DC Super Hero Girls Vol. 2: Hits And Myths

DC Super Hero Girls Graphic Novels #2

by Shea Fontana, Yancey Labat (Illustrator)

Welcome back to DC Super Hero High in the newest original graphic novel from the DC Super Hero Girls line!

“Intro to Epics” is one of Wonder Woman’s favorite classes at DC Super Hero High, but balancing high school literature assignments with learning to be a superhero can be tough, even for an overachiever. But you know what they say about learning—experience is the best teacher! So when Wonder Woman, Batgirl, Supergirl, Bumblebee, Poison Ivy, Katana and Harley Quinn fight a cyclops, a witch and a bevy of sirens, they’re sure to learn a thing or two about The Odyssey—if they survive their epic battle in the underworld! DC SUPER HERO GIRLS: HITS AND MYTHS continues to develop the relationships forged in DC SUPER HERO GIRLS: FINALS CRISIS. Written by Shea Fontana, this story is perfect for girls ages 6-12.
The DC Super Hero Girls line is an exciting new universe of super-heroic storytelling that helps build character and confidence, and empowers girls to discover their true potential. Developed for girls aged 6-12, DC Super Hero Girls features DC Comics' most powerful and diverse lineup of female characters as relatable teens, playing out across multiple entertainment content platforms and product categories to create an immersive world. Icons including Wonder Woman, Supergirl, Batgirl, Harley Quinn, Bumble Bee, Poison Ivy, Katana and many more make their unprecedented teenaged introductions, as each character has her own storyline that explores what teen life is like as a super hero.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Superheroes, Middle Grade, Dc Comics, Graphic Novels Comics, Childrens

127 pages, Paperback

First published November 8, 2016

About the author

Shea Fontana is a writer for film, television and graphic novels. Her credits include developing and writing the DC Super Hero Girls animated shorts, TV specials, movies and graphic novels; Polly Pocket (developed and story editor), Doc McStuffins, The 7D, Whisker Haven Tales with the Palace Pets (wrote show bible and first season), Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz (story editor), the new Muppet Babies series; two Disney on Ice shows where she wrote new material for the worlds of Mickey Mouse, Inside Out, Disney Princesses, Finding Dori, Frozen, and other Disney and Pixar properties; and the feature film, Crowning Jules. She has also written for top comic titles including Justice League, Wonder Woman, Batman: Overdrive (coming 2019), Catwoman/Looney Tunes, and contributed anthology pieces starring Deathstroke and Teen Titans.

Her DC Super Hero Girls graphic novels have been New York Times Best Sellers. Her debut graphic novel, Finals Crisis, was honored with Diamond's 2016 Gem Award for Best All-Ages Graphic Novel, and DC Super Hero Girls: Past Times at Super Hero High won the 2017 Gem Award for Best All-Ages Graphic Novel as well as the Comixology Reader's Pick award for Best All-Ages Graphic Novel of 2017. DC Super Hero Girls won the 2018 Ringo Award for Best Kids Comic or Graphic Novel. She was listed 61st on Bleeding Cool’s Power List of Comics for 2018. The London Free Press declared her “not afraid to be corny,” which is an accurate assessment of her persona both on and off the page.

She lives in sunny Los Angeles where she enjoys hiking, hanging out with her beagle, Ziggy, and changing her hair color. Using the secret identity “Shea Q. Off,” Shea played roller derby until her angry knees forced her into early retirement.

Reviews

[Kerri · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, quick read.

[Rodney · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter loved it. We had a ton of fun reading this together, and it's got a five-year-old wanting to read 128 page books! Recommended!

[Genres and Journals *Tia* · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another read from my daughters’ shelves. They went through a super hero girl phase and have a few of these graphic novels. This was cute, colorful, and includes a lot of well known heroes and villains from the DC world. The super hero teens have to work together to save a teacher in this one. I love all the hero puns and the teamwork. This one was slightly darker because they had to venture to the underworld and the villains were a bit creepier down there!

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a lot of fun to see more characters making cameos, especially some anti-heroes/villains. I really liked that the story is more multi-faceted than good v. bad, but it's still a cute light read that focuses on actions over reputations.

[Sofia]

I think this book shows girls that they can do what they want when they want. take wonder woman as an example she comes from a place were they only have woman and no men. they depend on each other for what they need and there are never men to help them.

