I was sorry to read of the passing of Dale Messick today, at the age of 98. Her long-running comic strip "Brenda Starr, Reporter" was once published in over 200 daily newspapers. When she began working in the 1930s the field was pretty much a male world has died at age 98. "Brenda Starr" began as a Sunday only strip, and later became a daily. The strip is now produced by writer June Brigman and artist Mary Schmich. Ms. Messick both wrote and drew the strip for decades, until she gave the job over to Ramona Fradon and Linda Sutter in 1980.

I had a chance to see Ms. Messick at a San Diego comic convention in the mid-1970s. She appeared on a panel dedicated to Milton Caniff, but spoke of her own early experiences in the industry. I remember her as very entertaining and obviously enjoying the attention and affection of her many fans.

Condolences to her family on this sad occasion.