Honestly, if you were a parent, a collector, or just a DC geek between 2015 and 2022, you couldn't escape it. DC Super Hero Girls was everywhere. It wasn't just another cartoon. It was a massive, multi-media experiment by Warner Bros. and Mattel to finally—finally—admit that girls actually like comic books. For decades, the industry acted like girls were this mythical creature that didn't buy action figures. Then came Wonder Woman, Batgirl, and Supergirl hanging out in a high school cafeteria, and the landscape shifted.
But here is the thing people get wrong: it isn't just one show.
There are actually two completely different versions of this universe, and fans of one often despise the other. You have the original web series launched in 2015, which felt like a glossy, optimistic doll commercial (but in a good way). Then you have the 2019 reboot by Lauren Faust—the creative genius behind My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic—which was basically a chaotic, high-energy comedy that poked fun at the entire DC mythos.
The 2015 Launch: Superhero High and the Doll Revolution
Before 2015, if you went into a Target or Walmart, the "girl" aisle was a sea of pink, and the "boy" aisle was where all the cool Batman stuff lived. DC Super Hero Girls changed that. Developed by Shea Fontana, Lisa Yee, and Aria Moffly, the first iteration was set at Super Hero High.
It was safe. It was aspirational.
In this world, everyone was a teenager. Wonder Woman was the overachiever. Harley Quinn wasn't a criminal; she was the "class clown" who lived with her bestie, Poison Ivy. It was weird seeing villains and heroes eating lunch together, but it worked for the target demographic. The 2015 web shorts led to several direct-to-video movies like Hero of the Year and Intergalactic Games.
🔗 Read more: The Reality of Sex Movies From Africa: Censorship, Nollywood, and the Digital Underground
What made this era special was the merchandise. Mattel actually designed "action dolls." They weren't just Barbies in spandex; they had athletic builds and could actually stand on their own two feet. This was a huge deal at the time. It proved that you could market action-oriented toys to girls without stripping away the "super" part of the superhero.
The Lauren Faust Reboot: Why 2019 Changed Everything
If the 2015 version was a warm hug, the 2019 reboot was a triple shot of espresso.
When Lauren Faust took over for the Cartoon Network series, she threw the "everyone is friends" concept out the window. She went back to basics. Heroes were heroes, and villains were villains. This version of DC Super Hero Girls followed six core leads: Wonder Woman (Diana Prince), Batgirl (Barbara Gordon), Supergirl (Kara Danvers), Bumblebee (Karen Beecher), Green Lantern (Jessica Cruz), and Zatanna (Zee Zatara).
The personalities were much more distinct and, frankly, much more interesting.
Diana was a fish-out-of-water warrior who didn't understand why mortals loved "burritos." Kara was a rebellious rock-and-roll teen with a chip on her shoulder. Jessica Cruz was a hardcore pacifist who hated that her power ring was literally a weapon. It was funny, fast-paced, and filled with deep-cut references for comic book nerds.
💡 You might also like: Alfonso Cuarón: Why the Harry Potter 3 Director Changed the Wizarding World Forever
The Controversy of Character Assassination?
Not everyone was happy.
A lot of older fans and parents who grew up with the 2015 version felt the 2019 reboot was too mean-spirited or "too loud." They missed the gentle lessons of Super Hero High. Specifically, the redesign of characters like Harley Quinn and Catwoman—returning them to their antagonist roles—rubbed some people the wrong way.
But looking at the ratings and the critical reception, Faust’s version arguably had more "soul." It dealt with real teenage problems: social anxiety, toxic friendships, and the pressure of living up to a famous cousin (looking at you, Superman). It wasn't afraid to make its heroes look flawed or even a bit ridiculous.
Where to Watch and What to Read
Even though the 2019 series wrapped up its TV run after two seasons and a crossover movie with Teen Titans Go! (the infamous Mayhem in the Multiverse), the content is still very much alive.
- Netflix: Currently hosts the first season of the 2019 reboot in many regions.
- YouTube: The official DC Super Hero Girls channel still hosts the original 2015 shorts, which are great for younger kids.
- Graphic Novels: This is where the real meat is. Authors like Shea Fontana and later Amanda Deibert wrote several OGNs (Original Graphic Novels) that expanded the lore. Titles like Finals Crisis and At Metropolis High are still staples in school libraries.
The Legacy of the Franchise
Why should we care about a "kids' show" in 2026?
📖 Related: Why the Cast of Hold Your Breath 2024 Makes This Dust Bowl Horror Actually Work
Because DC Super Hero Girls paved the way for the current era of female-led superhero media. It proved that girls would show up for action if you gave them characters they could relate to. It bridged the gap between the "pink" toy aisle and the "blue" one.
The show also served as an entry point for a whole generation of fans who are now reading Wonder Woman or Birds of Prey comics. It demystified the complex, often gatekept world of DC Comics. It told kids that you don't need to know 80 years of continuity to enjoy a story about a girl trying to save the world while passing her chemistry final.
Surprising Facts You Might Have Missed
- The Voice Talent: The 2019 series featured Grey Griffin as Wonder Woman. If she sounds familiar, it's because she’s been the voice of Daphne in Scooby-Doo and Azula in Avatar: The Last Airbender.
- The "Babs" Connection: Tara Strong, the voice of Batgirl/Barbara Gordon, has voiced various versions of Batgirl and Harley Quinn for over 20 years. Her performance in this show is a high-energy highlight.
- The LEGO Era: There was a brief period where LEGO produced sets specifically for this franchise, featuring "minidolls" instead of standard minifigures. These are now high-value items on the secondary market.
- The Video Game: There was a Nintendo Switch game called DC Super Hero Girls: Teen Power. It was a weird mix of a social sim (like Animal Crossing) and a beat-'em-up. It didn't set the world on fire, but it captured the show's vibe perfectly.
Actionable Steps for Fans and Parents
If you're looking to dive back into this world or introduce it to a new fan, don't just wing it. The two versions are different enough that your mileage may vary.
- Start with the 2019 TV series if you want humor, fast pacing, and "modern" animation styles. It's much more engaging for adults watching with their kids.
- Check out the 2015 web shorts for toddlers or very young children. The pacing is slower and the "lessons" are more overt.
- Hunt down the Graphic Novels. If your kid is a reluctant reader, the DC Super Hero Girls comics are a "gateway drug" to reading. They use simple panel layouts but sophisticated emotional storytelling.
- Look for the 2022 movie Mayhem in the Multiverse. It serves as a decent finale to the Faust era and features a surprisingly cool take on the Legion of Doom.
The franchise might be currently dormant in terms of new episodes, but its impact on the DC Universe is permanent. It turned "niche" female characters like Bumblebee and Katana into household names for a new generation. That’s a win in any comic book fan's ledger.