CHICAGO, Nov. 12 (UPI) — Feisty, redheaded reporter Brenda Starr is returning in a series of J.J. Salem-authored mystery novels, the first of which is set for publication this spring.
Created by Dale Messick, the character was a staple in newspaper comic pages for 70 years until the strip was canceled in 2011. The fictional journalist is now “in her early 40s, working as a TV pundit and visiting college professor,” a press release said.
“She returns to hard news at a digital start-up when a series of murders targeting Chicago’s elite hits too close to home, all while navigating the complexities of modern life with a younger lover, a tycoon ex-husband and a head-strong, college-aged daughter showing signs of becoming Brenda Starr 2.0.”
“Brenda Starr is an iconic character with a rich history and strong following,” J. Scott Cameron, director of Tribune Content Agency, said in a statement Thursday. “We’re excited to re-engage old fans and introduce Brenda Starr to a new audience.”
“I can’t wait to get her new stories out there. Brenda always had a lot to say about the culture around her, and that’s not going to change,” Salem added.