In the original pulp series of the '40s Marla Drake was a rich and bored socialite that loses control one night while learning that a rival has the same costume as her for a fancy ball. In a rage she searches for something exotic and discovers her late uncle's African black panther skin that amazingly fits her perfectly. The skin was obtained from a Shaman with great power. The skin is cursed and brings out aggression in the wearer. Unbeknowst to Marla she is attracted to danger and never makes it to the ball. She hunts down and captures a murderer. The news reports the mysterious masked woman as "Black Fury." By day she entertains and by night goes on the prowl against gangsters, enemy spies, evil cross-dressers and joins the Invaders to assault Berlin in April 1945. Not liking her name she changes it to "Miss Fury"...

Note: Dynamite Comics is resurrecting the character in April 2013 and a screenplay is in the works.