Miss America (Marvel Comics)

Comic book publishers tried to explore new types of stories, characters, and audiences, since superheroes began to fade out of fashion in the post-World War II era. Comic companies started introducing more female superheroes in an attempt to appeal to young female readers.[3] American comic book publisher Timely Comics released Marvel Mystery Comics #49 (September 1943) featuring a new superheroine known as Miss America.[4] According to American author Jess Nevins and his Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes, Miss America "fights ordinary criminals, Axis agents, Baron Shinto the Gouger, the murderous teen the Cherub, King Cobra, and the human electric eel the Shocker."[5]

Madeline Joyce received the Miss America Comics #1 (May 1944) one-shot, her first solo comic book.[6] According to some sources, illustrator Ken Bald served as the cover and interior artist, although Vincent Fago, interim editor of Timely Comics for the drafted writer Stan Lee, asserted, "I hired a friend from the animation business, Pauline Loth, and she did the art for the first Miss America book."[7] Fago also stated, "I hired her at Timely when she left Fleischer's and came to New York. She did "Miss America" for us and created her costume."[8]

The Miss America Comics series changed its format with its second issue to become a larger magazine-sized Miss America Magazine,[9] though with the conventional comic book combination of glossy covers and newsprint interior. Initiating this format as vol. 1 #2 (November 1944),[10] the publication relegated its superhero to a secondary role and began focusing on teen-romance comics stories and articles on such topics as cooking, fashion, and makeup. This second issue, which featured a photo cover of an unknown model dressed in the Miss America costume, also introduced the long-running, teen-humor comics feature Patsy Walker.[11]

The Miss America Magazine series was renamed Miss America starting with issue #46 (April 1952). Alongside the single superhero comic, Miss America ran 126 issues in a complicated numbering that continued through vol. 7 #50 (December 1952), the 83rd issue. It then reverted to comic book format as Miss America vol. 1 #51–93 (April 1953 – November 1958).

The magazine format used photo covers of everyday teens. In 1951, starting with vol. 7 #42, the logo changed to Patsy Walker Starring in Miss America,[12] with covers now depicting high schooler, Patsy, boyfriend Buzz Baxter, and romantic-rival Hedy Wolfe, in cartoon art by artists Al Jaffee and Morris Weiss.

Madeline Joyce received the Miss America Comics 70th Anniversary Special #1 (June 2009) one shot, her second solo comic book.[13] According to Diamond Comic Distributors, it was the 136th best selling comic book in June 2009.[14]

Madeline Joyce appeared as Miss America in the 1941 All Winners Comics series.[15] She appeared in the 1946 Blonde Phantom series.[16] She appeared in the 1974 Giant-Size Avengers series.[17] She appeared in the 2006 X-Statix Presents: Dead Girl series.[18] Erika Kelley appeared as Miss America in the 2011 Fear Itself: Youth in Revolt series.[19]

The first Miss America is Madeline Joyce.[20] Created by writer Otto Binder and artist Al Gabriele, the character first appeared in Marvel Mystery Comics #49 (September 1943).[21]

Madeline Joyce Frank is a socially aware heiress born in Washington, D.C. who is the niece of the millionaire radio mogul James Bennet. She acquired a range of superpowers after being exposed to an electrical discharge from an unknown experimental piece of equipment. Madeline Joyce possesses the "Strength of a Thousand Men," allowing her to lift weights far heavier than a normal human would be capable of lifting. Her superhuman durability makes her resistant to different forms of damage. She has the ability to levitate herself through psionic means. By using her levitation ability in connection with carefully planned leaps, she could use her power to fly. She could attain any height at which she could still breathe (approximately 20,000 feet). Fatigue poisons accumulate much slower in Madeline Joyce's body than that of a normal human, giving her a heightened "vitality." She later became a superhero and took the mantle of Miss America. The character has also been a member of the Invaders, Liberty Legion, and All-Winners Squad at various points in her history.[22] She married fellow Golden Age superhero Robert Frank / Whizzer. Because the two had been exposed to radiation, their first child was the radioactive mutant Nuklo. However, Madeline Joyce died of complications stemming from childbirth with her second, stillborn child due to radiation poisoning from her first offspring while at Wundagore Mountain, Transia.[23] During this time, it was also suggested that Madeline Joyce was the mother of Pietro Maximoff / Quicksilver and Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch.[24] This was ultimately refuted when it was revealed that Max Eisenhard / Magneto and Magda Eisenhardt were their biological parents. Madeline Joyce was later retconned in 1976 as a member of the World War II super-team knwon as the Liberty Legion, set between the creation of the Invaders and the post-war All-Winners Squad. As a member of the team, she battled the Red Skull. Alongside the Liberty Legion and the Invaders, she fought the Nazi super-team called Super-Axis.[25]

The second Miss America is Erika Kelley. Created by writers Dan Slott, Christos N. Gage, and artist Patrick Scherberger, the character debuted in Avengers: The Initiative Annual #1 (December 2007).

