Minerva Mallen

Colors by Jim Ludwig

   Minerva Mallen is C.B.I.P.'s second most popular annie glamor star, only slightly behind Daisy Poise in entertainment polls. Minerva didn't set out to be a movie star, or even an actress. It was her little sister who got the ball rolling by taking a photo of Minerva without her knowing it. With the popularity of C.B.I.P.'s new glamor approach during the War, Sis felt Minerva was a natural and sent the picture to the studio's publicity department. The studio immediately saw Minerva's potential and approached her with a long-term contract. Minerva, who proved a natural talent, received star billing in her very first cartoon: Every Day Till V-Day. Minerva quickly became a popular star and her first fan club was organized before the end of the year. The studio began experimenting with annie teams before War's end, but Minerva remained a solo star until 1947. It was that year the the studio Boss saw a photograph of Wendy Marco in the local high school newspaper. Setting a publicity shot of Minerva down next to it, the Boss felt Mallen and Marco would be a great team. The girls began making cartoons together and became fast friends off-screen as well. Minerva is sweet, and delights in comfortable fabrics. A prolific cook, her pizzas are famous throughout the county. Her signature bow, worn about her neck, was a bit of dressing she picked up as a child. It became a popular accessory with several annies who live in Creek Bend.