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Stargirl Reading Order (Courtney Whitmore)

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Created by Geoff Johns and Lee Moder, Courtney Whitmore made her first appearance in Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. #0 (July 1999)–she was in part based on Johns’ sister Courtney, who died in the explosion of TWA Flight 800 in 1996.

Courtney is the stepdaughter of Pat Dugan, the inventor of the powered armor suit S.T.R.I.P.E. and former sidekick of the original Star-Spangled Kid. Before becoming Stargirl, she was in fact the new Star-Spangled Kid. She joined the Justice Society of America (JSA) and, after being given Starman Jack Knight’s cosmic staff, she officially became known as Stargirl.

She stayed with the JSA for a long time, until the moment when DC rebooted its universe and launched the New 52 era. Then, Stargirl became a member of the new Justice League of America title. Her origin story was also rewritten. In this version, she found the staff and the rest of the uniform in Pat Dugan’s office who was then Barbara Whitmore’s boyfriend. Pat agreed to train her and she became a full-time superhero.

Of course, there’s now a Stargirl TV Show. You may have seen it. Brec Bassinger is playing the young Courtney/Stargirl. The character also appeared in other TV Show, live or animated, through the years (and also in Video Games).

Stargirl Reading Order

Courtney Before Stargirl

Courtney was introduced in Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. #0, an issue connected to the Starman series. If you want to know more about Jack Knight, take a look at our Starman Reading Order.

Most of Stargirl’s career has been as a member of the Justice Society of America (starting with the relaunch during the Modern Age era). You can fing a lot more about the team with our JSA Reading Order.

After JSA #30, Courtney gets the Starman Staff from Ted Knight in Starman #80 collected in Starman: Sons of the Father and Starman Compendium Two.

Courtney Is Stargirl!

Courtney started calling herself Stargirl in JSA All-Stars #4. Nothing really changed for her at that point, it’s really only a slight rebranding, the story continues.

During that period of time, DC Comics published JSA Classified, side stories about the members of the Justice Society of America. Stargirl appeared in a few issues, mainly #14-16 in which she’s the main character. You can find those issues here.

The event of Infinite Crisis (see reading order) introduced a time jump. One Year later… the JSA is no more. Some of the surviving Golden Age characters are transported to the new “Earth-Two” created by Alexander Luthor Jr. Jay Garrick, Alan Scott, and Ted Grant decide to revive the Justice Society. It’s the beginning of Justice Society of America Volume 3.

Stargirl during the New 52 era

In September 2011, DC Comics relaunched its universe. Most of the JSA was relocated to Earth-2, but Stargirl stayed where she was and joined the Justice League of America written by Geoff Johns. In the series, she’s present (sometimes barely), but rarely does anything of note.

Following recent events, the US Government created the Justice League of America as a countermeasure against the already established Justice League.

After the disbandment of the JLA following the crossover event Forever Evil, Stargirl joined the Justice League United.

After that, Stargirl was hard to find in the DC Universe. She briefly appeared in Geoff Johns’ Doomsday Clock (Watchmen prequel). Even with the launch of the Stargirl TV Show, DC didn’t do much, except a special:

Stargirl during the Infinite Frontier/Dawn of DC Era

With the TV Show canceled, Geoff Johns is bringing Stargirl and the JSA to the comics with new series. The comeback is introduced during the Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event.

It’s the beginning of what DC is calling the “New Golden Age.”

Last Updated on August 8, 2023.

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