One of the reasons I go further back is to find characters live our patriotess Miss Victory (yes I am adding “ess” to the term as she existed at a time when adding it was not considered possibly Offensive and for the purposes of this piece in no way is it meant offensively. Heck, I am sure she would even like the term! So let’s take a peak into her 1940’s world. . .
Her alias was actually Joan Wayne, named similarly and quite intentionally to he who in our American West was known as The Duke or John Wayne. It is possible the writers thought it was a cute play on words and indeed it was as The Duke was well-known at that time. It may been have been a good way for female readers to connect with an American heroine the way young boys might have been pretending to shoot each other in the backyards with their imaginary six-guns (as I said a different world).
She was created by Charles (“Chas”) M. Quinlan in both script and original artwork and made her first appearance in 1941 in Captain Fearless #1. She also appeared in the second issue of that title and in 1946 had a 20-issue run in Captain Aero Comics. Holyoke Publishing Company who released whatever form Miss Victory was given to the world gave her a couple of one-shot issues in 1946 as well. All in all more than twenty tales were told of Joan Wayne (AKA Miss Victory) on the comic page.
Miss Victory would storm into a Nazi headquarters and punch out the soldiers of the Fuhrer, always letting the Third Reich know that ultimately America was going to pound the heads of anyone who thought they could get away with controlling the free world.
Her alter ego was of course, as mild-mannered as Clark Kent as well although she was a courtroom stenographer. As dated as it will sound (but this is part of the fun of 190’s characters too) she was able to get promoted over and over again in the War Department where she took all those notes until she became a pilot flying missions for them. She went on dangerous missions in the European Theatre and on American soil she fought German Nazi saboteurs. In the Pacific she downed so many Japanese pilots she had become an Ace and Japan had no love for her actions or for her.
In the early days of her comics she changed a lot from issue to issue, both in costume and in what abilities she was focused on. Some issues were more about showing her strength while others showed her piloting skills more. Her costume became sexier as well when Nina Albright redesigned it to allow for a more revealing neckline.
Call her Ms. Victory or call her Miss Victory. I doubt she is overly concerned with such things and is probably just glad that she can lend a strong female hand in fighting for the country she loves. It is doubtful she will fail to get respect from anyone when they learned she has punched out Nazi soldiers in their own headquarters. Miss Victory is a worthy heroine and should the world ever ask for her by any name, she will arrive and stand proud and show the world again and again why the “Miss” part of her name is not what anyone should focus on. She will be too busy showing us all why her other name is “Victory.”
[James Parducci]James Parducci (www.jparducci.blogspot.com) is the creator of the comic series Nighthunter. He has been published in multiple periodicals and runs his own freelance writing business in San Diego.
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