Archie's Rivals in Teen Comics, 1940s-1970s: An Illustrated History

by Michelle Nolan

Overview

This is the first book to comprehensively examine the multitude of non-Archie teen humor comic books, including girls and boys such as Patsy Walker, Hedy Wolfe, Buzz Baxter and Wendy Parker from Marvel; Judy Foster, Buzzy, Binky and Scribbly from DC; Candy from Quality Comics; and Hap Hazard from Ace Comics. It covers, often for the first time, the history of the characters, who drew them, why (or why not) they succeeded as rivals for the Archie Series, highlights of both unusual and typical stories and much more. The author provides major plotlines and a history of the development of each series. Much has been written about the Archie characters, but until now very little has been told about most of their many comic book competitors.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476639765
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	05/22/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	266
File size:	81 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Michelle Nolan has been a newspaper and magazine feature writer for more than 50 years. She received an Inkpot Award for her work as a comics and pop cultural historian and entrepreneur. She has written more than 12,000 published articles in newspapers and magazines along with contributions to dozens of books. She lives in Bellingham, Washington.
Michelle Nolan has been a newspaper and magazine feature writer for more than 50 years. She received an Inkpot Award for her work as a comics and pop cultural historian and entrepreneur. She has written more than 12,000 published articles in newspapers and magazines along with contributions to dozens of books. She lives in Bellingham, Washington.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction: The Rivals of Riverdale
Section I: Overview: The 1940s
1. Here She Comes in Miss America Comics: Patsy Walker
2. Patsy Walker’s Groundbreaking Title
3. Marvel Teens in the 1940s
4. Judy’s Date with Success
5. Buzzy, Binky and Scribbly in the 1940s
6. Candy’s Antics
7. Hap Hazard and the Ace Gang
8. Wilbur, the Forgotten Success Story
9. Topsy-Turvy, Cookie and The Kilroys
10. Why My Date Didn’t Go So Well
11. Comics Advertised “For Teen Girls”
12. Ozzie and Babs—Fawcett’s Only Teen Stars
13. Junior, Sunny and Corliss
14. Slick Chick Comics and the Dearfield Duo
15. Other Short Run Pre-Code Girls
16. Teena and the Strip Reprints
17. Hi-Jinx—­Teen-Age Animal Funnies
Section II: The 1950s
18. Patsy Walker, Something of a Supergirl
19. DC’s Teen Humor: A Favorite in the ’50s
20. The Unique Wendy Parker
21. My Girl Pearl: Dumb and Dumber
22. The Joy of Meeting Miss Bliss
23. Henry Aldrich and the Dell Teens
24. Jetta, ­Teen-Age Sweetheart of 2052
Between pages 148 and 149 are 8 color plates containing 15 photographs
25. The Mystery of Candy in the 1950s
26. The Amazing Mazie and Her Boyfriends
27. Why Ginger Deserved a Better Fate
28. The First Kathy and Company
29. Lucy, the (All Too Soon) Real Gone Gal
30. Oh, What a Brother!
31. The Most Obscure Teen Humor Comic Book
32. Junior Hopp and the Hopp Rod
33. The ­Short-Run Guys in the ­Not-So-Nifty ’50s
Section III: Introduction: The 1960s and 1970s
34. John Stanley’s Masterpiece: Thirteen
35. Patsy and Hedy: A Novel Approach in the 1960s
36. An Early ’60s Bright Spot: Marvel’s ­Teen-Age Tornado!
37. Judy, Dobie, Freddy and the Early ’60s
38. Tippy Teen’s Surprise Appearance
39. Josie, Pussycats and All
40. A Word on the Working Girls
Appendix: Teen Humor Comics Outside the Archie Universe, 1940s to 1970s
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

A comprehensive overview of less-known American teen humor comic books from the mid-20th century....Plots of individual comics are summarized at length, and exhaustive bibliographical information is provided. Less attention, however, is given to the writers, artists, and/or readership of teen humor comics....The prose is clear, well written and free of jargon, and extensive illustrations are included. Most useful to specialists interested in US comics and popular and visual culture....recommended”—Choice

From the Publisher