Fans of The CW’s Arrow and The Flash don’t have to wait until DC’s Legends of Tomorrow to see the expansion of their shared TV DC Universe. The Vixen animated series is debuting this Tuesday, August 25th on CW Seed. And if the first preview videos are any indication, Vixen is going to give The Flash and Arrow everything they can handle!
Vixen was created by writer Gerry Conway and artist Bob Oksner in 1981, and her real name is Mari Jiwe McCabe. She’s an African woman from the fictional nation of Zambesi who can channel the powers of the animal kingdom through the mystical totem that she wears as a necklace. Vixen has also been a member of both the Suicide Squad and the Justice League, including the infamous JLA Detroit team.
While Vixen has previously had memorable appearances in Justice League Unlimited and Batman: The Brave and The Bold, the Vixen animated series is her first time in a solo spotlight outside of the comic book realm. Megalyn Echikunwoke (The 4400) is voicing Mari/Vixen in the animated series, and she’ll be joined by Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen/Arrow, Grant Gustin as Barry Allen/The Flash, Emily Bett Rickards as Felicity Smoak, and Carlos Valdes as Cisco Ramon.
The second preview video for Vixen seems to indicate that her origin has been reworked for the animated series, as the show opens with Mari in jail…presumably for a crime she didn’t commit.
Comic book fans, what do you think of the first previews from Vixen? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