Erika Kelley was a member of the Liberteens under the codename of Miss America. Madeline Joyce served here as an inspiration. She battled Flag-Smasher when he intended to destroy the Liberty Bell.[26] Erica Kelley subsequently left the team alongside her former teammates to found a new one called the Fantastix.[27] She decided to abandon the mantle of Miss America and took the codename of Ms. Fantastix.

Deirdre Kaye of Scary Mommy called Miss America a "role model" and a "truly heroic" female character.[28] Marc Buxton of Comic Book Resources included Miss America in their "Greatest Patriotic Super Heroes of All-Time" list.[29]

Megan Nicole O'Brien of Comic Book Resources ranked Madeline Joyce 3rd in their "Marvel: 10 Best Golden Age Heroines" list.[30] Steven Schneider of Screen Rant ranked Madeline Joyce 1st in their "First Female Comic Book Superheroes In History" list, writing, "The original Miss America was, in a lot of ways, the quintessential World War II superheroine: she fought alongside heroes like Captain America and Bucky, battled the Axis Powers and somehow wore a skirt while fighting crime."[31]

Madeline Joyce was the third female comic book female hero to get her own solo book after DC Comics' Wonder Woman and Fiction House's Sheena, Queen of the Jungle.[32]

An alternate version of Miss America appears in the Amalgam Comics universe.[50] Madeline Joyce was combined with DC Comics' Liberty Belle.[51] This version is known as Madeline Lawrence / American Belle. She is a member of the All-Star Winners Squadron.[52]

• Madeline Joyce / Miss America was loosely adapted for the Japanese television series Battle Fever J as part of a collaboration between Marvel Comics and the Japanese studio Toei.[53] She retained the codename while the costume and character were changed.[54]
• Madeline Joyce / Miss America appears in the Spider-Man five-part episode "Six Forgotten Warriors", voiced by Kathy Garver.[55] This version, along with the Black Marvel, the Destroyer, the Thunderer, and the Whizzer, obtained her powers from a flawed attempt at recreating the process that empowered Captain America during World War II, which she regulates with a special ring.
• Madeline Joyce / Miss America makes a non-speaking cameo in Ultimate Spider-Man."[56] This version is a member of the Invaders.
• America Chavez / Miss America appears in the Marvel Rising series of short films and television specials,[57] voiced by Cierra Ramirez.[58]

• America Chavez / Miss America appears in Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors,[59] voiced by Cierra Ramirez.[60]
• America Chavez / Miss America appears in media set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), portrayed by Xochitl Gomez.[61]

• America Chavez / Miss America appears via the "Marvel's Women of Power" DLC in Pinball FX 2.[62]
• America Chavez / Miss America appears as an unlockable playable character in Marvel Puzzle Quest.[63]
• America Chavez / Miss America appears as a playable character in Marvel Contest of Champions.[64]
• America Chavez / Miss America appears as an unlockable playable character in Marvel: Future Fight.[65]
• America Chavez / Miss America appears as an unlockable playable character in Lego Marvel's Avengers.[66]
• America Chavez / Miss America appears as an unlockable playable character in Marvel Avengers Academy,[67] voiced by Sandra Espinoza.[68]
• America Chavez / Miss America appears as an unlockable playable character in Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2.[69]
• America Chavez / Miss America appears as a playable character in Marvel Strike Force.[70]
• America Chavez / Miss America appears as an assist character in Marvel Future Revolution.[71]
• America Chavez / Miss America appears as a playable card in Marvel Snap.[72]

• In 2018, Hasbro released several America Chavez / Miss America dolls.[73]
• In 2022, Hasbro released an America Chavez / Miss America action figure as part of the Marvel Legends action figure line.[74]
• In 2022, Lego released an America Chavez / Miss America Lego minifigure.[75]
• In 2022, Funko released an America Chavez / Miss America Funko pop figure.[76]

• America Chavez / Miss America appears in Marvel United, published by CMON Limited.[77]
• America Chavez / Miss America appears in Marvel Rising: Ultimate Comics,[78] voiced by Cierra Ramirez.[79]
• America Chavez / Miss America appears as a meet and greet character at Disney California Adventure.[80]