[Jessi - TheRoughCutEdge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read thus with my seven year old daughter and she was riveted!

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

one thing i really don't like about this is Harley Quinn ibeing shown as a hero. She isn't, she's the Joker's girlfriend, she is a serial killer, she is a violent psychopath, and as a psychologist (or psychiatrist) she fell in love w/a patient. she shouldn't be in kids books as a hero character. (i like her as a character in Batman books written to teens and older.)

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who wouldn't want to attend a super fun slumber party at Themyscira? All of the superheroes at Super Hero High are super pumped for a slumber party this weekend....that is, until things start to go wrong. Batgirl's Batplane goes missing. Professor Etrigan is nowhere to be found and all signs point to him having stolen the Batplane...but why?

This is another cute installment in this graphic novel series. It continues to show the superheroes honing their skills and learning to work together to achieve a common goal. The artwork follows along with the other graphic novels in this series and the movies that have been released in this franchise. Definitely recommend if you are looking for a series for your children, or if you want a quick, fun read for yourself.

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still very, very cute, but not quite as fun as the first volume had been. That's fine, I'm sure that the target audience will love to read this and then act out the story with the companion dolls. And the art is still great.

[Annemarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I didn't expect myself to pick up another of these but I just really love the animated series and so I wanted to give it another try. This was a very fun read. The plot was honestly not great, but it's aimed at children and for that I think it works well. It's high paced and full of action (even if the action doesn't always makes complete sense).
The characters are where this series shines. They are so much fun. It's amazing how there are so many characters in this book, who still have defined personalities. While I think having knowledge of the characters will definitely help, before I started the animated series I knew Batgirl and Harley. And I had seen a bit of Ivy, but that was it. Now I love Miss Martian, Katana, Bumblebee and so many of the other characters. I really liked that Ravager was in this too, as I just recently learned about her in the current Robin comic. This series is such a great introduction to these characters, because it's super fun, and the characters seem pretty fitting (looking at Harley and Batgirl here, I can't say much about the others).
The humour was pretty on point in this one, and overall I just had a lot of fun.
The art style is great, and I especially loved the switch in style for the story of the Odyssey, it was so much fun seeing our main girls dressed in roman/ magical girl outfits.
I also really liked the teachers story, because he spoke in rhyme and it didn't feel unnatural at all, and actually enhanced his story a lot.
It's super obvious that this series is born out of great love for the characters. I wish the stories/plotlines were just slightly better, because that could definitely turn this into one of my favourites. But I get that this is aimed at much younger readers, which explains its simplicity.

I'd definitely recommend this ESPECIALLY to little girls who love super heroes, because there's a great diverse cast and it's a great introduction to all the different kinds of super heroes that exist, with a focus on girls, but not exclusively girls.

[Grace (The Reading Raindoe) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the DC Superhero Girls series. It introduces even more characters we know and love, and provides an easy way of identifying those characters through the “roll call” in the front of the book. It doesn’t start with the most straightforward opening, it more through you into the action, which I guess might confuse some kids, but if they have read the first book or seen the show, they should understand.

I thought the book had two shining qualities. One, it introduces children to the Odyssey in a way that it easy for them to comprehend and two, it shows kids that not even Wonder Woman can do everything. It’s okay to say no and to take some breaks.

The book is broken up into easy to read issues and it has recaps at the beginning of each issue. This is handy if you aren’t reading it in one sitting, but if you are, it gets a bit repetitive. It also bothered me that for some reason Black Canary is a villain in this book. Several of her scenes felt entirely out of place. Despite that, I think this book could easily be enjoyed by both kids and adults. There are a lot of hidden jokes and cameos that the adults will enjoy, but might go over the heads of kids.

Overall, this book was a cute and short story that I think a lot of kids will love. I personally didn’t find it quite as fulfilling as the first volume, but it was still very enjoyable.

