The Jungle Girl phenomenon pre-dates Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan and Jane. W. H. Hudson’s novel Green Mansions (1904) featuring Rima the Jungle Girl, appeared eleven years earlier. The oldest comic books are from 1937 to the present. I’ve been wanting to count all the jungle queens that have ever appeared in the comics. Arranged by date.
I suppose I should mention Jane in the comics of Hal Foster’s Tarzan. This comic strip appeared in 1928-29. Technically, Jane is our first jungle girl if we are looking at sequential comic artwork.
This list focuses on comic books, not films, comic strips or any other media. Jane will show up later in Dell Comics.
1937
Sheena, Queen of the Jungle (Fiction House) Wags #1 (1937)(1938 in US), Jumbo Comics #1-167(Sept. 1938 – April 1953), 3D Sheena (1953), Sheena, Queen of the Jungle #1-18 (Spring 1942-Winter 1952-3), Marvel Movie Adaptation (December 1984/February 1985), London Night Studios #0-2 (February-August 1998). Sheena has had more incarnation than any other Jungle Queen. She is truly THE quintessential Queen of the Jungle.
1940
Ann Mason – Kaanga’s mate (Fiction House) Jungle Comics #1 – #160 (January 1940 – October 1953) Ka’a’nga Jungle King #1-20 (Spring 1949-Summer 1954). She begins dressed in a Nyoka-style shirt and pants but by issue #8 she is sporting a leopard skin dress. Caved to peer pressure.
Fantomah, Mystery Woman of the Jungle (Fiction House) Jungle Comics #2 ( #51 (February 1940-March 1944). Fantomah holds the record as the first comic superheroine (female character with super powers).
Marga the Panther Woman (Fox) Science Comics #1-8 (February-September? 1940) Weird Comics #8-20 (November 1940-January 1942). Man, that girl can swing an animal!
Blanda (Hillman) Miracle Comics #1-4 (February-April 1940). Ouch! That’s bad.
Zara of the Jungle (Marvel) Mystic Comics #2-3 (April-June 1940). Marvel didn’t have many but here’s an obscure one.
Tira, Strange White Goddess of Wabizi appeared in Cyclone Comics #1-5 (June-November 1940). She has many animal friends and fights the exploitation of white hunters.
Medda, the Queen of the Elephants appeared in “Lee Granger, Jungle King” in Master Comics #7, October 1940.
1944
Kazanda from Kazanda Again (Australian comic: Kazanda, Wild Girl of the Forbidden Kingdom) (February 1944) Ranger Comics #23-#31 (June 1945?-October 1946). Originally an Australian character, she became a back-up in Ranger Comics.
Jun-Gal (Rural Home) Blazing Comics #1-6 (June 1944-April 1945). With a name like that you should be able to kick Hitler’s ass.
Princess Taj (Fiction House) Jungle Comics #57 (September 1944). One-shot elephant-rider.
Tiger Girl/Princess Vishnu (Fiction House) Fight Comics #34-#81 (October 1944-July 1952). Fight Comics began a semi-superhero mag but in 1947 Princess Vishnu took over until the third last issue.
Kara Jungle Princess (Nedor Comics) Exciting Comics #39-#49 (December 1944-July 1946). Kara was replaced by Judy of the Jungle. Go figure.
1945
Nyoka the Jungle Girl (Fawcett) Nyoka the Jungle Girl #1-#77 (Winter 1945-June 1953). Long-running series with a TV show to support it. No fur bikini.
1946
South Sea Girl (Leader Enterprises) Seven Seas Comics #1-7 (April 1946-1947). Her name was changed to Vooda in the reprints.
Princess Pantha (AC Comics) Thrilling Comics #56-#74 (October1946- 1949). Alan Moore would revive the Princess for his Tom Strong series in 2001.
1947
Judy of the Jungle (Nedor Comics) Exciting Comics #55 (May 1947)- Exciting Comics #69 (September 1949). Artwork by Alex Schomberg and Frank Frazetta.
Tygra of the Flame People (Lynn Thomas)(Nedor) Startling Comics #45-#53 (May 1947-September 1948). She wears tiger fur even though she’s in Africa. That’s making a statement.
Tanee, Jo-Jo’s Mate (Fox) Jo-Jo Jungle King #7-29 (July 1947-July 1949). Jo-Jo’s main gal-pal. They weren’t exclusive though. Stories reprinted with Jo-Jo changed to Bombo.
Gwenna , Jungle Jo’s Mate (Fox) Jo-Jo, Congo King #7 (July 1947). A single issue for this gal. Love is cruel.
