Action Girl Comics is a comic book anthology series, edited by Sarah Dyer that ran for 19 issues from 1994 to 2000. It features the work of female comic book creators, and was published by Slave Labor Graphics. Its ethos was summed up in Dyer's introductory editorial ever issue: "Action Girl has an all-ages sensibility, and is girl-positive and female-friendly -- but never anti-boy."
In the beginning, most of the stories were reprints of minicomics that Dyer wanted to promote and bring to a wider audience, but as time went by, more and more stories were produced specifically for the anthology. Dyer also devoted space at the back of each issue promoting other female-created and -friendly works being published contemporaneously.
While many of the stories are either stand-alone or series original to the cartoonist, the eponymous superheroine Action Girl, a creation of Dyer's, and her own supporting cast, have recurring appearances. Action Girl is an athletic teenage girl who thinks quickly and usually resolves conflicts with little or no combat, . Some of her friends are also superheroines, including Flying Girl and Ultra Girl (formerly Neutrina). Other recurring characters include Gwen and P.J., both of whom are non-superheroic, as well as Susanoo the Brawler, a tempestuous girl related to the Japanese god. However, the majority of stories in the comic are standalone rather than episodic.
Action Girl Comics was featured or reviewed in several mainstream publications, including Newsweek, Seventeen Magazine, Spin, and Bluejean.
Issues
Issue 1
Publication date: October 1994
Cover by Sarah Dyer
Stories
- Soundtrack by Jessica Abel
- Action Girl: Cakes and Dresses paper dolls/Kimi and Kitty strip by Sarah Dyer
- River Baby Dream Child by E. Wawa (Elizabeth Watasin)
- All Girls Together by Carol Seatory
- Untitled (Bi Pride) by Leanne Franson
- Damn Crow by Rebecca Dart
- Untitled {Ding Dong) by Fallen Angel (Laura Cain)
- Action Girl Gears Up for Winter paper dolls by Sarah Dyer
- Reservoir by Megan Kelso
- Hey Amy! by Amy Frushour
- What's Been Going On by Ms. Phink
- Untitled by Leanne Franson
- The Story of Fluffy by Jennifer Sorensen
- A Poem by She-Ra
- True Grunge by Jessica Abel
Issue 2
Publication date: January 1995
Cover by Elizabeth Watasin and Sarah Dyer
Stories
- Don't by Kris Dresen
- Mortality by Elizabeth Watasin
- Liliane by Leanne Franson
- Beautiful by Chantale Doyle
- Zero Hour by Patty Leidy
- I Was A Terrorist for Jesus by Carolyn Ridsdale
- Action Girl paper dolls by Sarah Dyer
- Gwen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Jennifer Sorenson
- Liliane by Leanne Franson
Issue 3
Publication date: April 1995
Cover by Jessica Abel and Sarah Dyer
Stories
- Mile Marker by Jessica Abel
- Tobey's Tips for Fanboys by Chris Tobey
- Fishead Goes Undercover by Carolyn Ridsdale
- Untitled (She Likes Rude People) by Emily Ryan Lerner
- Rollerskates by Ariel Bordeaux
- All Girls Together by Carol Seatory
- Cathode Slave by Patty Leidy
- Compositionby Megan Kelso
Issue 4
Publication date: July 1995
Cover by Sarah Dyer
Stories
- Action Girl in: Dress Code: written by Sarah Dyer, art by Elim Mak
- $64 Question: by Jessica Abel
- Dracula Gets Stood Up!: by Sarah Thornton
- Amusing Pet: by Beth Johnson
- Tobey ♥ Fanboys: by Chris Tobey
- Bodyology: by Kris Dressen
- Action Girl Plays Dress-Up! by Sarah Dyer
- Susanoo The Brawler: by Elizabeth Watasin
Issue 5
Publication date: October 1995
Cover by Patty Leidy, colored by Sarah Dyer
Stories
- "Who's got those sexy eyes?" by Patty Leidy
- Triple Lutz by Beth Johnston
- The Woman Who Was A Bird by Rebecca Dart
- I Had A Lot On My Mind by Amanda Lewis
- Straighten Up And Fly Right by Carolyn Ridsdale
- The Indefatigable Gwen In "Marketing" by Jennifer Sorensen
- Scary Biscuits by Carol Seatory
Issue 6
Publication date: January 1996 Cover Artist: Elizabeth Watasin
Stories
- Pizza-Face by Carolyn Ridsdale
- Morning by Elizabeth Watasin
- Action Girl's Role Models of Style by Sarah Dyer
- The Bat by Chris Tobey
- Eight Questions by Roberta Gregory
- Artbabe in "Too Punk to Funk?" by Jessica Abel
Issue 7
Publication date: April 1996
Cover by Sarah Dyer
Stories
- Action Girl & Flying Girl in: Big Present by Sarah Dyer
- Puppets from Hell by Chris Tobey
- Zero Hour by Patty Leidy
- Who Am I??? bt Ms. Phink
- The Devil's Doing by Rebecca Dart
- Miss Africa Day by Suzanne Baumann
- Never by Jen Benka and Kris Dresen
- My Fugly Fabulous Face by Amanda Lewis
- Tales from the Family Restaurant by Jennifer Sorensen
- Sky-Blue Pink by She-Ra
- Action Girl Coloring Page by Anastasia Moreno
Issue 8
Publication date: July 1996
Cover by Elizabeth Watasin
Stories
All stories by Elizabeth Watasin
- Prize Fighter
- Mayhem of the Terror Jocks!
