PRESENTING...BETTY BOOP...sorta!

In 1930, Betty Boop began branching out from animated cartoons to other media...sorta!

From Photoplay, April 1932

As you can see from this clip, Helen never actually played Betty, who was based on her appearance and performances...which were apparently based on those of an earlier Black child performer, Baby Esther!

When King Features Syndicate's negotiations with Betty Boop's owner, Fleischer Studios for a newspaper strip stalled, Helen's agent suggested doing a strip about the "Boop-Boop-a-Doop Girl: Helen Kane"!

Here's the (almost) complete 11-week run...

We take a pause in our presentation because the strip published on October 31 contains racial stereotypes common to the media of the era.

If you wish to see it, please click

HERE.

Now, back to our presentation...

This was the final Boop-Boop-a-Doop strip since King Features and Fleischer Brothers came to terms and work on a licensed Betty Boop strip was now under way!

You'll aee that strip on November 20!

But next week...

...A long-lost one-shot comic by three famous comic pros who are also among Betty's greatest fans!

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Fleischer Story: featuring Betty Boop!
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Halloween Heroine TRACY THOMPSON "Strange House"

Meant to be a resourceful "everywoman" to contrast with Adventure Comics' lead character, Supergirl...

Tracey Thompson and her comic relief BFF Betsy were introduced in this never-reprinted backup tale from DC's Adventure Comics #401 (1971)!

Written and penciled by Mike Sekowsky and inked by Frank Giacoia, this story was the first in a projected series, but only this and another tale in the next issue were ever published!

Were there others in any stage of production when the project was abandoned?
Could any of them have been reworked with different characters and used?
Since all the involved creatives have passed from this mortal coil, we'll never know!

Happy Halloween!

Halloween Heroine MOTHER HUBBARD "vs the Eyeless Ogres"

We conclude this chapter in the history of comic book heroines...

...with the final tale of the witch who looks like a traditional fairy tale sorceress; Mother Hubbard!

Most magician-heroines in comics are beautiful women in tights (Scarlet Witch, Zatanna, Clea, etc.). but Mother Hubbard was the personification of a classic fairy tale witch.

Art for this tale in Chesler's Scoop Comics #3 (1942) was by Bill Madden.
Regrettably, the writer is unknown.
It was her final first-run appearance, but Mother's adventures have been reprinted in both the Golden and Atomic Ages.

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

Halloween Heroine MOTHER HUBBARD "vs Soul-Stealing Gnomes"

The mystical heroine who looks like the traditional stereotype of a witch returns...

...this time, taking on a mob of mischievous mystical menaces!

For whatever reason, after taking on Nazis in her first appearance, Mother Hubbard confined her war on evil to gnomes, trolls and the like.
Most magician-heroines in comics are beautiful women in tights (Scarlet Witch, Zatanna, Clea, etc.). but Mother Hubbard was the personification of a classic fairy tale witch.

Art for this appearance in Chesler's Scoop Comics #2 (1942) was by Bill Madden, but the writer is unknown.

Be here next week, when we present another tale of classic (yet creepy) comic grrrl power!

Halloween Heroine MOTHER HUBBARD "vs The Leader"

It's almost Halloween, so here's a witch...

...who battled Nazi spies in this unusual Golden Age series from Chesler Syndicate.

Most magician-heroines in comics are beautiful women in tights (Scarlet Witch, Zatanna, Clea, etc.). but Mother Hubbard was the personification of a stereotypical fairy tale witch.

Oddly, though this is her first appearance, the Nazis know who she is and what she's capable of!

No actual origin (or explanation of how she survived to the present and turned from evil to good) was ever presented during her three-story run.

Art for her premiere appearance in Chesler's Scoop Comics #1 (1941) was by Bill Madden, but the writer is unknown.

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