She came along at a time when superheroes overflooded the comic book market. But by the time she emerged from the shadows of Wilbur Comics (where she was first introduced in 1945), she'd carved out a considerable niche for herself in the burgeoning comic stratosphere.

Who was she, this Katy Keene--this raven-haired, come-hither-eyed fashion plate? Who was this more-fabulous-than-Veronica Archie Comics contemporary?

Created by cartoonist Bill Woggon, Katy Keene was a globe-trotting model and actress whose sundry adventures proved to be a benchmark for securing the elusive market of female readership.

And what set this bold beauty apart from such competitors as Patsy Walker and Millie the Model?

The bulk of Katy Keene's fashions were owing to sketch submissions and ideas from adolescent readers. In fact, nearly every page of each story credited readers for what she and her cast of characters wore. Even more exciting was that she changed clothes constantly, practically ensuring that almost every fashion suggestion from readers was used!

This interactive approach to the Katy Keene stories made the character and the comic so popular, she became a staple for back-page features in Laugh, Pep Comics, Archie Giant Series Magazine and Katy Keene Pinup Parade throughout the 1950s.

She faded from view with the onset of the '60s and remained hidden from public view for over a decade. But when Saks Fifth Avenue decided to use blow-ups of Katy's comics for store windows in 1978, the diva's career was revived.

A fanzine cropped up before long, and in 1983, her comic book was resurrected, including reprints of Woggon's original '50s artwork as well as intrepretations by such greats as Dan DeCarlo and John Lucas.

Alas, Katy's renewed popularity only lasted til 1990. Even so, she can still be found gracing a small corner of the Archie Comics website, sparkling bright as ever, an irrepressible diva, just waiting for her next renaissance.

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