Kyra

(Elsewhere, 1986-1988)
™ and ©1987 Robin A. Ator & Larry R. Heller

Kyra, who was endowed by the Hindu goddess, Parvati, with extra strength, mental control over animals, and enhanced senses is the protector of Maha-Buri, a jungle region near the Himalayas. She is the daughter of Kageena, an obscure jungle queen character from the fifties.

From Sheena, Queen of the Jungle, to Nyoka the Jungle Girl, to Shanna the She-Devil, to Rima, the Jungle Girl, the distaff version Tarzan has been a recurring figure in comics. Although their origins and backgrounds may have superficial variations, all were lithe, slim, and feminine. Kyra represents a departure from the standard. This title debuted in the mid-1980s when female body builders began to achieve notoriety—perhaps creator Robin Ator tapped this new paradigm as his inspiration. Kyra is depicted as a large, well-defined, solidly muscled woman. To perpetuate the “strong woman theme,” the back cover features photos of female body builders.

— George Haberberger

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