DC Comics' Vixen: The Animated Series

[TurtleTitan97]

Arrow's Marc Guggenheim will bring an animated series based on DC Comics' Vixen to The CW's online component, CW Seed, the network announced today at the Television Critics Association (via KSite TV).

The series expected to debut in the fall and will share a universe with The Flash and Arrow.

The story centers on Mari Jiwe McCabe, an African-born orphan whose mystical Tantu totem that gives her the abilities of one animal at a time. In some iterations, she's been tied to The Red, the life web that connects all animals and also powers Buddy "Animal Man" Baker.

Following the wild success of The Flash this year, there had been speculation that The CW would launch another DC Comics series; producers had admitted they had some ideas they were considering, but it had been some time since it was openly discussed. In the meantime, Greg Berlanti's Supergirl has taken root at CBS and Andrew Kreisberg's recently-updated bio still says he's working on Booster Gold with Syfy and Warner Horizon.

This is the second high-profile CW Seed launch in as many years; earlier this year, iZombie producer Rob Thomas debuted Play It Again, Dick, a Veronica Mars spinoff, on the platform.

Spoiler:

Spoiler:

http://comicbook.com/2015/01/11/just...ng-to-cw-seed/

[Raph's Girl]

Yep. So the Arrowverse has gained an animated series with Vixen!

It's about danged time she got her own show after being in JLU and Batman Brave and the Bold!!

Arrowverse now consists of: Arrow, Flash, Vixen, and Supergirl with possibilities for Static Shock and Teen Titans.

[TurtleTitan97]

Originally Posted by Raph's Girl

It's about danged time she got her own show after being in JLU and Batman Brave and the Bold!!

Yeah, she was pretty great in both of those shows.

[TurtleTitan97]

Marc Guggenheim reveals more details about Vixen:

The CW surprised reporters at its Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour session Sunday afternoon with the reveal of "Vixen," in the form of promotional handouts announcing the animated project. Expected to debut in the fall, it'll be set in the shared universe of live-action hits "The Flash" and "Arrow," and stream on The CW's online platform, CW Seed.

The DC Comics character headlining "Vixen" is a bit more obscure than Green Arrow or The Flash. Created by Gerry Conway and Bob Oksner and first introduced in 1981's "Action Comics" #521, Vixen -- also known as Mari Jiwe McCabe -- is a character with African roots, who has been a member of multiple Justice League incarnations. Her powers are tied to the magical Tantu Totem, which puts her in a different category than the relatively grounded vigilantism of "Arrow" and the super-science of "The Flash" -- which, according to "Arrow" executive producer Marc Guggenheim, is kind of the point.

Guggenheim is also at the front of "Vixen," and CBR News spoke to the writer following the "Arrow"/"Flash" TCA event. Guggenheim described "Vixen" as a "six-part origin story," and shared that the team behind it plans to take advantage of the type of scale that's much easier to achieve in animation than in live-action -- along with depicting some big character moments that won't be seen elsewhere.



CBR News: Marc, what can you share about the just-announced "Vixen" animated project?

Marc Guggenheim: It's a great deal of fun, I have to say. I always love working in different mediums. We're going to do basically an animated spinoff. It's going to center on Vixen who, for me, I came to know as a former member of the Justice League.

It's a six-part origin story, but characters from "Flash" and "Arrow" are prominently involved. It's in the continuity and the world. There's actually a question I've been getting on Twitter a lot, "Is Oliver going to find out that Felicity kissed Barry?" That's actually going to happen in the "Vixen" cartoon. Part of the fun is that close cohesion.

And Vixen's such a great character. First of all, she represents magic, which is an area that we haven't explored on either of the two shows just yet. One thing we're always saying is, "'Flash' is very different from 'Arrow,' 'Arrow' is very different from 'Flash.'" If "Arrow" is crime and "The Flash" is science, "Vixen" has a big magic component.

The other thing is, it's a strong African-American hero who's, like I said, a former Justice Leaguer. It's set in Detroit, as a nod towards those Justice League [Detroit] stories. It's done with the same love of the source material that we bring to everything.

Two of the writers on the project, Keto Shimizu and Brian Ford Sullivan, are every bit as geeky as I am, so look for all the things hopefully you've come to know and love from "Flash" and "Arrow" in "Vixen": the Easter eggs, winks, the nods and the cool action.

One of the things we can do in animation is really push the envelope in a way that we can't on either of the two shows. So there's a much larger production value. We're taking advantage of the animated form. That's the other reason to do it.

Could this potentially lead to the character being seen in live-action?

