Nelvana of the Northern Lights facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nelvana of the Northern Lights
Nelvana, as drawn by Adrian Dingle (1941)
Publication information
Publisher	Hillborough Studios Bell Features
Created by	Adrian Dingle
In-story information
Alter ego	Alana North
Partnerships	Koliak the Mighty (father), Tanero (brother)
Abilities	Telepathy Invisibility Travel at light speed Heat ray

Nelvana of the Northern Lights is a brave Canadian comic book hero. She was the very first national superhero from Canada! Nelvana first appeared in a comic book called Triumph-Adventure Comics #1 in August 1941.

She is also one of the earliest female superheroes ever created. Nelvana appeared before Wonder Woman, but after a few others like Fantomah and Black Widow who showed up in 1940. Nelvana is special because she was Canada’s first truly unique female superhero.

On October 5, 1995, Canada Post honored Nelvana. They put her on a special stamp as part of a "Comic Book Superheroes" series. Other heroes on these stamps included Superman and Captain Canuck.

Who Created Nelvana?

Nelvana was created by Adrian Dingle. He wrote and drew all her adventures. Dingle was inspired by stories from the Arctic. These tales were brought back by a famous painter named Franz Johnston.

Franz Johnston had met a young woman in the Arctic. Her name was either Cecile or Connie Nelvana. He was so impressed by her that he wanted to create a superheroine based on her.

Nelvana's Amazing Powers

Nelvana has many cool superpowers! She can turn invisible whenever she wants. She can also travel super fast, even at the speed of light. She does this by riding along a ray of the Northern Lights.

Nelvana's adventures took her to many strange places. She visited secret kingdoms hidden under the ice. She even traveled to other dimensions! During World War II, she fought against the Axis Powers (enemy countries). Eventually, she took on a secret identity as a secret agent named Alana North.

Where Did Nelvana First Appear?

Nelvana of the Northern Lights, sometimes called Nelvana of the North, first appeared in Triumph-Adventure Comics #1. This comic was published by Hillborough Studios in August 1941.

Her last comic book appearance was in May 1947. This was in Super-Duper Comics #3.

Later, in 1971, a company called Nelvana Limited was founded. This company was named after Nelvana of the Northern Lights! Today, the rights to Nelvana are shared by Library & Archives Canada and Nelvana Limited.

Nelvana's Story: A Hero from the North

Nelvana is a powerful figure from Inuit stories. She protects the people of the North using her amazing superhuman abilities. She is the daughter of a human woman and Koliak the Mighty. Koliak is the King of the Northern Lights.

The gods were not happy about Koliak marrying a human. So, he can no longer be seen. But his spirit appears as the beautiful Northern Lights. Nelvana gets her powers from her father and the Northern Lights. She uses these powers to fight evil Nazi agents in the North.

Nelvana's Special Abilities

Nelvana wears a cool outfit with a fur-trimmed mini-skirt and knee-high boots. She also has a magical cape and a headband. Her powers include:

• Flying at the speed of light on a giant ray of the Northern Lights.
• Calling on her father's powers.
• Melting metal.
• Stopping radio communications.
• Being telepathic (she can read minds!).
• Turning invisible.
• Changing her physical shape.

Nelvana's Friends and Family

Nelvana often fights crime with her brother, Tanero. Their father, Koliak, King of the Northern Lights, also helps them. Later, a mountie named Corporal Keene joins them.

Tanero had powers like Nelvana. But he had a curse: white men could not see him. So, he would turn into a dog when they were around.

Why Nelvana is Important to Canada

Nelvana of the North was Canada’s first truly Canadian female superhero. She helped fill a gap in Canadian comic books. At the time, most comic heroes were American. Nelvana gave Canadians a hero they could call their own. She had a big impact on Canada's national identity.

The Canadian entertainment company Nelvana Limited was named after Nelvana of the Northern Lights. This company was started in 1971.

