The Dragon Lady

The Dragon Lady is a mysterious and cunning villainess who debuted in Milton Caniff's comic strip 'Terry and the Pirates,' reprinted in Popular Comics #3 (1936). A powerful figure in the Far East underworld, she leads a band of pirates with ruthless intelligence and an enigmatic allure.

Few characters from comics' earliest Platinum Age have cast as long a shadow as The Dragon Lady, who first materialized in the pages of Popular Comics #3 way back in 1936 — a debut that places her among the genuine pioneers of the medium. Created by Bill Holman and published by Dell, she wove her way through anthology titles like Popular Comics and Super Comics before finding her most enduring home in Terry and the Pirates, sharing those adventure-soaked pages with the likes of Terry Lee, Pat Ryan, and Smilin' Jack. With a publishing presence stretching an remarkable 72 years and two key issues to her name, she's a figure of real historical weight — the kind of character that reminds collectors just how rich and strange comics were long before superheroes ruled the racks.