If We Put Them on Everything They’ll Have to Do SOMETHING: Zazzle Opens Super Best Friends Forever Store

Over a few months of hearing nothing about the ESBUFFS (aka Super Best Friends Forever) there’s been two signs that the series may not be dead and gone.

The SBFF are, of course, the trinity of Supergirl, Wonder Girl and Batgirl from the fantastic animated short series done by Lauren Faust for DC Nation. Unfortunately Cartoon Network only made a few shorts and Faust then told me she wasn’t available to do more. But she also told me, “Who knows what the future holds?”

Earlier this week, DC Comics unveiled their SDCC exclusives and the SBFF were included. And then yesterday DC unveiled the SBFF Zazzle store where you can buy just about anything with the SBFF on it including mouse pads, mugs, phone cases, and, of course, t-shirts. You can get all the SBFF together. (And in different poses).

Or separately

You can get 20% off everything by using SUPERHEROBFF.

So what does this mean for the SBFF. Earlier this week when the SDCC pieces appeared I put out a cry for a digital comic from DC trying to drive the demand for it. Faust told me that “there’s always a chance it could happen, BTW…

So here’s what we do. Tell DC you want a digital comic with the SBFF’s! Buy the stuff from Zazzle! And eat Burritos. No wait, do the other two things. 

If they are offering merchandise there is a chance. Let’s make it into a reality!

DC Unveils SDCC Exclusives; I Know What I’m Getting

DC has unveiled its exclusives for SDCC. You can see them all at USA Today but I’ll show the one that I’ll be getting. Oh yes, I will.

Behold the ESSBUFFS!

It’s pricey - $49.99 but I simply must have it. Of course, I’d rather have an ongoing series with these three by Lauren Faust, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. How about a digital comic? Anyone?

That Time Carol Burnett Played Supergirl

Today is the 80th birthday of comedian Carol Burnett. Burnett is one of the few women to headline her own variety show on television, The Carol Burnett Show, which ran for 11 years on CBS from the 1960s to 70s. Burnett has had a multi-faceted career that has also included film and Broadway. She excels at physical comedy and this skit where she plays Supergirl is a good example.

In the skit Burnett’s Supergirl is a Rule 63 Superman with a secret identity as a reporter. (A “girl reporter” which is probably not so much a hat tip to the Lois Lane book, but the role of women at the time.)

It’s a fun little sketch so take a look and, hey, let’s wish Burnett a happy 80th birthday.

Target Offers New DC Women Swag

A few weeks ago I told you how Fruit of the Loom was making superhero underwear for little girls. At that time it was only available on-line where it was selling out. 

But today I saw the underwear on the shelf at Target

But that wasn’t the only licensed merchandise I saw. In the lingerie department there was a whole lot more.

Read More

DC Women Cover Up!

What better way to cover yourself up then with the female Trinity?

This afghan is 45 x 60” and, as you would guess, kicks ass.

Available here!

New Girls’ Superhero Shirts Available at Old Navy

I am pleased to see that Old Navy is continuing to offer superhero shirts for girls. I stopped by one of their stores today and saw a lot of shirst on display, more than I’ve seen in the past. Here’s a look. 

And I was particularly happy to see this!

In the store there is also a purple shirt with a purple Bat symbol.

You can order the ones above at Old Navy.

Important News Requiring Yet Another Post on Superhero Underwear!

I’ve done a few posts on superhero underwear - for men and women. But I’ve also done posts talking about the importance of superhero underwear for little girls. Why? I’ve discussed in the past how not having toys and merchandise for little girls sets up superheroes as a “boy thing”.

Why shouldn’t a little girl who sees Batgirl or Wonder Woman on TV be able to go to a strore and buy toys or, yes, underwear with her favorite character on them? At one time years ago, as I wrote a few years ago, this was a non-issue. Wonder Woman, Supergirl and Batgirl underoos were widely available. 

But for the last few years there has been a black hole when it has come to girls’ underwear. I’ve seen Wonder Woman and Batgirl undies for women in a few stores but when you hit the kids’ aisle it’s all Disney Princesses and Dora. Not that there is anything wrong with those. God knows enough Disney Princess gear has hit my home over the past years. But I would have loved to have had the option to provide my daughter with superhero underwear. My son, of course, has so many different kinds to choose from I can’t keep track of them.

But now there is an option! Fruit of the Loom has a six pack of girls underwear on line, and apparently it is so popular it keeps selling out.

Here’s a look at the female trinity pair:

There are also Wonder Woman, Batgirl and Supergirl solo versions:

I learned about these from the blog The Rock Father. Apparently I’m not the only who was writing about the lack of diversity in girls underwear. 

I’m still frustrated that they are only online although the Rock Father seems to think Wal-Mart will pick them up. I’d recommend dropping a note to Target. They have a line of superhero underwear in their stores right now for women - it seems silly they don’t for little girls as well.

