Nelvana of the northern lights beat route july 7, 2014 comic book fans breathe new life into the canadian superwoman in nelvana of the northern lights herizons summer 2014. Strangely enough it was numbered super duper comics no. Insert canadian in front of comic book in that statement and thats absolutely true, but on the larger stage it isnt. The companys name originally came from a female canadian comic book superhero from the 1940s named nelvana of the northern lights, but the three decided to use a polar bear instead for a logo in. Hope nicholson is raising funds for nelvana of the northern lights. Canadian comics were being produced in different ways, educational, underground, etc. The fan press and fandom grew throughout this period, and was bolstered when patrick loubert and michael hirsh, the founders of the animation company nelvana, published of the great canadian comic books in 1971, a book length study of the bell features comics, and the touring of a related exhibition mounted by the national gallery of canada. A publishers preface by mark shainblum entitled of canadians and comic book people. In 1941, adrian dingle created one of the first superheroines.
Nov 17, 2015 nelvana limited is a canadian entertainment company founded in 1971 and known for its work in childrens animation. Most of its films, shows and specials are based on licensed properties, mainly childrens literature, but original programming is also part. Smith after a canadian comic book superheroine created by adrian dingle in the 1940s. This book is basically a look into perhaps the most successful, and. Nelvana of the northern lights hey kids comics wiki fandom. Nelvana, inuit goddess of the north has never been reprinted since. Two years later, canadian comic creator dave sim interviewed adrian dingle and his wife pat for harry kremers zine now and then times, later reprinted by alter ego.
Dingle was fascinated by the nelvana character and thought that she had comic book potential, but decided that he would have to transform her, in keeping with the conventions of the superhero genre. Apr, 2011 nelvana aint so tough, not when anyone can lick er. The nelvana strip was created from legend by franz johnston the late franz johnston who was a member of the group of seven painters. Nelvana canadian animation, cartooning and illustration.
Adrian dingles nelvana was one of the canadian comic book heroes engaged in the struggle against the axis during wwii. Aug 23, 20 cbrs ten most important canadian comic book heroes. Nelvana was one of the worlds very first superheroines, predating wonder woman by several months, and is among the ranks of the first canadian superheroes to emerge after canada placed an embargo on us luxury goods during wwii. Nelvana of the northern lights collection canadian indie. Nelvana canadian whites triumph comics adrian dingle. This is a wonderfully odd comic book series, definitely of its time. She is also one of the first female superheroes, debuting before wonder woman but after fantomah, the golden age black widow, invisible scarlet oneil and others. Nelvana limited is a canadian entertainment company founded in 1971 known for its work in childrens animation. Jul 02, 2014 my reply was more in response to your statement that nelvanas position in the comic book pantheon as the first real, costumed super heroine is unassailable. Last we have nelvana of the northern lights a heroine who is the daughter of. Dingles nelvana comics are one of the great specimens of the canadian golden age, both narratively and. Nelvanas shows are typically based on characters from popular childrens books and comics, or other companys properties.
Nelvana of the northern lights deserves a special place in comic book history as one of the first, and most powerful super heroines in comic books. She is also one of the first female superheroes, debuting before wonder woman but after fantomah, the golden age black widow, invisible scarlet oneil and others introduced in 1940. Everythingnelvana golden age comic books cgc comic. Nelvana of the northern lights digital comics comics by comixology. Its very likely she is the nelvana that inspired the comic book because at the time, the artist franz johnstonwho is a member of the group of. Nelvana was a pretty gruesome character in eskimo legend, dingle recalls, so he made her into an attractive doll by slipping herinto a miniskirt the great canadian comic books, peter martin associates, 1971. The image used for this stamp was taken from the cover of her 1945 selftitled oneshot. She debuted in hillborough studios triumphadventure.
Canadian heroine nelvana of the northern lights returns cbr. However, nelvana the comic book dates back almost 75 years to a different era, a time when canada was also at war in europe and asia. Nelvana is a canadian animation studio and childrens media company owned by corus entertainment since 2000. How a comic book heroine inspired an animation empire the star. Its an important part of canadian comic book history.
Although not known to most outside of canadian comics circles, nelvana of the northern lights is a big part of the canadian comics culture. In the 1970s there was an interest among canadian comic book fans for the heroes and heroines published in their country during world war ii. This is certainly a rarity for a 1940s depiction of an indigenous person in a comic book. Nov 27, 2017 nelvana of the northern lights deserves a special place in comic book history as one of the first, and most powerful super heroines in comic books. Of powerful inuit heritage, demigoddess nelvana draws strength. She first appeared in triumphadventure comics, vol. Triumph comics no 25, circa 1945 courtesy library and archives canadac6935. Some of the fun is imagining what the differences would be if nelvana was drawn as an actual first nations arctic superhero, with more authentic cultural details incorporated. Metro march 7, 2014 nelvana of the northern lights to be released in spring canadas history magazine februarymarch 2014 living history. She is a canadian comic book superheroine created by adrian dingle in the 1940s and had a short run. Nelvana of the northern lights is a canadian comic book character and the first canadian national superhero, debuting in hillborough studios. She got her own stamp in 1995, part of a book of stamps celebrating canadian superheroes. Nelvana of the northern lights returns from the lost pages of adrian dingles triumph comics. The language and portrayals in nelvana were not out of place in the culture of the time, either in canada or the united states, where adrian dingle drew comic book role models from.
