Show Me, Joe!

Earlier this week we took a gander at Judo Joe, and i said we'd get back to see his 'gimmick' - well, here we are. Joe's gimmick was proclaimed on every cover (all 3 of 'em): A Complete Judo Lesson In Each Issue! -

Inside each issue we got a two-page lesson in self-defense (Only Self-Defense!) -

Of course, while Joe made it a prominent feature, he wasn't the only Judo instructor in the comics...
 

But, really - the Black Hood preferred to teach Karate...
 

I'm pretty sure this all eventually led to How To Defend Yourself The Marvel Way. But i couldn't swear to it...

page art by Paul W. Stoddard, John Rosenberger, and John Giunta for Judo Joe #s 1-3, Adventures Of The Fly #s 25, 27, & 29, and Adventures Of The Jaguar #s 12-14 (1953, 1959, 1963)

The "Other" Fly Girl

One of our ongoing topics around here is Fly Girls. When we use the term, it's referring to female comic characters who are aviators and, usually, adventurers. Usually, but not always. Previously we've looked at Jet Dream And Her Stunt-Girl Counterspies, Gale Allen And The Girl Squadron, Connie Kurridge, Flyin' Jenny, Canteen Kate, and Sky Girl.

Before we land on any others, let's pause a moment to look at one who wears the name  - Fly Girl.
The Fly was a superhero from Archie comics. One who was clever enough to think, "Hmm... Maybe a female sidekick would be better than a kid in shorts." And, so - Fly Girl.

For a quick look at the character and how she was portrayed, here's a trio of Fly Girl back-up tales from 1962, written by Robert Bernstein with art by John Giunta -

pages by Robert Bernstein and John Giunta for Pep #s 153 & 158 and Laugh # 136 (1962)