The CW is really the place to be to see characters from DC comics in action. Although The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow have been getting most of the fanfare recently, Arrow is still the series that started it all and is often used as the platform to introduce new characters into the network's primetime comic universe. One new character to be introduced in Season 4 of Arrow will be Vixen, who will make the jump from her animated web series to live action with actress Megalyn Echikunwoke. Check out the first look of Vixen in the flesh!
For those of us who were wondering just how the powers used by Mari McCabe in her role as Vixen would translate to live action, the ghostly image of a wolf rising up from the heroine is an indication that it could look pretty good. Hopefully, the effects won’t eat up the special effects budget a la a certain guest star in Season 3.
The Vixen web series made a point that Mari’s inherited abilities to mimic and use the powers of any animal were tied to a necklace totem passed down through her family, so it’s somewhat curious that the first look at Vixen doesn’t show the necklace. It does show Megalyn Echikunwoke looking positively fierce, however, so there’s no room to complain.
Megalyn Echikunwoke provided the voice to the animated version of Vixen, so it’s only appropriate that she bring the character to Arrow. The web series has been renewed for a second series on CW Seed, but the glimpse of Vixen in the thick of things on Arrow has the potential to lead to a bigger part for Mari in The CW’s DC universe. Her fantastical powers may not make her a suitable candidate to stick around on Arrow for the long term, but The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow could almost certainly accommodate her gifts.
Of course, Vixen will fit in on Arrow much better in Season 4 than she would have in Seasons 1 – 3. The first three seasons were more or less grounded in a realism that is largely absent in the fourth, thanks to supervillain Damien Darhk being a dabbler in magic.
It should be interesting to see how Mari’s brand of magic as Vixen will be introduced on Arrow. Oliver Queen has already met Mari thanks to Stephen Amell lending his voice to the web series, so Team Arrow may be able to join forces with Vixen without too much setup on screen. A lot looks to be happening in the second half of Season 4; seamlessly introducing a major guest star could go a long way in making her episode unforgettable.
Megalyn Echikunwoke will appear as Vixen in the fifteenth episode of Season 4 of Arrow, which is currently scheduled to air on February 24. While there’s still a bit of a wait before we can see a live action version of the animated character, Arrow has fortunately returned from its winter hiatus. You can catch the adventures of Oliver Queen and Co. on Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. ET on The CW.
