Either naughty OR nice at Christmastime? We have a grrrl for you!

One of the most notorious Golden Age characters, Phantom Lady was also one of the first costumed superheroines, beating out Wonder Woman (who debuted in All-Star Comics #8) in 1941 by several months!

Like a number of 1940s comics characters, she was created by an independent comic book studio for an established publisher, in this case, Quality Comics, debuting in Police Comics #1 which also featured the first appearances of Plastic Man, FireBrand, and The Human Bomb.
After a year, her strip was canceled by Quality, and the character was offered to Fox Comics, where she was promoted to her own comic, which started with #13, since it took over the numbering of an already existing title.
Her costume was modified by legendary "good girl" artist Matt Baker to expose more of her (ahem) assets and a number of covers featured her being captured and tied up by evildoers.
It is this version which became notorious by becoming one of the primary examples in Dr. Fredric Wertham's crusade against comics detailed in his book Seduction of the Innocent.

Believing that both the "naughty" and "nice' versions of the character have a place in pop culture history, Atomic Kommie Comics™ has included the classic superheroine in not one, but two different sections of our store!
In the Heroines!™ collection, we have the G-rated "empowered" version, kicking evil butts right and left!
And, in Seduction of the Innocent!!™, we have the PG-13, more risque version, including the famous cover included in Dr. Wertham's book!

She's also featured on both our Heroines and Good Girl / Bad Grrrl 12-Month Calendars!

If you're looking for classy, yet kitchy, gifts, you can't go wrong with our selection of Phantom Lady goodies for the pop culture / comics aficionado in your life!
Let him (or her) unwrap Phantom Lady this Christmas!
They'll thank you for it! ;-)

SOUTH SEA GIRL "Echoes of an A-Bomb"

Because it's a chilly late Fall/early Winter in the US...

...we're going to look at the tropical adventures of a sarong-clad heroine battling atom bomb-wielding Commies in an airship!

This tale from Leader's Seven Seas Comics #6 (1947) was scripted by Manning Lee Stokes with art by legendary "good-girl" artist Matt Baker, who also illustrated most of the legendary Fox Comics Phantom Lady series (which we ran HERE).
Stokes was a pulp/paperback writer specializing in mystery and action.
His only comic book work was for various strips in Seven Seas Comics.
This strip ran for all six issues of Seven Seas Comics and some of the stories have been reprinted, usually renaming the heroine or changing the story title.
When it was reprinted in the 1950s, the heroine's name was changed to "Vooda", and her bare midriff was covered both on the new cover art and the modified story pages...

When it was reprinted in the 1960s, she was once more "Alani" and her tummy was uncovered (in the interior pages)...

...but not on the new cover art by Ross Andru and Mike Esposito!

Be here next week, when we present another tale of classic comic grrl power!

DIANA THE HUNTRESS "Anthem of Freedom"

Long before Katniss Everdeen notched arrow to bowstring...

...the original archer heroine was making her mark in pop culture during comics' Golden Age...

As we pointed out in Diana's "origin" story HERE, the authors mixed their Greek and Roman pantheons, but did utilize the correct powers and abilities for the gods and goddesses they used!

Though the writer of this story from Charlton's YellowJacket Comics #6 (1944) is unknown, the artist is long-time pulp and comic book illustrator Leo Morey.

There'll be more never-reprinted tales of Diana the Huntress in the future.

Watch for them!

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BOY EXPLORERS "Isle Where Women Rule" Conclusion

We Have Already Seen...

Now let's continue this Golden Age tale about "feminazis", as Rush Limbaugh would call them..

Where the Amazons of Wonder Woman were kind and loving, wanting to help Mankind, these women embody the worst stereotypes of "strong women", feared by men of the era!

The Boy Explorers were typical of the "kid gang" strips of the era, combining a group of stereotypes (tough Brooklyn/Bronx or hillbilly urchin, glasses-wearing intellectual, annoying little-brother type, and a "typical" American boy) along with an adult mentor.

The plots ranged from fighting crooks and enemy spies in their neighborhood to travelling to exotic locations.

(This particular group is taking an around-the-world cruise.)

This never-reprinted tale from the back of Harvey's Terry and the Pirates Comics #4 (1947) was written and illustrated by the team of Joe Simon & Jack Kirby (who created the genre), this tale came out at the end of the concept's popularity, when stories became more and more outrageous to hold the waning audience's interest!

BTW, our "sister" blog, True Love Comics Tales presented a Womens-Lib era variation on the concept, which you can read HERE!

BOY EXPLORERS "Isle Where Women Rule" Part 1

Is this tale reponsible for Rush Limbaugh's "feminazi" fantasies?

This never-reprinted story from Harvey's Terry and the Pirates Comics #3 (1947), typlifies the adolecent male mindset from his childhood (which he apparently hasn't outgrown)...

Be here next week for the astounding conclusion!

Where the Amazons of Wonder Woman were kind and loving, wanting to help Mankind, these women embody the worst stereotypes of "strong women", feared by men of the era!

The Boy Explorers were typical of the "kid gang" strips of the era, combining a group of stereotypes (tough Brooklyn/Bronx or hillbilly urchin, glasses-wearing intellectual, annoying little-brother type, and a "typical" American boy) along with an adult mentor.

The plots ranged from fighting crooks and enemy spies in their neighborhood to travelling to exotic locations.

(This particular group is taking an around-the-world cruise.)

Written and illustrated by the team of Joe Simon & Jack Kirby (who created the genre), this tale came out at the end of the concept's popularity, when stories became more and more outrageous to hold the waning audience's interest!

BTW, our "sister" blog, True Love Comics Tales presented a Womens-Lib era variation on the concept, which you can read HERE!