Supergirl hangs up her cape

The CW's Supergirl is to end with season six. This is surprising news soon after DC FanDome.

Whilst I ultimately stopped watching, due to superhero series saturation, Melissa Benoist embodied the titular role and was always a standout during the annual Arrowverse crossover events with stablemates Arrow, The Flash, Batwoman, Black Lightning and DC's Legends of Tomorrow.

“To say it has been an honor portraying this iconic character would be a massive understatement. Seeing the incredible impact the show has had on young girls around the world has always left me humbled and speechless. She’s had that impact on me, too. She’s taught me strength I didn’t know I had, to find hope in the darkest of places, and that we are stronger when we’re united. What she stands for pushes all of us to be better. She has changed my life for the better, and I’m forever grateful,” Benoist touchingly wrote on Instagram.

Like Wonder Woman and Buffy the Vampire Slayer before it, The CW's Supergirl championed inclusivity, something that is needed more than ever in these troubled times.

“I’m so excited that we get to plan our conclusion to this amazing journey, and I cannot wait for you to see what we have in store. I promise we’re going to make it one helluva final season.”

The Arrowverse is in transition. Arrow ended last year with the death of Oliver Queen, but a Superman & Lois spin-off series is in production.

Supergirl may be hanging up her cape, but DC's Stargirl picks up the mantle with a breakout first season worthy of anything shown on HBO Max. The second season moves to The CW. So, expect Stargirl to crossover with The Flash and friends.

Will you miss Supergirl? Let me know in the comments below.

Aquaman beats Batman and The CW renews DCTV

As Aquaman, directed by James Wan (Furious 7), eclipses The Dark Knight Rises to become the most successful DC Comics movie of all time. According to Deadline, The CW has renewed DCTV hit series Arrow, DC's Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, Supergirl and Black Lightning. Batwoman is set to enter the fray with her own spin-off following a successful introduction in Elseworlds.

My DCTV viewing has lapsed due to the abundance of genre series available. However, with the cancellation of Marvel Netflix series, including Daredevil and Luke Cage, I'm catching up, and am following DC Unlimited's live-action series Titans on Netflix outside the US with interest, too.

Rumours abound this year's annual Arrowverse crossover, Crisis on Infinite Earths, will finally witness DC Comics' television and movie franchises merge into the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), on par with the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) ahead of a new decade.

What series are you most looking forward to? Let me know in the comments below.

Constantine joins DC's Legends of Tomorrow

Constantine was a fun, if short-lived, series on NBC. Matt Ryan made the role his own and DCTV fans (myself included) were delighted when Constantine cameoed in Arrow season 4.

The character most recently returned in the midseason premiere of DC's Legends of Tomorrow, cementing the series' status as my favourite Arrow spin-off after its startling season 2 soft reboot into an unmissable time-travelling caper.

Matt Ryan is expected to become a cast regular for season 4. The CW has not announced a renewal, but there's every reason to assume it's a done deal. Good times!

Black Lightning is prestige TV

Black Lightning premieres on The CW tonight. Whilst the prospect of another superhero show may seem daunting in an era of so-called peak television. This new series stands alone from DCTV's Arrow, The Flash, DC's Legends of Tomorrow and Supergirl. That said, in the wake of the incredible crossover Crisis on Earth-X, I'm hoping Black Lightning will make a cameo in the future.

Early reactions to Black Lightning are positive and Netflix starts streaming the series from 23rd January in the UK, which is my birthday.

The Washington Post

Black Lightning, a wholehearted and energetic live-action revival of the character premiering Tuesday night on CW, is refreshingly and intentionally focused on Jefferson's attempt to balance the conflict among his truest selves – as a black father in his late 40s, a husband, a revered high-school principal and, ultimately, a superhero who comes out of self-imposed exile to fight violence in his community.

The Hollywood Reporter

The pleasant surprise, then, is that Black Lightning, based on yet another DC Comics property, is smart and relevant and full of an attitude that's all its own. It takes its characters and their world seriously, but thus far doesn't take itself too seriously. And, best of all, it's ostensibly entirely separate from Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, Arrow and Supergirl, so the risk of time-consuming crossovers or key plot points delivered on a different show is currently nil.

The New York Times

Luke Cage and Marvel's Runaways have diversified the comics-TV lineup. (Black Panther arrives in theaters in February.) But this show's race-forward sensibility and its older protagonist, conflicted about getting back into the game, give Black Lightning its spark.

Looking forward to Black Lightning? Let me know in the comments below.

Constantine to join DC's Legends of Tomorrow?

John Constantine's (Matt Ryan) cameo in Arrow was a highlight of season four. The producers of DC's Legends of Tomorrow want Constantine to join the battle against Damien Darhk (Neal McDonough) in season three of the time travelling spin-off series.

Galvanised by a stellar second season, producer Marc Guggenheim sheds light on the upcoming season-long story arc:

"Damien Darhk is going to be the leader of this group in the way Thawne was sort of the boss last year for the Legion of Doom. This group is distinctly led up by Damien. We have a fun way to bring him back that kind of plays into the season-long mythology."

Returning to the fray is Wentworth Miller as a 'bizarro' Captain Cold.

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow returns 10th October on The CW. Stablemates Arrow, The Flash and Supergirl premiere the same week.

Marvel's mutants unleashed in The Gifted

Marvel and Fox have dropped an extended trailer for The Gifted.

The upcoming X-Men spin-off, with a pilot directed by Bryan Singer (X-Men: Apocalypse), isn't a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) over at Disney.



The Gifted joins Legion at Fox this Fall. The channel goes up against The CW with its DC Comics superhero stable including Arrow, DC's Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash and Supergirl. The multiverse goes from strength to strength and DC's Legends of Tomorrow transformed in the wake of new cast members and a soft reboot during its second series.

