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- With each season of Stargirl, the show has added new series regulars and had different alliances form between heroes and former villains. It’s made for some interesting character dynamics, but it also means that the audience gets to see just how different villains feel when they aren’t being forced into a fight by the Injustice Society of America, and just what some of the heroes are really like. Season 3 in particular sees several previous members of the ISA attempting reform, as well as one hero back in the game who was long thought to be dead.
When a series like Stargirl focuses on heroes saving a small town from villainous threats, there's no question that the characters have to have some measure of bravery to get through the day. That's especially true when characters are thrown into situations without any real knowledge of their powers or the villains they're up against, which happens pretty often in Stargirl.
In fact, some of the bravest characters in the show don't even have any superpowers or special equipment. Stargirl doesn't just save the day on her own, and even some of the antagonists in the show are some of the series' bravest.
Updated on September 17, 2022 by Amanda Bruce:
With each season of Stargirl, the show has added new series regulars and had different alliances form between heroes and former villains. It’s made for some interesting character dynamics, but it also means that the audience gets to see just how different villains feel when they aren’t being forced into a fight by the Injustice Society of America, and just what some of the heroes are really like. Season 3 in particular sees several previous members of the ISA attempting reform, as well as one hero back in the game who was long thought to be dead.
Sylvester Pemberton (Starman)
The original Starman, Sylvester resurfaces at the end of Stargirl’s second season, not entirely sure how he ended up back in the land of the living, but looking to be Starman once again. Courtney and her family accommodate him, welcoming him into their home, but Sylvester has a bit of a chip on his shoulder.
He might be remembered fondly as a hero, but a lot of his actions aren’t born from bravery and wanting to help, but from wanting to be the idea of the hero that people see him as. He still takes the staff from Courtney and lashes out at Pat for stepping outside of the sidekick role. When he picks fights with villains trying to have a better life, he’s not doing it because he thinks it’s the right thing to do, but because he sees his fists as the answer to almost any question.
Cindy Burman (Shiv)
Cindy puts on a brave front, especially when she talks about things like beating Courtney or her father's place in the Injustice Society of America. In reality, though, Cindy spends much of her time scared and angry, not brave.
She tries to avoid her fears by embracing her darkness instead. Cindy thinks being cruel and openly talking about her part in killing her father makes her appear stronger. It doesn't, but it does demonstrate that she's avoiding the one thing that really scares her: feeling the guilt for her mother's death. Every time the topic comes up, she lashes out. Even when Cindy decides to form her own group, she doesn't truly strike out on her own, but goes after the children of her father's allies to form her own team, with those children using the same equipment that belonged to their parents. She goes for the safety net of the ISA's familiar format.
Artemis Crock
Artemis is a little bit braver than Cindy, despite falling for Cindy's sales pitch about her new team of villains. That might be because Artemis actually has supportive parents and can draw strength from them, even when they're in prison.
As it is, Artemis goes against Cindy's orders in the middle of the fight. Cindy wants her enemies dead. Specifically, Courtney and Courtney's family. Artemis stops Isaac from going after Pat even though Cindy likely would prefer him to be permanently out of commission. She reminds Isaac that Pat is her dad's friend, even though he's on the opposite side, and they should leave him alone. That has to take guts once Artemis sees what Cindy can really do. Artemis might be strong and fast, but chances are Cindy could still eliminate her as well.
Richard Swift (The Shade)
The Shade is largely an opportunist once he gets his power over shadows. He primarily looks out for himself and has a little fun. Despite that, he still realizes that there are times when he could make a difference by going up against someone even more powerful than he is.
Though he is a member of the ISA, The Shade doesn't always abide by their rules. In fact, he saves the life of the original Dr. Mid-Nite. He also repeatedly warns Barbara about potential threats in her town, and he stands up to Eclipso, even when he knows he might be outmatched. The Shade is surprisingly brave since he could easily just keep running.
Larry Crock (Sportsmaster)
A member of the ISA in Stargirl’s first season, Larry ends up in jail for his crimes in Season 2 and looking to change his ways. Everything he does is for his daughter. He wants her to have a better life for her, no matter what it takes.
That means Larry is willing to turn on whatever is left of the ISA to keep Artemis safe. It also means that he’s willing to completely change his life around, despite what anyone in town might think of him. Blue Valley is home, and if he has to ally himself with the new JSA instead to protect it, he’ll do anything necessary.
Paula Brooks (Tigress)
Like her husband Larry, Paula has been in the ISA for years when she decides to make a change. Like Larry, she’s also an accomplished fighter and willing to do anything for the people she cares about. In Season 3, that doesn’t just include her daughter.
