Coming in at just under five minutes long, the first episode of Vixen, the CW Seed’s original digital short series, is short and sweet. This doesn’t take away from the action, however. Within the first minute or two, there’s a cliffhanger, and that’s after a high-flying chase and action sequence where The Flash and Arrow can barely keep up with her. Oh, hell yeah! The chase scene ends in the aforementioned cliffhanger, but the episode flashes back (no pun intended) to Vixen three days prior.
Mari McCabe (Vixen) is back in Detroit, but she’s already managed to land herself in jail for stabbing some lecherous bastard in the hand with a pen. She’s bailed out by her kindly foster dad, and we learn that she’s actively looking for her real parents. We also learn that she’s working on becoming a fashion designer. Is there anything she can’t do? Get ’em, girl!
Unfortunately, Mari and her foster dad are robbed at gunpoint by three thugs in an alleyway, and they really want her necklace. Now, Vixen’s necklace, the Tantu Totem, is very important; it helps keep her power in check. It’s understandable why she isn’t very quick to part with it. Unfortunately, that’s where the episode ends, but keeping the high-speed (on foot) chase I mentioned before, it looks like maybe Arrow or Flash will come to lend her a helping hand.
I loved how badass she was, and how much she proved herself to be a force to be reckoned with from the jump. Her superpowers are out of this world, and I can’t wait to see where the writers take her. I’m of the opinion that Vixen is one of the most underrated characters in the DC universe, so I’m glad that she’s got her own show, even if it’s short. I’m hoping that the popularity of the animated series on CW Seed will lead to her getting an opportunity to show up on Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, or whatever other DC Comics property possible.
Synopsis:
Originally from Africa, Mari McCabe’s (voiced by Megalyn Echikunwoke) parents were killed by local greed, corruption, and wanton violence. But the orphaned Mari refuses to succumb to the terrors surrounding her. Inheriting her family’s Tantu Totem, Mari can access the powers of animals — anything from the super-strength of a gorilla to the speed of a cheetah. As Vixen, she fights valiantly to protect the world from the threats like those that claimed her family.
Based on characters from DC Comics, VIXEN is produced by Blue Ribbon Content and Warner Bros. Animation, with executive producers Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, and Andrew Kriesberg.
Watch Vixen ep. 101 here.