Action Comics #521
Published and © by DC, July 1981
Title: “The Deadly Rampage of the Lady Fox”
Synopsis: Superman teams with a super-model-turned-superheroine named Vixen to stop an illegal fur-poaching operation in India.
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciler: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Review: Three years after her solo book was nixed by the DC Implosion, Gerry Conway’s Vixen finally makes her DCU debut. Sadly, this tale wasn’t worth the wait. Heavy-handed morality plagues the plot, while Curt Swan’s art lacks dynamism. It’s not a bad issue, but the character deserved better.
•••
Title: “Grow, Little Growfish!”
Synopsis: Aquaman calls in the Atom for some scientific backup as the two research a sea blob that can rapidly expand.
Writer: Bob Rozakis
Penciler: Alex Saviuk
Inker: Vince Colletta
Review: A filler story with no-better-than-average art fills pages that would have been better spent on the origin of the Vixen.
Grade (for the entire issue): B-
Cool factor: The Vixen. Clearly, the character had potential, even if it’s not on display here.
Not-so-cool factor: The Vixen’s original powder-blue-and-gold costume. Yuck!
Notable: First appearance of future JLAer Vixen.
Collector’s note: According to the Grand Comics Database, there is a 15p British variant of this issue. … According to MyComicShop.com, there is also a Mark Jewelers variant.
Character quotable: “The world still sees only stereotypes.” – Mari Macabe, aka the Vixen, concerned that people will prejudge her … not because of her skin color, but because she’s a super-model
Editor’s note: This review was originally published by Comics Bronze Age on June 8, 2009.
