The Flapper Queens: Women Cartoonists Of The Jazz Age

by Trina Robbins, Ethel Hays (Illustrator), Nell Brinkley (Illustrator)

Fantagraphics celebrates The Flapper Queens, a gorgeous oversized hardcover collection of full-color comic strips. In addition to featuring the more well-known cartoonists of the era, such as Ethel Hays, Nell Brinkley, and Virginia Huget, Eisner award-winning Trina Robbins introduces you to Eleanor Schorer, who started her career in the teens as a flowery art nouveau Nell Brinkley imitator but, by the '20s, was drawing bold and outrageous art deco illustrations; Edith Stevens, who chronicled the fashion trends, hairstyles, and social manners of the '20s and '30s in the pages of The Boston Globe; and Virginia Huget, possibly the flappiest of the Flapper Queens, whose girls, with their angular elbows and knees, seemed to always exist in a euphoric state of Charleston.

Genres: Comics, Nonfiction, Art, History, Graphic Novels, Womens, Historical

168 pages, Hardcover

First published July 7, 2020

About the author

Trina Robbins is an American comics artist and writer. She was an early and influential participant in the underground comix movement, and one of the few female artists in underground comix when she started. Her first comics were printed in the East Village Other. She later joined the staff of a feminist underground newspaper It Ain't Me, Babe, with whom she produced the first all-woman comic book titled It Ain't Me Babe. She became increasingly involved in creating outlets for and promoting female comics artists, through projects such as the comics anthology Wimmen's Comix. She was also the penciller on Wonder Woman for a time in the '80s.

Trina has worked on an adaptation of Sax Rohmer's Dope for Eclipse Comics and GoGirl with artist Anne Timmons for Image Comics.

Trina designed Vampirella's costume for Forrest Ackerman and Jim Warren.

In addition to her comics work, Robbins is an author of non-fiction books, including several with an emphasis on the history of women in cartooning.

She is the first of the three "Ladies of the Canyon" in Joni Mitchell's classic song from the album of the same name.

Trina Robbins won a Special Achievement Award from the San Diego Comic Con in 1989 for her work on Strip AIDS U.S.A., a benefit book that she co-edited with Bill Sienkiewicz and Robert Triptow.

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main reason to read this is the art - Nell Brinkley deserves a whole collection to herself, and this book really made me understand why my grandparents always grumbled about the comics in newspapers going downhill. With a few racist and sexist asides (surprisingly few), the stories hold up remarkably well, and many of the Faye King strips are still genuinely funny. Robbins isn't the best curator in the sense that I really wanted more from her informational sections, but the comics of the 1920s really do speak for themselves - appropriate for the decade when women finally got the vote. (Two of them run for president in these comics!)

[Halina Hetman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Шикарне видання коміксів про (субкультуру) флеперок Ревучих двадцятих. Чиста естетична насолода.

Авторка фокусується на п'ять художницях, які й самі вдягалися та вели відповідний модний тоді стиль життя, й заробляли гроші, малюючи про це комкіси.

Це, перш за все, Нелл Брінклі (Nell Brinkley), іконічна художниця, що ілюструвала багацько тогочасних журналів і створила цілий рух "дівчат Брінклі", а також була натхненням для всіх інших жінок в тогочасному мистецтві. З-під її пензля вийшли такі героїні газетних коміксів як (занадто) пристойна Prudence Prim, забобонна Flossie, мрійниця Dimples, Sunny Sue, що повернулася з міста в село до бабусі та француженка Gloriette.

Вірші до її комкісів писала Carolyn Wells, і вони премилі:

Miss Prudy blushed and dimpled - and then she blushed and smiled;
Her air of shy demureness just drove that young man wild.

Наприкінці своєї ілюстраторської кар'єри, Нелл Брінклі співпрацювала з чоловіками, які писали до її картин підписи, й вони ні в яке порівняння не йдуть з іронічним стилем Каролін.

Наступна художниця, Елеанора Шорер (Eleanor Schorer), створювала чорно-білі газетні комікс-стріпи з елементами арт-деко. Мені сподобався смішний тато її персонажки, на якого дивишся й гадаєш, як в такого миршавого чоловічка народилася така розкішна донька?)

Третій розділ присвячений Едіт Стівенс (Edith Stevens), яка була в своїх роботах найближче до нашого сучасного розуміння мемів. Едіт малювала різноманітний гумористичний контент про моду, показуючи її при цьому на різних типах жіночих тіл, що було нехарактерно для тих часів.

Далі йде Етель Гейз (Ethel Hays), єдина з авторок, яка була мені відома до прочитання цієї книжки. Її гумористичні замальовки моди, лайфстайлу та любовного життя сучасників регулярно потрапляли мені в Пінтересті. Я була рада побачити у виданні нові для себе повні кольорові сторінки її авторства. Вона є також авторкою Флеперки Фенні (Flapper Fanny), відомої газетної персонажки тих часів.

