Diana

This comic for girls was published by DC Thomson from 1963 to 1976 when it merged with Jackie.

Later issues included a pull-out magazine section in the centre called “Diana Pop Club”, with photographs and articles featuring pop stars and TV personalities of the day “for up-to-the-minute Diana girls”.

Although Diana merged with Jackie, a few of the regular Diana comic strips moved to other comics. Both Mary Brown’s Schooldays and Up to Date Kate ended up in Debbie. The Fabulous Four went to Spellbound under the new name Supercats.

Regular strips included:

• The Avengers – This comic strip of the famous television series appeared in issues 199 to 224 of Diana. The principal artist was Emilio Frejo.
• The Fabulous Four – a futuristic sci-fi adventure story for girls.
• The Girls from N.O.O.D.L.E.S – Young schoolgirls Gail Price and Nicola Main worked as secret agents for the National Organisation for Order, Discipline and Law Enforcement in Schools – or N.O.O.D.L.E.S – whose purpose was to ensure that the day-to-day running of the seats of learning across the UK was not interrupted. They took their orders from an elderly grandmotherly type known only as Miss Z and their headquarters was beneath an old ruined abbey.
• Jane – Model Miss – Featuring the adventures of a young model and fashion designer called Jane Morgan. Jane lived with her widowed mother, Julie, who had also been a model. The artwork was by Pamela Chapeau.
• Jo and Co – artwork by Brian Delaney
• Mary Brown’s Schooldays – Mary Brown is a scholarship girl at the exclusive St WInifred’s School. At first, she is given a hard time – especially by the snooty Sarah Dobbs, who resents her – but soon, she makes friends and has many adventures.

• My Big Brother Marmaduke – Jane Curtis had problems when the girls in her school became interested in her older brother, Marmaduke. She thought her troubles were over when Marmaduke left school, but he came back as a student teacher.
• Paula with the White Mask – Paula was a mysterious girl who skated at the Hampton Ice Rink wearing a white mask and accompanied by the stern and watchful Madame Boyer.
• Polly Private Eye
• Rosie Red Riding Hood
• The Sea Stars – Susan Davis and her father run a small hotel at Barford Bay, helped by a water ski-ing troupe called The Sea Stars. Mr Bertram is the manager of a rival hotel along the coast, who also had a water skiing troupe (!) who were trying to put the Sea Stars out of business.
• Topspin Terry – An orphanage girl called Terry Andrews becomes Wimbledon Junior Champion.
• Up-To-Date Kate – This humorous strip, which started life as a 1-page comic on the back page – featured Kate – who was a dedicated follower of fashion (hence the moniker).
• Willa The Witch