View source for Sun Girl (Marvel Comics)

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{{Infobox comics character <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
|image=Sun Girl no.1 - August 1948.jpg
|converted = y
|caption=''Sun Girl'' #1 (Aug. 1948). Cover art by [[Ken Bald]].
|character_name=Sun Girl
|real_name=Mary Mitchell
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|debut=''Sun Girl'' #1 (August 1948)
|creators=[[Ken Bald]] (artist)<br>unidentified writer
|alliances=
|partners= [[Human Torch (android)|Human Torch]]
|aliases=
|powers=Good acrobat<br>Expert martial artist<br>Wields a sunbeam ray gun 
}}
'''Sun Girl''' is the name of two fictional [[superheroine]]s appearing in [[American comic book]]s published by [[Marvel Comics]].

==Publication history==
The first Sun Girl was created by artist [[Ken Bald]] and an unidentified writer. She first appeared in ''Sun Girl'' #1 (Aug. 1948), published by Marvel's 1940s precursor, [[Timely Comics]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Markstein |first1=Don |website=Don Markstein's Toonopedia |access-date=2 April 2020  |url=http://www.toonopedia.com/sungirl.htm |title=Sun Girl}}</ref> Sun Girl starred in a namesake three-issue series cover-dated August to December 1948.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Benton |first1=Mike |title=Superhero Comics of the Golden Age: The Illustrated History |date=1992 |publisher=Taylor Publishing Company |location=Dallas |isbn=0-87833-808-X |url=https://archive.org/details/superherocomicso0000bent/page/184 |access-date=1 April 2020 |page=185}}</ref>

The character subsequently co-starred in stories of the [[Human Torch (android)|original Human Torch]] in ''The Human Torch'' #32-35 (Sept. 1948 - March 1949), ''[[Captain America Comics]]'' #69 (Nov. 1948), ''[[Sub-Mariner Comics]]'' #29 (Nov. 1948), and ''[[Marvel Mystery Comics]]'' #88-91 (Oct. 1948 - April 1949). She additionally starred in a solo story each in the first two of those ''Marvel Mystery'' issues. The Human Torch-Sun Girl story "The Ray of Madness" from ''The Human Torch'' #33 (Nov. 1948) was reprinted decades later in Marvel's ''[[Avengers (comics)|Giant-Size Avengers]]'' #1 (Aug. 1974). Sun Girl appears in [[Flashback (narrative)|flashback]] in the final two issues of the four-issue [[miniseries]] ''Saga of the Original Human Torch'' (April–July 1990)

A new Sun Girl debuted in ''[[Superior Spider-Man Team-Up]]'' #1 and appeared as one of the main characters in the [[Marvel NOW!]] relaunch of the ''[[New Warriors]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsarama.com/19233-nycc-exclusive-new-warriors-regroup-relaunch-in-2014.html|title=NYCC Exclusive: NEW WARRIORS Regroup, Relaunch in 2014|publisher=Newsarama|date=13 October 2013}}</ref>

==Fictional character biography==
===Mary Mitchell===
A personal secretary for [[Human Torch (android)|Jim Hammond]], the original Human Torch, during the post-war 1940s, Mary Mitchell falls in love with him and becomes his partner as well as his sidekick after [[Toro (comics)|Toro]] leaves to tend to his ailing foster mother. In ''The Human Torch'' #32 (Sept. 1948), Sun Girl helps the Torch clear the name of an innocent man accused of murder charges, by exposing the real culprit. Later, they convince a retired doctor to perform surgery on a little girl who accidentally swallowed a diamond hidden in a lollypop. Mary leaves to go on her own adventures after that. She carries a solar ray gun.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Nevins |first1=Jess |title=Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes |date=2013 |publisher=High Rock Press |isbn=978-1-61318-023-5 |pages=261–262}}</ref> She occasionally teams up with heroes besides the Torch, such as [[Captain America]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Brevoort |first1=Tom |last2=DeFalco |first2=Tom |last3=Manning |first3=Matthew K. |last4=Sanderson |first4=Peter |last5=Wiacek |first5=Win |title=Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History |date=2017 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1465455505 |page=38}}</ref> After Toro returns she resumes her position as secretary and researcher.