Even Marvel Comics has a character inspired by Nelvana! The Canadian superheroine Snowbird is a member of Alpha Flight. She is a demi-goddess whose mother is Nelvanna of the Northern Lights. This character was created by John Byrne, who grew up in Canada. Nelvanna and her father Hodiak were likely a tribute to Nelvana and Koliak.

Nelvana's Adventures

Fighting the Kablunets (Triumph Comics #1–7)

Nelvana was called to stop "evil white ones" called Kablunets. These villains were using time bombs to destroy fish and food in the North. Nelvana and her brother Tanero got help from Koliak. They used the Northern Lights like a giant magnet. This pulled the enemy bombs into the sky, destroying them safely.

Commander Toroff attacked Nelvana and Tanero with killer boats. Nelvana and Tanero landed on Toroff’s ship. Nelvana told Tanero to destroy Toroff's fleet. Meanwhile, Nelvana looked for Toroff’s plans.

Nelvana found the plans but was captured. Toroff ordered his men to tie her up over a deep pit. Koliak sensed his daughter was in danger. He told Tanero, who then rescued Nelvana. The Devil Ship and the Kablunet fleet were destroyed.

The Frozen World of Glacia (Triumph Comics #8–18)

Koliak told Nelvana about Glacia, a lost world hidden under the Arctic ice. When Nelvana entered Glacia, she learned it was in danger. Giant Mammoth Men threatened it. These creatures were controlled by Vultor, an evil scientist. Vultor wanted to learn Glacia's secret of eternal life.

While Nelvana was in Glacia, the Japanese attacked the Alcan Highway. They dropped "swarms of savage, starved Manchurian wolves." These wolves were meant to kill the workers. But Nelvana, riding a polar bear, appeared and destroyed the wolves.

The Ice-Beam Secret (Triumph Comics #19–23)

Felix Langdon created a secret weapon called the ice beam with his brother Silas. Felix was later kidnapped. Koliak told Nelvana to go south and get a new secret identity. Nelvana and Silas flew to Nortonville, Ontario. There, they met Sgt. Michael O'Donnelly, a policeman. He helped Nelvana become Secret Agent Alana North.

Nelvana and Silas found the hideout of One-Ear Brunner. He was an evil Nazi villain holding Felix hostage. Brunner captured Nelvana and Silas. He demanded the plans for the secret ice beam. Nelvana saved the day by defeating Brunner and rescuing Felix. The ice beam plans were completed. The weapon was used in Britain to bring down Nazi robot bombs.

Nelvana and the Death Dealing Double

Nelvana discovered someone pretending to be her. This imposter, named Sade, was tricking Inuit trappers for furs. When Sade met the real Nelvana, she went crazy and died.

The Ether People (Triumph Comics #24–29, Super-Duper #3)

Corporal Keene met a small green man. This man was from Etheria, a world around Earth. He warned that Earth's radio broadcasts were making the Etherians crazy. Keene found Nelvana, who was Alana North in Ottawa. An Etherian met Nelvana and repeated the warning. Nelvana made him disappear. She then arranged for a giant radio loudspeaker to be built. This would be their way into Etheria.

Nelvana and Keene entered space. They dealt with the Queen of Statica and flame men. They also saw the Atom Bomb explode in New Mexico. They arrived in Etheria just as an invasion fleet was ready to attack Earth. They were captured and forced to join the invaders.

Before reaching Earth, the invaders stopped. Nelvana met their real leader, Vultor! Vultor used a magic stone to hypnotize Nelvana. He then launched an attack on Glacia. Keene knocked the stone from Vultor's hand. This freed Nelvana to use her powers. Nelvana defeated the Etherians, but Vultor escaped.

Nelvana Meets Her Match (Triumph Comics #31)

Nelvana fought Dr. Electra, a super-criminal with an Atom Ray. Dr. Electra tried to frame Nelvana for the murder of a reporter named Jim Blair. But Nelvana succeeded in rescuing Blair.

Collected Comics

A special project was started in October 2013 to print Nelvana of the Northern Lights again. This was the first time since the original comics came out! The project was so popular that it raised all the money needed in just five days.

See also

• Canadian Whites
• Canadian comics