Jungle girl
A jungle girl (so-called, but usually adult woman) is an archetype or stock character, often used in popular fiction, of a female adventurer, superhero or even a damsel in distress living in a jungle or rainforest setting.
Description[edit]
Jungle girls are generally depicted as wearing either a scanty animal print (usually leopard) bikini or some type of jungle dress made from fur, leather, or sometimes vegetation. Most are barefoot, while some are shown in primitive shoes. Some are feral children; some come from a wealthy, educated family that grew up in the jungle. They are the female counterpart of Tarzanesque characters. They are usually depicted either as a tough heroine, perhaps a jungle queen, or as a bound and gagged damsel in distress.
The first such character was Rima from the 1904 novel Green Mansions. One popular character, adapted into various media, is Sheena, Queen of the Jungle, who, though created by American writer-artists Will Eisner and Jerry Iger, made her debut in the British magazine Wags #1 (1937). Sheena went on to star in the American comic book anthology series Jumbo Comics the following year. A prototypical version of the jungle girl was the ancient sorceress Ayesha in She: A History of Adventure.
List of jungle girl characters[edit]
- Algona, played by Deborah "Deek" Sills in Trader Hornee (1970), an adult sex comedy film
- Aloa from the German film Golden Goddess of Rio Beni (1964) played by Gillian Hills
- Anatta, played by Laurette Luez in The Bowery Boys comedy film Jungle Gents (1954)
- Ann Mason (Fiction House's Jungle Comics) and later Kaanga, Jungle Lord (1949–1954) — the mate of Ka'a'nga, Jungle King; who, like Sheena, wears a leopard skin dress[1]
- Ayla from Japanese video game Chrono Trigger (released 1995)
- Camilla, Wild Girl of the Congo (Fiction House's Jungle Comics, 1940s)[2]
- Cave Girl, Magazine Enterprises' Africa, Thun'da, and Cave Girl (1950s)
- Cavegirl (UK/South African TV series, 2002–2003), film version slated for 2014 release
- Cavewoman Meriem Cooper (Basement Comics, 1993–2006)
- Christa, portrayed by Shannon Day, from the 90's Land of the Lost TV series
- Doreen Stockwell, played by Julie London in Nabonga (1944)
- Dhalua Strong and, in a more satirical manner, her daughter Tesla (America's Best Comics)
- Eba from the 1985 comedy Cavegirl (film) played by Cynthia Thompson
- Eva from Kong Island, a 1968 Italian exploitation film
- Eva from King of the Gorillas, a 1977 Mexican film
- Eve, a.k.a. The Face of Eve (1968), British film starring Celeste Yarnall as Eve
- Fana The Jungle Girl (Incarna Comics, 1989)
- Fantomah, Mystery Woman of the Jungle (Fiction House's Jungle Comics, 1940s)
- Girl, played by Vitina Marcus in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. episode "The My Friend the Gorilla Affair" (1966), a Tarzan parody
- Gwenna from the webcomic Kaza's Mate Gwenna, where both Kaza and her are a parody of Ka-zar and Shanna from Marvel Comics and are usually shown as nude
- "The Jungle Goddess", played by Rochelle Hudson in the film The Savage Girl (1932)
- Gungala, the Black Panther Girl (1968), Italian sexploitation film starring Kitty Swan
- Inara, the Jungle Girl (2012), a film about a girl who was descended from a tribe of Amazons living on the island of N'iah
- Inyaah, Jungle Goddess (1934) film.
- Irish of the Jungle (1990s comic book based on Irish McCalla, TV's "Sheena")
- Jana of the Jungle (cartoon series, 1978)
- Jane Porter from Tarzan (numerous novels and films)
- Jann of the Jungle (Marvel Comics, 1950s)
- Jano, companion to Voodah (Crown Comics, 1947), later revived by AC Comics
- Jean Evans (Panther Girl of the Kongo, 1955), Republic serial update of Jungle Girl
- Jelita, played by Lydia Kandou in the Indonesian film Jungle Virgin Force, a.k.a. Perawan Rimba (1983)
- Jennifer of the Jungle (The Electric Company television program)
- Jessie (Fiction House's Jungle Comics, 1940s) — the mate of Ka'a'nga, Jungle King[1]
- Jill of the Jungle (computer game released in 1992)
- Judy of the Jungle (Better/Nedor Comics' Exciting Comics, 1940s)
- Jun-Gal (1940s comic)
- June from Tarzoon: Shame of the Jungle, an animated French/Belgian film with an X-rating
- Jungle Girl, a.k.a. Jana Sky-Born (2007) (Dynamite Entertainment comic)
- Jungle Grrrl (Erica Porter), wrestler persona created in 2000 for Women of Wrestling
- Jungle Janet (The Tick, 1990s animated series based on the comic)
- Jungle Lil (1950s comic)
- Jungle Queen/Julie Winters (comic/TV series The Maxx)
- Kara, Jungle Princess (1940s comic)
- Kazanda (1940s comic)
- Kilma/Laura von Marnix from Kilma, Queen of the Jungle (1975), Spanish film
- Kuhlaya, played by Ann Corio in the film Jungle Siren (1942)
- Kyra (1985-1988 comic) by robin ator
- Kyrra - Alien Jungle Girl (2013 comic)
- Lana, Queen of the Amazons (1964), German film with Catherine Schell as Lana
- Veronica Layton, played by Jennifer O'Dell, in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World (TV series, 1999–2002)
- Leda, played by Valerie Leon in British film Carry On Up the Jungle (1970)
- Leela, companion of the 4th Doctor on the Doctor Who TV series, played by Louise Jameson (1977–1978)
- Leopard Girl (Atlas Comics' Jungle Action, 1950s comic)
- Liane from Liane, Jungle Goddess (1956, German film)
- Lothel, played by Ruth Roman in the film serial Jungle Queen (1945).
