Groovy Chick Month 1: Melba Manton

Melba Manton was one groovy chick!

She first appeared in Lois Lane 123 (July 1973) in a back-up story brilliantly titled:

Those were simpler times.

Melba Manton was a newscaster at WGBS in Metropolis, and in the tradition of reporters in that city, she didn't just report the news-- she made it.

Who could conceive of such awesomeness as Melba Manton?
None other the Mad Man-babe himself, Robert Kanigher.

In a mere four pages, she solves a murder, sets a trap for the murderer, exposes unsafe tenement conditions, saves an innocent man from being shot, and dashes off to appear on the six o'clock news to talk about it. Oh, and she jumps down a manhole and runs through a sewer, which is always cool.

All this she does while wearing THIS outfit:

If Nubia had had that outfit, she'd still be in continuity.

Melba Manton was five times the woman Lois Lane was, because she did everything Lois did, only better and without needing help from Superman every five panels.

Melba was ingenious and intrepid, sort of like Valerie from Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space.

Did you know that saving Lois's bacon automatically makes you an honorary member of the Justice League?

Behold, Melba in action, wearing that jumper over a green pirate-sleeve shirt with a red menswear tie!

The Fashion Assassins may be dedicated, but they're lousy shots.

Melba Manton didn't get many appearances, but she was achingly fabulous in each one. Kurt Busiek! I demand the return of Melba Manton to the Metropolis cityscape!