Intrepid reporter Brenda Starr is hanging it up.
The long running newspaper comic strip will have its last run on January 2, 2011, ending more than 70 years of assignments and romances for the title character.
Brenda Starr, Reporter, began in 1940, the creation of writer and illustrator Dalia Messick (who wrote under the name of Dale Messick). Ms. Messick wrote the strip for 40 years. Messick based the character’s look at actress Rita Heyworth.
At its peak in the 1950s, Brenda Starr, Reporter appeared in over 250 newspapers around the world. A sexy, adventurous career woman, Brenda Starr was an innovation when it debuted.
The ending of the comic strip follows in the wake of several other long running strips coming to a close – including Cathy and Little Orphan Annie.