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If you have seen the Monster movie from 2003 starring Charlize Theron, you might know about Aileen Wuornos, a prostitute and female serial killer who would rob and murder people between exits while hitchhiking in Florida. I have written about the movie before in a slightly satirical tone, but what I found recently was written in a much more serious vein. In a thrift shop short-box of worthless 90s comics, I discovered True Crime issue 1, featuring an Aileen Wuornos comic portrayal as “The first female serial killer!”
This immediately grabbed my attention. The first female serial killer? That is a bold claim. However, Wikipedia points in a completely different direction. After recognizing Aileen Wuornos on the cover, I knew I had to own the comic. I also love checking out rare and unusual comic books that are obscure. Did my curiosity pay off?
It sure did. I have got to say, True Crime is an awesome comic. It tells the story of Aileen Wuornos starting from when she was a little kid in Michigan, before she became the infamous Florida serial killer. The comic portrayal paints a very different picture of Aileen Wuornos young than what was shown in the Monster movie. According to the comic, she became pregnant at age 14 and gave birth in a maternity home. After heading to Florida at age 18, she ended up marrying and later divorcing an older man named Lewis Fell. It also said that her father was a child rapist who killed himself in jail. The story of Aileen Wuornos’ childhood and her journey to Florida is told really well, and my skepticism of this unusual black-and-white comic book subsided quickly.
The penmanship of the artwork leaves something to be desired. I think it was done with a fountain pen and brush (the way most comics are inked, or at least before computers) but the line quality is somewhat poor. At times the line thickness is inappropriate and there is no distinction between the foreground and the background. The title page says the art was by Dan Spiegle.
The way Aileen Wuornos is portrayed on the cover is with an orange jumpsuit and in handcuffs (and with the chain links mysteriously missing). A quick internet search finds the photo reference used to draw the cover, likely taken after her arrest for the Florida murders.
The comic also portrays Aileen Wuornos’ girlfriend and partner in crime, Tyria Moore, who turned out to be much more butch than shown in the Monster movie. Take a look at the Aileen Wuornos documentary “Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer” and you will see what I mean. I think that Dolph Lundgren looks more similar to her than Christina Ricci, that is for sure.
The True Crime comic delves into Aileen Wuornos’ life, where she committed her murders. It touches on her claims of self-defense, which later turned into confessions of intentional killings. The comic doesn’t shy away from depicting the brutal nature of her crimes, showing how she transformed from a troubled young woman into a notorious serial killer who would eventually face execution.
While the comic doesn’t go into detail about Aileen Wuornos’ execution, it does hint at her eventual fate. In reality, Aileen Wuornos was executed by lethal injection in Florida in 2002, after being convicted of six murders. Her last words and the circumstances surrounding her execution have become a subject of much discussion and debate.
If you are interested in this comic (Affiliate Link), you should pick it up. It offers a unique perspective on the life and crimes of Aileen Wuornos, from her troubled childhood to her eventual downfall as a serial killer in Florida.
About Aileen Wuornos
Just for context and to reiterate, Aileen Carol Wuornos, often referred to as the “Damsel of Death,” was one of the most infamous female serial killers in history. Her life story, marked by a troubled childhood and a series of traumatic events, has been the subject of numerous documentaries and movies, including the critically acclaimed “Monster,” where Charlize Theron portrayed her. Wuornos’ early years were marred by severe childhood abuse, and she turned to prostitution at a young age to survive. Her brother, Keith, also played a significant role in her tumultuous life, adding to her complex psychological profile.
Wuornos’ criminal activities began in earnest in Florida, where she was convicted of murdering seven men, including Richard Mallory, David Spears, Troy Burress, Charles Humphreys, Charles Carskaddon, and Walter Antonio. She claimed that her actions were in self-defense, a narrative that has been explored in various documentaries, such as those by Nick Broomfield. Her victims were often picked up along highways, and she would later pawn their belongings, leading to her eventual capture. Wuornos’ last words before her execution by lethal injection in Volusia County were, “I’d just like to say I’m sailing with the rock, and I’ll be back like Independence Day with Jesus, June 6, like the movie, big mother ship and all. I’ll be back.”
Aileen Wuornos’ life and crimes have been depicted in various forms of media, like in the comic book mentioned. Her relationships, particularly with her girlfriend Tyria Moore, and her complex psychological state, including diagnoses of borderline personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder, have been central to these portrayals. Wuornos’ story is a tragic example of how childhood abuse, mental illness, and societal neglect can culminate in a life of violence and infamy. Her execution in 2002 marked the end of a life that continues to fascinate and horrify in equal measure.