Miss Victory is an American

superheroine A superhero or superheroine is a stock character that typically possesses ''superpowers'', abilities beyond those of ordinary people, and fits the role of the hero, typically using his or her powers to help the world become a better place, ...

who

first appeared In American comic books and other stories with a long history, first appearance refers to the first issue to feature a fictional character. These issues are often highly valued by collectors due to their rarity and iconic status. Reader interes ...

in ''Captain Fearless'' #1 (Aug. 1941), published by

Frank Z. Temerson Frank Z. Temerson (1890–1963)Saunders, DavidField Guide to Wild American Pulp Artists. Accessed July 15, 2018. was a comic book publisher from the Golden Age of Comic Books. Temerson imprints included Ultem Publications, Helnit Publishing, Et-Es- ...

's Helnit Publishing Co. Ceasing to be published after 1946, she was revived and updated in 1984 as a central character in the ''

Femforce ''Femforce'' is a comic book published by AC Comics that began publication in 1985, detailing the adventures of the titular team: the "Federal Emergency Missions Force" or "Femforce", some of them original creations, while others originated in the ...

'' comic-book series published by

A.C. Comics AC Comics (formerly known as Paragon Publications and Americomics) is a comic book publishing company started by Bill Black.

. Fall 1941 was a boom period for patriotic superheroes as the country prepared to enter

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

; during this period, comic book publishers also launched

Miss America Miss America is an annual competition that is open to women from the United States between the ages of 17 and 25. Originating in 1921 as a "bathing beauty revue", the contest is now judged on competitors' talent performances and interviews. As ...

, the Star-Spangled Kid,

U.S. Jones Fox Feature Syndicate (also known as Fox Comics, Fox Publications, and Bruns Publications, Inc.) was a comic book publisher from early in the period known to fans and historians as the Golden Age of Comic Books. Founded by entrepreneur Victor S. ...

, the Fighting Yank, the Flag,

Captain Flag Captain Flag is a superhero created by MLJ Comics' writer Joe Blair and artist Lin Streeter. He first appeared in September 1941, in issue #16 of '' Blue Ribbon Comics''. He continued until the last issue, ''Blue Ribbon Comics'' #22 (March 1942). ...

and

Yank and Doodle Yank & Doodle is a pair of superheroes who first appeared in the Prize Publications title ''Prize Comics'' in August 1941. They were revived by Dynamite Entertainment in the 2000s. Identical twins Rick and Dick Walters, being too young to enlist ...

, among others.

Publication history

Introduced during the period fans and historians term the

Golden Age of Comic Books The Golden Age of Comic Books describes an era of American comic books from 1938 to 1956. During this time, modern comic books were first published and rapidly increased in popularity. The superhero archetype was created and many well-known char ...

, 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'', but after

Holyoke Publishing The Holyoke Publishing Company was an American magazine and comic-book publisher with offices in Holyoke, and Springfield, Massachusetts, and New York City, Its best-known comics characters were Blue Beetle and the superhero duo Cat-Man (later r ...

took over the series from HelnitHolyoke (1942 - 1948)
at the Grand Comics Database her second story was reprinted in vol. 1 #12 (#6 on cover) and in new stories beginning with the following issue, vol 2 #1 (#7 on cover). 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. 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 The Yellow Peril (also the Yellow Terror and the Yellow Specter) is a racist, racial color terminology for race, color metaphor that depicts the peoples of East Asia, East and Southeast Asia as an existential danger to the Western world. As a ...

femmes fatale". 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. In 1944, the strip was drawn by

Nina Albright Nina Dorothy Albright (February 15, 1907 – February 7, 1997) was an American comic book artist for nine years during the Golden Age of Comic Books. She was one of the few women illustrating and writing comic books during the period. Early ...

, who redesigned her costume in issue #17 (Oct 1944) to increase the character's sex appeal, trading in the blouse for a halter top. The character last appeared in ''Captain Aero Comics final issue, #26 (Aug. 1946). In 1984, the character was revived by writer

Bill Black William Patton Black Jr. (September 17, 1926 – October 21, 1965) was an American musician and bandleader who is noted as one of the pioneers of rock and roll. He played in Elvis Presley's early trio. Black later formed Bill Black's Combo. Ear ...

and

penciler A penciller (or penciler) is an artist who works on the creation of comic books, graphic novels, and similar visual art forms, with a focus on the initial pencil illustrations, usually in collaboration with other artists, who provide inks, colors ...

Mark Heike in

AC Comics AC Comics (formerly known as Paragon Publications and Americomics) is a comic book publishing company started by Bill Black.

' ''Femforce Special'' #1 (Fall 1984).

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. 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 The United States Department of Defense (DoD, USDOD or DOD) is an executive branch department of the federal government charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government directly related to national secu ...

, 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. 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

. 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 RAD or Rad may refer to: People * Robert Anthony Rad Dougall (born 1951), South African former racing driver * Rad Hourani, Canadian fashion designer and artist * Nickname of Leonardus Rad Kortenhorst (1886–1963), Dutch politician * Radley R ...

. Jennifer (as Rad) is not really a villain, but more of an anti-hero. In addition to her daughter, Miss Victory's family consists of husband, fellow hero

Captain Paragon Paragon, or Captain Paragon, is a fictional superhero character published by AC Comics currently as a supporting character in ''Femforce''. This character initially had his own book, then was with the Sentinels of Justice. Character biography Ch ...

and a cloned son of the couple created by an enemy.

Notes

External links

Jess Nevins' Golden Age Super Heroes DirectoryMs. Victory
at Comic Vine
Ms. Victory
at ICONS: Truth, Justice, and Gaming {{GoldenAge AC Comics characters Fictional characters with slowed ageing Fictional characters with superhuman durability or invulnerability Fictional female scientists Fictional women soldiers and warriors Golden Age superheroes United States-themed superheroes Comics characters introduced in 1941 Comics characters with superhuman strength