We’ve already let you know what our most talked about and most popular posts of 2012 are. But as the people who write all those stories you read, we at The Mary Sue have to admit that we have favorites of our own. They might not have garnered page after page of comments or tons of hits, but darnit, we like ‘em. So now, in our final roundup of 2012, we’ve let our biases out to play to share with you our Favorite Articles of 2012.

Here’s to a geek-tastic 2013!

Batgirl: Spoiled is an upcoming web series created by Sax Carr and Marisha Ray that follows Stephanie Brown, the third Batgirl, as she endeavors to understand her place in Gotham and the Bat family. This trailer is mostly a proof of concept, with some character development thrown in at the end, but let me just say this is an amazing project. I’m pretty sure I audibly squealed “OMG” when I saw Oracle, Batwoman, and Renee Montoya on the screen. And while it’s definitely missing Stephanie’s quick quips and comebacks, I’m sure it’ll come in time with an actual episode, and honestly, her cocky smile was enough for me.

Check out the project’s Facebook page, and join us as we wait on the edge of our seat for the first episode.

(via Youtube.)

There’s been a lot of discussion over the promo image for Doctor Who series seven. Tumblr user toughtink decided to play with some role reversal with it. (via Tough Tink)

Well this is just plain adorable. Reddit user Doodiescoop (aka Becca Jones) drew what would happen if Futurama’s Fry and Leela decided to have children. (via io9)

Not too long ago I asked a famous comic book artist to draw me a picture of Oracle and what I got was not at all what I expected. Barbara Gordon was depicted in a hospital wheelchair with a blanket over her legs, certainly not the Oracle I know. “How could big name-so-and-so not know how to draw someone in a wheelchair?” I said to myself but then I thought, “Probably because they aren’t in one.” That’s just one possible scenario of course, there are plenty of artists out there (like Adam Hughes above) who get it right. But if there’s a problem we all suffer from at times it’s ignorance. Yes…all of us. Some more than others of course but even the most learned of us could do with a bit of education now and then and that’s my goal today.

It’s certainly not meant as a dig, but through the years, it’s become obvious to me that a lot of people are oblivious to the every day lives of people with disabilities (PWD). And that’s why awareness and education are important. It’s not that people don’t care (although some might not), it’s that they truly don’t know what’s appropriate in certain situations. Read on for a few examples of different types of wheelchairs, as well as those who use them, plus some commentary by a creator and an actor who are close to the topic at hand. 

French artist/graphic designer Lily’s Factory has come up with a really interesting way to show the previous lives of some of our favorite DC Comics women. Above of course is Batwoman, continue on for the Birds of Prey and a few of their friends and foes.

Now that March is nearly upon us — less than 24 hours away, actually — it’s obvious that many of us are excited about The Hunger Games coming to theaters in just about three weeks. But one of the major elements of Suzanne Collins’ trilogy is how exceptionally ordinary the protagonist, Katniss Everdeen, is. She’s just a normal girl, thrown into a horrible situation, and then she handles the crap out of it. She sends a message that fantastical superpowers aren’t all that necessary if there is a battle afoot. Even an epically huge, life-or-death battle that concerns the welfare of a country, a planet, or even a universe.

This week, we’re talking about Katniss’ predecessors — superheroines of geekdom who don’t wear costumes, nor do they have superpowers. Some of them might be barely educated or inexperienced, some of them are wildly smart. But what they all have in common is that if you have them on your team in a fight, you will win. Hands down.

The secretly female computer whiz is such a common trope these days that I’ve almost come to expect it. Oooh, there’s this super 1337 hacker who the whole male cast is in awe of, but they have no idea who they are and they need their help. Then, unexpectedly, the first time they meet, that hacker is totally a hot chick.

Then, about half the time, there is sexual tension. But as tired as the reveal is, we have to admit that the trope itself has given us some of our favorite characters in movies, TV, and literature; obviously nerdy, intelligent girls who kick ass and sometimes get boys. It also goes hand in hand with our favorite anachronistic tech-films, but we’ll get to that. Grab your 28.8k modem and join us for ten of our favorite lady hackers.

I was going to stick this into the “hold on to your butts” category because…woah…but since there’s no confirmation I chose “rumory.” We’ve just heard that a certain DC Comics superheroine might have a role in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises and that a famous actress has already been filming as her. The HUGE spoiler and a photo that corroborates the story is under the cut.

Yesterday evening I trotted out to my favorite international comic book store chain, intending to pick up my first three comics of the DCnU, and, because of Labor Day related delays, was only able to get one of them. This seems like something that DC probably should have worked out with Diamond Comics Distributors, but I digress.

I’m not sure if this is a review of Batgirl #1 so much as it is an attempt to give you enough information about it so that you can decided whether you want to buy it. Which… I guess is actually the purpose of a review. Lets get started. I’m keeping it spoiler light.