Miss Victory
{{Short description|American comic book superheroine}}
{{Infobox comics character
| image = 200px
| caption = Miss Victory on the cover of Holyoke One-Shot #3 (1944).
| character_name = Miss Victory
| publisher = Originally: Helnit
1984–present: A.C. Comics
| debut = Captain Fearless #1 (August 1941)
| creators = artist Charles Quinlan and an unknown writer[http://www.comics.org/details.lasso?id=1574 Grand Comics Database: Captain Fearless #1] at the Grand Comics Database
| alter_ego = Joan Wayne
| full_name =
| species = Empowered human
| homeworld = Earth
| alliances = Femforce
| aliases = Ms. Victory
Rad
| supports=
| powers = *Superhuman strength
- Limited invulnerability
- Flight
- Agelessness
}}
Miss Victory is an American superheroine who first appeared in Captain Fearless #1 (Aug. 1941), published by Frank Z. Temerson's Helnit Publishing Co. Ceasing to be published after 1946, she was revived and updated in 1984 as a central character in the Femforce comic-book series published by A.C. Comics.{{cite book |last1=Mougin |first1=Lou |title=Secondary Superheroes of Golden Age Comics |date=2020 |publisher=McFarland & Co |isbn=9781476638607|page=334}}
Fall 1941 was a boom period for patriotic superheroes as the country prepared to enter World War II; during this period, comic book publishers also launched Wonder Woman, Captain America, Miss America, the Star-Spangled Kid, U.S. Jones, the Fighting Yank, the Flag, Captain Flag and Yank and Doodle, among others.{{cite book |last1=Benton |first1=Mike |title=Superhero Comics of the Golden Age: The Illustrated History |date=1992 |publisher=Taylor Publishing Company |location=Dallas |isbn=0-87833-808-X |url=https://archive.org/details/superherocomicso0000bent/page/52 |access-date=1 April 2020 |page=52}}
Publication history
Introduced during the period fans and historians term the Golden Age of Comic Books, the original Miss Victory was created in Captain Fearless #1 (Aug. 1941) in an untitled, five-page story generally indexed with its opening words, "Introducing Miss Victory", probably written by Alberta Tews and drawn by Charles Quinlan. She went on to appear in the second and final issue of Captain Fearless. Contrary to some sources, she did not appear in Helnit's first issue of Captain Aero,[http://www.comics.org/issue/1862/ Captain Aero Comics v1#7 (1)] at the Grand Comics Database but after Holyoke Publishing took over the series from Helnit[http://www.comics.org/publisher/92/ Holyoke (1942 - 1948)] at the Grand Comics Database her second story was reprinted in vol. 1 #12 (#6 on cover)[http://www.comics.org/issue/2243/ Captain Aero Comics v1#12 (6)] at the Grand Comics Database and in new stories beginning with the following issue, vol 2 #1 (#7 on cover).[http://www.comics.org/issue/2307/ Captain Aero Comics v2#1 (7)] at the Grand Comics Database
Given no formal origin story, it was left unexplained as to how Miss Victory was able to survive explosions, break free of ropes, or knock down walls, but is clear that in her introduction she had superhuman strength and durability.{{cite web |url=http://www.comicbookdb.com/character.php?ID=5633 |title=Miss Victory (01 - 40's) | access-date=2008-03-05 |work=comicbookdb.com}}
According to Jess Nevins' Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes, "her opponents range from ordinary criminals to Germans to pretend talking apes to Japanese Yellow Peril femmes fatale".{{cite book |last1=Nevins |first1=Jess |title=Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes |date=2013 |publisher=High Rock Press |isbn=978-1-61318-023-5 |page=184}}
She remained as star of a backup feature in the sporadically published Captain Aero Comics as the title returned to Temerson's control in 1943.[http://www.comics.org/series/61788/ Captain Aero Comics (Temerson / Helnit / Continental, 1941 series)] at the Grand Comics Database In 1944, the strip was drawn by Nina Albright, who redesigned her costume in issue #17 (Oct 1944) to increase the character's sex appeal, trading in the blouse for a halter top.{{cite book |last1=Mitchell |first1=Kurt |last2=Thomas |first2=Roy |title=American Comic Book Chronicles: 1940-1944 |date=2019 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1605490892 |page=267}}
The character last appeared in Captain Aero Comics' final issue, #26 (Aug. 1946).[http://www.comics.org/issue/5284/ Captain Aero Comics #26] at the Grand Comics Database
In 1984, the character was revived by writer Bill Black and penciler Mark Heike in AC Comics' Femforce Special #1 (Fall 1984).{{cite web |url=http://www.comicbookdb.com/issue.php?ID=42932 |title= Femforce Special (1984) - #1 |access-date=2008-03-05 |work=comicbookdb.com}}
Fictional character biography
Miss Victory was secretly stenographer Joan Wayne, whose work in a Government department, coupled with her desire to help the war effort, led her to don the patriotic guise of Miss Victory: a tight-fitting, red-white-and-blue costume with a plunging neckline and a V emblem across her chest.{{cite web |last1=Markstein |first1=Don |title=Miss Victory |url=http://www.toonopedia.com/missvic.htm |website=Don Markstein's Toonopedia |access-date=1 April 2020}}
The 1984-revival version also possesses superhuman strength, as well as the ability to fly over short distances. Her true identity is Dr. Joan Wayne, a research scientist in the United States Department of Defense, who in the 1940s developed the "V-47 formula" to increase the strength/stamina of allied troops. The formula, however, only worked on Joan herself, and she became a superheroine. The formula also prevented her from aging, so that the Miss Victory of today is still a young, attractive woman.{{cite web|url=http://www.femforce-femfans.com/profiles/joan6.html |title=Ms.Victory Profile: AC Comics |access-date=2008-03-05 |work=femforce-femfans.com AComics Profiles |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051123150619/http://www.femforce-femfans.com/profiles/joan6.html |archive-date=November 23, 2005}}
Miss Victory received an overdose of the related but faulty V-45 formula from the Black Commando which affected her personality, transforming her into the villainous Rad. Eventually, the V-45 formula was removed from her system and she returned to Femforce.{{cite web |url=http://rkscroy.tripod.com/msvictorygallery.htm |title=Ms. Victory Profile & Pinups |access-date=2008-03-05 |work=Superbabes |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080123044913/http://rkscroy.tripod.com/msvictorygallery.htm |archive-date = 2008-01-23}} In the mid 1990s, Wayne temporarily resigned her leadership of Femforce, and was replaced by her grown daughter Jennifer, the only other person on whom the V-47 formula would work. Jennifer was referred to as the second Miss Victory. After Joan returned to the Miss Victory role, Jennifer eventually took V-45 and became the second Rad. Jennifer (as Rad) is not really a villain, but more of an anti-hero.{{cite web|url=http://www.femforce-femfans.com/profiles/jen1.html |title=Her daughter, Jennifer |access-date=2008-03-05 |work=femforce-femfans.com AComics Profiles |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051123150112/http://www.femforce-femfans.com/profiles/jen1.html |archive-date=November 23, 2005}} In addition to her daughter, Miss Victory's family consists of husband, fellow hero Captain Paragon and a cloned son of the couple created by an enemy.
Notes
{{reflist}}
{{GoldenAge}}
Category:Comics characters introduced in 1941
Category:Comics characters with superhuman durability or invulnerability
Category:Comics characters with superhuman strength
Category:Fictional female scientists
Category:Golden Age superheroes