Originally posted on The Reading Raindoe

[Citybones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teniendo en cuenta que es una historia dirigida a un público infantil, me ha gustado más de lo que me esperaba.
Como entrelazan su aventura actual de llegar a la fiesta de Wonder Woman con la Odisea me pareció interesante. Al igual que el misterio de la desaparición del batplane, que estuvo sorprendentemente bien llevado y con una trama bastante consistente.
Las dos únicas pegas que le pongo son el cameo de Raven, que creo que merecía algo más de resolución (que la invitaran a Superhero high o le dieran las gracias por su ayuda al menos), y la resolución del problema final de transporte. Vamos a ver, ¿para que se mataron a buscar el batplane si al final acabaron llevándolo en hombros Wonder womas y Supergirl? Que se hicieran una hamaca y que las llevaran así.
Mucha mejor calidad que el volumen anterior.

[Travis Berketa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the way Hits and Myths began, with Wonder Woman so worked off her feet that she cannot get her homework completed, so when she attempts to read The Odyssey she can't get it done. The story is then summarised by her teacher, Etrigan the Demon, while Wonder Woman sleeps and imagines her version of the myth. The chapters are then broken up into different parts of the tale in order to tell the story of Batgirl and the Super Hero Girls tracking down the mystery of the stolen Batplane.

What follows is a story told from different points of view, which works well; just some of the characters in the story seemed forced, in order to make it flow with The Odyssey storyline. That said, my daughters absolutely enjoyed it and (as they are closer to the target audience than I am) they would give it five stars.

[Santosh Thapa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bhadra 26, 2077, Friday

DC Super Hero Girls Vol. 2: Hits And Myths - Shea Fontana, Yancey Labat (Illustrator) (2016)
(DC Super Hero Girls Graphic Novels #2)

Genres: Fiction/ Children's Literature/ Comics/ Graphic Novel/ Middle Grade/ Superhero/ Fantasy
Pages: 127
Rating: 6/10

Themes: Cooperation/ Friendship/ Teamwork/ Quest

Opener:
“I’ll get you, Batgirl!”

Summary:
Wonder Woman, Batgirl, Supergirl, Bumblebee, Poison Ivy, Katana, and Harley Quinn fight a cyclops, a witch, and a bevy of sirens, where they will learn a thing or two about The Odyssey—if they survive their epic battle in the underworld!

Verdict:
A fun way to adapt The Odyssey, ever so loosely that it might be. I don’t know how people will react to it but puns galore in this superhero comic. Not as good as the first book in my opinion but still plenty of fun can be gleaned from this graphic novel.

[Molly Lazer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this with my five-year-old twins, who really enjoyed it. I enjoyed the parallels to The Odyssey (which prompted a lot of explaining to the kids on my part and resulted in my bringing home my Odyssey graphic novel to read with them next, so yay for introducing young kids to classic literature!). The little Homeric easter eggs were well done. Overall, this was a fun read--fast-paced and not too serious. I do wish that the book dealt a little more with Wonder Woman's stress over being asked to do everything at once and her wish to just have some quiet time to herself and with her friends. Of the three Super Hero Girls graphic novels we have read so far, only one--the one about Atlantis--has really dealt with the everyday struggles the heroes face. I would like to see more of that in other volumes.

[Ceejay · Rating 3 out of 5]

On Free Comic Book Day I got a copy of DC SuperHero Girls. I enjoyed it enough to get this graphic novel from the library. Very enjoyable. It's aimed at kids, but adults can enjoy it too. It was so nice to have all the members of a team actually working together. There were no deaths of the good guys or bad guys. There was no foul language. No blood and gore. Wait a minute, that was how comics were when I was younger. There is a three fold plot in this story. Wonder woman wants to host her first slumber party. One of their teachers goes missing. The Batplane disappears. The plots intertwine for a very enjoyable read! Get your cape on!

[Ardyth · Rating 2 out of 5]

While reading this to himself, our 8yo son asked if I knew about a book called The Odyssey. Aren't kids the greatest?! That was a fun five-minute convo, and to keep that door to interest open for the future, I accepted his offer to read this to me.

Anyway, honestly this doesn't have much to recommend it beyond causing my son to know The Odyssey exists. The Dog-Man series consistently does a significantly better job incorporating some bones of Western canon lit in stories for kids. (Sadly, no Dog-Man Odyssey!)

Pretty sophisticated vocab in here, though. Our son struggled with one word every page or two, which hasn't happened in a while. So I'll give it that.

