Tag Archives: Abusive guardians

Her Name in Lights

Plot:

Stella Martin is living with her Aunt Cynthia, an unscrupulous theatre agent, while her mother is ill and her father works away from home. Stella is a talented actress and wants to go into the theatre. But Aunt Cynthia forces her into starring in TV commercials as a child actress. To this end Aunt Cynthia forces Stella into a childish appearance, deliberately underfeeds her to stunt her growth, keeps her away from school, and Stella has to do housework as well.

Lights

Notes:

  • Artist: Kim Raymond
  • Reprinted and translated to Dutch as “Haar naam in neon” (“Her Name in Neon”) – Mariska Starstrip #1 (circa 1983)

Appeared:

  • Her Name in Lights –  Mandy: #712 (06 September 1980) – #721 (08 November 1980)

 

Seal Girl

Plot:

Jake and Ruby Walters run a successful show with performing seals. When they visit a remote island in Scotland they find a girl who has been raised by seals. They call her Shona, pass her off as their niece and incorporate her into their show, planning to make a fortune. But Shona begins to learn human ways too fast, which threatens their plans, and Cherry, the other girl in the show, is jealous of Shona.

Seal Girl

Notes:

  • Artist: Tom Hurst

Appeared:

  • Seal Girl  –  Mandy:  #630 (10 February 1979) – #638 (07 April 1979)

 

The Secret of Marion’s Music Box

Plot:

Marion Taylor is being looked after by her Aunt Madge and Uncle Wilf, who are cruel to her. She takes solace in her music box, which is magical. As Marion is the thirteenth girl to own it, she can travel back in time to meet the previous owners of the box.

Marion

Notes:

Appeared:

  • The Secret of Marion’s Music Box –  Mandy:  #474 (14 Feb. 1976) – #487 (15 May 1976)

 

Kim of the Canals

Plot:

When Kim Barry’s grandfather dies, her horrible Uncle Sam and cousin Laura move into her barge home, the “Northern Queen”. They abuse Kim and treat her like a slave, but she puts up with it because of her love of swimming. She joins a swimming club and is determined to train at every opportunity.

Kim

Notes:

  • Writer: Maureen Hartley

Appeared:

  • Kim of the Canals –  Mandy:  #381 (04 May 1974) – #395 (10 August 1974)

 

Sleepy Sally / Sally – the Slave-Girl Star

Plot

Sally Binks is always falling asleep in class because she is forced to work early in the morning and late at night at her stepmother’s laundry. The headmistress and deputy headmistress don’t act because they dislike Sally. But Sally has ambitions to go on stage and begins to make headway in that area.

Sally

Notes

  • Art: Leslie Otway

Appeared

  • Sleepy Sally – Mandy: #19 (27 May 1967) – #40 (21 October 1967)
  • Reprinted as Sally – The Slave-Girl Star –  Mandy:  #374 (16 March 1974) – #395 (10 August 1974)
  • Reprinted: Lucky Charm #5 (1980)

 

Baby Dolly Deane

Plot:

Former film star Carla Deane forces her fourteen-year-old daughter Dolly to dress in babyish clothes to conceal her true age from people. She sends Dolly to boarding school and has her put in the juniors. But Dolly makes a friend in Jo-Ann Connors, who knows her situation and tries to help.

Dolly

Notes:

Appeared:

  • Baby Dolly Deane – Judy: #983 (11 November 1978) – #997 (17 February 1979)

 

 

The Courage Of Little Sister / “Wendy Will be Married!”

Plot:

Betty and Pam have to live with their lazy cheating aunt and uncle after their parents died. Pam has just come out of hospital after a long illness but she is determined not to let her guardians ruin Betty’s chance of happiness. But the relatives are aware of this and are trying to stop Betty marrying and leaving them. In the updated picture story, Betty’s name is changed to Wendy.

courage_of_little_sister
Married

Notes

  • Originally a text story
  • Updated as a Picture story in Mandy under the new title Wendy Will Be Married!”

Appeared

  • The Courage Of  Little Sister (text)-  Diana: #1 (23 February 1963) – (?)
  • Reprinted as a picture story Wendy Will be Married!” –  Mandy:  #387 (15 June 1974) – #395 (10 August 1974)