Press Release

New York ­ Tuesday, June 11, 2002, at 7 P.M. Hilda Terry - the woman who single-handedly broke the gender barrier at the National Comics Society, and who, in 1941 became the first woman to draw a nationally syndicated cartoon starring a teenage girl ("Teena")- will speak at Bluestockings Women's Bookstore and Café. This talk is the first event in Friends of Lulu New York's "Hilda Terry Month" - a month-long celebration of her life and career. Ms. Terry will discuss her long and varied career, including USO tours with other cartoonists, and may even give an art lesson (at going-on-88 years young, she still teaches classes twice weekly at the Art Students' League)!

Hilda Terry burst on the comics scene on December 7, 1941, with the first installment of her strip "Teena," which ran until 1966. In 1949, she single-handedly broke the gender barrier at the National Cartoonists Society with a well-worded letter. Explains Trina Robbins, "Despite fifty years of women cartoonists, the NCS gave as their reason for excluding women that if women were present at meetings of the prestigious group, the men wouldn't be able to curse. After Hilda Terry's letter, it was agreed that women should be allowed to join the organization."

The "Women and Comics" discussions have so far featured Phoebe Gloeckner, DC Comics editor Joan Hilty, writers Jennifer Moore and Abby Denson, and comic strip cartoonist Isabella Bannerman. The series is designed to showcase the wide variety of women working in all aspects of comic books and comic strips to interested female readers in a positive, women-focused environment. The discussions take place on the second Tuesday of each month throughout 2002.

Future discussions will feature science fiction author Rachel Pollack, creator/writer of Time Breakers, who has also written Tomahawk, Doom Patrol and New Gods for DC Comics. Also on tap for discussions later in the year are such comics luminaries as Jessica Abel, Amanda Conner, Colleen Doran and Reneé French.

The "Women in Comics" series is also supported by the New York Comic Book Museum, which is conducting interviews with series discussion leaders as part of their year-long examination of Women in Comics. Presentations take place on the second Tuesday of every month at Bluestockings, 172 Allen Street, New York, NY.

Friends of Lulu is a national nonprofit organization whose purpose is to promote and encourage female readership and participation in the comic book industry. More information on the New York chapter's activities can be found at www.friends-lulu-nyc.org.

Place: Bluestockings Women's Bookstore & Café, 172 Allen Street, New York City

Date and Time: June 11, 7:00 PM

Cost: $5.00 donation (to defray costs)

For Further Information, Contact: Scott Epstein (212-534-8654)