As most comic book fans know, with Supergirl’s move to The CW, an array of new roles were announced for the show’s second season. Included in these casting descriptions was a casting call for none other than Snapper Carr. If the name sounds familiar, it should be. Lucas “Snapper” Carr has been a relevant DC Comics character since his introduction in The Brave and the Bold #28 in February of 1960. His creation stemmed from the basis that DC Executive Editor Whitney Ellsworth wanted a civilian member of the Justice League who could represent the emerging youth of the era. Snapper earned his nickname due to his tendency to snap.
In Snapper’s first appearance, he helped the Justice League of America figure out how to stop an invading Starro, who had taken control of the population of Happy Harbor. Due to his role in stopping Starro, Snapper was made an honorary member of the Justice League. He was given a signal belt he could use to call upon members of the JLA. Additionally, a flying car was built so that Snapper could be taken to Justice League meetings.
As time went on, Snapper Carr became very unpopular. He was later written out of the book by Dennis O’Neil in story “Snapper Carr—Super Traitor!” During the events of the story, Snapper betrays the Justice League. He does so to a man who is later revealed to be the Joker. Snapper would go on to resign his honorary membership.
Snapper would later go on to be persuaded into becoming the villain Star-Tsar by the villain, The Key. This all happened after he was unable to go to college or find employment due to his association with the JLA. After attacking the Justice League, though later redeeming himself, Superman got Snapper a job at a place fans of CW’s The Flash might be very familiar with, S.T.A.R. Labs. In various other media such as Justice League & Justice League Unlimited, Snapper has been portrayed as a news reporter. In Young Justice he’s a former Justice League associate turned high school teacher.
With that said, Supergirl seems to be taking their own spin on the character. With Ian Gomez’s casting in the role, it will mark Snapper’s first live action appearance. He’ll be serving as the new editor and chief of CatCo Magazine. Here’s what his official character description reads:
On Supergirl, Snapper Carr is a headstrong, sharp-witted newsman, hired by Cat Grant (Calista Flockhart) to be the editor-in-chief of CatCo Magazine. Snapper’s commitment to hard-hitting journalism pushes CatCo reporters to dig deeper in the pursuit of excellence. He’s a man who tells people what he thinks of them, and his no-holds-barred approach pushes Kara (Melissa Benoist) in unexpected ways.
Of course, this is a huge change up from the character’s portrayal in the comics, with Supergirl’s version of Snapper Carr being more akin to Perry White than a former sidekick to the Justice League. It seems as if at first glance the producers of Supergirl are taking a note or two from the Justice League animated series, putting Snapper Carr back into the journalism world. We’ll have to wait this fall to find out what exactly this version of Snapper Carr is made of.
Supergirl premieres on The CW on October 10, 2016, at 8/7c