Having faced down Brainwave, Patrick is determined that Courtney take a break from being Stargirl before she gets really hurt. But the arrival in town of Icicle will change things in drastic, tragic ways.

The one thing that I’m really struggling to get a grip on with Stargirl is exactly what the Injustice League’s ultimate plan is (obviously) but also where exactly they’re coming from. Bad guys who do awful things but think their cause is righteous isn’t exactly new (hello, MCU Thanos), but this is on another level. The opening flashback scene of a tragedy in Icicle’s life seems intended to lend some pathos to the character, and certainly various things he says throughout the episode suggest he has a plan which extends beyond the usual arch-villain attempts at world domination. On the other hand, he also does some pretty despicable stuff, despite seeming to genuinely love his son and care about him growing up in a ‘better world’.

While all that complexity is being shaded in with our villains, Courtney is getting to grips with life at her new school, and fining out the hard way that superhero or no, she can’t solve all the injustices suffered by her fellow teens at the hands of their peers. The dynamic being rapidly established between her and Pat as hero and sidekick is interesting – Pat desperate to protect her and keep her away from the people who are so dangerous they murdered all his friends in the Justice Society of America all those years ago, Courtney full of the fire and confidence of youth and unwilling to listen.

When they team up for their next confrontation against an enemy, it’s very different because they’re dealing with someone who is far more ruthless and willing to do whatever is necessary to achieve their goals. That means that despite their best efforts tragedy can’t entirely be avoided, and it’s an impact that hits both Courtney and Pat hard for different reasons. Courtney because she’s never had to deal with this before, and Pat because he’s had to deal with it all too much.

Meanwhile, Barbara is carrying on making waves in her new job, blissfully unaware of exactly who she’s working for as much as they are of who exactly she (and more importantly her daughter) is. As lives get entangled like this in the small town, it’s difficult to see this not being very messy in the weeks to come.

Verdict: Doing some very interesting work with both its heroes and villains. This promises much going forward. 9/10

Greg D. Smith