PLAYER PROFILE: Squirrel Girl

In a world with characters that have adamantium claws, can control the weather, have super human strength and can flame on, what could someone who controls squirrels actually do? Well you would be surprised! This installment of “Player Profile” I am giving you the inside scoops on one of the most forgotten but surprisingly popular characters in the Marvel Universe. I am of course talking about the one and only Squirrel Girl.

A few weeks back it was revealed that she would be a playable character in the upcoming “Lego Marvel Superheroes” game though many might not know who she is or what she is all about. After talking with several people about what they thought about her in the game I was treated to two different answers.

1. Who is that?

2. Awesome!

So with those answers I felt I should illuminate the comic fans on this truly fantastic character.

Squirrel Girl, whose alter ego is Doreen Green, is a mutant from Los Angeles. Her powers include:

• Squirrel-like abilities

• Superhuman agility and strength

• Prehensile tail

• Enhanced smell, vision and reflexes

• Razor sharp claws

• Retractable knuckle spikes

• Ability to communicate with squirrels

Pretty impressive ability set if I do say so myself.

Created by Steve Ditko and Will Murray she first appeared in Marvel Super Heroes Vol 2 #8 in 1992 in a story aptly named “The Coming of….Squirrel Girl”. In her debut she teams up with Iron Man and helps him to defeat Doctor Doom. Now this was pretty interesting for a debut character because it was she who ultimately gains the victory over Doom. With a name like Squirrel Girl you wouldn’t think she would have the ability to take down one of the Marvel Universes most infamous villains, but she did. Most notably in this debut is the fact that she was merely 14 years old. To not only defeat Doom but also to rescue Iron Man, whom Doom had captured, is a pretty big feat to accomplish on your first outing as a super hero.

After her initial debut she was tapped to become the newest member of the New Warriors, but due to the writer of the series leaving Marvel, this never came to be. She made a one-panel appearance in “Marvel Year in Review ‘92” and had a Fleer Marvel Trading Card made of her in 1997. Apart from these guest spots and a fleeting mention in an issue of Deadpool, Squirrel Girl seemed poised to be one of those forgotten Marvel Characters.

That is until that maniacal magnificent mad genius Dan Slott entered the scene. In 2005 Slott created a four-issue mini-series around the Great Lakes Avengers. Slott resurrected Squirrel Girl and placed her on the team. Now a full member of the team she would go on to appear with the GLA in other titles such as Cable & Deadpool during the Civil War story arc and in the Deadpool/GLI (The Great Lakes Avengers were renamed the Great Lakes Initiative) Summer Fun one-shot. Interesting to note that during her many run ins with the Merc with the Mouth, Squirrel Girl actually defeated him on both occasions. It is a badge of honor when Wade calls you one of the major powers in the whole Marvel Universe.

Deadpool and Doom are not the only villains she has gone up against and proven to be victorious. Squirrel Girl has taken down many notable beings from the Marvel Universe to include: MODOK, Fin Fang Foom, Baron Mordo and even Thanos (though that one many claim was actually a clone). Her many victories had even drawn the attention of S.H.I.E.L.D. who tried to recruit her into the organization, she however declined.

After she left the GLA she took the job of nanny to the daughter of Luke Cage and Jessica Jones. In this role she was seen during the Dark Reign, Fear Itself and Spider-Island sagas. She has become a very popular character to newer readers in this role, as it both is a role that shows her compassion for her charge as well as using her for comedic effects. One of the funnier interactions was after her hiring she ran into Wolverine in the Avengers Mansion. This seemed very awkward for the too who we come to find out had a prior relationship that did not end well and cause the two to promise they would never see each other again. Emma Frost even went into Wolverine’s mind and found that he had once lusted after Squirrel Girl. Now that is a story I wish they would come out and tell!

The question is with Luke Cage soon to be appearing in Marvel’s new Mighty Avengers title will we be seeing her a bit more? Only time will tell.

She has also appeared in other forms of media such as video games and even a cameo in the 2006 Fantastic Four television show. In all these appearances she is voiced by Tara Strong and with Ms. Strong’s name on the voice cast for Lego Marvel one can only assume she will lend her talents to Squirrel Girl once again. I am sure when fans get Lego Marvel a whole new generation of fans will be introduced to Squirrel Girl and she will become one of those characters that we will all cheer when we see her in one of our favorite comics.

In conclusion Squirrel Girl is one of those characters that while a one off at the beginning has become one who has a deep cult following and as I stated with her inclusion into the upcoming game more people will get to know and love her.