Calendar Girl is a female supervillain who debuted in ''

The New Batman Adventures ''The New Batman Adventures'' (often shortened as ''TNBA'') is an American superhero animated television series based on the DC Comics superhero Batman, which aired on Kids' WB from September 13, 1997 to January 16, 1999. Produced by Warner Bro ...

'' episode "Mean Seasons". Formerly a

supermodel A supermodel, also spelled super-model or super model, is a highly paid fashion model who usually has a worldwide reputation and often a background in ''haute couture'' and commercial modeling. The term ''supermodel'' became prominent in the po ...

named Page Munroe, the character developed severe self-esteem issues and body dysmorphia after being fired by her agent when she turned 30 years old. Calendar Girl is portrayed as a physically-attractive woman with long black hair and a mask on her face; her motif is based in various annual

holidays A holiday is a day set aside by Norm (social), custom or by law on which normal activities, especially business or work including school, are suspended or reduced. Generally, holidays are intended to allow individuals to celebrate or commemorate ...

and combating

ageism Ageism, also spelled agism, is discrimination against individuals or groups on the basis of their age. The term was coined in 1969 by Robert Neil Butler to describe discrimination against seniors, and patterned on sexism and racism. Butler defi ...

. She was voiced by

Sela Ward Sela Ann Ward (born July 11, 1956) is an American actress, author, and producer. Her breakthrough TV role was as Teddy Reed in the NBC drama series ''Sisters'' (1991–1996), for which she received her first Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding ...

and created by

Paul Dini Paul McClaran Dini (; born August 7, 1957) is an American screenwriter and comic creator. He has been a producer and writer for several Warner Bros. Animation/DC Comics animated series, most notably '' Batman: The Animated Series'' (1992–1995) ...

. Calendar Girl was a one-time character who failed to appear in any other

DC Comics DC Comics, Inc. (doing business as DC) is an American comic book publisher and the flagship unit of DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC Comics is one of the largest and oldest American comic book companies, with thei ...

content, and is based on the character

Calendar Man Calendar Man (Julian Gregory Day) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, as an enemy of the superhero Batman, belonging to the collective of adversaries that make up Batman's rogues gallery. Calendar Man is kn ...

First appearance

Calendar Girl's first and only appearance occurs in ''The New Batman Adventures'' episode "Mean Seasons". She

kidnaps In criminal law, kidnapping is the unlawful confinement of a person against their will, often including transportation/ asportation. The asportation and abduction element is typically but not necessarily conducted by means of force or fear: the ...

a number of corporate figures who had previously hired her as supermodel Page Munroe. Her former agent reveals to

Batman Batman is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on ...

and Batgirl that she was fired rudely due to ageism when she turned 30 and was replaced by younger girls. Calendar Girl is stopped by Batman and

Batgirl Batgirl is the name of several superheroines appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, depicted as female counterparts and allies to the superhero Batman. Although the character Betty Kane was introduced into publication in ...

as she dresses up like the

Grim Reaper Death is frequently imagined as a personified force. In some mythologies, a character known as the Grim Reaper (usually depicted as a berobed skeleton wielding a scythe) causes the victim's death by coming to collect that person's soul. Other b ...

for the

Day of the Dead The Day of the Dead ( es, Día de Muertos or ''Día de los Muertos'') is a holiday traditionally celebrated on November 1 and 2, though other days, such as October 31 or November 6, may be included depending on the locality. It is widely obser ...

, attacking her hostages with a

scythe A scythe ( ) is an agricultural hand tool for mowing grass or harvesting crops. It is historically used to cut down or reap edible grains, before the process of threshing. The scythe has been largely replaced by horse-drawn and then tractor m ...

. Detective Bullock tears her mask from her face, despite rumours that Page Munroe had botched plastic surgery and is physically hideous. Batgirl is shocked to see that Calendar Girl is still a beautiful woman, but Batman remarks that all she can see are her flaws as the woman writhes on the ground screaming, trying to cover her "ugly" face so nobody can see her.

Ageism commentary

Kyle Anderson of ''Nerdist'' noted during a review of "Mean Seasons" that the Calendar Girl character serves as an example of

age discrimination Ageism, also spelled agism, is discrimination against individuals or groups on the basis of their age. The term was coined in 1969 by Robert Neil Butler to describe discrimination against seniors, and patterned on sexism and racism. Butler def ...

and agism in fiction. Anderson stated, "the themes of aging not being a bad thing, and youth being overvalued, are constant in the episode. And this was very deliberate; actress

voiced Calendar Girl and, at the time, she was conducting a protest campaign against Hollywood’s ageism and its harmful effects on public perception. Monroe is even said to have been marginalized simply because she turned 30, and Ward taking this role seems directly in line with her cause."

References

{{reflist} DC Comics female supervillains Batman characters DC Comics characters Fictional models Fictional kidnappers Ageism in fiction Ageing in fiction Female characters in animated series Female characters in animation Female characters in comics Characters created by Paul Dini