Fran Hopper

Somewhere out there, you may stumble across Planet Comics #24 (1943). If you do, there’s a story in there called “Norge Benson.” That story was penciled and inked by Fran Deitrick. You’ll also find the same artist responsible for stories in Rangers Comics (“Glory Forbes”), Wings Comics (“Yank Aces of World War II”), and Planet Comics (“Gale Allen and the Girl Squadron”). All were put out by Fiction House, a massive publisher of comics at the time.

In 1944 Fran Deitrick became Fran Hopper (although you wouldn’t have known it was the same person), and her work first appeared in Jungle Comics #43 and Planet Comics #30.

Working alongside fellow artists Lily Renee and Nina Albright, Hopper became known for her runs in Planet Comics (“Mysta of the Moon,” #37-40,42, 48, 49), Jungle Comics (“Camilla,” #70-92), and Wings Comics (“Jane Martin,” #67-84).

Fran Hopper (July 13, 1922 – November 29, 2017)