Welcome back to the Tuggin' & Trammin' Blogging blog. If this' your first blog post you've read from me, welcome! Thanks for taking the time to check out my blog.
Today, I will be doing another "The History of" blog post, where I discuss, as the name implies, the History of my topic. Today's topic is Yankee Girl: The (Forgotten & Somewhat) Forgotten Golden Age Superhero.
If you've read my blog for a long time you'll know that I'm a bit of a lover of Golden Age and public domain characters. (You can check out my blog posts The History of Lady Luck and the Do's and Don'ts of Public Domain Characters for reference).
A lot of the characters I have learned about from the Golden Age (including Lady Luck and today's subject) are due to the Public Domain Superhero Wikipedia. Without this great source, these characters would be forgotten. I'll leave a link if you'd also like to explore the public domain superheroes, and maybe even get your own inspiration to use a character. Go wild! https://pdsh.fandom.com/wiki/Public_Domain_Super_Heroes
(But make sure to check out my Do's and Don'ts reference page as well, to help you along and avoid a lawsuit)
So today's character (or should I say characters?) we will be digging into the history of is Yankee Girl. Now I say characters because there's actually TWO Yankee Girls.
The Public Domain Superhero Wikipedia lists them as Yankee Girl #1 and #2 (left to right respectfully). Confused yet? Don't worry, sit back, put on a podcast, or Yankee Doodle Dandy if you want to make me laugh (if you take a video of you playing Yankee Doodle Dandy and show this blog post I will give you a shout out on Twitter).
Now to keep this chronological, I'll start with Yankee Girl #1, who came first.
Yankee Girl #1 (Kitty Kelly)
Yankee Girl #1, or Kitty Kelly, first appeared in Punch Comics #1, published in December 1941. Unfortunately, Yankee Girl's creator is unknown. The creator, according to comicbookplus.com, might possibly be Ann Brewster, but this' unconfirmed. Kitty Kelly/Yankee Girl doesn't first in the magazine-like comic. Her story can be found on Page 28. You can read the entire comic on comicbookplus.com, which I will link here to Kitty's first story. https://comicbookplus.com/?dlid=69658
Kitty Kelly's main job is an air hostess, who sometimes work on trips for the US Army during WWII. Her story in Punch Comics #1 is not clear. In her first story, Kitty deals with Japanese saboteurs, and as you can see on page 29 (or 31 for you at home reading on comicbookplus.com) Kitty does not fall into the stereotype of the damsel in the distress. Though she does call for Ned's help on Page 28. And he wants her to wear and apron and be his wife. So there is that.
The artwork of Punch Comics #1 isn't exactly ground breaking, and some elements, mostly the portrayal of the Japanese, is very stereotypical. One thing that is worth praise in this story is that Kitty is very active in the story.
Kitty Kelly doesn't seem like a superhero in this first issue, she's more of a secret agent or traditional hero. One thing's for sure, as you can see in panel 4 on the above page, if she wanted to do the can can, well oh boy she can! 😎
All right, I promise that's the last pun I'll make.
Kitty Kelly doesn't appear to have been as popular as Punch Comics' publishers, Chesler Feature Syndicate (according to Punch Comics #2 Page 42), were hoping for. Kitty Kelly's story is pushed farther back in the book in Punch Comics #2 to page 42. Once again Kitty Kelly shows herself to be a badass.
Kitty Kelly did not come to play.
Kitty Kelly is somewhat inspirational. She gives the young Lieutenant the courage to step up to their enemies (unfortunately here portrayed as a Muslim stereotype). The story has definitely not aged well. While I have no idea what the numbers were for Punch Comics' sales, I do know that Kitty Kelly was removed from the comic after #2.
Kitty Kelly was relocated to Captain Flight Comics, and where she first appeared in Issue #6. However, if you're looking for a new story, then you're going to be disappointed. The story is a reprint from Punch Comics #2, but has a different cover.
Punch Comics #2 (on the left) and Captain Flight Comics #6. See the resemblance?
