Posted By Dan Greenfield on Nov 29, 2025 | 2 comments

SCOTT SHAW! SATURDAYS…

By SCOTT SHAW!

Archie Comics’ Katy Keene debuted 80 years ago this year — and you even read about it here at 13th Dimension.

But even though she was a pretty straightforward character — created by Bill Woggon and first appearing in June 1945’s Wilber Comics #5 — she did have her share of Oddball moments.

Katy was a fashion model who wanted to become an actor. She had a pesky little sister, lots of boyfriends, paper dolls, and a great gimmick — readers who sent in hundreds of their hand-drawn fashions that Woggon used and credited to them.

Katy Keene Comics #1, 1949

When Katy Keene Comics and its offshoots, such as Katy Keene Pin-Up Parade, ended in 1961, Woggon turned to other work, including the Dell comic Millie the Lovable Monster, and ghosting the newspaper strip Priscilla’s Pop. In 1981, his work was recognized with San Diego Comic-Con’s Inkpot Award. Archie revived Katy Keene in the ’80s, and in 2020, there was a 13-episode television series, starring Lucy Hale in the title role.

Now, let’s get to the Oddball of it all. All art by Woggon:

Katy Keene Comics #38, January 1958. Y’know, it’s not considered to be a good costume party unless there’s a live gorilla in attendance!

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Katy Keene Comics #50, Jan. 1960. If only Katy Keene Comics could have stayed on until the late ’60s, for the first-ever Katy Keene, Acid Queen underground comix!

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Katy Keene Comics #53, July 1960. This is the only “gag” cover in the entire run, with the comic breaking the fourth wall.

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Katy Keene Comics #60, July 1961. When the Beatles’ second feature-length film was announced to the press in mid-March 1965, the working title was “Eight Arms To Hold You.” If only Katy had been around to let the Fab Four know she had predicted it five years earlier!

Katy Keene Comics #61, Sept. 1961. Sheb Wooley’s “The Purple People Eater” hit No. 1 on the Billboard pop charts in 1958. After three years, it wouldn’t be as obvious to Sheb’s lawyers that this alien was Woggons’ two-eyed, one-horned, flyin’ greenish people-eater!

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Katy Keene Comics #62, Oct. 1961. And in the final issue, Bill brought back 1956’s Forbidden Planet‘s Robby the Robot to carry away Katy into the future.

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MORE

— ODDBALL COMICS: TOMAHAWK’S Revolutionary War Against 13 MONSTERS. Click here.

— ODDBALL COMICS: The 1967 Issue of THE INFERIOR FIVE That Brutally Skewered DC COMICS. Click here.

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For over half a century, SCOTT SHAW! has been a pro cartoonist/writer/designer of comic books, animation, advertising and toys. He is also a historian of all forms of cartooning. Scott has worked on many underground comix and mainstream comic books, including Simpsons Comics (Bongo); Weird Tales of the Ramones (Rhino); and his co-creation with Roy Thomas, Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew! (DC). Scott also worked on numerous animated series, including producing/directing John Candy’s Camp Candy (NBC/DIC/Saban) and Martin Short’s The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley. As senior art director for the Ogilvy & Mather advertising agency, Scott worked on dozens of commercials for Post Pebbles cereals with the Flintstones. He also designed a line of Hanna-Barbera action figures for McFarlane Toys. Scott was one of the comics fans who organized the first San Diego Comic-Con.

Need funny cartoons for any and all media? Scott does commissions! Email him at shawcartoons@gmail.com.

And check out the upcoming collections of his Sonic the Hedgehog comics here.