Фей Кінг (Fay King) - красотка-ілюстраторка, що малювала себе смішною, тонкою й великоногою, з круглою головою, щоб відтіняти інших своїх персонажів та вільніше розповідати історії й давати поради в комікс-стріпах. Фактично, вона була OG Олів Ойл (красотка з "Моряка Попая"). Коли, через роки, автор "Моряка Попая" створював своїх персонажей, він взяв за основу дівчини образ Фей Кінг.

І завершує книгу Вірджинія Х'югет (Virginia Huget), яка вважається вечірньою зорею цього періоду, але мала, як на мій смак, найбільш стереотипний стиль. Її персонажки ніби от-от вийшли з якогось супергеройського коміксу. Але не можна не поважати її за постійний продакт плейсмент і навіть цілий багатосерійний комікс з власною героїнею, який насправді був рекламою прального порошка. Get that bag, girl!

В цілому, видання просто на вагу золота (і коштує мабуть так само). Але одна тільки стильна блискуча обкладинка варта того, щоб придбати його в колекцію.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the comic art that is left out of the histories I've read and that is so messed up. Firstly, Nell Brinkley and company are technically excellent artists, which can't be said for a good chunk of their male counterparts. Secondly, their romantic and feminist stories are unique to them for the period. The 20s was the first modern wave of women breaking out of traditional roles and the Flapper Girl was a symbol of this. So leaving these important, widely read examples out of comic history is at best a case of poor research.

The 20s were a unique period in the US, this book casts a light on this uncovered subject.

[a ☕︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

this covers more than just the brinkley girls, instead featuring “a royal court of cartoonists” with bright-young-things eleanor schorer, edith stevens, and fay king, and flapper queens nell brinkley, ethel hays, and virginia huget (this distinction is actually made). the nell brinkley content here is replicated in the best of nell, with better coloring and contrast, along with more content. brinkley aside, my fave artists were ethel hayes (didn’t know she drew it, but i have a pinterest board of 300+ devoted to flapper fanny says panels) and virginia huget (who did an extremely fun set of drawings themed to the monday’s child poem). wonderful overview, with tons of little jokes about boy friends, fortune telling, and fashion. the conclusion, featuring brinkley’s art in the 30s/40s, well after the end of roaring twenties, was bittersweet and a well-chosen bookend.

[reveurdart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read most of Trina Robbins' excellent history books on women cartoonists, and I've since then wanted a book that collected some of the very best of the 1920s.

Trina Robbins has previously published a compilation with Nell Brinkley (The Brinkley Girls: The Best of Nell Brinkley's Cartoons from 1913-1940), but it didn't include all the ones included here.

Besides Brinkley, I particularly enjoyed reading the stories by Ethel Hays and Virginia Huget (a Dixie in Hollywood story is included, for example). I highly recommend this compilation.

[Kendall Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew next to nothing about the pioneering female cartoonists of the 1920s. My husband picked this up at the library because he knows I love the Bright Young Things era, as well as cool illustrations. It's fascinating to learn about the women who ruled the funny pages in their own way, and the clothing on the characters is DI-VINE! Makes me a tad depressed for our current peak sweatpants and denim era. The author is also an award-winning herstorian in the comics industry, which is undeniably cool.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not rating 'The Flapper Queens' based on the comic strips themselves. I actually tried reading every strip in order, but eventually gave up — not because the art isn’t beautiful (it absolutely is), but because the writing has dated quite a bit. The humour often didn’t land for me — in some cases, I couldn’t even tell what was supposed to be funny. The strips also reflect many of the gender stereotypes of the time, even though they were written by the flapper cartoonists themselves.

That said, as a collection, this book is excellent. It’s beautifully produced, with clear care taken in the restoration, design, and overall presentation. The essays introducing each artist are informative and provide valuable historical context that really enhances the material.

My favourite section was on Nell Brinkley. Her personal story was the most compelling, and her art is absolutely gorgeous. I wouldn’t be surprised if her style had some influence (directly or indirectly) on the shōjo aesthetic in Japanese manga, with its expressive eyes and delicate facial features.

Even if you don’t plan to sit and read every strip cover to cover, this is a fascinating piece of history and a beautiful book to have on the shelf.

[Timothy Grubbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trailblazing female cartoonists in the towering 20s…

The Flapper Queens: Women Cartoonists of the Jazz Age by Trina Robbins is part biography of some groundbreaking female artists and part reprint collection of some truly nice comic strips that you likely have never heard of…

I’ll be honest…I was not familiar with any of the artists covered in this book, but I’m glad to have checked this out and enlightened myself to their work.

This book covers about half a dozen different artists of varying success while also presenting some of their strips that range from adventure to mystery to romance to simple comedy strips. When relevent, some context is provided regarding their influence on other artists or themes in the medium.

I’m really impressed that this kind of work was getting published throughout the 20s, but considering the jazz age, I should be super surprised…

I hope those with an interest in comic art history, particularly female contributors to that history that rarely get the credit or acclaim they probably deserve, check this book out for themselves…

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing book! Thanks to my Goodreads friend Rachel in Sebastopol for reviewing it here, otherwise I might never have known it exists. Thanks to the late, great Trina Robbins for bringing this work to our attention, and to Fantagraphics Books for publishing it in the large format it needs.