Kitty Kelly didn't appear in Captain Flight Comics #7. Why? I'm not entirely sure. I do have a suspicion that the writers decided to give Kitty a "reboot" if you will, but needed time to recreate the character. As you can see on the image of Captain Flight Comics #8, we now see how Kitty became called Yankee Girl.
Captain Flight Comics #8 Page 29
Here Kitty, finally Yankee Girl, gets a costume, which is pretty uninspired. A few things I've noticed right off the bat:
1) Kitty's work is now a receptionist. Why the change? No idea. Maybe she was tired of getting shot down.
2) Kitty inexplicably has powers, such as hypnotism, and I assume strength, since the chair didn't seem to harm her.
I guess that Captain Flight Comics attempted to erase Kitty's first two stories, but kept the name to keep her original readers reading her story. So, how does this story perform versus the first 2?
Well, as you can see, it's not a whole lot better. Instead of fighting stereotypes of Japanese or North Africans, now she fighting stereotypes of the mentally ill! Oh the 1940's were a... special time for comics weren't they?
Also, some idiot forgot to color in Yankee Girl's bottom part of her costume, which is kind of hilarious. These comics weren't exactly being made for the art, as you can see here. As the story progresses, Yankee Girl appears to possess the power of flight and invulnerability to bullets.
Moving on, in Captain Flight Comics #9, Kitty is pushed to the back of the book, and now the title is "Kitty Kelly: Yankee Girl." And she's back to being an air hostess.
Kitty was once again bumped to another book, and appeared in one issue of Red Seal Comics, #17. In this issue Kitty gains a different superhero costume, which was seen above. Which includes children dying...😐😐 YAY.
This issue also finally explains how Kitty Kelly's powers work, allowing her to become Yankee Girl. When she's under distress, Kitty's powers kick in.
We also finally get some proper superhero action from Kitty, and some changing fan service. I'm starting to notice a trend in these 1940's comics, which definitely hasn't stopped entirely.
Despite her versatility and ability to jump around to different books, Kitty's luck came to an end. Kitty's last original appearance was in Wonder Boy Comics #18, published in July 1955.
So how does Kitty's last story go.
😳WAIT A MINUTE!!!!
That's right folks, they reprinted Punch Comics #2's story for a SECOND time. This' a really sad ending for Kitty's career.
And that is the sad ending of Kitty Kelly/Yankee Girl. The real question is, does she count as a Public Domain superhero? Technically.... yes, however she only appears as a superhero in a few stories, and even then the continuity of those stories is very confusing.
When I began researching this blog post I didn't expect a lot from Kitty Kelly, my main interest is in our next subject. However, I was pleasantly surprised with an interesting change of costumes and that hilarious reprint.
All right, now onto the main reason why I decided to write this blog post.
Yankee Girl (Lauren Mason)
Yankee Girl, alias Lauren Mason was created by Ralph Mayo and published by Harry A Chesler.... wait a minute. Chesler, as in Chesler Feature Syndicates. Huh. I guess the Yankee Girls are more connected than I once thought.
Anyways, Yankee Girl (#2) first appeared in Dynamic Comics #23 in November 1947. Lauren's powers, unlike Kitty's, are much more clearly defined. In Dynamic Comics #23, Lauren gains her powers by saying the phrase "Yankee Doodle Dandy." Yankee Girl's powers seem to include flight and strength, but she can still be easily knocked out by a common thug.
Yankee Girl's next (and last) Public Domain appearance was in Danger #16. And for the first time, Yankee Girl is on the front cover!
Yankee Girl's costume changes yet again, she looses the yellow leggings, replacing them for red boots, and her cape has less stars on it. The stripes on her costume have also decreased. This would be the last story where Yankee Girl would appear under the legacy of Harry A Chesler.
HOWEVER, this was not the end of the character's career!
AC Comics
Image (C) AC Comics. Used under fair use. https://accomics.fandom.com/wiki/Yankee_GirlAC Comics, a lesser known comic book company, decided to bring back Yankee Girl. Because the company which published Yankee Girl went out of business, Yankee Girl fell into the Public Domain. Which means that anyone, including AC Comics, were able to use her.
Yankee Girl had a solo run under AC Comics, and was also apart of AC Comics' team FemForce, created in 1985. According to AC Comics' website, Yankee Girl still has new stories as of 2012 with the publication of Yankee Girl: Stars & Stripes Forever #1.
