While everyone may know about Archie and the gang, they were hardly the only comics that dealt with typical rom-com style hi-jinx. These mostly forgotten comic books from the 1940s and 1950s are a really interesting glimpse into American culture at the time. As you might expect, the lead female characters are regularly subservient to men and are mostly cookie-cooker representations of women of the era.
But they’re still pretty fun to look at! Take a step back in time with these 10 mid-century comics aimed at girls.
1. Vicky
![](https://awkward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Vicky-comics-Dec-48-nn-01-668x1024.jpg)
Photo Credit: flashbak
Vicky was about a spoiled, rich girl who likes to get her way and to hang out with her stuck-up sister, Helen.
![](https://awkward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Vicky-Dec-48-nn-25a.jpg)
Photo Credit: flashbak
Vickie and her friend Gertie also like to trick overeager boys into kissing each other.
![](https://awkward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Vicky-Dec-48-nn-24.jpg)
Photo Credit: flashbak
2. Ginger: America’s Typical Teenage Girl
![](https://awkward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/001-713x1024.jpg)
Photo Credit: flashbak
Ginger was the typical American teenage girl. She also had a creepy nerd named Ickky constantly on her tail.
![](https://awkward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/017.jpg)
Photo Credit: flashbak
3. Tessie the Typist
![](https://awkward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/01-674x1024.jpg)
Photo Credit: flashbak
The legendary Stan Lee actually wrote a few of these stories. The storylines were pretty typical, with Tessie finding herself in all kinds of comedic situations.
![](https://awkward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/10.jpg)
Photo Credit: flashbak
4. Sherry the Showgirl
![](https://awkward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/SherryTheShowgirl005-001-688x1024.jpg)
Photo Credit: flashbak
Stan Lee had a hand in this comic as well.
![](https://awkward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/SherryTheShowgirl005-010.jpg)
Photo Credit: flashbak
5. Teena
![](https://awkward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/scan0001-731x1024.jpg)
Photo Credit: flashbak
Teena was based on a comic strip about a boy-crazy teenage girl.
![](https://awkward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/scan0021a.jpg)
Photo Credit: flashbak
6. Wendy Parker
![](https://awkward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Wendy_Parker_02_00_fc-694x1024.jpg)
Photo Credit: flashbak
Pretty standard fare, but the title character does unleash a great insult at the end here…
![](https://awkward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Wendy_Parker_02_29.jpg)
Photo Credit: flashbak
7. Lucy: The Real Gone Gal
![](https://awkward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Lucy-4-01-711x1024.jpg)
Photo Credit: flashbak
Lucy was your typical 1950s teenager who just loved hijinx! Gee whiz!
![](https://awkward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Lucy-4-33-1024x489.jpg)
Photo Credit: flashbak
8. Junie
![](https://awkward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Junie-Prom-007-01-689x1024.jpg)
Photo Credit: flashbak
A typical teenage love comic. In this one, all the boys in town are after the title character.
9. Hedy of Hollywood
![](https://awkward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/hedy_of_hollywood_046_01_heritage-684x1024.jpg)
Photo Credit: flashbak
Hedy was a Hollywood starlet constantly battling a rival for attention and fanfare.
![](https://awkward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/hedy_of_hollywood_046_07.jpg)
Photo Credit: flashbak
10. Cindy
![](https://awkward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/00-cover-704x1024.jpg)
Photo Credit: flashbak
Cindy has a rival, Sandy, and the two constantly do battle. This one is a little odd though, because the confrontations get strangely violent…hmmmmmm.
![](https://awkward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/16.jpg)
Photo Credit: flashbak
![](https://awkward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/17-1.jpg)
Photo Credit: flashbak
Then again, there’s no accounting for the tastes of an era.
h/t: flashbak