The artwork is amazing, the stories are fun, and I had no idea any of this existed until I saw the book. The combination of dazzling fashion illustration with social commentary and humor makes for a fascinating read, an education in illustration and design, and some good laughs, too.

P.S. As readers of her autobiography (Last Girl Standing) know, Trina Robbins was a designer and dress-maker (immortalized in song by Joni Mitchell) before she was a cartoonist, so I'm guessing this must have been a real labor of love for her.

[Shannon Green-Kingery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trina Robbins, a noted underground cartoonist & comic strip historian in her own right, has put together a remarkable selection of comics by women cartoonists whose main characters were the indomitable flappers so fashionable throughout the 1920s and into the early 30s. "The Flapper Queens" is a gorgeous oversize volume showcasing the work of six well-known female comic strip artists of the jazz age. Its cover and dimensions catch the eye straight away and once you pick it up, it is impossible to put down. Anyone interested in the early days of comics and especially the contributions of the females involved in the business will not want to miss Robbins book. It is glorious!

[Myra Breckinridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an absolutely beautiful book that shimmers in the light when it’s closed, and transports you into the world of flappers when it’s opened.

Unfortunately, the content doesn’t completely live up to the visuals. Trina Robbins’ brief essays spend more time repeating the content that follows than including information that answers the most basic questions. If that space was given to a little context — why was prolific writer Carolyn Wells, who wrote the verses that covered some 30 pages of the book not discussed? — it would have been a perfect leap back in time.

[Barbara M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leider nur als pdf für die Rezension zur Verfügung gestellt bekommen. Es ist sicher ein Hochgenuss, das Buch vorliegen zu haben, das eher eine kuratierte Ausstellung zwischen zwei Buchdeckeln ist. Wenig Hintergrundinformation, wunderbare Beispiel in bester Bildqualität - zumindest am Bildschirm. Trina Robbins hat sechs Künstlerinnen ausgewählt, die die 1920er und 1930er Jahr mitgeprägt haben. Am meisten Raum bekommt hier Nell Brinkley mit ihren an Jugendstil erinnernden Sonntagsbeilagen. Leider ohne Bibliographie und keine Biographien der Künstlerinnen.

[Phil Helsel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes a time period and subject matter that may have escaped your attention-women artists during the roaring twenties and beyond and introduces you to their style, wit, and wisdom. You have an opportunity to experience their admiration for one another and for the world they were creating. Some of the myths they addressed are still with us today. Many of the illustrations literally jump off the page because of how compelling they are. Many thanks to the author for introducing us to these important women cartoonists.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

The late and great queen of women's comics history, Trina Robbins, has compiled a beautiful collection of 1920's flapper comics drawn by women cartoonists of that era. In this book you will find gorgeous high quality full color scans of the work of Nell Brinkley, with more curls than you can twinkle an eye at, the fashion commentary of Edith Stevens, and the relatably self effacing caricatures of Fay King. Gorgeous book for anyone interested in studying the work of 20s and 30s women cartoonists.

[brightredglow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't remember when I got this beautiful collection from Fantagraphics. It is an incredible collection curated by Trina Robbins. Sometimes I read the text of the 'comics', but admittedly, I just look at the fashion. It is in abundance. When I am bored, I pull it out like I used to pull out the Sears catalogue and dream of things I would never have. The comics can be wildly inappropriate for today, but it can also be funny at times and cheeky and almost always super stylish.

[Mackenzie Walton · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art here is undeniably gorgeous, but the biographical information on each cartoonist was barebones, which was a shame, because all of them are fascinating. Some confusing editorial choices—such as printing Nell Brinkley comics out of sequential order—and a few errors—several cartoons appear to be presented without their punchlines and at least one is accidentally printed twice, in the Fay King section—were also a distraction to me, personally.

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art gets a five. This is a cool collection of comics from notable women cartoonists of the 1920s. The art stands up but I did want it accompanied by a bit more information of the women themselves. Those section are pretty bare bones. Still, it is nice to see this out in the world! Overall 3.5-4 stars. If there would be more I gif action without it would be a definite 4 star read. The art is amazing though!

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buy it because it's history great 👍 for college students

If you have to take art history or art appreciation this early American feminist comic artist is worth a mention. This comic is history and it has a lot of feminist opinions from its day. Good reading for college. You may get to mention it in your work.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stunning cartoons! Most are in a lovely deco style, and show the fashions of the time. And the accompanying explanatory text works perfectly. The book gives a good look at a couple of parts of 1920-1940 history: general culture of the higher classes, especially the lives and viewpoints of women, and women cartoonists, of whom there were more than I might have thought.

[Monica Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely gorgeous artwork from the 1920s and 1930s. The history and backstories if the comics and artists were great! I highly recommend this book for everyone but especially for comic lovers and people interested in women's studies.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so interesting and full of information I didn't know. The "comics" were often hysterical, thinking about how far women advanced in the very early 20th century is overwhelming. I wonder if they would even recognize us today, 100 years later.

[Oward Bodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

More conceptually interesting than engaging.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun look at flapper girl cartoon art

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great prints, beautiful art, and a fascinating look into women's art (and what was acceptable to say about women) in the 1920s.