We always say "never say never," and if the character resonates with people, that would be wonderful. I would love to be in a position where CW said to us, "Hey, we want a 'Vixen' live-action show." That'd be wonderful. We'll have to sort of see how things play out. But our goal really is to produce the highest-quality animated series. We want people to come to this who don't normally watch an animated show. We really want fans of "The Flash" and fans of "Arrow" to go to CW Seed. We really tried to approach it the same way we approach a pilot.

Will the actors from the show voice their characters?

It's funny -- a lot of the actors are just finding out. But the response has been very favorable and very cooperative. I can't speak for them, but all signs are good.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?p...ticle&id=58392

[neatoman]

Seems cool, let's hope for the best.

[BabyTurtles]

OMG YES!!!

BRING IT BRING IT BRING IT!!

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

This isn't really exciting me. I know nothing about this character, and I could name a dozen characters that I would have preferred to see get a show.

But CW seems like they definitely know what they're doing; I was skeptical of The Flash until I saw the first episode and I love it a little more than Arrow now.

So color me skeptical yet optimistic.

[Leo656]

Yeah, me too. I like the character, but... never really seemed interesting outside of a team setting, for some reason. It's definitely an odd pick.

I mean, I'm not exactly knocking it. But if you asked me a couple months ago, I'd predict that Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Supergirl, Nightwing, Booster Gold, Martian Manhunter, Hawkman, SHAZAM!... well, I'd have expected just about 90-95% of the DC roster would get a solo animated series before Vixen. They draw this from a hat, or what?

Frankly, if they were going to pluck a "B-Teamer" to have their own show, Booster Gold would be by far the most interesting, but I'm pretty sure they're not going to ever do that.

I'unno, anyway this'll probably be pretty good but I doubt it'll get a long run. Mostly due to the double whammy "cartoons need toys to stay on the air/girls don't buy action figures" problem, one that's going to be especially tough to work around on a show with a female protagonist. We'll see. I'll see it but I probably won't go out of my way to watch it.

[BabyTurtles]

Originally Posted by Leo656

Yeah, me too. I like the character, but... never really seemed interesting outside of a team setting, for some reason. It's definitely an odd pick.

I mean, I'm not exactly knocking it. But if you asked me a couple months ago, I'd predict that Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Supergirl, Nightwing, Booster Gold, Martian Manhunter, Hawkman, SHAZAM!... well, I'd have expected just about 90-95% of the DC roster would get a solo animated series before Vixen. They draw this from a hat, or what?

Frankly, if they were going to pluck a "B-Teamer" to have their own show, Booster Gold would be by far the most interesting, but I'm pretty sure they're not going to ever do that.

I'unno, anyway this'll probably be pretty good but I doubt it'll get a long run. Mostly due to the double whammy "cartoons need toys to stay on the air/girls don't buy action figures" problem, one that's going to be especially tough to work around on a show with a female protagonist. We'll see. I'll see it but I probably won't go out of my way to watch it.

I realllly hope this show does awesome.

A black female hero getting an animated series (even if it's a short one)

awesome cakes! if all we ever do is Wonderwomen or Supergirl.....other female heroes will never get any attention
I know it's a risk...but I hope it does well!

[TheSkeletonMan939]

Aside from a couple Justice League Unlimited episodes I've never really heard of Vixen. I'll give it a chance, though.

It's nice to see DC actually trying something new instead of making another Batman cartoon.

It'd be cool if they brought in the respective actors from Arrow and Flash to voice the characters in this show.

[Candy Kappa]

Oooh, a female Superhero with her own show. Sign me up.

[sdp]

Well for those of you not wanting the show because you don't know the character why not use this show to check out the character, maybe you'll find out that it's a character that you end up liking...Aren't people always complaining that Batman and only the main JLers appear in animated shows? Well we finally have a show that stars a character that isn't well known and you whine that its not one of the well known ones.

I'm also not a huge fan of the character and only know her from JLU but the Arrowverse is awesome and I'm sure if they chose to give her a chance it's for a reason, hope its good and it does well.

[Leo656]

Originally Posted by BabyTurtles

A black female hero getting an animated series (even if it's a short one)

Kind of the problem, though. I'm pretty sure they DID in fact use that little "checklist" to decide who the star of the next cartoon would be. Not a huge fan of "affirmative action characters". Point of fact, someone who couldn't even carry her own book probably shouldn't leapfrog a bunch of better-known characters to get their own TV show, all things being truly "Equal".

They didn't pick the show based on whether or not people would be interested in it, but rather, if they could get some brownie points with the PC police. I haaaate when they do that.

