'No Surrender'.
Mort Meskin studied at Brooklyn's Pratt Institute and New York's Art Students League. In 1938, he made his debut in the comics field with illustrating 'Sheena, Queen of the Jungle' in Jumbo Comics, as a member of the Jerry Iger studios. This female version of Tarzan was the first U.S. comic book series with a female protagonist. Sheena wasn't the first "jungle girl" character in literature. That honour goes to W.H. Hudson's Rima the Jungle Girl in his novel 'Green Mansions: A Romance of the Tropical Forest'. But she was the first jungle girl in comics, popularizing the genre and inspiring many similar sexy jungle heroines. The comic was adapted into a TV series, 'Sheena, Queen of the Jungle' (1955-1956), starring model Irish McCalla. In 1984, a live-action film followed, 'Sheena', in which Tanya Roberts played the title role. Another TV series, 'Sheena' (2000-2002), followed later, starring Gena Lee Nolin.
Meskin specialized in the superhero genre, continuing his career at Chesler, where he illustrated series like 'Bob Phantom', 'Mr Satan', 'Shield' and 'Wizard'. Meskin's best work appeared at National, where Meskin started out in 1941. There, he drew 'Vigilante', 'Wildcat', 'Starman' and stories for Strange Adventures, Mystery in Space and Real Fact. Meskin was heavily influenced by cinematic techniques, demonstrated by his stylized drawings and flowing panels. His most notable work for National Comics was the superhero comic 'Johnny Quick'. The protagonist could gain super speed by saying a magic formula.
'The Vigilante' (Action Comics #2, 1941).
While working for National Comics, Meskin also did work for other companies. Together with Jerry Robinson, he created 'Atoman' and 'Golden Lad' for Spark Publications, 'The Fighting Yank' and 'Black Terror' for Better Publications/Standard and several horror stories for Atlas (Marvel). Through the studio of former National/DC colleagues Jack Kirby and Joe Simon, he produced 'Boys' Ranch' for Harvey and 'Black Magic' for Crestwood Publications. Meskin returned to National/DC in 1956, with some fine war, science fiction and love stories, as well as the 'Mark Merlin' series. Later on, Meskin left the comics field to become an illustrator and art director for an advertising agency. He retired in 1982 and passed away in 1995.
'Sheena, Queen of the Jungle' had a remarkable impact on pop culture. Robert Crumb enjoyed watching the TV adaptation in the 1950s and often had sexual fantasies about the character. A decade later, these led to the creation of his character Angelfood McSpade, a stereotypical black tribeswoman in Africa with a voracious sexual appetite. Pop singer Tina Turner modelled both her stage name and persona after Sheena. The Ramones' song 'Sheena Is A Punk Rocker' was also inspired by the comic strip.
'Calico Pony'.