FemForce #3

History

FemForce was created by Bill Black, the writer, artist, editor, and publisher behind AC Comics (originally Americomics, founded 1982), whose roots as a storyteller stretched back to late-1960s 'ground level' fanzines under his Paragon Publications imprint. The ongoing color series launched in June 1985, directly following the surprise success of the black-and-white Femforce Special #1 (late 1984), which had introduced Miss Victory, Blue Bulleteer, She-Cat, and Rio Rita in a World War II setting. Issue #3, published in September 1985, was written and laid out by Black with pencils by Mark Heike and Mark Propst and inks by Heike and Black — the same core creative partnership that had driven the series from its debut. The backup story 'Moon's Mind Masquerade, Part 1' was scripted by Paul Daly with art by Rick Burchett, reflecting AC's practice of fostering multiple creator voices within a single issue.

Trivia · 8 facts

• Published September 1985 by AC Comics (Americomics); cover pencils by Mark Heike, inks by Bill Black.
• Main story 'Skin Game' written and laid out by Bill Black, penciled by Mark Heike and Mark Propst, inked by Heike and Black — the series' core creative team.
• First Femforce appearances of Commodore Faraday, Captain Freedom, Riot O'Rourke, Randall Crowley, and Stella Stargaze, all of whom are guest-starred in the Oceanus One undersea-city subplot.
• Issue resolves a character thread begun in FemForce #1: Nightveil (Laura Wright) completes her reversion from her Golden Age Blue Bulleteer persona and returns to her Everglades sanctuary at the story's outset.
• Colt's civilian name is established in the broader series as Valencia Kirk; the issue features Colt prominently in the backup, where her nemesis Montague Moon attempts to destroy her by menacing her creators (Paul Daly, Rick Burchett, and Bill Black are depicted within the story's dream-hypnosis conceit).
• Backup serial 'Moon's Mind Masquerade, Part 1' is scripted by Paul Daly with art by Rick Burchett — part of a multi-issue arc that continues through at least issue #4.
• FemForce #3's 'Skin Game' content — along with other early issues featuring Stella Stargaze, Dr. Rivits, and Montague Moon — was later reprinted in the 25th Anniversary trade paperback collecting FemForce #1–8, making the story accessible to later readers.
• The broader FemForce series, of which this issue is part of the founding run, was recognized as the first and longest-running ongoing comic dedicated to an all-female superhero team in American comics history.

Cast · 29 characters

Full credits

Key issues in FemForce