Golden Girl
Encyclopedia
Golden Girl is the name of two fictional superhero
ine characters in comic books published by Marvel Comics
, the first of them during the 1930-1940s period known to historians and collectors as the Golden Age of Comic Books
.
#1 (cover-dated March 1941). A supporting character
who appeared in occasional stories, she succeeded Bucky
as Captain America's sidekick in issue #66 (Dec. 1947), in the 12-page story "Golden Girl", by an unconfirmed writer and by penciller
Syd Shores
. Golden Girl appeared in Captain America stories through issue #74 (Oct. 1949), except for issue #71, and also in the Captain America stories in Marvel Mystery Comics
#87-88 and #92 (Aug. & Oct. 1948, June 1949).
She was not specified as having been related to a Colonel Ross, a U.S. Army officer, in the Captain America story "The Wound No Man Could See" in Marvel Mystery Comics #88 (Oct. 1948). The 2010 miniseries Captain America: Patriot belatedly revealed that she was the aunt of General Thunderbolt Ross
, and the great-aunt of his daughter Betty Ross
, two characters introduced in The Incredible Hulk #1 (May 1962).
, Betsy Ross was a member of the U.S. Army's Women's Auxiliary Army Corps, and later worked as an FBI agent. She became a friend and later girlfriend of Army Private Steve Rogers, unaware of his dual identity as Captain America. She had adapted her name slightly to Betsy Ross — the name of the U.S. colonial-era woman
to whom disputed and unproven legend ascribes sewing the first American flag — by the time that Captain America's sidekick, the second Bucky (Fred Davis) was shot and wounded. This third Captain America — Jeffrey Mace
, who'd succeeded the M.I.A.
Rogers and the killed-in-action William Naslund
— revealed his civilian identity to Ross and trained her as his new partner, the costumed crime-fighter Golden Girl. After a handful of adventures, culminating in a battle with the Red Skull
in Hell
, Ross and Mace retired, and were married by 1953.
-era character predates the post-war, Betsy Ross, Golden Girl (see above). Created by writer Roy Thomas
and penciller
Frank Robbins
in the retcon
series The Invaders
#26 (March 1978), she had appeared, sans power, as Gwenny Lou, gaining her powers in the following issue, #27 (April 1978). She went on to appear as Golden Girl in #28 (May 1978) and #38 (March 1979).
, teenaged Gwenny Lou Sabuki, the daughter of Japanese-American scientist Dr. Sam Sabuki, was present at a stateside battle in which sidekicks Bucky
(real name James Buchanan Barnes) and Toro
(Thomas Raymond) of the superhero team the Invaders
fought the supervillain Agent Axis. There one of Dr. Sabuki's inventions accidentally gave Gwenny Lou and her friend David "Davey" Mitchell superhuman powers. Gwenny Lou gained the power to generate light and energy and project golden force beams from her hands, while Mitchell gained the ability to spin at superhuman speeds; she became Golden Girl, he the Human Top
. The four youthful heroes defeated Agent Axis, and later formed the Kid Commandos
, who were allied with the adult Invaders.
Gwenny Sue later helped found the post-war organization the V-Battalion
. Gwenny eventually changed her superhero name to Golden Woman, before she died in 1961. Her daughter and her granddaughter became the superheroines Golden Sun and Goldfire, respectively, though Golden Sun died when her own daughter was five years old.
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
ine characters in comic books published by Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
, the first of them during the 1930-1940s period known to historians and collectors as the Golden Age of Comic Books
Golden Age of Comic Books
The Golden Age of Comic Books was a period in the history of American comic books, generally thought of as lasting from the late 1930s until the late 1940s or early 1950s...
.