You know why I said they'd "Never" do a Booster Gold show? Because he's a blonde-haired, blue-eyed white guy. A guy who can travel through time and to parallel realities, and who's actually off-and-on been a huge, major "player" in the DCU, and whose cartoon show would be super-interesting and hilariously funny, can never and will never have his own show, because his creators accidentally made him an Aryan Wet Dream, thus you can't actually DO anything with him, despite him being a super-interesting character, "Because PC Reasons".

Vixen's fine, she's always been fine in the JLA and she should have honestly been in the JL/JLU show instead of Hawkgirl and a few others really, but it's questionable to give someone who's never been portrayed as a solo character THAT big of a spotlight like a solo cartoon series, and the fact that, yeah, they're doing it for the "wrong" reasons is annoying. I mean I "Get It". It's still not the right reason to give such an obscure character their own show. It's borderline pandering.

You know what I'd honestly rather see? A "Justice League Detroit" series. You still get Vixen, but also in the same context where she initially became important in the first place. I think there's better stories there, what with the team of "B-Listers" struggling to live up to the title of "Justice League" that they inherited from their "superiors" and Vixen struggling to prove herself a capable leader. It'd probably be too similar of a concept to Young Justice but I think it would be pretty good, plus the characters are all pretty obscure so you'd have a little more freedom. Heck, since everyone but Vixen was dead by the end of that book's run you could even get really dark with it if you wanted to. Plus, I've always been a huge mark for Commander Steel. They could leave out Vibe, though, I don't think anyone would cry about Vibe staying home.

To me, Vixen's kinda like Plastic Man. Just fine in the context of a group or a team, occasionally pretty solidly awesome. Solo? Ehhhhhh. Some characters weren't made for that.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

I think you're misunderstanding us; it's not that we don't want the show, it's just that this character is so obscure for we the majority that we're confused why the powers that be aren't going with a more well-known B-lister for a show. Vixen... what is she, D or E list?

Originally Posted by sdp

Well for those of you not wanting the show because you don't know the character why not use this show to check out the character, maybe you'll find out that it's a character that you end up liking...Aren't people always complaining that Batman and only the main JLers appear in animated shows? Well we finally have a show that stars a character that isn't well known and you whine that its not one of the well known ones.

I'm also not a huge fan of the character and only know her from JLU but the Arrowverse is awesome and I'm sure if they chose to give her a chance it's for a reason, hope its good and it does well.

[Leo656]

I'd say C-List with an occasional, but brief elevation to B-List.

She's been a decent fixture in the JLA at times, BUT the editors have also occasionally gone stretches of close to a decade where they forget/ignore she even exists. Never once been seriously attempted as a solo character, though.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

You have inspired me, good sir, to browse Wikipedia and search for African-American female protagonists who are more well-known and would have been a better choice!

Originally Posted by Leo656

Kind of the problem, though. I'm pretty sure they DID in fact use that little "checklist" to decide who the star of the next cartoon would be. Not a huge fan of "affirmative action characters". Point of fact, someone who couldn't even carry her own book probably shouldn't leapfrog a bunch of better-known characters to get their own TV show, all things being truly "Equal".

They didn't pick the show based on whether or not people would be interested in it, but rather, if they could get some brownie points with the PC police. I haaaate when they do that.

You know why I said they'd "Never" do a Booster Gold show? Because he's a blonde-haired, blue-eyed white guy. A guy who can travel through time and to parallel realities, and who's actually off-and-on been a huge, major "player" in the DCU, and whose cartoon show would be super-interesting and hilariously funny, can never and will never have his own show, because his creators accidentally made him an Aryan Wet Dream, thus you can't actually DO anything with him, despite him being a super-interesting character, "Because PC Reasons".

Vixen's fine, she's always been fine in the JLA and she should have honestly been in the JL/JLU show instead of Hawkgirl and a few others really, but it's questionable to give someone who's never been portrayed as a solo character THAT big of a spotlight like a solo cartoon series, and the fact that, yeah, they're doing it for the "wrong" reasons is annoying. I mean I "Get It". It's still not the right reason to give such an obscure character their own show. It's borderline pandering.

You know what I'd honestly rather see? A "Justice League Detroit" series. You still get Vixen, but also in the same context where she initially became important in the first place. I think there's better stories there, what with the team of "B-Listers" struggling to live up to the title of "Justice League" that they inherited from their "superiors" and Vixen struggling to prove herself a capable leader. It'd probably be too similar of a concept to Young Justice but I think it would be pretty good, plus the characters are all pretty obscure so you'd have a little more freedom. Heck, since everyone but Vixen was dead by the end of that book's run you could even get really dark with it if you wanted to. Plus, I've always been a huge mark for Commander Steel. They could leave out Vibe, though, I don't think anyone would cry about Vibe staying home.