Safra, Jo-Jo’s Mate (Fox) Jo-Jo, Congo King #8 (August 1947). Ditto.
1948
Safari Cary (Fox) Dagar, Desert Hawk #14-23 (February 1948-April 1949). More in the Nyoka style.
Tangi (Fox) Dagar, Desert Hawk #15-22 (March 1948?-March 1949?). Back-up feature only.
Pantera Bionda (Ingam) Pantera Biondi #1(April 1948)-#108 (June 1950). Inspired by American Jungle Girls, Gian Giacomo Dalmasso created Pantera in 1948.
Tawana (St. John) Abbott & Costello Comics #2 (April 1948). Nice spoof of the genre.
Rulah, Jungle Goddess (Fox ) Rulah Jungle Goddess #1-27 (August 1948-June 1949). One of the better, more regular comics.
Tegra/Zegra Jungle Empress (Fox) Tegra Jungle Empress #1 (August 1948) Zegra Jungle Empress #2-5 (October 1948-April 1949). Started off a red-head named Tegra (because she was really a converted Rulah) then went blond and changed her name to Zegra.
Numa (Fox) Rulah Jungle Goddess #18 (September 1948). One-shot back-up chick.
Wana, mate of Zago (Fox) Zago, Jungle Prince #1-4 (September 1948-March 1949). Married lady of the jungle.
Phara, Living Goddess (Fox) Zegra Jungle Empress #2 (October 1948). Probably the shortest career as a Jungle Girl…2 pages.
Juanda (Fox) Jo-Jo Congo King#21 (November 1948). One-shot gal. Hard to stand out from the crowd.
1949
Jessie, mate of Ka’a’nga (Fiction House) Ka’a’nga Comics #1-20 (Spring 1949-Summer 1954).
Zira, mate of Yarmak (Young’s Merchandizing) Yarmak Comics #1-32 (November 1949-June 1952). An obscure Australian comic.
1950
Jungle Lil (Fox/Star Comics) Feature Stories #3 (1950), Jungle Lil (April 1950) Variety Comics (August 1950) Spook #22 (1953).
Lura, Jungle Jo’s Mate (Fox) Jungle Jo #1-4 (March 1950-August 1950?). Another incarnation of Jo-jo.
Dorothy Lamour, Jungle Princess (Fox) Dorothy Lamour, Jungle Princess (June-August 1950). A film product promotion.
Sharla The Tiger Queen from Sabu, Elephant Boy #30 (Fox) appeared in June 1950. It was drawn by Wally Wood.
1951
Taanda, White Princess of the Jungle/Tarinda (Avon) White Princess of the Jungle #1-5 (July 1951-November 1952). They just don’t write titles like that anymore. They changed her name with Issue #5.
Saari, the Jungle Goddess (PL Publishing) Saari #1 (November 1951). Obscure and forgettable.
Rima, the Jungle Girl (Gilberton/DC) Classics Illustrated #90 Green Mansions (December 1951) Rima the Jungle Girl April-May 1974-April-May 1975. Joe Kubert’s adaptation of the novel Green Mansions with the first Jungle Girl.
1952
Pha , Thun’Da’s mate (Magazine Enterprises) Thun’da #1-6 (January 1952-1953). Created by Frank Frazetta. Frank left the book when the caveman angle was dropped.
Felia in “Leopard Girl’s Dread Domain” from The Beyond #10 (Ace Magazines) appeared in April 1952.
Cave Girl (Carol)(Magazine Enterprises) A-1 Comics #56- #137 (July 1952?-June 1955?). Created by Garner F. Fox. Originally a prehistoric Lost World strip it eventually devolved into a standard jungle scenario.
1953
Taranga (Star) Terrors of the Jungle #4 (April 1953).
Zenta, mate of Bantor (Star) Terrors of the Jungle #6 (September 1953).One shot couple of Bantor and Zenta.
1954
Lorna the Jungle Girl (Atlas) Lorna the Jungle Girl (March 1954-August 1957). Marvel’s first try at a Jungle Princess.
Luana, Torga’s Mate (Star Publications) Terrors of the Jungle #9 (June 1954?) One-shot story. Nothing to do with the movie Luana.
Jann of the Jungle (Atlas) Jungle Tales #1 (September 1954) – Jann of the Jungle #17 (June 1957). Starting off in Jungle Tales, Jann quickly became of the star and the comic changed names.
Nagra Jungle Queen in “Jungle Justice” (Terrors of the Jungle #10, September 1954).
