With anticipation building for Superman, the official launch of James Gunn‘s DC Universe, the focus turns to how Gunn’s James Gunn DCU legacy approach introduces a world already filled with established superheroes and history. Long before this new chapter, the television series Stargirl demonstrated a similar vision, weaving the theme of legacy deeply into DC storytelling and showing audiences a universe that acknowledges its own rich past.
A Fresh Take on the DC Universe with Stargirl
Superman promises a universe aware of metahumans and superpowered figures, departing from the common trope where superhero stories begin with the emergence of the first hero. However, Stargirl—first released via the DC Universe app before its move to The CW—had already embraced the concept of an active, populated DC Universe, where history and legacy shape the present.
The series stars Brec Bassinger as Courtney Whitmore, a teenager who relocates to Blue Valley, Nebraska, with her mother and new family. Courtney’s discovery that her stepdad, Pat Dugan (portrayed by Luke Wilson), once fought crime alongside the hero Starman sets her on a journey. When Starman’s cosmic staff responds only to Courtney, she speculates about her paternity, but Pat maintains Starman is not her father.
Further exploration leads Courtney to uncover the Justice Society of America, an iconic superhero team from DC’s Golden Age, who were wiped out years prior by the Injustice Society. The villains now hide in plain sight in Blue Valley, plotting another scheme that threatens the town and its new residents.
Instead of centering the familiar trinity of Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, Stargirl introduces viewers to a layered universe featuring both classic heroes and their successors. Key characters include Courtney’s classmates, who each take up a legacy mantle: Yolanda Montez (Yvette Monreal) becomes Wildcat, Beth Chapel (Anjelika Washington) assumes the role of Doctor Mid-Nite, and Rick Tyler (Cameron Gellman) inherits the title Hourman from his father. Courtney’s stepfather, Pat, dons a mechanized suit called S.T.R.I.P.E., acting as mentor to the young team.
Legacy at the Heart of Stargirl’s Storytelling
DC Comics is rooted in the concept of legacy, often featuring generations of heroes and passing of mantles. In Stargirl, this theme becomes the series’ core. While versions of Green Lantern and The Flash often spotlight contemporary characters, the show nods to the original Alan Scott Green Lantern and Jay Garrick’s Flash, with John Wesley Shipp reprising his role within the Justice Society.
Unlike other live-action projects that may set aside or minimize the stories of predecessor heroes, Stargirl directly explores the history and impact of the Golden Age Justice Society while giving depth to their modern successors. Many team members, such as those introduced in the 1980s Infinity Inc. comic series, step into the limelight, blending intergenerational narratives. This provides an opportunity to develop a roster of heroes and villains who might otherwise have remained in DC’s literary archives.
The attention to heritage extends to the show’s antagonists. Villains like the Injustice Society members are not one-dimensional. In fact, their choices are often shaped by a desire to protect or improve life for their children. Anaya Bowin’s portrayal of The Fiddler, for example, inherits the title from her late husband, while the villain Dragon King focuses on transforming his daughter Cindy into a formidable adversary. These generational ties and personal motivations elevate Stargirl’s villains, making them as nuanced and memorable as notable DC Comics foes.
Why Stargirl Outshone DC’s Big Screen Attempts
As major DC movies struggled to build a coherent connected universe, Stargirl quietly succeeded at introducing new viewers to DC’s mythology. The series followed a template reminiscent of Marvel’s Iron Man, focusing on character and legacy over brand recognition. By centering the narrative on lesser-known heroes, Stargirl forged a path for other stories and spinoffs, a feat that large-budget films like Black Adam struggled to achieve effectively.
Where Black Adam’s Justice Society appeared as generic allusions to various superhero teams, Stargirl brought the Justice Society’s uniqueness to the forefront, ensuring individual members stood out with their personal histories, flaws, and heroism. The television format allowed for richer, more serialized storytelling, proving that legacy and character depth could flourish outside the confines of blockbuster cinema.
This creative approach resonated with audiences, positioning Stargirl as one of the best live-action DC adaptations and demonstrating what could be accomplished when new and old heroes share the spotlight. As legacy characters developed and grew, viewers saw heroes and villains shaped by generational stories, not just by individual ambitions.
Parallels Between Stargirl and the New DCU Approach
James Gunn’s current blueprint for the DCU draws clear inspiration from the environment Stargirl created. Gunn’s vision, as seen in projects like Creature Commandos and the upcoming Superman, situates the audience in a world populated with metahumans, monsters, and corporate giants such as LuthorCorp, Stagg Industries, and Lord Tech. Even the addition of details like the Big Belly Burger fast food chain grounds the universe in a familiar yet distinctly alternate reality for fans.
By embracing DC’s breadth, Gunn’s reboot steers away from reliance on the world’s biggest icons. His take prioritizes both well-known and obscure characters, much as Stargirl did before. The DCU is making space for figures like Metamorpho, Mister Terrific, and Guy Gardner’s Green Lantern, echoing Stargirl’s inclusion of heroes not traditionally in the mainstream spotlight.
“The DCU will have the big names, but it is nice to see him also including roles for characters like Metamorpho, Mister Terrific, and Guy Gardner’s Green Lantern. They already centered an entire project on the lesser-known Creature Commandos. Like Stargirl, hopefully, the DCU is filled with characters from across DC’s vast publishing history. Maybe the DCU can even bring new spins on the Justice Society of America, Stargirl introduced, because there is now a rich legacy to mine in what might be one of the best live-action DC series ever.”
—
The Ongoing Impact of Stargirl’s Legacy for the DCU
By championing a lived-in universe, Stargirl set a precedent for storytelling that respects continuity and values genealogy. The series didn’t require icons like Superman, Wonder Woman, or Batman to engage viewers. By developing a diverse cast and leaning into deep cuts from DC’s catalog, it proved that every hero—and villain—has a meaningful place.
James Gunn’s adoption of a similar approach could foster a DCU rich with legacy, surprising character arcs, and true narrative depth. If the new cinematic universe follows Stargirl’s lead, audiences can expect not only dazzling action and major heroes, but also a continuous, layered exploration of what it means to carry a heroic or villainous lineage. The interplay between generational pride and struggle helps ensure both longtime fans and newcomers stay invested in every story line.
As the DCU reboots with Superman and moves beyond familiar faces, Stargirl stands as a model—showing the power of legacy, inclusivity, and creative risk-taking in shaping the shared universe’s future. With Stargirl available to stream on Max, and James Gunn’s DCU on the horizon, DC storytelling appears ready to embrace its full, complex history for years to come.