Could The Gifted lead to further X-Men spin-offs featuring Cyclops or Storm? Let me know in the comments below.

Kevin Smith directs Supergirl Lives

Director Kevin Smith (Clerks) helms another installment in the DC Universe (DCU). This time it's Supergirl.

On the evidence of Smith's stellar episode of The Flash, fans should be in for a televisual treat shot with filmic flair. This is on the back of The CW renewing Greg Berlanti's quartet: Arrow, DC's Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl and The Flash.

Supergirl goes off-world in her latest adventure. The midseason premiere sees Kara (Melissa Benoist) moved by the story of a missing woman named Izzy (Harley Quinn Smith) and decides to investigate despite Snapper Carr’s (Ian Gomez) order to leave it alone.

Supergirl returns 23rd January, which is my birthday. Thank you, The CW.

Wonder Woman Lynda Carter is Supergirl's President

Lynda Carter, beloved by generations of DC Comics fans as TV's Wonder Woman in the 1970s, joins the cast of Supergirl from next season.

Carter will play the President of the United States in the series headlined by Melissa Benoist. She appeared in Smallville as a metahuman in 2007.

This news follows the casting of Tyler Hoechlin (Teen Wolf) as Superman/Clark Kent. Carter joins fellow DC Comics live-action alumni John Wesley Shipp (The Flash), Dean Cain (Lois & Clark) and Helen Slater (Supergirl) on The CW.

As many fans (myself included) suspected after that jaw-dropping season finale, The Flash will officially be depicting the seminal DC Comics storyline 'Flashpoint' in season 3. This will directly impact CW stablemates Arrow, DC's Legends of Tomorrow and Supergirl.

Flashpoint!

A roundup of DC Comics' small screen adventures:

The season finales of Arrow and DC's Legends of Tomorrow were... disappointing. The former has been patchy and (mostly) directionless since season 2. The latter has been inconsistent, but it's had a fair share of memorable moments too. At this point I'm watching out of (misplaced) loyalty and in the hope of crossovers with The Flash...

The Flash and Supergirl show the most potential going forward with a healthy dose of comedy and drama. The Flash exceeds everything else in the genre space: from Earth-2 to THAT finale - the charismatic cast have had a blast mixing it up with their doppelgängers - even if casual viewers could be alienated by the complex continuity. The Flash crossed over to Supergirl with the promise of things to come as the series moves to The CW.

In a year without a new Doctor Who series, the DC Universe (DCU) is serving up a timey-wimey masterclass. If the 'Flashpoint Paradox' rumours are true, then all four series could become unmissable as an alternate timeline unravels in the wake of Barry Allen's actions.

May the speed force be with you. Always.

Supergirl flies from CBS to The CW for second season

Supergirl's got a new home and it's with The CW in Canada.

The DC Comics live-action television series will join stablemates Arrow, The Flash and DC's Legends of Tomorrow from next season. More crossovers are bound to follow under the auspices of prolific producer Greg Berlanti.

This is quite the mission statement from The CW, co-owned by CBS and Warners Bros., and bolsters the network's superhero portfolio as Netflix continues to capitalise on the success of Marvel's Daredevil and Jessica Jones. Alas, ABC's Marvel's Agent Carter didn't fare so well after relocating from New York to Los Angeles and won't be renewed.

Crisis on Infinite Earths, anyone?

Melissa Benoist, like fellow Glee alum Grant Gustin, is a charismatic lead and it'll be interesting to see her character further involved with alternate realities and timelines, which is something The Flash has become most adept at. The latter's second season has been a barnstormer and, whilst I won't post any spoilers, the Zoom/Earth-2 storyline has cemented the series' status as my favourite genre show on television.

Sky 1's scheduling of DC Comics' small screen adventures every weekday evening, from Tuesday to Friday, has been a masterstroke in the UK.

Are you glad Supergirl's saved to fly another day? Let me know in the comments below.

DC's Legends of Tomorrow first look

It's been a busy week in the DC Universe (DCU)!

Arrow season 3 concluded, Supergirl took to the skies in one of the best first look previews I've ever seen and DC's Legends of Tomorrow begins in 2016.

Here's the series synopsis:

"When heroes alone are not enough … the world needs legends. Having seen the future, one he will desperately try to prevent from happening, time-traveling rogue Rip Hunter is tasked with assembling a disparate group of both heroes and villains to confront an unstoppable threat — one in which not only is the planet at stake, but all of time itself. Can this ragtag team defeat an immortal threat unlike anything they have ever known?"

Doctor Who fans will be delighted to see Arthur Darvill playing time traveller Rip Hunter. Thus cementing the timey-wimey antics begun in The Flash's breakout first season.

Warning! The following first look contains mild spoilers for the season finale of Arrow.



Whilst Supergirl stands alone on CBS. The potential for an epic network crossover with The CW's Arrow, The Flash and DC's Legends of Tomorrow can't be overlooked by the powers that be at Warner Bros.

ABC renews Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Agent Carter

ABC has renewed both Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Agent Carter after seemingly nixing plans for a rumoured S.H.I.E.L.D. spin-off series. The spin-off was thought to focus on Lance Hunter and Bobbi 'Mockingbird' Morse.

Agent Carter's first season garnered rave reviews, but has yet to be broadcast in the UK after being passed on by Channel Four. Perhaps the success of Daredevil may persuade Netflix to stream the series. I've reached out to the streaming service and will update if a response is forthcoming.

Meanwhile Marvel's arch-rival DC Comics is on spectacular form with its live-action television franchises. Arrow and The Flash continue to win deserved praise and will soon be bolstered by DC's Legends of Tomorrow.