To me, Vixen's kinda like Plastic Man. Just fine in the context of a group or a team, occasionally pretty solidly awesome. Solo? Ehhhhhh. Some characters weren't made for that.

[Leo656]

Oh, by that criteria, she's a "perfect" choice. I just don't think that Those Things should be your starting criteria when developing a cartoon show.

I'd start with, "Which character has the best story (and toy) potential?" You know who you get? Booster Gold. You win double with that, because you could market awesome "alternate timeline" versions of all the more well-known DC characters for action figures. Alternate sculpts and repaints out the ass. That's the kind of thing animation companies drool over, since all cartoons are just toy commercials. They're always looking for a way to cram those variants and things into a toyline, and with that show, there'd actually be an organic reason for it. And beyond that, did I mention the guy travels through time and protects the Multiverse, and has a wisecracking robot sidekick? It's like all the work has already been done!

But nah. White, blonde, male? Three strikes, you're out. No show for you, Gold. Take your awesome costume and your flawed yet lovable underdog character and your "Doctor Who For People Who Aren't Giant Nerds" storyline and your hilarious robot sidekick, and hit the bricks. There are already Too Many Of You, despite how unique and awesome you actually are when looking past the surface.

[BabyTurtles]

Ya know...this thinking is just so...infuriating.

so when WILL we get a black female hero getting spotlight?? when WILL we get a Latino female hero?? An Asian hero?? (having their own animated show)

"b-but they were given a chance! They had a solo book that failed!!"

yea sure, sometimes I feel like it wasn't the book that was the problem, it is the fans that aren't willing to give the character a chance JUST because they aren't an A lister.

we will NEVER have any minority heroes get ANY spotlight if we keep wash rinsing and repeating all the already extremely popular heroes. (which surprise, surprise are mostly white)

Static Shock would have never been a show and gain popularity if people were too afraid to try someone else.

at the end of the day Vixen is a character, A cool character. (from what I remember from JLU) I'm tired of everyone saying it's a propaganda! it's a all about PC! Same thing happened with Miles Morales (like anyone is actually gonna convince me that a spider would bite another white male in New York city with how diverse it is.)

but funny how no one would be yelling affirmative action if the character was Question.

[Leo656]

Well some people genuinely Don't Care. I'm sorry but if anyone is going to try and convince me that ANY character from DC's ashcan deserves a cartoon show JUST because they're a minority, you're not going to convince me. Not when Dick Grayson hasn't been Robin for 30 years and can't swing his own show, or when Wonder Woman, the original "affirmative action" character, doesn't "deserve" her own show.

When characters people actually care about and actually have a fanbase get pushed aside, and others get elevated JUST because of their minority status, well, that's actually Just As Big Of A Problem from a different direction.

That's the tricky thing. Not caring about someone's race goes both ways. It means, literally, that you Don't Care. Equal means "equal", not "Better". Vixen is in no way a "better" choice to get her own show just because she happens to be both female and black. She's NOT a solo/leading character! She wasn't even *created* to be that (and, in truth, like Vibe, her very creation came about for some Very Racist And Pandering Reasons). Her "character" in itself is pretty thin, so almost any "characterization" they do is going to be almost entirely made-up for the show.

Again, you have hundreds of characters both well-known and obscure to pick from, and you pick your lead based on the PC Checklist? That's terrible. I shouldn't have to explain why that's Bad.

And honestly, The Question actually would be a much better character to use for a cartoon because both versions of the character were fully-formed solo characters with a semi-decent fanbase. I mean, nobody is asking for that show, either, difference is, nobody is going to "force" it to exist based on race.

Just leave the PC garbage out of it and make good shows people want to see. You can already tell how this one is going to go: Cancelled in one season because nobody really knows the character and there's no toys. People cry about how it only failed because the character was a black female, when it's really because you started the project for entirely nonsense reasons from the beginning. Teeth are gnashed, nobody wins, and they do another six Batman cartoons instead because it's "Safe".

[BabyTurtles]

Originally Posted by Leo656

Just leave the PC garbage out of it and make good shows people want to see. You can already tell how this one is going to go: Cancelled in one season because nobody really knows the character and there's no toys. People cry about how it only failed because the character was a black female, when it's really because you started the project for entirely nonsense reasons from the beginning. Teeth are gnashed, nobody wins, and they do another six Batman cartoons instead because it's "Safe".

Okay, How do you know Vixen's animated series is not gonna be just that?

just because you have a character no one really knows much about doesn't mean the series won't be great.

Static Shock anyone?