She was born in August of 1948 and back then she didn’t have a real name, but she did have a sunbeam ray gun and arch nemesis like Bokk the Beast and Peanuts McCoy. She was fast, acrobatic and proficient in several martial arts. She was a tough talker, willing to "Choke the life" out of an uncooperative thug and the comic implied that she was world famous, a respected hero… so whatever happened to her?Her own series, drawn by the magnificent Ken Bald (writer unknown), lasted a mere 3 issues. She then made appearances in a couple issues of Marvel Mystery Comics, teaming up with Namora and Golden Girl. Then Captain America (#69 Nov 1948), Sub-Mariner (#29 Nov 1948) and filled in for Toro as the original Human Torch’s sidekick in his title from issue #32 to #35 (final issue March 1949)
And that was it, 7 months in the sun for this great heroine.
Roy Thomas, who was into nostalgia, recapped the original Torch’s origin in 1990 and in the final 2 issues of that mini series Sun Girl finally was given a name, Mary Mitchell. Sadly Roy turned her into Torch’s secretary, who had a crush on the hero and became Sun Girl to impress him. Boo!
Sun Girl was never given an origin in her original incarnation, Marvel never told us how she got to be who she was… she was just there. A veteran of the superheroing game, beloved by all right out of the gate. It would be very cool if Marvel would revisit the character (but show a lot more respect than Roy Thomas did). Celebrate her Golden Age adventures by giving us more.
For additional info on the "Mysterious Beauty" Sun Girl visit Jess Nevin’s page
Head Writer, wide awake nightmare... bids you salutations citizens of Earth!
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I'm ashamed to say I've never heard of her.
ReplyDeleteMost haven't, that's probably why she faciinates me. There are so many of these Golden Agers that have been updated or brought to the modern age... and yet there has been nothing for Sun Girl. I'd love an old school, golden age setting graphic novel or mini series for her. Done by someone who can capture the awe and innocence of that era (like Busiek perhaps?)
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