Golden Girl (Betsy Ross)
Publication history
Marvel Comics' first Golden Girl, Elizabeth Ross, first appeared, without yet a superhero identity, as Betty Ross in Captain America ComicsCaptain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
#1 (cover-dated March 1941). A supporting character
Supporting character
A supporting character is a character of a book, play, video game, movie, television or radio show or other form of storytelling usually used to give added dimension to a main character, by adding a relationship with this character...
who appeared in occasional stories, she succeeded Bucky
Bucky
Bucky is the name of several fictional characters, masked superheroes in the Marvel Comics universe. The original, James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby as a sidekick character in Captain America Comics #1 , published by Marvel's 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics...
as Captain America's sidekick in issue #66 (Dec. 1947), in the 12-page story "Golden Girl", by an unconfirmed writer and by penciller
Penciller
A penciller is an artist who works in the creation of comic books, graphic novels, and similar visual art forms.The penciller is the first step in rendering the story in visual form and may require several steps of feedback with the writer. These artists are concerned with layout to showcase...
Syd Shores
Syd Shores
Sydney Shores was an American comic book artist known for his work on Captain America both during the 1940s, in what fans and historians call the Golden Age of comic books, and during the 1960s Silver Age of comic books....
. Golden Girl appeared in Captain America stories through issue #74 (Oct. 1949), except for issue #71, and also in the Captain America stories in Marvel Mystery Comics
Marvel Mystery Comics
Marvel Mystery Comics is an American comic book series published during the 1930s-1940s period known to fans and historians as the Golden Age of Comic Books...
#87-88 and #92 (Aug. & Oct. 1948, June 1949).
She was not specified as having been related to a Colonel Ross, a U.S. Army officer, in the Captain America story "The Wound No Man Could See" in Marvel Mystery Comics #88 (Oct. 1948). The 2010 miniseries Captain America: Patriot belatedly revealed that she was the aunt of General Thunderbolt Ross
Thunderbolt Ross
General Thaddeus E. "Thunderbolt" Ross is a fictional character appearing in books published by Marvel Comics, usually as an adversary of the Hulk, sometimes as a supervillain. Ross is a United States military officer, the father of Betty Ross, ex-father in-law of Glenn Talbot and the father in-law...
, and the great-aunt of his daughter Betty Ross
Betty Ross Banner
Betty Ross is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe, and love interest of Bruce Banner...
, two characters introduced in The Incredible Hulk #1 (May 1962).
Fictional character biography
Immediately before and during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Betsy Ross was a member of the U.S. Army's Women's Auxiliary Army Corps, and later worked as an FBI agent. She became a friend and later girlfriend of Army Private Steve Rogers, unaware of his dual identity as Captain America. She had adapted her name slightly to Betsy Ross — the name of the U.S. colonial-era woman
Betsy Ross
Betsy Ross is widely credited with making the first American flag. There is, however, no credible historical evidence that the story is true.-Early life:...
to whom disputed and unproven legend ascribes sewing the first American flag — by the time that Captain America's sidekick, the second Bucky (Fred Davis) was shot and wounded. This third Captain America — Jeffrey Mace
Jeffrey Mace
Jeffrey Solomon "Jeff" Mace, also known as the Patriot and Captain America, is a fictional character, a superhero in the Marvel Comics universe, created during the 1940s period which fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books...
, who'd succeeded the M.I.A.
Missing in action
Missing in action is a casualty Category assigned under the Status of Missing to armed services personnel who are reported missing during active service. They may have been killed, wounded, become a prisoner of war, or deserted. If deceased, neither their remains nor grave can be positively...
Rogers and the killed-in-action William Naslund
Spirit of '76 (comics)
The Spirit of '76 is the name of two fictional comic book characters, one each from Harvey Comics and Marvel Comics.-Harvey Comics:The first comics character by this name is a patriotic superhero created by writer Gary Blakey and artist Bob Powell in Harvey's Pocket Comics #1...
— revealed his civilian identity to Ross and trained her as his new partner, the costumed crime-fighter Golden Girl. After a handful of adventures, culminating in a battle with the Red Skull
Red Skull
The Red Skull is a name shared by several fictional characters, all supervillains from the Marvel Comics universe. All incarnations of the character are enemies of Captain America, other superheroes, and the United States in general....
in Hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
, Ross and Mace retired, and were married by 1953.
