My Wonder is a Marvel
You know how I said Captain Marvel IS my Wonder Woman. Confession: I’m a girl that didn’t grow up on Wonder Woman, so when the WW craze hit, I wasn’t THAT crazed. GASP! Of course, I was totally excited for this amazing movie with a kick ass lead and talented director. Definitely. But I never went around wishing I was Wonder Woman or watched her show.
I have made friends with some serious WW fans and while I was stoked about seeing a strong woman on the big screen, I was more excited for my friends to have their moment to see Wondy kick some ass, which I feel is how it will be when Captain Marvel comes out. While others may not be familiar with Captain Marvel, I’m ALL ABOUT HER. Everyone knows how psyched I am about Carol Danvers on the big screen. But before there was Carol Danvers, there was someone else. My first fandom, two actually. Strawberry Shortcake and Rainbow Brite. That’s my jam right there, my strawberry jam. 😜
First Fandoms
I have been a fangirl of all sorts of things since I was little. Michael Jackson, MTV, Mr. Rogers, metal lunchboxes, all of them hold a special place in my fangirl heart. But Strawberry Shortcake and Rainbow Brite were the shizzle of my dizzle growing up. I had Strawberry Shortcake bedding, Strawberry Shortcake dolls, strawberry scented chapstick and lipgloss, strawberry pop tarts, strawberry ice cream, and my favorite dessert was actual strawberry shortcake. You’d think my favorite color was pink like Strawberry Shortcake, but I actually loved ALL the colors because Rainbow Brite was my other obsession.
Wear ALL the Things!
I wanted to BE Rainbow Brite! I had a rainbow toy box. I dressed in every color I could fi
nd, red shorts, colored tights, multi colored heart shirt, every color of sunglasses and bandana headband. Accessory queen! If you got it, flaunt it and ALL of it at once. I went through a phase where I wanted a side ponytail everyday and my mom HAD TO draw a purple heart on my cheek just like Rainbow Brite.
Any Excuse to Dress Up!
These fangirl moments all came rushing back when I saw there was a Strawberry Shortcake comic and a Strawberry Shortcake Funko POP! coming out when we first opened the shop. And yes yes yes, it was even Strawberry scented, as it should be. So what did I do? Throw an 80’s art show at the sho
p so I could dress up like Strawberry Shortcake complete with her cat, Custard. A plush I stored in my rainbow toybox that was finally freed for the occasion. Since I’m normally a blonde, actually having red hair to be Strawberry Shortcake was the ultimate!!! In case you are wondering, I had already dressed up as Rainbow Brite years ago at our first of many Halloween parties. It was a no brainer. And Jesus showed up. So much coolness as I’m a big fan of his too!
FUNKO FLUNKO!
All of this Strawberry Shortcake Funko Pop excitement and I didn’t think to save one for myself. I sold all of them!!! How does that even happen? It didn’t occur to me that I made an epic mistake in my fangirl collection, until Rainbow Brite’s POP came out this summer complete with her sprite, Twink. BTW I totally have Twink as a plush in my toybox too, my mom made it for me. Adorable tiny sidekicks are my favorite.
Then, shortly after the Rainbow Brite POP released, it was announced that she was going to have her own comic too!!! OMG first Strawberry now Rainbow!!! Both of my first favorite of all favorites were coming back into my life in a the form of something I already sell. Two worlds colliding.
I pulled a Monica!
Suddenly, panic ensued. I can’t have a Rainbow Brite POP & comic and not have a Strawberry Shortcake one! I tried to see if I could order one from Funko to restock the shop and it was too late. It was retired.
Cue the Monica Geller “NOOOOOOOOO!” 
POPS & Comics Achievement Unlocked
Retired POPs usually rocket in price, I’m totally screwed. Somehow I found a Strawberry Shortcake POP! online for under $20 and I ordered it immediately. Achievement unlocked! Chaos averted. My childhood will live on with my two favorites, Strawberry Shortcake and Rainbow Brite. Side by side in POP form and comic form. The tiny fangirl in me could be happy and my nerd must-have list got a little bit shorter.
Tell Me Yours!
It’s funny how just hearing the intro song to these two cartoons immediately transports me back. The joy of watching these powerful girls solve problems and always win against the bad guy… there’s something so comforting and inspiring about it. There’s something for everyone out there. These two just happen to be the gals that spoke to me. What’s your first fandom?
P.S.
Now that I think of it, when I was Strawberry Shortcake for Halloween, Jesus miraculously came back for one last hurrah! Ariel was there too, because you know how she is. She wants to be where the people are.
Be a Perky Nerd!
If you are a Rainbow Brite fan, don’t make the mistake I did. Order Rainbow Brite POP here! And get psyched for the comic with 3 different covers too. All of them are equally rad. Order issue #1 now! Stay tuned for Perky Nerd blog posts, news, and events on our Facebook page. LIKE us and follow The Perky Nerd!
