Tarpé Mills

Tarpé Mills, born June Tarpé Mills on February 25, 1912, was a pioneering American cartoonist and one of the first major female creators in comics. She is best known for creating *Miss Fury*, the first female action hero written and drawn by a woman, which debuted in 1941. Mills was born in Brooklyn, New York, and began her career in the late 1930s, contributing to titles like *Amazing Mystery Funnies* and *Reg'lar Fellers Heroic Comics*. Her work on *Miss Fury* showcased her dynamic storytelling and expressive, glamorous art style, blending adventure, humor, and a touch of noir. She wrote, penciled, and inked the strip for over a decade, often collaborating with her sister, who assisted with backgrounds. Mills also contributed to *Gwandanaland Comics* and *Bad Girl Backlash!*. After *Miss Fury* ended in 1952, she largely left comics, though her influence endured. She passed away on December 12, 1988, in New York. Mills received posthumous recognition, including induction into the Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame in 2020, cementing her legacy as a trailblazer for women in the medium.