- Lorna, the Jungle Queen/Lorna, the Jungle Girl (comic book, Atlas Comics, 1953)
- Lua, voiced by Saffron Henderson, from Kong: The Animated Series (2000–2001)
- Luana the Jungle Girl a.k.a. Luana, the Girl Tarzan (1968), Italian-German film with Mei Chen as Luana
- Luana/Susan Wilson from Daughter of the Jungle (1982), Italian film with Sabrina Siani as Luana/Susan Wilson
- Lureen, played by Cleo Moore from the Congo Bill serial (1948)
- Maya from Power Rangers Lost Galaxy (1999)
- Marga the Panther Woman (1940s comic)
- Meelah, played by Gale Sherwood in the film Blonde Savage (1947)
- Meriem (from the novel The Son of Tarzan)
- Miss Robin Crusoe (1954 movie, played by Amanda Blake)
- Nyoka (Fawcett's Jungle Girl/Nyoka the Jungle Girl and Master Comics), and the main character in the 1941 movie serial Jungle Girl
- Pamela of the Jungle (Italian comic, 2007)
- Pantera Bionda (Italian comic, 1948–1950)
- Princess Pantha (Better/Nedor Comics' Thrilling Comics, 1940s)
- Princess Rosella in the animated film Barbie as the Island Princess (2007)
- Princess Taj (Fiction House's Jungle Comics, 1940s) — rides an elephant[1]
- Princess Vishnu (Fiction House's Fight Comics, 1940s)[1]
- Prymal: The Jungle Warrior (Maelstrom Comics, 2014)
- Ranee, Princess of the Jungle (1950s comic)
- Rarotonga, (Mexican comic series by Lágrimas, Risas y Amor)
- Rima the Jungle Girl, featured in 1970s DC Comics publications
- Rulah, Jungle Goddess (Fox Comics' Zoot Comics and Rulah, Jungle Goddess)
- Saari, the Jungle Goddess (1950s comic)
- Safari Cary (1940s comic)
- Samantha from The Mighty Peking Man (1977), a Hong Kong-made version of King Kong
- Shandra the Jungle Girl (1999), made-for-cable film
- Shanna the She-Devil (Marvel Comics, created 1972)
- Sheela, a.k.a. Africadalli Sheela (1986), Indian variation of the Sheena film
- Sheena, Queen of the Jungle (comic book, launched in 1937)
- Sheena, Queen of the Jungle (1955–56) television series starring Irish McCalla
- Sheena (film) (1984) film adaptation starring Tanya Roberts
- Sheena (TV series), (2000–2002) TV series starring Gena Lee Nolin
- Shirl, The Jungle Girl (1950s parody comic)
- Taanda of White Princess of the Jungle (comic by Avon Periodicals, 1951–1952)
- Tanee (formerly Gwenna) in 1940s comic Jo-Jo, Congo King
- Tangi (1940s comic)
- Tara Fremont (AC Comics' Femforce)
- Taranga (1950s comic)
- Tarzana, the Wild Girl (1969), Italian sexploitation film with Femi Benussi as Tarzana/Elizabeth.
- Tarzeena, Queen of Kong Island (2008), adult parody film by Fred Olen Ray
- Ticoora, played by Lois Hall, in Daughter of the Jungle (1949).
- Tiger Girl (Fiction House Fight Comics, another Tiger Girl from Kaanga, Jungle Lord (1940s–50s), and Tiger Girl (Gold Key Comics, 1960s)
- The Tiger Woman (1944), Republic Pictures serial starring Linda Sterling
- Nina Trent, the White Goddess played by Edwina Booth in the film Trader Horn (1931)
- Tygra of the Flame People (Better/Nedor's Startling Comics, 1940s; no relation to the ThunderCats character)
- Ulah, played by Dorothy Lamour in the film The Jungle Princess (1936)
- Ursula (George of the Jungle, 1967 cartoon series by Jay Ward)
- Greta Vanderhorn, played by Wanda McKay in the film Jungle Goddess (1948)
- Vixen (computer game released in 1988)
- Vooda, Jungle Princess, originally El'nee (Ajax-Farrell comic) #20–22 (1955)
- Wana from Zago, Jungle Prince (Fox Comics, 1948–1949)
- Zara of the Jungle (1940s comic)
- Zegra, Jungle Empress (originally Tegra) (Fox Comics, 1940s)
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d Sergi, Joe. "Tales From the Code: The Near Extinction of Sheena," CBLDF website (January 25, 2013)
- ^ Camilla, Jungle Queen at Don Markstein's Toonopedia Archived from the original on April 9, 2012.
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