Paula becomes friends with Courtney’s mother Barbara, and she realizes that there is some value in the small-town life she’s scorned. Paula can take on any enemy with ease, even Starman himself, but she also puts herself into emotionally frightening situations for her daughter and Barbara, speaking in front of crowds who don’t necessarily trust her, and threatening Barbara’s boss at work on her behalf.
Pat Dugan (STRIPE)
He grew up in the role of Stripesy, but Pat Dugan didn't have any superpowers. The Justice Society might not have always treated him as an equal, but he always had their back.
Pat is willing to jump into action and face down hugely powerful villains with nothing more than a robot he built on his side. To be fair, he's more cautious than most of the other characters, but that's because he's seen how being a hero plays out in the end. His caution doesn't make him any less brave.
Jennie-Lynn Hayden
Upon first meeting Jennie, the audience learns that she's terrified of people not liking her and that she has trouble controlling her emotions despite hiding them from others. Regardless, she's definitely one of the braver characters in the series.
Jennie strikes out completely on her own as a newly powered Green Lantern to try to find the brother she was separated from in foster care. She also seeks out her father's old lantern and is willing to fight superheroes to get it. Jennie might strive for approval by making her new friends elaborate breakfasts and hanging back during arguments, but she also bravely faces completely unknown situations on her own.
Barbara Whitmore
Barbara doesn't initially know that her husband was a superhero's sidekick for years. She also doesn't know that her daughter has developed a superhero identity of her own. Barbara might not be thrilled with either reveal when she finally gets them, but she works through it and supports her family as they try to fight the bad guys.
Unlike Pat, Barbara is almost never directly involved in the fight, but that doesn't mean she isn't brave. She works with people whose secret identities she knows on a regular basis, trying to maintain a calm and friendly facade so they don't discover how much she knows. She stands up to The Shade and demands that he help Courtney. Where her family is concerned, there are very few people braver than her.
Rick Tyler (Hourman)
When he's first introduced in the series, Rick is a bit of a loner. He doesn't like to let people in or draw attention to himself. That changes when Courtney, Yolanda, and Beth befriend him and they form their own version of the Justice Society.
Rick is still a bit of a loner, but his bravery comes in opening up to people now, not necessarily in participating in the fight. He's willing to voice his concerns about not being good enough. Rick challenges his teachers when they doubt his abilities. He is always there when Beth or his other teammates call him for help. He's even willing to protect Solomon Grundy, who anyone else would consider a monster, from hunters.
Courtney Whitmore (Stargirl)
It's easy for the audience to see that Courtney is brave. She picks up the cosmic staff without really knowing what it can do, takes on bullies she knows nothing about, and always tries to cling to optimism despite the world falling apart around her.
Courtney also, however, initially sees the JSA as a big adventure, not necessarily as her making a choice that can have fatal consequences. It's hard to term her the bravest simply because she doesn't actually understand how much danger she puts herself and her friends in at first. Courtney is someone who strives to do the right thing though, and once she starts making informed decisions, her bravery shines through.
Yolanda Montez (Wildcat)
Before Yolanda becomes friends with Courtney, she goes through a rough patch in school. The entire student body judges her and ostracizes her because of one photo taken for her boyfriend that ended up shared with everyone. She still manages to come to school every day and hold her head high despite people she thought were her friends completely abandoning her. That's brave on its own.
Beyond that, when Courtney chooses Yolanda to be Wildcat, she commits to the heroic role. She might not always feel like a hero, but she does whatever she can to help, no matter how big the danger is. That includes taking on Brainwave alone. She makes a hard choice, one that causes her to step away from her friends and Wildcat for a while, but she saves the world and takes the burden of that choice on herself.
Beth Chapel (Dr. Mid-Nite)
At first glance, Beth doesn't seem particularly brave. Her only friends are her parents before she starts hanging out with Courtney, Yolanda, and Rick. Courtney doesn't even pick her to be in her new JSA; Beth chooses herself.
Beth figures out what Courtney and the others are up to, takes Dr. Mid-Nite's goggles, and decides to help. Unlike the others, Beth goes in with her eyes open to the danger. She isn't there for adventure. Sure, she wants to be included, but she also wants to help. Beth is the first member of the group to be able to stand up to Eclipso and come out unscathed. She also stands up to her parents, though she doesn't tell them the whole story, and is the person Courtney places her trust in to keep an eye on Barbara and Mike while she and Pat leave town. Beth is always willing to put herself on the line even though no one expects her to.