During the "Last Days" part of the ''[[Secret Wars (2015 comic book)|Secret Wars]]'' storyline, Sun Girl was seen living at Valhalla Villas (a retirement home for ex-heroes and ex-villains that is located in Miami). She is among the residents that were temporarily de-aged during the final incursion between Earth-616 and Earth-1610.<ref>''Ant-Man: Last Days'' #1. Marvel Comics.</ref>

===Selah Burke===
{{Infobox comics character <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
|image=Sun Girl Superior Spider-man Team-Up 6.jpg
|imagesize = 250
|converted = y
|caption=''Superior Spider-Man Team-Up'' #6<br>(November 2013).<br>Art by Marco Checchetto<br>Colors by Rachelle Rosenberg
|character_name=Sun Girl
|real_name=Selah Burke
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|debut=''Superior Spider-Man Team-Up'' #1 (July 2013)
|creators=Marco Checchetto (artist)<br>[[Christopher Yost]] (writer)
|alliances=[[New Warriors]]
|aliases=
|powers=Proficient engineer<br>Wields dual-wielding pistols and other light-based weapons<br>Suit with a harness that grants:<br>Flight<br>Light blast projection
}}

A new Sun Girl later appears as one of the heroes temporarily possessed by the [[Carrion (comics)|Carrion]] virus after she came in contact with William Allen.<ref>{{cite book |last1=DeFalco |first1=Tom |last2=Sanderson |first2=Peter |last3=Brevoort |first3=Tom |last4=Teitelbaum |first4=Michael |last5=Wallace |first5=Daniel |last6=Darling |first6=Andrew |last7=Forbeck |first7=Matt |last8=Cowsill |first8=Alan |last9=Bray |first9=Adam |title=The Marvel Encyclopedia |date=2019 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-7890-0 |page=364}}</ref> Sun Girl is attacked by [[The Superior Spider-Man]] ([[Doctor Octopus]]' mind in [[Spider-Man|Peter Parker]]'s body). The Superior Spider-Man cures Sun Girl of the Carrion virus.<ref>''Superior Spider-Man Team-Up'' #1. Marvel Comics.</ref> Her identity is later revealed to be Selah Burke, the daughter of [[Lightmaster]] at the time when the Superior Spider-Man made use of his Superior Six (consisting of a brainwashed [[Chameleon (comics)|Chameleon]], [[Electro (Marvel Comics)|Electro]], [[Mysterio]]n, [[Sandman (Marvel Comics)|Sandman]], and [[Vulture (Marvel Comics)|Vulture]]) to combat the [[Wrecking Crew (comics)|Wrecking Crew]]. After the Superior Spider-Man fails and the now free Superior Six have captured him and taken hold of a machine that could destroy New York City, Selah manages to save Superior Spider-Man and destroy the machine. They part in bad terms, with Sun Girl thinking that Superior Spider-Man is a "jerk" due to his condescending attitude and insane brainwashing scheme.<ref>''Superior Spider-Man Team Up'' #6. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Selah next appeared in issue #1 of the 2014 ''[[New Warriors]]'' relaunch, helping to save the [[Morlocks (comics)|Morlocks]] from an attack by the mysterious Evolutionaries.<ref>''New Warriors'' #1. Marvel Comics.</ref> When offered the opportunity to walk away by these attackers (as they have no intention of going after normal humans), she opts to sacrifice so the mutants can run away. Haechi steps in and uses his energy absorbing powers to shield her. [[Robbie Baldwin|Speedball]] and [[Vance Astrovik|Justice]] enter the scene which makes the three attackers reevaluate their tactical position and later flee as they were now outnumbered.<ref>''New Warriors'' #2. Marvel Comics.</ref>

==Powers and abilities==
Mary Mitchell is a good acrobat and is an expert in both Judo and Jiu Jutsu. She also wields a Sunbeam Ray Gun which produces a bright blast of light as well as a lariat which she keeps in her emergency pouch.

Selah Burke is a brilliant engineer who creates a suit with a harness that grants her flight and the ability to project light blasts. The suit is later modified by the Superior Spider-Man. She also wields pistols capable of firing concussive blasts. She developed and constructed her gear and weapons based on her father's light manipulation technology.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://marvel.fandom.com/Mary_Mitchell_%28Earth-616%29 Sun Girl (Mary Mitchell)] at Marvel Wiki
* [https://marvel.fandom.com/Selah_Burke_%28Earth-616%29 Sun Girl (Selah Burke)] at Marvel Wiki

{{GoldenAge}}
{{Human Torch (android)}}
{{New Warriors}}
{{Avengers characters}}

[[Category:1948 comics debuts]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1948]]
[[Category:2013 comics debuts]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 2013]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics sidekicks]]
[[Category:Fictional acrobats]]
[[Category:Fictional characters who can manipulate light]]
[[Category:Fictional female engineers]]
[[Category:Fictional secretaries]]
[[Category:Golden Age superheroes]]
[[Category:Timely Comics characters]]
[[Category:African-American characters in comics]]
[[Category:Comics about women]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics female superheroes]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics martial artists]]