Militant Mary

A single-panel comic featuring a determined female character addressing the reader directly. The strip employs the visual conventions established by newspaper comics: bold linework, a speech balloon containing the character's declaration, and exaggerated facial expressions for comedic effect. The protagonist announces her philosophy: when troubles arrive in succession and circumstances worsen, she simply summons "Old Nick"—a reference to the devil—to prevent herself from losing composure. The comic relies on verbal wit and character personality rather than sequential narrative, typical of early newspaper gag strips that appeared alongside their serialized cousins in the Sunday and daily pages.