vixen

First Look: Vixen Makes Her Debut on This Week’s ‘Arrow’

This week’s episode of Arrow, “Taken,” finally sees the debut of Megalyn Echikunwoke as a live-action Mari McCabe, a.k.a. the animal-powered superheroine known as Vixen.

The CW let us know Vixen was coming quite some time ago, leaking a promo image and releasing a series of animated web shorts on the CW Seed which also featured Echikunwoke. The animated series has recently been renewed for a second season, and now we get to meet Vixen in the flesh.

Here’s hoping that — like The Flash before her — this is a back-door pilot for a stand-alone live-action Vixen television show. Another superhero show that not only features a woman but a woman of color?

I didn’t think I would ever live to see the day.

Here’s the official CW synopsis of this week’s episode.

VIXEN JOINS TEAM ARROW

Oliver (Stephen Amell) realizes he needs help battling Darhk (guest star Neal McDonough) so he calls in an old friend – Vixen (guest star Megalyn E.K.). Using her magical ability to summon animal powers, Vixen gets a lock on Darhk’s location and the team goes to war. Meanwhile, Thea (Willa Holland) has a heart-to-heart talk with Malcolm (John Barrowman).

Arrow is shown on Wednesdays at 8 / 7c on the CW.

Warner Bros. releases animated trailer for Vixen

As part of Warner Bros. massive television panel at San Diego Comic Con, the CW premiered the trailer for Vixen, a digital only cartoon coming this fall featuring DC Comics first African-American female superhero to headline her own title.

Megalyn Echikunwoke will voice the titular Vixen, owner of the “Tantu Totem,” a mystic artifact that gives the wearer the ability to copy the powers and abilities of any nearby animals.

Vixen will be released online via CW Seed, and will feature appearances by Flash star Gustin Grant and Arrow‘s Steven Arnell reprising their television roles. Echikunwoke will return the favor, guest starring as Vixen on CW’s live action superhero shows next season.

Vixen will premiere Aug. 25 online on CW Seed.

Editor’s Note: Story was corrected to reflect that Vixen was the first female African-American superhero to get her own comic at DC. Bumblebee was the actual first female African-American superhero at the company.