Pop quiz: Who is the first black superheroine in comics? If your answer is "Storm." then imagine you just heard a buzzer go off. That's the wrong answer, but I ain't mad atcha, because a year ago, I would've said the same exact thing.
When the short-lived black and white comic magazine "Hell-Rider" debuted in 1972, it featured a back-up strip starring Butterfly, and she is the first-ever black superheroine in comics, preceding Storm's debut by several years (although Storm is the first to debut in color comics). In her secret identity, Butterfly was Marian Michaels, a lounge singer who performed in a Vegas hotel.
Her abilities included flight (via a rocket like device strapped to her back), and well as the ability to discharge a blinding light. Think early Dazzler, although Butterfly preceded her as well. Butterfly was also a formidable hand to hand combatant.
Sadly, with the demise of the Hell-Rider magazine, Butterfly hasn't been seen since. I'm betting her only appearance has been right here in this gallery. That's okay -- I'm sure I can fit her into the Brotherhood Black-Ops team. Might just need to update her look a bit.
Once again, the inimitable Darryl Banks rises to the occasion. It was his idea to add the Vegas sign and the palm trees. Seriously, I pity the comics industry that they don't have the foresight to keep this man work constantly. Their loss, and ours as well. He did his usual outstanding job, and you can commission him at serendipityartsales.net --- and SHOULD.
