Miss America (Marvel Comics)

Miss America
Miss America Comics #1 (1944). Cover art by either Ken Bald or Pauline Loth (sources vary).
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	(Historical): Marvel Mystery Comics #49 (Nov. 1943) (Modern): Giant-Size Avengers #1 (Aug. 1974)
Created by	Otto Binder (writer) Al Gabriele (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Madeline Joyce
Team affiliations	All-Winners Squad Liberty Legion Invaders
Abilities	Superhuman strength Flight Enhanced stamina Formerly: X-ray vision

Miss America
Interior artwork from Marvel Now! Point One #1 (October 2012). Art by Jamie McKelvie.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Vengeance #1 (Sept. 2011)
Created by	Joe Casey Nick Dragotta
In-story information
Alter ego	America Chavez
Team affiliations	Teen Brigade Young Avengers A-Force Ultimates
Abilities	Superhuman strength, speed, and durabilty Flight Inter-reality transportation

Miss America is the name of multiple fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Madeline Joyce Frank, the first Miss America, debuted in Marvel Mystery Comics #49 (Nov. 1943), and was created by writer Otto Binder and artist Al Gabriele for Timely Comics, the 1940s precursor of Marvel, in the period fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books. America Chavez, the second Miss America, first appeared in Vengeance #1 (Sept. 2011), and was created by Joe Casey and Nick Dragotta.

As superheroes began to fade out of fashion in the post-World War II era, comic-book publishers scrambled to explore new types of stories, characters, and audiences. In an attempt to appeal to young female readers, comics companies began introducing some of the first significant female superheroes since Wonder Woman in 1941. These new female leads would include Timely's Blonde Phantom, Golden Girl, Namora, Sun Girl, and Venus, and its teen-humor star Millie the Model; Fox Comics' revival of Quality Comics' Phantom Lady; and DC's Black Canary.

Quality Comics had featured an unrelated character called Miss America in Military Comics in 1941 and 1942. In 1943, Timely Comics published Marvel Mystery Comics #49, featuring a new character by the name "Miss America".