Katy Keene #61 (September 1961, Archie Publications) — VG– 3.5
“Katy Goes Out of This World When She Sees the Monster from Mars!”
One of the most charming late-period entries in Bill Woggon’s beloved Katy Keene run — and arguably one of the series’ most collectible covers. This issue blends fashion, teen humor, and early 1960s sci-fi whimsy, complete with rockets, planets, and a googly-eyed green Martian monster. It’s a perfect example of Archie’s pop-culture crossover into Atomic Age kitsch.
Cover: Bill Woggon — Katy perched on a Sputnik-like satellite, menaced by a cartoonish space creature. A quintessential “atomic pop” romance image.
Feature Story: “Katy & Randy Meet Martians and a Monster!”
Writer/Artist: Bill Woggon
Genre: Humor, Fashion, Science Fiction, Teen
Synopsis: Katy and Randy Van Ronson battle an alien invasion with nothing but Earthly charm and a touch of slapstick wit.
Supporting Stories & Features:
“An Off Beat Story!” — Gloria Grandbilt’s Beatnik fashion experiment (co-plotted by Kathleen Beatty).
“Debby’s Diary” — a diary-format teen romance short by Woggon.
“Katy’s Mail Bag” — fan letters and reader-submitted costume designs.
“Glamour Fashion Motorama” — 2-page spread featuring futuristic auto couture.
“Katy & Sis” half-pagers and humor fillers.
VG– (3.5) — Clean presentation with full cover gloss and strong color retention. Light tanning, faint foxing along the upper edge, and general handling wear consistent with grade. Slight spine stress and corner rounding, but staples remain tight and pages are fully attached. Interior pages cream with minimal brittleness.
💡 A delightful intersection of romance comics and the Atomic Age — playful, colorful, and emblematic of the optimism of early 1960s Americana. Late-run Katy issues like this have become increasingly sought after for their pop surrealist appeal and mid-century design flair.
Katy Keene #61 (September 1961, Archie Publications) — VG– 3.5
“Katy Goes Out of This World When She Sees the Monster from Mars!”
One of the most charming late-period entries in Bill Woggon’s beloved Katy Keene run — and arguably one of the series’ most collectible covers. This issue blends fashion, teen humor, and early 1960s sci-fi whimsy, complete with rockets, planets, and a googly-eyed green Martian monster. It’s a perfect example of Archie’s pop-culture crossover into Atomic Age kitsch.
Cover: Bill Woggon — Katy perched on a Sputnik-like satellite, menaced by a cartoonish space creature. A quintessential “atomic pop” romance image.
Feature Story: “Katy & Randy Meet Martians and a Monster!”
Writer/Artist: Bill Woggon
Genre: Humor, Fashion, Science Fiction, Teen
Synopsis: Katy and Randy Van Ronson battle an alien invasion with nothing but Earthly charm and a touch of slapstick wit.
Supporting Stories & Features:
“An Off Beat Story!” — Gloria Grandbilt’s Beatnik fashion experiment (co-plotted by Kathleen Beatty).
“Debby’s Diary” — a diary-format teen romance short by Woggon.
“Katy’s Mail Bag” — fan letters and reader-submitted costume designs.
“Glamour Fashion Motorama” — 2-page spread featuring futuristic auto couture.
“Katy & Sis” half-pagers and humor fillers.
VG– (3.5) — Clean presentation with full cover gloss and strong color retention. Light tanning, faint foxing along the upper edge, and general handling wear consistent with grade. Slight spine stress and corner rounding, but staples remain tight and pages are fully attached. Interior pages cream with minimal brittleness.
💡 A delightful intersection of romance comics and the Atomic Age — playful, colorful, and emblematic of the optimism of early 1960s Americana. Late-run Katy issues like this have become increasingly sought after for their pop surrealist appeal and mid-century design flair.
