ZELDA COYNE

Real Name: Zelda Coyne

Identity/Class: Human (Post-World War II Era)

Occupation: Farmer worker

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Clint Adams, Tom Coyne. Mrs. Coyne, Lonnie Higgins, Ray Page

Enemies: None

Known Relatives: Mrs. Coyne (mother), Tom Coyne (father), Ray Page (fiancée)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: A farm in rural Vermont, USA

First Appearance: Girl Comics I#3 (April, 1950)

Powers/Abilities: Zelda was experienced in the many chores involved in working on a farm.

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 5'8")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 129 lbs.)
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Black

History:
(Girl Comics I#3/5) - Zelda was dating Lonnie Higgins but still wasn't completely certain whether he was the right man for her or not. One night, Lonnie came to her house to pick her up for a date. Zelda's father remarked aloud that he wanted to see the two of them settle down together but Zelda told her father she still wasn't certain. Stepping out of the house with Lonnie, she discovered he had brought a horse and buggy instead of his car so that they could have a romantic moonlight ride. As they rode, Lonnie asked Zelda if there were anyone she liked more than him. She admitted there was not so he asked her to marry him. Although still uncertain, Zelda assented with a stammering "I-I g-guess so."

Although her parents were excited by the news, when her mother asked her when they might marry, Zelda asked if she was doing the right thing. Her mother responded that no one could answer that question for her. Zelda admitted she "must" love Lonnie but it didn't seem "complete." Just then, their talk was interrupted by the arrival of Ray Page, an agricultural student who had come to work on the farm for the summer. Although Ray had much slighter build than Lonnie, Zelda immediately found herself attracted to him and felt convinced that Ray was the right man for her, a certainty she hadn't possessed around Lonnie. Lonnie arrived as Zelda's father was greeting Ray and remarked on how "puny" Ray looked. Zelda chided him but Lonnie insisted he saw Ray looking at her.

Some weeks after Ray started working at the farm, he found Zelda alone in the garden one night and started a conversation with her. He asked whether she thought of him as a "useless weakling" as Lonnie did but Zelda answered she did not. When he correctly surmised she wasn't happy about marrying Lonnie, she confirmed it then admitted she had fallen in love with Ray but had been confused about how she felt. The two of them kissed, although Zelda knew at the time that this would lead to trouble with Lonnie.

The following Saturday night, Ray took Zelda to a barn dance. Lonnie found them dancing together and became enraged, punching Ray in the jaw. Before the fight could continue, they were summoned by farmer Clint Adams, who warned there was a fire in the valley being blown by the wind. While the other men raced out to help fight the fire, Zelda helped pull Ray to his feet. Ray announced that he knew how to stop the fire and Zelda helped him out into the field. With Ray's guidance, the men made a firebreak to stop the flames from spreading. When Lonnie was engulfed by smoke, Ray rescued him. Zelda was proud that Ray had proved himself the better man thanks to his education but to end matters with Lonnie, Ray challenged him to a fight. This time, Ray bested him, having learned boxing in school. Zelda and Ray went to their parents to announce their marriage. Zelda was certain Ray was the right man for her.

Comments: Created by an unidentified writer and Bill Everett.

Profile by Prime Eternal.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Zelda Coyne should not be confused with:

Clint Adams

Clint Adams was a farmer neighbor of the Coyne family. Clint interrupted the local barn dance to warn them of the fire raging in the valley. Clint joined the effort at fighting the fire, which was finally successful thanks to the directions given by Ray Page.






--Girl Comics I#3/5

Tom Coyne

Tom Coyne was Zelda's father and farmer of the family property. Tom wanted Zelda to find the right man and marry him but he had assumed his farmhand Lonnie Higgins was the right man for her. When she ultimately rejected Lonnie and chose to marry the visiting student Ray Page, Tom supported their union.





--Girl Comics I#3/5

Mrs. Coyne

Mrs. Coyne was Zelda's mother. Unlike her husband, she was cautious about Zelda's relationship with Lonnie, as she didn't want Zelda to rush in to marriage. When Zelda admitted she had doubts about marrying Lonnie, Mrs. Coyne encouraged her daughter to reach her own conclusions. She was pleased that in the end Zelda chose to marry Ray Page.




--Girl Comics I#3/5

Lonnie Higgins

Lonnie Higgins was a farmhand who worked on Tom Coyne's Vermont farm. Lonnie proposed marriage to Zelda and she accepted but with serious misgivings in her mind. When Ray Page came to work on the farm for a summer, Lonnie took an immediate dislike to him, convinced that Ray was interested in Zelda. When Lonnie worked alongside Ray, he frequently insulted him for having a slight physique. Finally, Lonnie caught Ray and Zelda together at a barn dance and Lonnie sucker-punched Ray in the jaw, accusing him of breaking up his relationship with Zelda. The altercation was interrupted by the news of a fire raging nearby. Lonnie went to help fight the fire but it was only through Ray's instructions on building a firebreak that the fire was controlled. Lonnie was engulfed in smoke from the fire but Ray saved him. Once Lonnie recovered, Ray challenged him to a fight to settle their differences. Lonnie was confident he could beat the smaller Ray but Ray proved a skilled boxer and quickly bested Lonnie. Lonnie took back what he said about Ray.



--Girl Comics I#3/5

Ray Page

Ray Page was an agriculture student who came to work on Tom Coyne's farm. Although slight of build, Ray was knowledgeable about farm work, knew how to fight fires and how to box; more than that, he possessed a strong work ethic. Zelda was immediately attracted to Ray but her beau Lonnie was suspicious of Ray and frequently insulted him as they worked together. After a few weeks, Ray confronted Zelda about their feelings and they became a couple but when they went to a barn dance together, Lonnie accused Tom of stealing Zelda from him and sucker punched him in the jaw. Before Ray could respond, news of a fire in the nearby valley reached the barn. With Zelda's help, Ray pursued the men who went to fight the fire and taught him how to create a firebreak to stop the flames from spreading. Ray also helped save Lonnie when he was engulfed in smoke. Once Lonnie had recovered, Ray challenged him to a fight to settle their differences. This time, Ray easily defeated Lonnie and received an apology from him. Ray and Zelda announced their intent to marry to her parents.



--Girl Comics I#3/5

images: (without ads)
Girl Comics I#3/5, page 5, panel 1 (Zelda, main)
Girl Comics I#3/5, page 1, panel 2 (Zelda, face)
Girl Comics I#3/5, page 6, panel 4 (Clint)
Girl Comics I#3/5, page 4, panel 1 (Tom)
Girl Comics I#3/5, page 3, panel 1 (mother)
Girl Comics I#3/5, page 4, panel 3 (Lonnie)
Girl Comics I#3/5, page 3, panel 4 (Ray)

Appearances:
Girl Comics I#3/5 (April, 1950) - unidentified writer, Bill Everett (artist), Stan Lee (editor)

First posted: 02/14/2023
Last updated: 02/14/2023

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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