Action Girl Comics was a comic book anthology series, edited by Sarah Dyer, that ran for 19 issues from 1994 to 2000. It features the work of female comic book creators, and was published by Slave Labor Graphics. Its ethos was summed up in Dyer's introductory editorial every issue: "Action Girl has an all-ages sensibility, and is girl-positive and female-friendly -- but never anti-boy."
Publication History[]
In the beginning, most of the stories were reprints of minicomics that Dyer wanted to promote and bring to a wider audience, but as time went by, more and more stories were produced specifically for the anthology. Dyer also devoted space at the back of each issue promoting other female-created and -friendly works being published contemporaneously.
Action Girl Comics was featured or reviewed in several mainstream publications, including Newsweek, Seventeen Magazine, Spin, and Bluejean.
Recurring Features[]
While many of the stories are either stand-alone or series original to the cartoonist, the eponymous superheroine Action Girl (a creation of Dyer's) has recurring appearances along with her own supporting cast. Action Girl is an athletic teenage girl who thinks quickly and usually resolves conflicts with little or no combat. Some of her friends are also superheroines, including Flying Girl and Ultra Girl (formerly Neutrina). Other recurring characters include Gwen and P.J., both of whom are non-superheroic, as well as Susanoo the Brawler, a tempestuous girl related to the Japanese god. However, the majority of stories in the comic are standalone rather than episodic.
Issues[]
Issue 1[]
Publication date: October 1994
Cover by Sarah Dyer
- Stories
- Soundtrack by Jessica Abel
- Action Girl: Cakes and Dresses paper dolls; Kimi and Kitty strip by Sarah Dyer
- A-Girl: River Baby Dream Child by E. Wawa
- All Girls Together by Carol Seatory
- Untitled (Bi Pride) by Leanne Franson
- Damn Crow by Rebecca Dart
- Untitled (Ding Dong) by Fallen Angel
- Action Girl Gears Up for Winter paper dolls by Sarah Dyer
- Reservoir by Megan Kelso
- Hey Amy! by Amy Frushour
- What's Been Going On by Ms. Phink
- Untitled (Kitty Love) by Leanne Franson
- The Story of Fluffy by Jennifer Sorensen
- A Poem by She-Ra
- True Grunge by Jessica Abel
Issue 2[]
Publication date: January 1995
Cover by Elizabeth Watasin and Sarah Dyer
- Stories
- Don't by Kris Dresen
- Mortality by Elizabeth Watasin
- Liliane by Leanne Franson
- Beautiful by Chantale Doyle
- Zero Hour by Patty Leidy
- I Was A Terrorist for Jesus by Carolyn Ridsdale
- Action Girl paper dolls by Sarah Dyer
- Gwen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Jennifer Sorenson
- Liliane by Leanne Franson
Issue 3[]
Publication date: April 1995
Cover by Jessica Abel and Sarah Dyer
- Stories
- Mile Marker by Jessica Abel
- Tobey's Tips for Fanboys by Chris Tobey
- Fishead Goes Undercover by Carolyn Ridsdale
- Untitled (She Likes Rude People) by Emily Ryan Lerner
- Rollerskates by Ariel Bordeaux
- All Girls Together by Carol Seatory
- Cathode Slave by Patty Leidy
- Composition by Megan Kelso
Issue 4[]
Publication date: July 1995
Cover by Sarah Dyer
- Stories
- Action Girl in: Dress Code, written by Sarah Dyer, art by Elim Mak
- $64 Question by Jessica Abel
- Dracula Gets Stood Up! by Sarah Thornton
- Amusing Pet by Beth Johnson
- Tobey ♥ Fanboys by Chris Tobey
- Bodyology by Kris Dresen
- Action Girl Plays Dress-Up! by Sarah Dyer
- Susanoo The Brawler by Elizabeth Watasin
Issue 5[]
Publication date: October 1995
Cover by Patty Leidy, colored by Sarah Dyer
- Stories
- Godzilla by Patty Leidy
- Triple Lutz by Beth Johnson
- The Woman Who Was a Bird by Rebecca Dart
- I Had a Lot on My Mind by Amanda Lewis
- Straighten Up and Fly Right by Carolyn Ridsdale
- The Indefatigable Gwen in "Marketing" by Jennifer Sorensen
- Scary Biscuits by Carol Seatory
Issue 6[]
Publication date: January 1996
Cover Artist: Elizabeth Watasin
- Stories
- Pizza-Face by Carolyn Ridsdale
- Morning by Elizabeth Watasin
- Action Girl's Role Models of Style by Sarah Dyer
- The Bat by Chris Tobey
- Eight Questions by Roberta Gregory
- Artbabe in "Too Punk to Funk?" by Jessica Abel
Issue 7[]
Publication date: April 1996
Cover by Sarah Dyer
- Stories
- Action Girl & Flying Girl in: Big Present by Sarah Dyer
- Puppets from Hell by Chris Tobey
- Zero Hour by Patty Leidy
- Who Am I??? by Ms. Phink
- The Devil's Doing by Rebecca Dart
- Miss Africa Day by Suzanne Baumann
- Never by Jen Benka and Kris Dresen
- My Fugly Fabulous Face by Amanda Lewis
- Tales from the Family Restaurant by Jen Sorensen
- Sky-Blue Pink by She-Ra
- Action Girl Coloring Page by Anastasia Moreno
Issue 8[]
Publication date: July 1996
Cover by Elizabeth Watasin
- Stories
All stories by Elizabeth Watasin
- Prize Fighter
- Mayhem of the Terror Jocks!