- Protector
- Fashion Fun with: Action Girl paper dolls
- Fashion Fun with: Flying Girl paper dolls
- Safe Night
Issue 9
Publication date: October 1996
Cover by Sarah Dyer
Stories
- Tobey & Nicky in "Girls in the Bathroom" by Chris Tobey
- Gene, Gene the Dancing Machine by Amanda Lewis
- A Bird in the Hand by Rebecca Dart
- Zero Hour by Patty Leidy
- Fashion Fun with: Ultra Girl paper dolls by Sarah Dyer
- Melba & Spence by Stephanie Gladden
- The Number 6 by Amanda Lewis
- Lumberjack Fun by Jennifer Sorenson
Issue 10
Publication date: January 1997
Cover by Stephanie Gladden and Sarah Dyer
Stories
- Pivotal Scenes from My Life as a Stage Actress by Leslee T. Baker
- MRE Blues: A True Army ROTC Story by Anastasia Moreno
- The Adventures of Pezgal by Patty Leidy
- Flip Flop by Chris Tobey
- Bunnygrunt High by Jen Wolfe
- Sushi Lesson by Stephanie Gladden
- My Reality by Amanda Lewis
- Life's Great Rewards by Sarah Dyer
Issue 11
Publication date: May 1997
Cover by Sarah Dyer
Stories
- Tobey's Holiday Dinner by Chris Tobey
- Stay Gold Pony Boy by Patty Leidy
- How I Became Beautiful by Melissa MacAlpin
- Going Dutch by Jennifer Sorensen
- Tiny Totz Comix in: Puberty Shmewberty by Lisa McElroy
- Quitter by Amanda Lewis
- Pivotal Scenes from My Life as a Stage Actress by Leslee T. Parker
- Mrs. Miller by Melissa MacAlpin
- Fashion Is Silly by Susan Ferguson
- He Shoulda Knowed Betta! by Chris Tobey
Issue 12
Publication date: July 1997
Cover by Tavisha Wolfgarth
Stories
- Her Day by Elizabeth Watasin (17-page Ultra Girl story)
- Pivotal Scenes from My Life as a Stage Actress by Leslee T. Parker
- Captain Action Girl paper dolls by Sarah Dyer
Issue 13
Publication date: October 1997
Cover by Sarah Dyer
Stories
- Scary Godmother in: 6 Feet South of the Border by Jill Thompson
- Halloween Hi-Jinks by Patty Leidy, inked by Stephanie Gladden
- Bunny, the Good Li'l Teen Witch by Elizabeth Watasin
- Babysitter Hell by Chris Tobey
- Invasion of the Cat Girls from Mars!!! by Sarah Dyer
Issue 14
Publication date: July 1998
Cover by Christine Norrie (as Elizabeth "Eela" Lavin)
Stories
- The Spy Who Dug Me! by Eela Lavin
- The Adventures of Armless Astrid by Renee Bosler
- Bridezilla! written by Erin Strathmann, art by Chris Tobey
- Shopping with Hootch and Lovecraft by Che Gilson
- Blue Monday: The Ants Come Marching... by Chynna Clugston
- Fielding Error by Anastasia Morena
Issue 15
Publication date: August 1998
Cover by Sarah Dyer
Stories
- The Ultimatum by Elizabeth Watasin
- Is There Life After Death? by Mari Shaal
- Blue Monday: That's the Spirit by Chynna Clugston
- Post-Fab by Chris Tobey
Issue 16
Publication date: October 1998
Cover by Christine Norrie (as Eela Lavin)
Stories
- The Go-Go Gang written by Elizabeth Watasin, art by Eela Lavin
- Pigeon Lady by Mari Schaal
- Toys I Wish Someone Would Invent Just for Me by Renee Bosler
- Blue Monday: The Curse of the Jesus Head by Chynna Clugston
- Psyche and Cupid' by Eela Lavin
Issue 17
Publication date: February 1999
Cover by Sarah Dyer
Stories
- Blue Monday: Contagiously Yours by Chynna Clugston
- Love Is... by Mari Schaal
- The Go-Go Gang: Go-Go Girl Racer! Part Deux written by Elizabeth Watasin, art by Christine Norrie (as Eela Lavin)
- Action Girl's Spring Project by Sarah Dyer
- Back cover/Valentines by Chynna Clugston
Issue 18
Publication date: June 1999
Cover by Chynna Clugston
Stories
- Dear Daughter by Meaghan Dunn
- Seraph by Che Gilson
- The Return of Zero Hour by Patty Leidy
- Tango by Chris Tobey
- I Have Trouble Remembering Her by Melissa MacAlpin
- Blue Monday: Stop, Shmop!! by Chynna Clugston
Issue 19
Publication date: Winter 2000
Cover by Sarah Dyer
Stories
- Luciferia Satan: The Devil's Little Sister written by Madeleine Replogle, art by Elizabeth Watasin
- Mischief Night by Chris Tobey (as Christine Nightmare)
- I Dreampt I Was an Action Figure with a Kung Fu Grip by Patty Leidy
- The Original Riot Grrlz! by A.J. Trujillo
- In My Dreams by Debbie Vasquez
External Links
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