Rio Rita

Rio Rita burst onto the Bronze Age scene in 1984's The Shade Special #1, courtesy of creator Rik Levins and the scrappy independent publisher AC Comics — a house that made its name championing bold, larger-than-life characters. Over a quarter-century of publication, she became a recurring presence across FemForce and its companion titles, sharing adventures with a memorable roster that includes She-Cat, Blue Bulleteer, and Joan Wayne. With 24 catalog appearances, two of them collector-recognized key issues, and a run stretching all the way to 2009, Rio Rita is exactly the kind of enduring indie gem that rewards the curious fan willing to dig a little deeper than the Big Two.