AC Comics also gave Yankee Girl's costume a redesign, which you can see above. Personally, it's nice but very objectifying. It's not the most objective costume mind you, but doesn't sit with me that well in all honesty.
Yankee Girl has also appeared in a short animated film by Nightveil Media, who have some connections with AC Comics. Which states that it's not for kids... and has her fighting a mostly naked Communist looking woman.... 😕
The animation doesn't appear to be of a big budget, and in all honestly... doesn't look good. I can't pass judgement, since I haven't seen it, and have left a link if you're curious and want to buy it, but don't personally recommend it. And now for some Fun Facts!!
Fun Fact:
Despite being called Yankee Girl by the Public Domain Superhero Wikipedia, Kitty Kelly's first title card doesn't read Yankee Girl! On Page 28 it actually reads Kitty Kelly.
Kitty Kelly doesn't appear in a true superhero costume until her 6th appearance in comics.
Kitty Kelly/Yankee Girl's last appearance also has Phantom Lady, a character most people may recognize from DC, where she has new comics made.
Within Danger #16 Yankee Girl's boots change from red on the cover to blue in the book. (I know that's not so great, bare with me, I'm struggling to find Fun Facts)
AC Comics publish a series with Golden Age, Public Domain superheroes like Yankee Girl, called Golden Age Greats. If you're curious and want to buy the series, you can check my sources below.
Conclusion
Yankee Girl is probably the best example of how a public domain character can be given a second lease on life thanks to the public domain. From her humble origins as a Air Hostess, to a Superhero in an all female team, Yankee Girl's history is very ranged. Not all of her stories (past or present) are good, but there is a certain charm to this character.
If you asked me which version I prefer, I would say Lauren Mason. She has a much more interesting costume, and does a lot more superhero-ing.
And now for a new section I like to call
How I'd Use the Character
Personally, I would try and use both Yankee Girls, and maybe have them have a friendly rivalry. I'd probably keep Lauren Mason as Yankee Girl, and change Kitty Kelly to something else. I likely wouldn't change the costumes a whole lot, but would make some changes to make them more unique. I'd keep Lauren's yellow leggings but make the boots a different character.
Will I ever use Yankee Girl? Whose to say. But I will say, Luck be a Lady...
And that is all I will say. Thank you for reading this very long blog post. I hope you enjoyed it. If you'd like to read more blog posts in the future, follow me here on on Twitter, @ConductorPat, where you can also interact with me. If you'd like to, let me know how YOU would use Yankee Girl. And which version do you prefer?
Thanks for reading everyone. Remember to keep writing, and I'll see you on the Tramway!
Sources:
Captain Flight Comics #6 https://comicbookplus.com/?dlid=23757
Captain Flight Comics #8 https://comicbookplus.com/?dlid=40267
Captain Flight Comics #9 https://comicbookplus.com/?dlid=28443
Chesler/Dynamic Comics. https://comicbookplus.com/?cid=823
Danger #16 https://comicbookplus.com/?dlid=15231
Dynamic Comics #23 https://digitalcomicmuseum.com/preview/index.php?did=12669
FemForce https://comicvine.gamespot.com/femforce/4060-27873/
Golden Age Greats. https://accomics.com/product-category/golden-age/gollden-age-greats-spotlight/
Punch Comics #1 https://comicbookplus.com/?dlid=69658
Punch Comics #2 https://comicbookplus.com/?dlid=27297
Red Seal Comics #17 https://comicbookplus.com/?dlid=40862
Yankee Girl (Kitty Kelly) https://pdsh.fandom.com/wiki/Yankee_Girl_(1)
Yankee Girl (Lauren Mason) https://pdsh.fandom.com/wiki/Yankee_Girl_(2)
Yankee Girl: Stars & Stripes #1 https://accomics.com/product/yankee-girl-stars-and-stripes-forever-1/
Yankee Girl Vs. The Colossal Crossack
www.nightveilmedia.com/downloads/yankee-girl-vs-the-colossal-cossack-download
No comments:
Post a Comment