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my favourite of the first three books in this series so far, with a fourth coming out this Fall. Lots of stuff going on without a moment's downtime. A plethora of almost every female superhero you can think of and no shortage of males or villains either. The book loosely follows aspects of "The Odyssey" by Homer while the main plot is the theft of Batgirl's batplane and the kidnapping of a teacher. The action never lets up from the first page to the last. I do have to mention a disparaging remark against homeschooling, though.

[Fraser Sherman · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5. I'm obviously not the target audience for a series aimed at young girls, but these books are light-hearted and fun. Wonder Woman's invited some of her fellow students for a slumber party but when Batgirl prepares to fly them in the Batplane, her jet has vanished. Is Etrigan, their poetry professor, responsible (he's a demon, after all?). An alien student named Lobo? How does Miss Martian end up singing in a Battle of the Bands against Silver Banshee and Black Canary? The answers will redefine the DC Universe — okay, they won't do that, but that's fine.

[Ondra Král · Rating 3 out of 5]

Na mě až moc dětské, ale jako komiks pro mladší čtenářky to působí fajn. Batgril někdo ukradne letadlo, a tak mladí supráci ze střední začínají pátrat a potkávat různé DC postavy. Příběh je rozdělen do několika epizod, dětskej čtenář si tak podle potřeby může dát pauzu + kresba je pěkná a přehledná. Jen ta paraela s Odysseou docela drhne.

Suma sumárum - pro děcka dobrý, dospělýmu to nemá co nabídnout (vtípky jsou až moc dětinské).

[Katarína Harčová · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kúpila som to neterke ako darček k narodeninám a musím povedať, že kebyže som vo veku 6-12 rokov tak by sa mi to isto mimoriadne páčilo a verím, že sa to bude páčiť aj jej, kedže sa miluje prezliekať za nindžu. :)

Ak máte doma malú superhrdinku, tak určite odporúčam, zaujímavé je, že aj známe antihrdinky, tu sú ako hrdinky a majú so superhrdinkami veľmi kamarátsky vzťah. Harley Queen a Poison Ivy su kamošky so Supergirl a Wonder Woman, tá ma bavila najviac. Určite jej kúpim viac častí.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great introduction to these characters for younger girls (and guys). Lots of situational comedy. However, I found it strange that they made Black Canary a villain (while keeping so many other characters as superheroes who do not end up becoming superheroes). I also thought the entire side story of battle of the bands was unnecessary.
Fun read.

[Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the best book in the series. It is full of cliched lines, and unbelievable story, even for a kids graphic novel. The entire team is on the lookout for Batgirl’s plane. They have a slumber party at Wonder Woman’s that they must get too. It was a lot of girl fighting, and I expect better. This title was all Miss and no Hits.

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kept putting off reading this until it had to go back to the library the next day, but it was surprisingly great! The art is a bit flat, but it is serviceable, and the writing is super voicey and fun. I would still kinda debate whether this is, in fact, a Odyssey retelling, but a version about friendship and without cannibalism is probably more appropriate for an all-ages comic anyways.

[Lissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though I love these characters, this fell a little flat for me. Largely I believe this was due to the characterisation of Black Canary - as a petty and shallow villain - and her so called “birds of prey” - Who I didn’t care about, because the REAL birds of prey are Batgirl and Huntress. So, I’m a bit bitter about that, but overall this volume was fine.

[Katy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reread.

I couldn't remember where I left off in this series so I decided to reread them from the beginning. A fun visit to the DC Comics world for young readers. I like the introduction to not only the characters everyone knows like Batgirl and Wonder Woman, but also Bumble Bee, Starfire, Frost, and more.

[Carina · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mom and I really love this series of books - I was a little hesitant to check this one out though because Trigon is on the cover. This book was over my head (I'm only 5), so I didn't understand all of the mythological details and references to the Odyssey. This series is still great though.

[J.X. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the second volume a little more for whatever reason; might have been that it felt less like an introductory tale, and more like just a fun read. Also, Harley definitely has a strong thing for Princess Diana.

[DOUGLAS J BERRY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Franchise!

Good color artwork. Cast of hundreds of teen superpowers. A professor and a vehicle are stolen from the superhero Academy. The teens work together ,though some will be enemies in the future.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a cute toned down version of the normal characters aimed at pre-teens. Love the characters and I can't wait until my grand-daughter is old enough to appreciate this series.