Tag Archives: powers

Zara

Judy, ,

Plot

Zara comes as a new girl to Highdene where she shares a study with Shena Stuart and Cindy Brown. The head-mistress tells them that Zara is an Arabian princess hiding from her father’s enemies. Shena thinks there is something uncanny about Zara, but even she doesn’t guess that the new girl has amazing mental powers and can control people’s minds. Nor does Shena know that only she, for some unknown reason, is immune to Zara’s powers.

Notes

Appeared

  • Zara – Judy: #263 (23 January 1965) – #278 (8 May 1965)

The Secret of the Ice Maiden

Tracy, ,

Plot

Crystal Starr had the strange ability to project freezing power from her fingertips! She made friends with Gwen Jackson, whose parents had recently opened a small cafe—but Crystal suspected they had a secret enemy in Joe Hardman, a local business man.

Notes

  • Writer: Marion Turner (under pen-name: Fiona Turner)
  • Script submitted had the title The Ice Maiden but was changed to The Secret of the Ice Maiden for publication.

Appeared

  • The Secret of the Ice Maiden – Tracy: #16 (19 January 1980) – #31 (3 May 1980)

The Flight of the Bird Girl

Mandy, , ,

Plot

In 1645, during the English Civil War, thirteen year old Beth Verney was separated from ‘her parents, Sir Francis and Lady Verney, during a Roundhead attack on their home. “Roundheads” was the nickname given to the followers of Oliver Cromwell, the leader of the enemies of the King. Beth was befriended by old  Mother Shapton who possessed a strange power over birds, which she passed on to Beth before she was accidentally killed. Beth learned that her parents were at Skipton Castle, and with Sparky, Mother Shapton’s tame raven, she set out to find them.

Notes

Appeared

  • The Flight of the Bird Girl – Mandy: #361 (15 December 1973) – #370 (16 February 1974)

Supergirl Susie

Judy

Plot

Orphan Susie Simpson is mistakenly given tablets  meant for Bobo, a circus gorilla, which make her super strong. After accidentally injuring the circus strong man, Susie appears in a show as a strong girl, but she is seen by Colonel Pepperton, the chairman of the orphanage board, who orders her to return to the orphanage. On her way home, Susie sees Leon and another man trying to break into the Colonel’s house.

supergirl susie

Notes

Appeared

  • Supergirl Susie  – Judy:   #325 (02 April May 1966) – #334 (04 June 1966)

Birds of a Feather

Mandy, ,

Plot

Jenny Barnes is happy with her foster family the Finches and their other foster children Robin, Polly and Jay. One day a mysterious girl appeared in their garden. The newcomer couldn’t remember her name, so they nicknamed her Birdie. Jenny notices something strange about Birdie and she seems to be causing trouble for the other children.

birds of a feather

Notes

  • Artist: Tom Hurst

Appeared:

  • Birds of a Feather  –  Mandy:   #1254 (26 January 1991) – #1265 (13 April 1991)

 

Valda (sequels)

Mandy, , , , ,

Plot

Valda was a long running and popular character from Mandy. She is a mysterious girl, who gained long lasting life, youth and powers from the fire of life.  She has to bathe in the flames regularly to replenish her youth and strength, whenever she exhausts her powers. The powers and skills that Valda primarily is shown to have are; a youthful appearance, strength, ability to leap great distances, mental influence, a knowledge of herbs and a rapport with animals. As a baby over 200 years ago,  she was found by an  old gypsy woman Dorcas. Dorcas raised her and taught her about herbs and potions and shared with the water of life.  After Dorcas died, Valda continued her quest to find the fire of life. While the flames will restore Valda when she is weak, she also has temporary restoration methods, gained from a crystal pendant she wears.

Valda_01

Due to her long life, she appeared many times over the years.  She had adventures with hidden tribes and lost worlds, she fought evil forces and sometimes she competed against athletes to  prove her skills.  In her first appearance she challenges the world champion ice skater,  and other stories saw her compete in sports such as tennis and diving. When the Valda serial appeared in Mandy it would usually come under different names such as;  “The Amazing Valda” “The Ten  Tests of Valda”  and “The Return of Valda”. In  1974 her origin was told in the “The Girlhood of Valda“.

valda_02She was an interesting character, and her original inspiration may have been from a boys comic strip from the 1940s “The Truth about Wilson”  in The Wizard, which had some similarities. Obviously she was quite popular character, and is well remembered. She appeared in a lot of the annuals and in the 2002 annual she was updated with a more cartoony and superhero look.

Full list of appearances are below.

