We’re Keene on Katy
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glamorous and always entertaining Archie Comics sensation Katy Keene. So this
week, we thought we’d take a closer look at this icon of both comics and
fashion.
Katy Keene was sort of a Betty Grable for the comics – but her
intelligence, wit and endless adventures were all balanced with her beauty to
give her a charm that elevated her above the standard pretty pin-up gal. She
debuted in the back pages of Wilbur Comics #5 – from MLJ/Archie Comics –
in the Summer of 1945, and by 1949, she had her own comic. Katy’s lifestyle is
enviable even today – so you can imagine how her tales impacted little girls
growing up in the ’50s. From modeling gigs to movie shoots to fighting off a
bevy of gentleman suitors, Katy breezed from one jet-setting episode to another
– always calm, cool, and dressed to the nines. Her popularity was phenomenal –
and her books sold, literally, by the millions. What made her truly unique,
though, was that her glorious wardrobe was primarily the creation of her fans
themselves.
In a move of sheer creative genius, Woggon allowed his
readers to send ideas for Katy’s clothes – and they responded by the thousands.
Girls, boys, and even a few adults sent Bill drawings of flowing ballgowns,
sassy swimsuits, casual dresses, sportswear, hats, gloves, scarves, shoes,
handbags, jewelry, cars, boats, summer houses and anything and everything else a
glamour girl on the go might need. Some of Katy’s dresses paid homage to other
periods of history, from pastel, Camelot-inspired gowns complete with
cone-shaped hennin hats and veils to Civil War-era hoop skirts and parasols. She
even had a few space-age outfits (with coordinating spaceships) for her out of
this world escapades.
Best of all, Woggon tried to use as many of his
fans’ creations in each issue of Katy Keene as possible – thus, he had
her constantly changing clothes. And between Katy, her equally glamorous rival
Gloria Grandbilt, her redheaded pal Lucki Lorelei and a host of others
(including Katy’s bratty, bespectacled kid sister), there was plenty of
opportunity to show off the creativity of the fans. Woggon even included a
little box somewhere in each panel that gave credit to the designer and their
hometown. And in addition to having Katy and crew changing clothes in
practically every panel, Woggon also included cut out dresses and accessories
that fans could use to make Katy paper dolls. This makes it especially hard to
find Katy Keene comics in good shape today – as so many of them were
immediately attacked by young scissor-wielding fashionistas.
Katy’s
popularity soon spawned plenty of spinoff titles, including the Katy Keene
Fashion Book, Katy Keene Annual, Katy Keene Charm, Katy
Keene Glamour, and the giant sized Katy Keene Pinup Parade. Sadly,
however, Katy’s run as fashion queen came to and end in 1961. Though she was no
longer the star of her own comic book, however, her influence had already been
felt. An entire generation had already been inspired, and, thanks to her, a crop
of fashion designers – including such eccentrically wonderful names as Betsey
Johnson and Anna Sui – had been born.
Then, in the late 70s, Katy
enjoyed quite a revival. It all began when giant Katy Keene comic book
covers were used as backdrops in a Saks Fifth Avenue window display.Soon after,
a fanzine was started. Finally, in 1983, her comic was revived, with artists
including Dan DeCarlo and John Lucas. Katy-Kons were held so fans could get
together, swap books and celebrate all things Katy. The revived Katy lasted
until 1990, and was a perfect example of the comics – and the clothes – of a new
era.
e was plenty of opportunity to show off the creativity of the fans. Woggon even included a little box somewhere in each panel that gave credit to the designer and their hometown. And in addition to having Katy and crew changing clothes in practically every panel, Woggon also included cut out dresses and accessories that fans could use to make Katy paper dolls. This makes it especially hard to find i Katy Keene i0 comics in good shape today - as so many of them were immediately attacked by young scissor-wielding fashionistas.
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ez to a
monthly title.<br> <br>Naturally, George’s return has many fans excited. Perhaps
the staff at <i>Wizard</i> put it best, however, when ton the web at