Woman in Red (Nedor)
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The Woman in Red is a fictional character from the Golden Age of Comics. Created by writer Richard E. Hughes and artist George Mandel, she first appeared in Thrilling Comics #2 (March 1940), published by Nedor Comics. The character was later revived by writer Alan Moore for America's Best Comics.
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[edit] Nedor Comics
The Woman in Red was the secret identity of policewoman Peggy Allen. Frustrated by the limitations of her job, Peggy created a secret identity. As the Woman In Red, she wore a red floor length coat, hood and mask.
The Woman in Red made her debut in Thrilling Comics #2 (March 1940). Comics historian Trina Robbins has claimed that the Woman in Red was the first female costumed superhero, preceeding such better known characters as Wonder Woman, Phantom Lady, and Mary Marvel.[1] While the Woman in Red never made a cover appearance, she continued to appear regularly in issues of Thrilling Comics. Her last Golden Age appearance was in issue #46 (February 1945).[2]
[edit] America's Best Comics
Alan Moore revived the Woman in Red, along with many other Nedor Comics characters that had entered the public domain, for his Tom Strong series. In Tom Strong #11 (January 2001), the Woman in Red was revealed to have been a member of SMASH, a superhero team that had been placed in suspended animation after an alien invasion from the moon in 1969. She was revived 30 years later thanks to the efforts of Tom Strong. SMASH disbanded shortly thereafter. When SMASH reformed three years later, the Woman in Red rejoined the team.
Moore also changed the Woman in Red's history for this revival. Sometime after WWII, the Woman in Red came into the possession of a mysterious ruby crystal. This crystal gave her the powers of flight and energy projection. Prolonged contact to the crystal eventually turned her skin a shade of crimson. At first embarrassed by her skin color, she began wearing a leather costume that covered her from head to toe. She eventually came to terms with her condition and adopted a costume resembling a one-piece bathing suit.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Robbins, Trina, The Great Women Superheroes, Kitchen Sink Press, 1996, ISBN 0878164820
- ^ [1]Grand Comics Database; last accessed 02/14/2007