Golden Girl (Gwenny Lou Sabuki)
Publication history
Gwendolyne "Gwenny" Lou Sabuki was the second Golden Girl introduced by Marvel, making her first appearance in 1978, but her World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
-era character predates the post-war, Betsy Ross, Golden Girl (see above). Created by writer Roy Thomas
Roy Thomas
Roy William Thomas, Jr. is an American comic book writer and editor, and Stan Lee's first successor as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. He is possibly best known for introducing the pulp magazine hero Conan the Barbarian to American comics, with a series that added to the storyline of Robert E...
and penciller
Penciller
A penciller is an artist who works in the creation of comic books, graphic novels, and similar visual art forms.The penciller is the first step in rendering the story in visual form and may require several steps of feedback with the writer. These artists are concerned with layout to showcase...
Frank Robbins
Frank Robbins
Franklin "Frank" Robbins was a notable American comic book and comic strip artist and writer, as well as a prominent painter whose work appeared in museums including the Whitney Museum of American Art, where one of his paintings was featured in the 1955 Whitney Annual Exhibition of American...
in the retcon
Retcon
Retroactive continuity is the alteration of previously established facts in a fictional work. Retcons are done for many reasons, including the accommodation of sequels or further derivative works in a series, wherein newer authors or creators want to revise the in-story history to allow a course...
series The Invaders
Invaders (comics)
The Invaders is the name of two fictional superhero teams in the . The original team was created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Sal Buscema in The Avengers #71 . A present-day incarnation was introduced by writer Chuck Austen and artist Scott Kolins in The Avengers vol...
#26 (March 1978), she had appeared, sans power, as Gwenny Lou, gaining her powers in the following issue, #27 (April 1978). She went on to appear as Golden Girl in #28 (May 1978) and #38 (March 1979).
Fictional character biography
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, teenaged Gwenny Lou Sabuki, the daughter of Japanese-American scientist Dr. Sam Sabuki, was present at a stateside battle in which sidekicks Bucky
Bucky
Bucky is the name of several fictional characters, masked superheroes in the Marvel Comics universe. The original, James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby as a sidekick character in Captain America Comics #1 , published by Marvel's 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics...
(real name James Buchanan Barnes) and Toro
Toro (comics)
Toro is the name of two characters from Marvel Comics. The first Toro was originally featured in Timely Comics and later as a Marvel Comics superhero who appeared as the partner of the original Human Torch.-Publication history:...
(Thomas Raymond) of the superhero team the Invaders
Invaders (comics)
The Invaders is the name of two fictional superhero teams in the . The original team was created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Sal Buscema in The Avengers #71 . A present-day incarnation was introduced by writer Chuck Austen and artist Scott Kolins in The Avengers vol...
fought the supervillain Agent Axis. There one of Dr. Sabuki's inventions accidentally gave Gwenny Lou and her friend David "Davey" Mitchell superhuman powers. Gwenny Lou gained the power to generate light and energy and project golden force beams from her hands, while Mitchell gained the ability to spin at superhuman speeds; she became Golden Girl, he the Human Top
Human Top (David Mitchell)
Human Top is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:The Human Top first appeared in Invaders #27-28 and was created by Roy Thomas and Frank Robbins....
. The four youthful heroes defeated Agent Axis, and later formed the Kid Commandos
Kid Commandos
The Kid Commandos is a fictional organization in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:The Kid Commandos first appeared as a team in Invaders #28 , and were created by Roy Thomas and Frank Robbins....
, who were allied with the adult Invaders.
Gwenny Sue later helped found the post-war organization the V-Battalion
V-Battalion
The V-Battalion is the name of two incarnations of a fictional secret organization composed of Golden Age superheroes and their descendents in stories from Marvel Comics...
. Gwenny eventually changed her superhero name to Golden Woman, before she died in 1961. Her daughter and her granddaughter became the superheroines Golden Sun and Goldfire, respectively, though Golden Sun died when her own daughter was five years old.
External links
- Grand Comics Database
- All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z: Update 2 - Adam II to Zodiac (May 2007)
- International Catalogue of Superheroes: Golden Girl