DC’s Female Trinity - Undercover

Blah blah blah women don’t like superheroes. Blah blah blah superhero comics appeal only to males blah blah blah. 

So here we have the latest from WeLoveFine.com with some new licensed swag which seem to be designed for self-identified ladies who want to dress like their favorite superheroes, underneath their clothes or in appropriate sexy times. (You know, the whole awkward Wonder Woman/Superman thing in JL could actually make me laugh if Diana showed up in one of these).

While not quite as provocative, I’ve also bought seen superhero themed traditional women’s underwear on the rack at Target.

These are two pieces - pants and top and list for $40. 

WeLoveFine only has smalls. Hop over to Superherostuff for few other sizes.

But while the outfits above may be great for going to bed, this is the only thing that you should wear waking up.

Wake up, stretch your arms and announce, “the Dark Phoenix rises.”

Can You Hurt Yourself Through Massive Eyerolling?

DC unveiled some of the new collector items they will be displaying at New York Comic Con yesterday and some of them are great. And some of them are … 

Introducing the “DC Comics Bombshells” series!

It’s not that I’m opposed to them as they look like they’ve been designed well. And I’m sure they’ll sell well. But the juxtaposition of the figues of the male characters shown, Green Arrow and Superman, who are both posed in positions of power and the two of the female trinity posed in cheesecake poses is pretty dramatic. 

Frankly I would have preferred this Supergirl Bombshell piece from Cliff Chiang.

I am just going to hope they have a Nightwing statue in this line up. Please someone draw that for me.

To somewhat balance the “Bombshells” a new Talia action figure was unveiled. The only one I have is from BTAS so it will be nice to pose my little Damian with his Mom.

Comics to buy this week, September 19

This week I bring you a first issue and a 0 issue that is NOT from DC.

First, the first. The creators of the incredibly successful all-woman comic anthology Womanthology now have an ongoing and the first issue is out this week:

The first issue focuses on the moon and includes art and stories by some of the previous contributors.

And today we have the first, or rather 0 issue of Ghost by the suddenly EVERYWHERE Kelly Sue DeConnick and art by Phil Noto. This is a reboot on the original Ghost comic (infamous for the amount of boobage on display) which has been gearing up Dark Horse Presents. What do you need to know? Female lead; great team.

That gorgeous cover is by Jenny Frisson. 

And now it’s on to DC and it’s their “Ladies Week” where a good portion of there female led books come out. And it is Zero issues all around.

First up is Batwoman 0, vol. 2.

Preview here.

Then we have Birds of Prey and the debut of their new artist.

Preview here.

A year ago the debut of the new 52 Catwoman was so controversial that it almost made the internet ‘plode. In fact, the original cover to this issue also cause mild explosions. But DC has changed over the team and in this issue we see the new writer taking a shot at the character (the new artist comes in #13).

Preview here.

I’ve been back and forth on Supergirl this year. I found the first arc to be too compressed for me and then just got turned off by all the Superbooks. While I wish the Superbooks weren’t about to go into a crossover, I’m still going to grab this.

I’m still not really sold on that costume but Mahmud Asrar draws a stunning Supergirl.

Amethyst is back and being written by the writer of “Jem and the Holograms” and Sisterhood of Steel. And Aaron Lopresti art. You don’t even know how much goodwill that has given DC in my book. And you get a back-up by Tony Bedard with art by Jesus Saiz.

Preview here.

What’s on your list today?

DC Animation’s next “Super” film features Supergirl

TV Guide* reports that actress MollyQuinn told the Comic Con crowd that she’ll be voicing Supergirl in DC Entertainment’s next animated feature. The movie will be based on the Braniac arc that appeared in Action Comics #866-870 written by Geoff Johns.  The feature, not officially announced, is due in 2013. Here’s the variant cover from #870 with Supergirl.

Let’s hope the character gets some play on the cover art of the movie. When the story of Supergirl arriving on earth was released the director said that the only way the company would feature her on the cover was to put a “skanky version”  “so the boys will buy it.”

*whose website is a complement to their published magazine and not some blog that publishes rumors as some folks tried to position it this past week.

Lauren Faust character sketches for Super Best Friends Forever

One of the many delights of Super Best Friends Forever was the varying body shapes and and faces of the three main characters. Given that superhero comics suffers from a lot of  ”same face” and boobtastic artwork where the only thing that changes is the costume its nice to see an alternative. 

Lauren Faust has posted some of her early sketches on her DeviantArt page and it gives a glimpse of how the well defined personalities of the friends first began to be developed:

Wonder Girl looks very regal in the middle sketch - as an Amazon would.

I

I love the body language on Supergirl.

You know even though I adore Barbara Gordon, I’m just going to pretend Batgirl is Stephanie Brown when I watch this from now. It’s better that way.

(Source: fyre-flye.deviantart.com)