Thanks to the hit Stargirl TV show on the CW and DC Universe, more people know about Courtney Whitmore, a legacy hero who wields the legendary Cosmic Staff and fights crime alongside her step-dad Pat Dugan (aka STRIPE). Most people, however, do not know of Stargirl’s long history in DC Comics, or her relationship to her creator Geoff Johns’ real-life sister Courtney Johns.
Appearing originally in July 1999 in the comic book, Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E, Courtney Whitmore was a tribute to Johns’ sister Courtney, who died in 1996 in the TWA Flight 800 crash at the age of eighteen. Johns was very open about his intentions to honor his sister, and even wrote in a letter to fans that Courtney Whitmore would not only carry on his sister’s name but also her spirit.
According to Johns, the real-life Courtney was smart, funny, and enthusiastic – qualities he wanted to show in her comic book counterpart and later the version of Stargirl in the TV series. Johns also described Courtney as optimistic and fair-minded – relating a story where his sister once stood up for a bullied girl and invited her to sit at her friends’ table. In the comics, Courtney Whitmore is similarly smart and capable, being a gifted gymnast and athlete even before taking on the superhero identity of the “Star-Spangled Kid” (later shortened to “Stargirl”). She’s also very independent and enthusiastic, creating her superhero identity behind her step-father’s back and getting him to become her sidekick.
Stargirl eventually joined the Justice Society of America in the comics, and provided a counterbalance of youthful energy next to older heroes like the original Green Lantern and Flash or the elderly boxer Wildcat. Interestingly, although Courtney Whitmore is an original creation of Geoff Johns, she also carries the legacies of two established DC superheroes, including the Star-Spangled Kid (Sylvester Pemberton) a Golden Age hero who fought crime with just his athletic ability and Starman (Jack Knight), a superhero who passed on his Cosmic Staff weapon to Courtney, imbuing her with the power of flight and energy manipulation. Despite these links, Courtney herself is not directly related to superheroes in the comics and became a hero because of her desire to help others – something Johns finds very important.
While Geoff Johns has written multiple comics for DC, including Green Lantern and The Flash, Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E was the first comic book he ever wrote and holds special meaning for him. Being inspired by family, the comic – and now the TV show based on it – explores the familial bond that develops between a step-father and his step-daughter, showing that family and heroism are determined by more than just blood.
Although Courtney/Stargirl became a fan favorite character, she was still a pretty obscure superhero in the comics. Possibly due to the fact that Geoff Johns ended up working on animated and live action shows like Justice League Unlimited, Smallville, and Arrow, however, Stargirl began popping up as a guest star in multiple episodes, increasing audience’s awareness of her. This culminated in the Stargirl TV series (produced by Geoff Johns) where Courtney is now the main protagonist.
To further honor Courtney Johns, the creators of the Stargirl television show created an edited photograph that shows the real-life Courtney sitting next to Courtney Whitmore (Brec Bassinger), showcasing their link. The photo appears in the first episode of the show on a bulletin board in Courtney Whitmore’s room as she’s preparing to move to Nebraska (where she picks up the mantle of Stargirl). It’s one of several Easter eggs in the show, but one of the most poignant ones given Geoff Johns’ personal reasons for creating Stargirl.