Valda, from Mandy

[Ernesto]

Well I know this thread's a couple of years old now, but I've just scanned issue 1060 of Mandy from May 1987 and this features a new story entitled the Return of Valda-at least the first 3 pages. Great to read all the previous posts and belated thanks for doing that wiki on Valda.
Ernesto

[Phoenix]

I've been so taken by this imagery, that I've culled the images and info, and transferred this worthy entry into a short, but hopefully sweet, WIKI entry [you've all been credited!

If I may, I would like to correct three fundamental errors in the above-mentioned WIKI entry. First, the stories about Valda did not start in 1970. The first series, The Truth About Valda, started in Mandy 56 (Feb. 10 1968). There was even a second serial, The Amazing Valda, which started in 105 (Jan. 18 1969), which was itself well before the 1971 annual was in the shops. Second, she wasn't a gypsy. She was an orphan, brought up carefully and lovingly by an old lady called Dorcas, through whom she was to discover the value of the fire of life. Third, she doesn't have eternal youth. The fire merely allows her to return temporarily to her youthful state whenever she is minded to do so. However, given that Dorcas actually dies in very old age, it is clearly implied that one day Valda will too.

[Shaqui]

And is the artist Dudley Wynn or Ed Wynn? I always thought it was Dudley but was 'Ed' a nickname or alter ego?

[Digifiend]

Incidentally, here's a very uncharacteristic version of Valda as she appeared in a 24 page story contained in the 2002 Mandy Annual. Clearly an attempt was being made to reinvent her as an American-style superhero, along the lines of the Animated Adventures of Batman, et al. This strip could very easily have been reprinted as a standard American comic book (though, to the best of my knowledge, it never was). Of course, Mandy itself was long gone by then.



- Phil Rushton

This incarnation appears to have been reused in Retro Active in the digital Dandy.

[AndyB]

Is that by Jimmy Hansen?

[stevezodiac]

Reminds me of Xena Warrior Princess.

[Tammyfan]

Valda wouldn't be out of place in her own comic or graphic novel. She has to be one of the best remembered heroines in girls comics. I think that some of the strongest contenders for best remembrance, in no particular order, are:

The Four Marys
Valda
Bella Barlow
Angel
The Happy Days
Wee Sue
Mamselle X
Bessie Bunter
Lucky's Living Doll
Bobbie Dazzler
Bessie Bunter
Cat Girl
Molly Mills
The Comp
Luv Lisa
Molly Mills
Lorna Drake
The Supercats
Catch the Cat

What else could we add?

[RuthB]

Patty's World!!

[helsbels]

Patty's World!!

I knew you wouldn't let Patty slip the net, Ruth!

[RuthB]

XDDD

[DavidKW]

Also:

Vanessa From Venus
Miss Adventure
Kathy of Marvin Grange
Alona The Wild One
Jane Bond
Maisie's Magic Eye
The Girls From Noodles
Cherry and The Children
Trixie's Treasure Chest

[Tammyfan]

Excellent additions. And we must not miss:

The Silent Three
The Honourable SJ
Wee Slavey

[Marionette]

I don't like Maisie's Magic Eye. It feels like 99% of the situations Maisie gets into could be averted if she didn't wear the stupid broach all the time (even in bed!). The only conclusion I can come to is that she enjoys causing chaos for those around her.

[Tammyfan]

I don't like Maisie's Magic Eye. It feels like 99% of the situations Maisie gets into could be averted if she didn't wear the stupid brooch all the time (even in bed!). The only conclusion I can come to is that she enjoys causing chaos for those around her.

Maybe Maisie wears the brooch all the time because she doesn't want to risk someone else finding it and discovering its power?

But yes, there were a lot of stories about girls with magic objects that seem great but cause problems for one reason or other. It usually ends up with the girl throwing the object away or it losing its power.

[philcom55]

In the real world I wouldn't want to go anywhere near Maisie's magic brooch in case I accidentally I wished I was dead or something!

- Phil R.