The Villains Coming to Stargirl in Season 2
The CW runaway hit series Stargirl’s first season was praised for how many complex and lesser-known villains from the DC Comics universe got a chance to challenge Courtney Whitmore (Brec Bassinger) aka Stargirl and her new Justice Society of America (JSA). Season 2 is scheduled to up the ante by bringing back many of the fan-favorite bad guys from season 1 while also introducing even bigger threats for Stargirl and the JSA.
Executive Producer Geoff Johns originally created the Stargirl character in the late 1990s in honor of his beloved sister who had died tragically as a teenager. Stargirl’s relentless optimism and irrepressible spirit have defined her character, but her story has also proven to be an ideal palette for the creation of memorable villains.
Who’s Coming Back?
The climactic battles and events of season 1 of Stargirl left some villains standing, some clearly gone, and some with uncertain fates. Blue Valley High’s queen of mean Cindy Burman (Meg DeLacy) has now fiercely embraced her villainous identity Shiv. Two of her fellow members of the Injustice Society are also accounted for: the jailed pair of Tigress (Joy Osmanski) and Sportsmaster (Neil Hopkins). Then there is The Gambler (Eric Goins), who is still alive and could end up leading the Injustice Society.
Who’s Not?
Shiv seemingly made it certain that Injustice Society member Dragon King (Nelson Lee) won’t be appearing in season 2 when she stabbed her father after escaping his prison. But it’s possible the mysterious Dr. Ito may well have survived. The same can be said of Icicle (Neil Jackson) after he was rammed by a truck just as he took on his ice form and was reduced to a pile of cubes and shards. Will that be his end? Brainwave (Christopher James Baker) is the only Injustice Society character confirmed by showrunner Johns to be definitively dead.
Who’s Joining the Villainy?
Along with these familiar faces, several new villains have been confirmed for the second season of Stargirl. One of the more interesting possibilities is whether existing character Cameron Mahkent (Hunter Sansone) will start down a dark path after the apparent death of his father Jordan Mahkent aka Icicle. The trailer for season 2 has given fans a first look at The Shade (Jonathan Cake) after only the character’s back was shown in season 1 before an actor was cast. But the biggest reveal is yet to come because Eclipso (Nick Tarabay), the expected big bad of season 2, has only been shown in a still promotional poster. An ancient terror who has been sealed away in a diamond, this brutal villain feeds off humanity’s impurities and is certainly the worst threat in the Blue Valley, Nebraska, storage locker holding the secrets of the original Justice Society.
Any series that hinges on epic battles between the forces of good and evil depends as much on striking and intriguing villains as it does on admirable heroes. One of the best qualities of Stargirl is that Courtney and her fellow JSA members S.T.R.I.P.E., Hourman, Wildcat, and Doctor Mid-Nite are driven to new heights by compelling threats and the sense of real danger that can only come from well-rendered villains.
