Brenda Starr (comic strip)

"Brenda Starr" is a comic strip about a glamorous, adventurous reporter. Created by Dale Messick for the "Chicago Tribune" syndicate, it initially encountered resistance from "Tribune" editor Joseph Medill Patterson because its creator and main character were both women. Although set in Chicago, in its early years it was the only syndicate strip not to appear in the "Tribune" itself. The strip was relegated to a supplement, but quickly worked its way into the Sunday paper. A daily strip was added in 1945.

The strip debuted on June 30, 1940, syndicated by the Chicago Tribune Syndicate. Messick retired in 1980, succeeded only by women, first by Ramona Fradon. When Ramona Fradon retired in 1995, she was followed by Linda Sutter, and June Brigman.

Brenda has always been a modern woman, noted for her exotic adventures and steamy romances. Messick and the other artists concentrated on keeping Brenda contemporary in clothing and hairstyles.

Before Messick retired, Brenda finally married the mysterious Basil St. John, whose eyepatch and black orchid serum have been a regular plot element. Brenda had Basil's baby, shortly thereafter. It was a girl named Starr Twinkle St. John.

Later, Brenda and Basil divorce. Then they would meet again, and sparks will fly. During one of Basil's reappearances, Brenda discovered Basil had a son, named Sage, with the talk show host, Wanda Fonda. That marriage also ended in divorce. Brenda and Wanda are today good friends.

Since then, Brenda has been kicked upstairs from a reporter to becoming the Editor. Basil continues to be missing, usually, while Brenda continues her many adventures. Occasionally her grown up daughter makes appearances in her adventures.

In the summer and fall of 2008, Brenda and Sage are having a major adventure in the fictitious central Asian nation of Kazookistan, looking for Basil. Father and son are briefly and emotionally reunited - then Sage is kidnapped. Brenda remains unconscious.

The strip's current writer is Mary Schmich, who is herself a Chicago reporter and columnist at the Tribune. The strip often lampoons newspapers, with inexperienced reporters and corporate newspaper owners frequent targets, and it is a favorite of people working in the newspaper industry, particularly reporters.Fact|date=July 2007

Broader impact

There have been three film versions of the strip: Brenda Starr, Reporter, a 1945 serial with Joan Woodbury, a 1976 TV movie with Jill St. John, and a 1989 Brenda Starr (film) with Brooke Shields and Timothy Dalton. The latter version, which was not released in the US until 1992 due to lengthy litigation over distribution rights, was a notorious critical and commercial failure.

The 1976 Blondie song "Rip Her to Shreds" features the lyrics: "She looks like the Sunday Comics, she thinks she's Brenda Starr".

In 1995, "Brenda Starr" was one of 20 comic strips honored as Comic Strip Classics in a special release of commemorative postage stamps.

In 2003, the Effanbee Doll Company introduced a 16" Brenda Starr collectible fashion doll, with glamorous 1940's fashions inspired by the comic strip. The collection was extended in 2004 to include a doll of Brenda's apprentice Daphne Dimples. In 2005 a Basil St. John doll debuted with an extensive wardrobe.

In 2006, Tribune Media Services and actress Jenna Mattison were looking for producers to create a TV movie or series based on Brenda Starr. Mattison has made two independent films, "Fish Without a Bicycle" and "The Third Wish".

References

Strickler, Dave. "Syndicated Comic Strips and Artists, 1924-1995: The Complete Index." Cambria, CA: Comics Access, 1995. ISBN 0-9700077-0-1.

External links

* [http://www.ucomics.com/brendastarr/ UComics] presents the current strip
* [http://www.comicspage.com/brendastarr/brendastarr.html Comicspage]
* [http://www.toonopedia.com/br_starr.htm Toonopedia on "Brenda Starr"]
* [http://www.effanbeedoll.com/2005%20Webpages%20and%20images/2005%20BrendaStarrfinal.htm Effanbee Doll Company's 2005 "Brenda Starr" collection]
* [http://www.blog.zap2it.com/brendastarr/ Jenna Mattison Brenda Starr Blog]

Film links

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