*Marvel: Marvel’s ‘women’s comics’ line of the early 1970s was a conscientious, if misjudged, attempt to broaden the readership by putting female characters and female creators in the spotlight. Sadly, the lack of experienced women in the industry, and some creative inconsistencies, meant that it was short-lived and badly-supported, with all three titles cancelled after four or five issues. Its longest legacy – no disrespect to Shanna the She-Devil or Night Nurse – was the Cat, whose first super-heroic career may have been brief, but who was later reworked into Tigra the Were-Woman, while her old costume was passed on to Patsy Walker as Hellcat, so Marvel got a twofer – two successful characters for one failed one! Not that the Cat didn’t show promise; issue #1’s origin was written by Linda Fite, drawn by Marie Severin and Wally Wood, and is absolutely lovely. This copy has a spine reading crease and colour-breaking spine ticks, as well as other edge wear including two tiny colour-breaking creases at the right corners. But nice colours, a clean central image, tight, firm staples and supple, off-white to white pages.  
PICTURED: CAT, BEWARE THE CLAWS OF THE #1 VG £50