Religion: not determined yet
Name: Melba Manton
Classification:
supporting character
Publisher(s): 
First Appearance: Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #131 (June 1973): "Superman Marry Me"
First Appearance (Additional Details): (cameo) Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #131 (June 1973): "Superman Marry Me"; (full) Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #132 (July 1973): "Introducing Melba!"
Creators: Cary Bates, John Rosenberger, Vince Colletta
Number of Appearances: 11
Gender: female
Note: WGBS newscaster in Metropolis
From: John Wells, ""The Racial Justice Experience: Diversity In The DC Universe: 1961-1979" in Fanzing #32", 1 March 2001 on the Monitor Duty website (http://www.monitorduty.com/mag/fanzing32/feature1.shtml; viewed 29 May 2006):
The last of the new blood was another Kanigher creation, WGBS newscaster Melba Manton. She made her debut in a four-page solo story (illustrated by Art Saaf and Vince Colletta) wherein she risked her life to save an innocent fugitive from being shot by the police. The series was intended to replace "Rose and the Thorn" beginning with Lois Lane #131 (1973) but plans for the back-up were scuttled and the only two episodes prepared ended up in LL #132 and Supergirl #6.
Melba still managed to debut in Lois Lane #131, albeit as part of the supporting cast in the lead story. She went on to join Lois in #133 and 135-137, making sporadic appearances in Superman-related titles through 1977's Superman Family #188.
Batman and the Outsiders (vol. 1) #19 (Mar. 1985): "Who's Afraid of the Big Red S?"Supergirl (vol. 1) #6 (Aug. 1973): "The Final Cut!" (lead character)
Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane
Suggested links for further research about this character:
- http://comicbookdb.com/character.php?ID=14059
- http://www.comicvine.com/melba-manton/29-36140/
- https://www.comics.org/issue/26348/
- http://darkmark6.tripod.com/batoind.html
- http://comicbookdb.com/issue.php?ID=22224
- https://www.comics.org/issue/26466/