Stargirl season 2 will feature the titular heroine's combat with the DC villain The Shade, creator Geoff Johns confirmed during the show's NYCC panel. Based on the DC Comics superhero created by Johns in the honor of his late sister, Stargirl follows high-school student Courtney Whitmore (Brec Bassinger) as she attempts to establish a new Justice Society of America following the discovery of a cosmic staff that once belonged to the legendary superhero Starman. All episodes of Stargirl season 1 premiered on DC Universe in May. The very next day the show broadcast its first episode on The CW, with subsequent episodes airing every week. Then, in July, The CW renewed Stargirl exclusively for season 2, scheduling it for a 2021 release.
Stargirl season 1 depicted the Injustice Society of America (ISA) as the villainous counterpart to the main group of heroes, i.e. the Justice Society of America (JSA). While ISA was spearheaded by the meticulous businessman Jordan Mahkent/ Icicle, one of its most notable and powerful members was The Shade, a mysterious villain who had participated in the annihilation of the Golden Age superheroes. Back during the face-off against the original JSA, The Shade killed Dr. Mid-Nite using his Umbrakinesis technique. But shortly after the fateful battle, he abandoned ISA, betraying Icicle over his witless Project New America goal. Towards the end of season 1, however, The Shade returned to ISA headquarters, indicating that he will have a pivotal role in the next season.
During the NYCC Stargirl panel, Johns opened up about The Shade's role in Stargirl season 2. He confirmed that the DC villain will be one of the primary antagonists in the forthcoming iteration. As per Johns, The Shade will gun or Blue Valley with ulterior motives, and he will pose a great threat to the new JSA. "We're going to see a lot of The Shade. That's another big character that's going to be coming into season 2," Johns revealed. "He is the most powerful of them all [ISA], and very threatening because no one knows exactly what he wants,” he added citing the character's obscure stature.
While teasing The Shade's function in season 2, Johns also alluded to his comics equivalent. "He's a pretty famous and popular character from James Robinson's run on Starman," said Johns as he elaborated on The Shade's powers. Johns says that Robinson found The Shade amusing in the 1940s' Flash comics because of his ability to tap into darkness and shadows. Robinson, therefore, "updated him, gave him a massive history that's really fun to explore." Johns also affirmed that just like in the comics, The Shade is also immortal in Stargirl. Beyond that, however, Johns refused to divulge any further details, and he shifted his focus to Eclipso, who will also be one of the main villains in Stargirl season 2.
Courtney Whitmore will certainly have a lot more bad guys to deal with in Stargirl season 2. Solomon Grundy is already returning to wreak havoc, and Eclipso too is quite a menacing threat. Then there is also Cindy, who has proven to be an arch-nemesis and thorn in the young heroine's side. The Shade is, however, much different from all other Stargirl adversaries. He is poised and gentlemanly and his ambitions are unclear. In the comics, The Shade eventually became heroic. But in the show, it's too early to expect that kind of transition from him. Given that The Shade was responsible for Dr. Mid-Nite's death, it is possible for the character to have a conflict with Beth Chapel, who has since assumed the late superhero's mantle. For now, it remains to be seen what actor will portray the role in season 2, and how the character will fit into the show's dexterous equation.
Source: NYCC