Shanna: The She-Devil #1

[iamrman]

In the early Seventies, Marvel created a trio of books in an attempt to appeal to female readers. Two of those titles were Night Nurse and The Cat (more on her at a later date.) However, the title that I am concerned with is Shanna: The She-Devil.

Co-writer Carole Seuling was a friend of Roy Thomas, so make of that what you will.

Shanna flashes back to the events that brought her origin. It is so dark that I thought I had started reading Grant Morrison's Animal Man by mistake. I will spare you all the animal cruelty. Let’s return to Shanna giving the poachers their just desserts.

Comments

[michael_ellis_day]

Carole Seuling describes her connection with Roy Thomas and how she came to create Shanna in this interview:

https://13thdimension.com/shanna-the-thinking-persons-she-devil/

I would add that Steve Gerber never claimed credit for Shanna beyond a dialogue assist on this issue and a later one, though he later brought her and her supporting cast over to Daredevil (which he was writing at the time) to complete the storyline.

Carole's former husband Phil Seuling is little known today but was a major figure in the history of the comics business and is largely responsible for comic shops as we know them today.

[full_metal_ox]

For those who might be wondering, Shanna’s leopardskin costume was the pelt of Ina and Biri’s mother, shot in a misunderstanding by a zoo guard; she wore it to acclimate the orphaned cubs to her presence.

[huntleyhaverstock]

Interesting art from George Tuska here. A little Kirby, a little Kubert, a little Will Eisner (the big bald guy), even some Alex Toth mixed in (the hunter in the white jacket could have come straight out of a Toth comic). Weirdly fascinating blend of styles, although it all ends up feeling very '70s Marvel House Style.

[windleopard2]

So Shanna's clothing got skimpier over time?

[tcampbell1000]

I have to admit I did not realize how original this character was until seeing this (and doing a little more reading). I'd seen her in X-Men and Mark Waid's Ka-Zar, but I assumed she was heavily revised by then (which she was). My joke about her is that she was "not to be confused with Sheena--on second thought, ABSOLUTELY to be confused with Sheena"--but that's a reflection of her name and basic concept, and that was Lee and Thomas, not Seuling.