Notes

  • Art: Dudley Wynne

List of Appearances:

  • The Truth About Valda  – Mandy:  #56 (10 Feb. 1968) – #75 (22  Jun. 1968)
  • Reprinted – Mandy: #347 (08 September 1973) – #366 (19 January 1974)
  • Reprinted – Mandy: #590 (06 May 1978) – #609 (16 September 1978)
  • Reprinted – Lucky Charm: #22 (1983)
  • Reprinted – M&J:   #129 (30 October 1993)  – #143 (05 Feb 1994)
  • The Amazing Valda – Mandy:  #91 (12 Oct. 1968) – #110 (22 Feb. 1969)
  • Reprinted – Mandy: #367 (26 January 1974) – #386 (08 June 1974)
  • Reprinted – Lucky Charm: #1 (1979)
  • The Girlhood of Valda – Mandy: #139 (13 September 1969) – #163 (28 Feb. 1970)
  • Reprinted – Mandy:  #396 (17 Aug. 1974) – #420 (01 Feb. 1975)
  • Reprinted – Mandy:  #1034 (08 November 1986)  – #1057  (18 April 1987)
  • Reprinted (abridged) – Lucky Charm: #8
  • The Return of Valda – Mandy:  #195 (10 Oct. 1970) – #209 (16 Jan. 1971)
  • Reprinted – Mandy:  #504 (13 Sep. 1976) -#518 (18 Dec. 1976)
  • Reprinted- Mandy: #1060 (09 May 1987) – #1073 (08 Aug. 1987)
  • Ten Tests for Valda – Mandy: #243 (11 Sep. 1971) – #256 (11 Dec. 1971)
  • Reprinted- Mandy:   #557 (17 September 1977) – #570 (17 December 1977)
  • Reprinted- Mandy:   #856 (11 June 1983) – #869 (10 September 1983)
  • Reprinted- Mandy: #1139 (12 November 1988) – #1152 (11 February 1989)
  • Valda in the Secret City – Mandy: #300 (14 Oct. 1972) – #314 (20 Jan. 1973)
  • Reprinted – #824 (30 October 1982) – #838 (05 February 1983)
  • A Mission for Valda – Mandy: #454 (27 Sep. 1975) – #465 (13 Dec. 1975)
  • Valda – Girl of Mystery – Mandy: #639 (Apr. 14 1979) – #652 (Jul. 14 1979)
  • Valda and the Survivors – Mandy: #717 (11 Oct. 1980) – #731 (17 Jan. 1981)
  • Reprinted: Mandy #1217 (12 May 1990) – #1231 (18 Aug. 1990)
  • Valda and She of the Shadows – Mandy:  #839 (13 Feb 1983) – #850 (30 Apr 1983)
  • Valda and the Baby Prince – Mandy:  #920 (1 Sep 1984) – #933 (1 Dec 1984)

Other Appearances:

  • Valda – Mandy Annual 1971
  • Valda – Mandy Annual 1974
  • The Amazing Valda – Mandy Annual 1976
  • Valda – Mandy Annual 1983
  • Valda – Mandy Annual 1984
  • Valda and the Guardians of the Tomb – Mandy Annual 1986
  • Valda and the Way of the Messenger – Mandy Annual 1988
  • Valda and the Burning of Barthol – Mandy Annual 1992
  • Valda- Traveller in Time – Mandy Annual 1993
  • Valda – Mandy Annual 2002
  • Valda – Mandy Picture Story Library: #151
  • Valda – Mandy Picture Story Library: #156
  • Valda – Mandy Picture Story Library: #162

Patty Power!

Mandy

Plot

Patty Power received a strange signal from Outer  Space through an old television set. After seeing the signal, Patty was able to bend metal objects—by merely thinking about it! Patty became a local celebrity.

Notes

Appeared

  • Patty Power– Mandy: #517 (11 December 1976) – #527 (19 February 1977)

My Bionic Budgie

Mandy, , ,

Plot

After being mauled by a cat, Kim Norton’s  pet budgie, Beakie, was treated by an American scientist friend of her father’s. Her pet was now bionic, and Kim’s father made her promise to keep this fact secret—even from Mum!

Notes

  • Artist: Robert MacGillivray

Appeared

  • My Bionic Budgie – Mandy: #576 (28 January 1978) – #583 (18 March 1978) [no episode in issue #581]
    • Reprinted – Mandy: #1102 (27 February 1988) – #1108 (9 April 1988)
  • My Bionic Budgie – Mandy: #692 (19 April 1980)
  • My Bionic Budgie – Mandy: #700 (14 june 1980)