero

Check out DC's fierce new leading lady
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By 

Voices Editorial Fellow, The Huffington Post

DC Comics announced this weekend  at the annual ComicCon conference that Vixen, its first black female superhero, will led in a new online animated web series of the same name on the CW Network exclusive digital platform CW Seed.  

 The show revolves around the character of Mari McCabe, a young woman originally from Africa, who becomes the super-heroine named Vixen when she inherits a necklace with a magical totem after the death of her parents.

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Vixen
Credit: WB/YouTube

There aren't many black superheroes out there, and even fewer black super-heroines. Other black female super-heroines include Storm, the weather manipulating mutant from Marvel's X-Men franchise; and Bumblebee, the shape-shifting Teen-Titan from DC who's able to deliver electric blasts.  

Vixen was developed by Gerry Conway and Bob Oskner in 1978, and was set to have her own solo series that was cancelled at the last second."We were just caught short," Conway said in an interview with Comicosity last year. "There was a moment in time when we could have brought her out as a single feature character and that moment passed."

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Vixen Totem
WB

When asked how the character came about Conway said, “I also wanted to create a character who was a minority, and the idea of a female black super-heroine hadn’t been played up to any great extent at that point." 

As "Vixen," McCabe’s unique abilities derive from a mystic amulet called the Tantu Totem that can channel the powers of any animal that she can think of, which limits her potential only to her imagination. Viewers will follow her journey to discovering her powers and her family’s heritage.

Fans of the character will be pleased that veteran comic book pro Marc Guggenheim, writer and producer for both "The Flash" and "Arrow" TV series, will be overseeing the project. Episodes will also feature characters from "The Flash" and "Arrow."

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Vixen
Credit: WB

 Although this series puts the spotlight on Vixen, she has also appeared in other DC Comics cartoons. In Cartoon Network’s "Justice League Unlimited," her character was one-half of the black super-powered hero couple along with the Green Lantern John Stewart.

While more superheroes of color are becoming prevalent -- such as the new Spider-Man Miles Morales. Vixen is the first female black super-heroine to be the main protagonist of a series.

Meanwhile, the DC film franchise is gearing up for "Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice," which will feature several characters from the DC Universe such as the Flash and Wonder Woman. If the "Vixen" illustrated web series is a success, perhaps a live-action appearance for the heroine isn't too far away? 