 
Cat-Woman in “The Jungle Cat-Queen” (Detective Comics #211) written by Edmond Hamilton
Leopard Girl (Gwen) (Atlas Comics) Jungle Action #1-6 (October 1954-August #1955). Not reprinted when Jungle Action returned in the 1970s.
1955
Vooda, Jungle Princess (Ajax) Vooda #20-22 (April-August 1955). Was originally South Sea Girl but changed to Vooda for reprints.
1956
“Loona the Jungle Girl” (Riot #6, June 1956) (Marvel Comics) Stan Lee and Bill Everett’s parody of Lorna.
Little Lotta in “Jungle Girl” (Little Lotta #6, September 1956) Read it here.
1957
Ranee, Princess of the Jungle(Dell) Jungle Jim #13-19 (July-September 1957-January-March 1959).
Shirl, The Jungle Girl (Harvey) Harvey Hits #1 (September 1957). Wally Wood parody.
1959
Lois Lane, Jungle Girl Superman’s Girlfriend, Lois Lane #11 August 1959. One story deal.
1964
Lena Thorul, Jungle Princess (Action Comics #313, June 1964) does the Superman universe again. This time it is Lex Luthor’s sister.
1966
Leopard Girl, Meru (Gold Key) Tarzan Comics #162-194 (December 1966-August 1970). Back-up Feature for Tarzan.
1967
Ursula (ABC/Gold Key) America’s Best TV Comics (1967) George of the Jungle #1-2 (February-October 1969). Based on the Jay Ward cartoon. The only Jungle Gal who wears high heels.
Girl Phantom (King) Mandrake the Magician #4 (March 1967) Phantom #20 (1966) Phantom #6a (January 1973).
Jeena the Jungle Queen in “Jungle Bungle” in Laurel & Hardy #2 (October 1967).
1968
Tina (DC Comics) Bomba the jungle Boy gets a love interest in issue #3 (January-February 1968).
Tiger Girl/Lily (Gold Key) Tiger Girl #1 (September 1968). More of a superhero than a jungle girl.
1970
Repta appeared in “The Beautiful Beast” in The House of Mystery #185 (April-May 1970). She’s not about the apes but the lizards.
1972
Shanna the She-Devil (Marvel) Shanna, the She-Devil #1-5 (December 1972-August 1973) Shanna the She-Devil #1-7 (April-October 2005) Shanna: Survival of the Fittest #1-4 (October 2007-January 2008).
1981
Khina de la Jungla (CIMOC) Cimoc Extra #9 (1981). Naughtiness in the Jungle by Saudelli.
1985
Lana of Lost Land (Heroic Fantasy Publications) Heroic Fantasy #2-3 (February-September 1985) Bad fanzine stuff.
1987
Kyra (EP Productions) Kyra #1-5 (1985- Winter 1987) Graphic Novel (May 1988). Body-Builder Jungle Queen.
1989
Tara of the Jungle (AC) Jungle Girls #1-16 (1989-1993). Meant as an homage but comes off as something much tackier.
1990
Fana the Jungle Girl (Burcham Studios) Fana the Jungle Girl#1 (1990).
1993
Cavewoman (Basement Comics) (1993-2019) Budd Root’s prehistoric vine-swinger – the series began innocent enough but moved towards porn.
1994
The Tiger Woman (Millennium/Caliber) The Tiger Woman (September 1994-April 1995) The Quest of the Tiger Woman (April 1995) The Tiger Woman: A New Beginning (January 1998) The Tiger Woman: The Last Place on Earth (2000).
1995
Raa, mate of Ki-gorr (AC) Ki-gorr the Killer #1 (1995). No surprises here.
1996
Bettie Page (Dark Horse) Bettie Page Comics #1 (March 1996). Great Dave Stevens cover but are those cannibals politically correct?
1998
Ana (Avatar) Started off as sleaze in Threshold (1998) and just got worse from there.
2007
Jungle Girl (Jana Skyborn) (Dynamite) Jungle Girl Season One (September 2007-January 2008) Season Two (November 2008-July 2009). Possibly based on the Hanna-Barbera cartoon character. Some great great Frank Cho artwork.
2011
Anaya (UCLAgents) (Moonstone) Savage Beauty #1 (March 2011).
Robot Jungle Girl (May 2011) (Sandez Rey) is a modern play on the old Pulps.
Kyrra Alien Jungle Girl (Dark Horse, 2017)
Jay-na, The Jungle Queen (2019)
By no means every Jungle Girl (Heroic). I know I’m missing some from the Undergrounds. But it is a good start. Feel free to let me know if you find others. GW
