Why I Love DC’s New Super Hero Girls

Apr 22, 2015 By ParentingGeekly in advice, comics, toys Tags: Comics, DC, girls, superheroes, toys

Yesterday DC Comics announced the launch of DC Super Hero Girls a line of videos, digital games, books and toys marketed to girls.

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DC’s new Super Hero Girls (image courtesy of DC Comics)

From the DC Press Release:

Beginning in Fall 2015, DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation, Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Mattel join forces to launch DC Super Hero Girls, an exciting new universe of Super Heroic storytelling that helps build character and confidence, and empowers girls to discover their true potential. Featuring DC Comics’ most powerful and diverse line-up of female characters as relatable teens, DC Super Hero Girls will play out across multiple entertainment content platforms and product categories to create an immersive world.

Developed for girls aged 6-12, DC Super Hero Girls centers on the female Super Heroes and Super-Villains of the DC Comics universe during their formative years—prior to discovering their full super power potential. Featuring a completely new artistic style and aesthetic, DC Comics’ icons such as Wonder Woman, Supergirl, Batgirl, Harley Quinn, Bumble Bee, Poison Ivy, Katana and many more make their unprecedented teenaged introduction. Each character has her own storyline that explores what teen life is like as a Super Hero, including discovering her unique abilities, nurturing her remarkable powers and mastering the fundamentals of being a hero.

And (one of my favorite parts):

Mattel category-leading firsts include a line of characters for the action figure category, an area of the industry that has been primarily developed with boys in mind, and fashion dolls featuring strong, athletic bodies that stand on their own in heroic poses.

Internet commenters have already pointed out that making a line targeted to girls is “othering”, deepens the divide between the genders and accentuates the thought that girls need something different than what boys need. I especially dislike the use of “Just for girls” and “exclusively for girls” language in the full press release. These are all valid points, and marketing to specific genders is always going to be problematic in some ways.

Let me tell you, though, why I am excited about this new line.

When I was a little girl I loved playing with action figures. I had Thundercats, WWF wrestlers and He-Man, and none of my female friends ever wanted to play with them. When friends came they would almost always want to play with my Barbie collection, not my action figures. When She-Ra debuted I went nuts. I was a girly girl, who happened to like superheroes and so She-Ra was a dream come true, I think I had all the figures, a castle and some sort of bathing/pool thing. I watched the cartoon religiously. (I really cannot express how much I loved She-Ra. When I threw pennies into a fountain, I would always wish for She-Ra to be real.) As a bonus, my non-superhero-loving female friends were totally into her, too. I finally had a way to share my geekiness with my female friends.

The fact of the matter is that girls and boys are already being marketing to separately. Boys get building toys, cars and super hero action figures and girls get doll babies, barbies and froufy dress up clothes. DC (and LEGO before them) is actually bridging the gender gap here by taking something that is traditionally found in the “boys” department and making it appealing for the “girls” aisle. The two aisles exist, I don’t see that changing anytime soon, so I am happy to see more diversity in what’s offered.

As I’ve written before (about my own daughter), there are going to be girls who choose to shop for the “girly” things. They love sparkles and ponies and princesses, and that frilly pink aisle is where they want to be. I am so excited that those girls will have a line of fashion dolls that are empowering. If these toys encourage a girl to pick up a comic book, to discover a love of superheroes, or just give her a different way to express herself, this is a win.

Is it Worth Your Allowance – Worms Revolution

Apr 20, 2015 By ParentingGeekly in Uncategorized

Is it Worth Your Allowance? Is a weekly column written by 14 year old Nate. Nate reviews inexpensive games and lets your geeklings know if it’s worth spending their hard earned allowance on. Have a game to suggest? You can email Nate here.

Worms Revolution

Genre: strategy, action, multiplayer

Cost: $14.99

Developer: Team17 Digital Ltd

If you want to buy this game go to this link: http://store.steampowered.com/app/200170

The worms series started in 1995 and is still going with the most recent game, Worms Revolution. like it’s predecessors, Worms is a turn based 2D shooter (flat side scrolling game) where you play as sentient worms in ant farm like map with various settings and one goal; destroy the enemy team(s). Worms Revolution has a four person local multiplayer that is lots of fun to play with friends. Worms is competitive with up to four teams battling for victory though it stays playful and fun for all. While battling there are tons of weapons to choose from, ranging from the classic rpg (rocket propelled grenade), to little silly things like water balloons. My favorite weapons are the are the bunker buster, turret and of course the rpg but there are the crazy ones like the old lady and the sheep. I have been playing the Worms games with my family since I was just a little kid and this one is my favorite.

Worms Revolution came out in 2012, but the older ones still hold up if you’re interested. There have been many Worms game before this one and weird ones like Worms 3D and Worms Crazy Golf and more. The game has a cartoony art style with great bright colors and detail.

I love the Worms games but most of them are really only fun to play with friends it gets really boring when you play alone, though if you don’t have any friends over to play the game does feature an online option. All of the Worms games are based around violence but all of it is cartoon violence so there’s no blood or gore, making the games good party games for anyone. I recommend this game for people ages 6 and up.

Overall, my final rating for this game is 7.5/10 and I definitely think it’s worth your allowance.

Samsung Galaxy Alpha Review

Apr 18, 2015 By ParentingGeekly in Uncategorized

The Samsung Galaxy Alpha solves Nate’s two complaints about the the Galaxy s5 “it’s huge” and “it’s cheap looking”. Indeed, in the world of iPhones, Samsung’s Galaxy line, while superior in most ways, is lacking in looks. It’s plastic and it feels flimsy. Nate’s complaint about the size also rings true. While the larger form factor makes for gorgeous movie viewing, it’s hard for my petite hands (and his teen hands) to manipulate, and forget about using it one handed without having to switch to “one handed mode”. The Galaxy Alpha also looks like it carries a hefty price tag (which it does) with a real metal frame – not the metallic plastic of the s5 – and a thinner more compact body. It really is a beautiful device.

The phone looks and behaves so much like a smaller s5, that it’s hard not to make comparisons. It has the same Snapdragon processor as the s5, and it also has a fingerprint scanner and heart rate monitor – some of my favorite features of the s5. What’s really disappointing though, is where it is lacking. Though it comes with a decent 64gb of internal storage, there is no SD card slot. Pictures, music and video will fill that up fast. It also has a lower resolution screen than the s5, while Nate neither noticed or cared, I am surprised that with so much attention paid to looks that Samsung wouldn’t have included the same amazing display that’s in the s5. It also lacks an IR emitter, this became a problem for me while I tested it out because I use my phone as a remote for my Samsung TV on a daily basis. The lack of this feature was unimportant to Nate, though.

I’d add that it’s not waterproof, but my s5’s waterproof charging cover broke about three months after I purchased it, so it’s not waterproof either.

I noticed all of these “shortcomings” because my primary phone is an s5. Going on specs alone, the Alpha is still a zippy phone. Nate loves it. It looks really cool, it’s sized better for his hands/texting. He was given the choice of taking my s5, or continuing to use the Alpha he chose the Alpha. His only complaint is that the power button seems to be in a bit of an awkward spot.

The Samsung Galaxy Alpha is available at AT&T and other carriers. (Special thanks to AT&T Seattle for providing us with the Samsung Galaxy Alpha!)

The Galaxy Alpha is a perfect choice for anyone who is missing the style factor of an iPhone or who is looking for a smaller form factor while maintaining a high-end mobile experience. We found it to be fast, a good size, and very attractive.