- Protector
- Fashion Fun with: Action Girl paper dolls
- Fashion Fun with: Flying Girl paper dolls
- A-Girl: Safe Night
Issue 9[]
Publication date: October 1996
Cover by Sarah Dyer
- Stories
- Tobey & Nicky in "Girls in the Bathroom" by Chris Tobey
- Gene, Gene the Dancing Machine by Amanda Lewis
- A Bird in the Hand by Rebecca Dart
- Zero Hour by Patty Leidy
- Fashion Fun with: Ultra Girl paper dolls by Sarah Dyer
- Melba & Spence by Stephanie Gladden
- The Number 6 by Amanda Lewis
- Lumberjack Fun by Jennifer Sorenson
Issue 10[]
Publication date: January 1997
Cover by Stephanie Gladden and Sarah Dyer
- Stories
- Pivotal Scenes from My Life as a Stage Actress by Leslee T. Parker
- MRE Blues: A True Army ROTC Story by Anastasia Moreno
- The Adventures of Pezgal by Patty Leidy
- Flip Flop by Chris Tobey
- Bunnygrunt High by Jen Wolfe
- Sushi Lesson by Stephanie Gladden
- My Reality by Amanda Lewis
- Life's Great Rewards by Sarah Dyer
Issue 11[]
Publication date: May 1997
Cover by Sarah Dyer
- Stories
- Tobey's Holiday Dinner by Chris Tobey
- Stay Gold Pony Boy by Patty Leidy
- How I Became Beautiful by Melissa MacAlpin
- Going Dutch by Jennifer Sorensen
- Tiny Totz Comix in: Puberty Shmewberty by Lisa McElroy
- Quitter by Amanda Lewis
- Pivotal Scenes from My Life as a Stage Actress by Leslee T. Parker
- Mrs. Miller by Melissa MacAlpin
- Fashion Is Silly by Susan Ferguson
- He Shoulda Knowed Betta! by Chris Tobey
Issue 12[]
Publication date: July 1997
Cover by Tavisha Wolfgarth
- Stories
- Ultra-Girl: Her Day by Elizabeth Watasin
- Pivotal Scenes from My Life as a Stage Actress by Leslee T. Parker
- Captain Action Girl paper dolls by Sarah Dyer
Issue 13[]
Publication date: October 1997
Cover by Sarah Dyer
- Stories
- Scary Godmother in: 6 Feet South of the Border by Jill Thompson
- Halloween Hi-Jinks by Patty Leidy, inked by Stephanie Gladden
- Bunny, the Good Li'l Teen Witch by Elizabeth Watasin
- Babysitter Hell by Chris Tobey
- Invasion of the Cat Girls from Mars!!! by Sarah Dyer
Issue 14[]
Publication date: July 1998
Cover by Elizabeth "Eela" Lavin
- Stories
- The Spy Who Dug Me! by Eela Lavin
- The Adventures of Armless Astrid by Renee Bosler
- Bridezilla! written by Erin Strathmann, art by Chris Tobey
- Shopping with Hootch and Lovecraft by Che Gilson
- Blue Monday: The Ants Come Marching... by Chynna Clugston
- Fielding Error by Anastasia Moreno
Issue 15[]
Publication date: August 1998
Cover by Sarah Dyer
- Stories
- The Ultimatum by Elizabeth Watasin
- Is There Life After Death? by Mari Schaal
- Blue Monday: That's the Spirit by Chynna Clugston
- Post-Fab by Chris Tobey
Issue 16[]
Publication date: October 1998
Cover by Eela Lavin
- Stories
- The Go-Go Gang written by Elizabeth Watasin, art by Eela Lavin
- Pigeon Lady by Mari Schaal
- Toys I Wish Someone Would Invent Just for Me by Renee Bosler
- Blue Monday: The Curse of the Jesus Head by Chynna Clugston
- Psyche and Cupid by Eela Lavin
- Birthday Card (back cover) by Sarah Dyer
Issue 17[]
Publication date: February 1999
Cover by Sarah Dyer
- Stories
- Blue Monday: Contagiously Yours by Chynna Clugston
- Love Is... by Mari Schaal
- The Go-Go Gang: Go-Go Girl Racer! Part Deux written by Elizabeth Watasin, art by Eela Lavin
- Action Girl's Spring Project by Sarah Dyer
- Valentines (back cover) by Chynna Clugston
Issue 18[]
Publication date: June 1999
Cover by Chynna Clugston
- Stories
- Dear Daughter by Meaghan Dunn
- Seraph by Che Gilson
- The Return of Zero Hour by Patty Leidy
- Tango by Chris Tobey
- I Have Trouble Remembering Her by Melissa MacAlpin
- Blue Monday: Stop, Shmop!! by Chynna Clugston
Issue 19[]
Publication date: Winter 2000
Cover by Sarah Dyer
- Stories
- Luciferia Satan: The Devil's Little Sister written by Sarah Dyer and Madeleine Replogle, art by Elizabeth Watasin
- Mischief Night by Chris Tobey (as Christine Nightmare)
- I Dreampt I Was an Action Figure with a Kung Fu Grip by Patty Leidy
- Help PJ and Ant get ready to Trick-or-Treat paper dolls by Patty Leidy
- The Original Riot Grrlz! by A.J. Trujillo
- In My Dreams by Debbie Vasquez
Sources[]
- Official Site (archive.org)
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