Nelvana limited is a canadian entertainment company founded in 1971 and known for its work in childrens animation. This stamp was issued by the canada postal administration in 1995, and it belongs to the following series. Aug 01, 2014 in 1989 he published the first canadian comic price guide called canuck comics with matrix graphics comics, which is not a complete listing of all the comics up to that time, but some of the more common or popular ones. Aug 12, 2019 she is a good guy and adrian dingle tends to present her and the inuit that she interacts with in his comic strips in a positive light. She is a canadian comic book superheroine created by adrian dingle. But it wasnt until 1978 when the polar bear was first adopted to be their mascot, instead of nelvana of the northern lights. Nelvana of the northern lights will rise again the star. She appeared in colour under a new title super duper comics. Aug 23, 2017 this is a wonderfully odd comic book series, definitely of its time. This profile covers the first ten issues of triumph adventure, which is but a third of her appearances. Nelvana canada postage stamp comic book superheroes.
When it comes to nelvanas place in canadian comic book history, richeys analysis provides some deeply personal thoughts. In light of dc comics justice league of america transitioning to justice league of canada in the spring, we rank 10 of canadas best comic book superheroes. When nelvana of the northern lights burst onto the superhero scene in august of 1941, there was something. Canadian comic book heroine of the 1940s resurrected by rachel richey and hope nicholson through kickstarter campaign. It was named by founders michael hirsh, patrick loubert and clive a. After that issue both the comic book and nelvana disappeared. Oct 24, 2019 the companys name originally came from a female canadian comic book superhero from the 1940s named nelvana of the northern lights, but the three decided to use a polar bear instead for a logo in. The companys production logo is a polar bear looking at the north star. The fan press and fandom grew throughout this period, and was bolstered when patrick loubert and michael hirsh, the founders of the animation company nelvana, published of the great canadian comic books in 1971, a booklength study of the bell features comics, and the touring of a related exhibition mounted by the national gallery of canada. Smith after the canadian comic book superheroine, nelvana of the northern lights, created by adrian dingle in the 1940s. Comic books in english canada the canadian encyclopedia. In the 1970s there was an interest among canadian comic book fans for. Nov 17, 2017 learn more about canadas many comicbook creators in our timeline. Starting in october 2014, comic book fans hope nicholson and rachel richey.
She is a member of the toronto fan organization g33kpron. The name is based on a canadian comic book superheroine created by adrian dingle in the 1940s. Nelvana of the northern lights nelvana was created by adrian dingle. By the 1920s comics were an established popular art form in north america. Adrian dingles nelvana of the northern lights returns from the lost pages of triumph comics.
Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. Nelvana limited is a canadian cartoon producer, primarily known for its educational childrens cartoons. Nelvana would also battle comical evildoers such as oneear brunner, the ether people and knuckles socco, a crime king covered with indestructible plastic. In 1989 he published the first canadian comic price guide called canuck comics with matrix graphics comics, which is not a complete listing of all the comics up to that time, but some of the more common or popular ones. About us nelvanacomics nelvana of the northern lights. Canadian golden age comic books are some of the rarest in the market, its estimated that less than 10 issues exist of each one. Michael hirsh and patrick loubert honoured canadas comic book glory years when they created nelvana. Nelvana is one of the earliest comicbook superheroines worldwide, and one of the earliest canadian comic book superheroes.
My reply was more in response to your statement that nelvanas position in the comic book pantheon as the first real, costumed super heroine is unassailable. Learn more about canadas many comicbook creators in our timeline. Captain canuck was a new superhero compared to the former johnny canuck, who was simply a hero introduced in 1975 courtesy comely comics. Because its canada day week i want to do a bit of a more involved special column about the figurehead of the canadian whites this. Cbrs ten most important canadian comic book heroes. Founded in 1971, it was named by founders michael hirsh, patrick loubert and clive a. Now there are some canadian comic fans who are making that right. The animation company nelvana took its name from the heroine, and john byrne created the alpha flight member snowbird based on her even calling snowbird her daughter in the comics. Oct 11, 20 canadian comic book heroine of the 1940s resurrected by rachel richey and hope nicholson through kickstarter campaign.
Nelvana is a fictional inuit demigoddess who fought villains such as gangsters and aliens. Nov 28, 2015 michael hirsh and patrick loubert honoured canadas comic book glory years when they created nelvana. This book is a typical early comic book, the problems dealt with are purrly local but the superhero is canadian and that gives a view of canadian comics in the. The nelvana strip was created from legend by franz johnston the late franz johnston who was a. While she got left by the wayside due to the limitations of the canadian comic book industry, she proved that great superheroes dont have to be american to be popular. In reshaping nelvana, dingle appears to have drawn on a number of sources, including canadian political cartooning and the adventurefiction. Nelvana of the northern lights comic book tv tropes. Hope nicholson and rachel richey spearheaded a kickstarter campaign to reprint the complete adventures of nelvana of the northern lights by adrian dingle that was successfully funded on november 1, 20.
Unfollow comic book to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. She is a good guy and adrian dingle tends to present her and the inuit that she interacts with in his comic strips in a positive light. Nelvana aint so tough, not when anyone can lick er. Nelvana of the northern lights by adrian dingle goodreads. Nelvana is one of the earliest comic book superheroines worldwide, and one of the earliest canadian comic book superheroes. Oct 09, 20 canadian comics were being produced in different ways, educational, underground, etc. With the advent of the depression, however, significant changes occurred as publishers responded to the publics growing appetite for escapist entertainment. Rachel and i have both been fans of canadian golden age comics also known as canadian whites for their lack of color for several years, nicholson says. Nelvana along with other bell characters was taken over by f. A few years ago, the canadian government produced a postage stamp of canadian comic book heroes that included nelvana. How a comic book heroine inspired an animation empire. When hillborough was absorbed by bell features in 1942 she moved across with triumph.
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