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19 Superheroes With WTF Superpowers
Matter-Eater Lad(01 of19)
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Matter-Eater Lad is from the planet Bismoll, where poisonous microbes made all food inedible, forcing the planet's inhabitants to evolve to have the ability to eat any form of matter. Man-Eater Lad can also eat at super-speeds and consume matter otherwise thought to be indestructible, meaning that theoretically, he could eat Superman. (Via Manolith)
Bouncing Boy(02 of19)
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Bouncing Boy made his comic book debut in 1961 after young Chuck Taine accidentally drank an experimental super-plastic formula he mistook for soda pop. He then gained the ability to inflate his body like a ball and bounce around without injury. (Via Weird Worm)
Arm-Fall-Off Boy(03 of19)
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Arm-Fall-Off Boy's power stems from his ability to -- you guessed it -- detach his limbs and use them to beat evil-doers. Sadly, he was denied entry into the Legion Of Super-Heroes, despite the group inducting the likes of Matter-Eater Lad and Bouncing Boy. By all accounts, Arm-Fall-Off Boy was intended to be a joke character, and he very much was. (Via Weird Worm)
Squirrel Girl(04 of19)
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This crime-fighting high schooler can communicate with squirrels, but also has super strength, super speed and a retractable knuckle spike. She consumes macadamia nuts for extra strength and even has a squirrel sidekick. Squirrel Girl's crowning achievement is her defeat of the infamous Doctor Doom after she, umm, overwhelmed him with squirrels. (Via Marvel)
Jazz(05 of19)
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Jazz appears to be a very special case in the X-Men universe due to the fact that his genetic mutation is not a power, but rather a change to his physical appearance resulting in his skin turning blue. He has no other discernable powers or abilities. However, he is an aspiring rapper. (Via Weird Worm)
Maggott(06 of19)
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Maggott's superpowers derive from his abnormal digestive system, which consists of two mutant, sentient slugs named Eany and Meany who live inside his body. The slugs are able to leave his body, quickly digest and absorb the power of any object, and then return and transmit the energy back to Maggott. In doing so, the slugs give Maggott superhuman strength, speed and stamina. For the slugs to exit and enter Maggott's digestive system, they need to eat through his skin. Yum! (Via Comic's Alliance)
Red Bee(07 of19)
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When Rick Raleigh isn't working as the assistant to Superior City's District Attorney, he's fighting crime under the guise of Red Bee. Red Bee has a swarm of trained bees stored in his belt to unleash on criminals at the ready. It is unknown how he trained the bees or how he is able to keep them in his belt (don't ask too many questions) but Red Bee is not to be confused with Yellowjacket, who can also control bees. (Via DC Indexes)
Zeitgeist(08 of19)
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Alex Cluney has a very distinctive mutant power which enables him to spew acidic vomit from his mouth. Tragically, he discovered his power while making out with a girl; he vomited acid all over her and burned her face (thankfully she survived). His vomit is highly acidic, able to burn through 10-centimeter-thick steel in less than 30 seconds. Hopefully he also carries mints. (Via Weird Worm)
Infectious Lass(09 of19)
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Drura Sehpt hails from the planet Somahtur, whose inhabitants can easily infect others with various diseases while they themselves remain immune to its effects. After travelling to Earth, Drura became Infectious Lass and began fighting crime, although her powers sometimes do as much harm as they do good, especially when she accidentally infects other heroes with illnesses. Oops! (Via Comic Vine)
Color Kid(10 of19)
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Ulu Vakk was just a normal guy until a beam of multi-colored light from another dimension struck him, thereby giving him the superpower to change to the color of anything he wants. (Via Weird Worm)
Rainbow Girl(11 of19)
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Dori Aandraison, also known as Rainbow Girl, can wield the mysterious power of the Emotional Spectrum, meaning that she has the ability to give herself unpredictable mood swings (ladies, amiright?!). Having always wanted to become an actress, she aspired to join the Legion Of Super Heroes in order to gain notoriety, but instead had to settle for the Legion Of Substitute Heroes. (Via Comic Vine)
Anarchist(12 of19)
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Anarchist, one of the founding members of the X-Statix mutant superhero group, has the ability to secrete acidic sweat. His sweat allows him to project acidic blasts of energy. He and Zeitgeist should probably talk. (Via Comic Vine)
Black Condor(13 of19)
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In the 1940s, infant Richard Grey Jr. was with his parents on a scientific expedition in Mongolia when their caravan was attacked. Richard was the only survivor and was adopted by a group of hyper-intelligent condors who raised him and somehow taught him to fly (we don't want to know). Eventually, he would move to America and adopt the guise of Black Condor, the name he would use to fight corrupt politicians and racketeers. (The Black Condor was later reintroduced as a new character several times by DC Comics, who revised his backstory and changed the origin of his powers.) (Via Comic Vine)
Tag(14 of19)
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Brian Cruz's genetic mutation allows him to force people to uncontrollably run away from whatever object or person he chooses, hence the alias "Tag." He uses a psionic signal which forces anyone within a radius of approximately 100 feet to either run away from or run directly at a target source. When applying his power, he always yells, "You're it!". Clever. (Via Manolith)
Tar Baby(15 of19)
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Tar Baby's genetic mutation grants him the ability to secrete an adhesive, tar-like substance, allowing him to stick to whatever objects he chooses. Sadly, Tar Baby was captured by the Weapon X program (known for performing experiments on mutants) and put to death in a mutant concentration camp. (Via Manolith)
Dead Girl(16 of19)
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Dead Girl's mutant powers were activated by her death (shocker) which allowed her to continuously reanimate her corpse and come back to life, essentially making her immortal. Additionally, she can communicate with other dead beings, survive without any food, water or oxygen, and control severed parts of her body. And guys, she's single. (Via Comic Vine)
Stone Boy(17 of19)
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Dag Wentim is a native of the planet Zwen, where people developed the ability to turn themselves into stone for long periods of hibernation. Originally, he was unable to move in his stone form and was only able to transform into an immovable, nearly indestructible statue of himself, which was not very useful in battle (his teammates would sometimes drop him on villains). However, he eventually gained the ability to move while in his stone state. (Via Comic Vine)
Brother Power The Geek(18 of19)
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Brother Power The Geek was originally just a mannequin in a tailor's shop. One day the mannequin was struck by lightening, which somehow not only brought it to life, but also gave it super powers. He may not look very formidable, but he has super strength and is nearly indestructible, though he is portrayed as a pacifist. (The original comic book debuted in 1968 and only lasted two issues before being canceled.) (Via Pop Culture Addict)
El Guapo(19 of19)
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Robbie Rodriguez, another member of the X-Statix mutant group, has no discernable powers aside from a telepathic connection to a flying, seemingly sentient skateboard. He can control the skateboard with his mind, though the skateboard can also act through his subconscious thoughts. Sadly, after the skateboard falls under a curse, it flies out of control and impales El Guapo through the heart, killing him. Ironic, isn't it? (Via Comic Vine)

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