Lady Rawhide is a scantily-clad, masked vigilante who defends the people from their oppression against tyrannical officials and other villains. She first appeared in Topps' Zorro series, and later appeared in several solo one-shots and two mini-series. Lady Rawhide was created by Don McGregor and Mike Mayhew.
In 2013, a new 5-issue mini-series came out from Dynamite Entertainment.
Anita Santiago was driven to create her own costumed identity to seek revenge against the Commandante of Los Angeles, Captain Enrique Monasterio who inflected terrible injures on her brother, Roman Santiago. Anita's hatred for Zorro came about when her brother, Roman, was falsely mistaken as being Zorro by the nefarious Captain Enrique Monasterio who shot Roman point black which ended up permanently blinding Roman, and disfiguring the left half of his face. Since then, Anita swore that she would make Zorro pay with his life.
What seemed like a simple task for vendetta became more complicated after she met her adversary that she eventually fell in love and came to respect what Zorro stood for. She would eventually adopt his goal to fight injustice and help the helpless against the wicked and corrupt.
Tropes:
- Action Girl: Lady Rawhide can buckle her swash with the best of them.
- Amazon Brigade: In the Dynamite mini-series, Lady Rawhide takes on a gang of female vigilantes called the Sisters of the White Rose, who were inspired by Lady Rawhide but use far bloodier methods.
- Bad Girl Comic
- Breakout Character: Lady Rawhide was the fan favourite character in Topps' Zorro series, and was spun off into her set of miniseries.
- Dating Catwoman: Lady Rawhide falls in love with Zorro despite him being her sworn enemy.
- Diseased Name: The main villain in Other People's Blood is a Pirate Girl who calls herself Scarlet Fever (although this name is probably self-chosen).
- Distaff Counterpart: Lady Rawhide based her costumed identity on Zorro, becoming a female version of him.
- Eye Scream: Ramon's blinding. Hot gases from a pistol barrel sear his eyes, and the reader is later treated to a close-up of the mangled remains of his eyes.
- Fiery Redhead: Even if it is a dye job in her case. Anita uses her redheaded alter-ego as an outlet for all of her impulses that are considered unsuitable for Spanish noblewoman.
- Intimate Healing: In Other People's Blood, Lady Rawhide is left dying a gangrenous wound inflicted by Scarlet Fever. She is found by vampire Carmelita Rodriguez who cures her by sucking her blood: drawing out the poison and healing her wounds.
- Just Like Robin Hood: Lady Rawhide steals from the corrupt authorities and redistributes the wealth to the suffering peasantry.
- Most Common Superpower: Look at the page image. Lady Rawhides 'endowments' are often commented on by her opponents.
- Navel-Deep Neckline: Pirate Girl Scarlet Fever wears a yellow silk shirt that is open all the way down the front and knotted at her navel.
- Of Corsets Sexy: A corset forms the central component of her Stripperific outfit.
- Pirate Girl: Scarlet Fever is a female pirate captain who serves as the primary antagonist of the second miniseries.
- Poisoned Weapons: The tip of Scarlet Fever's sword contains traces of gangrene: designed to turn even a scratch from her blade into a lingering death for her victims. It nearly does for Lady Rawhide.
- Secret Identity: Lady Rawhide is the secret identity of Spanish noblewoman Anita Santiago.
- Serial Killer: In It Can't Happen Here, Lady Rawhide battles a serial killer with a similar M.O. to Jack the Ripper (although the story is set several decades prior to Saucy Jack's reign of terror).
- Show Some Leg: In the Lady Rawhide/Lady Zorro mini-series, Lady Rawhide explains that her Stripperific costume is designed to distract male opponents.
- Stripperific: Lady Rawhide's costume shows a lot of flesh, which is a deliberate tactic to discombobulate her male opponents.
- Ten Paces and Turn: The cover of this comic
shows Lady Rawhide about to throw down with her hated enemy Scarlet Fever. (This didn't actually happen in the comic; Scarlet Fever tended to fight dirty.) - Wardrobe Malfunction: In the first issue of the original mini-series, Lady Rawhide's breast does actually pop out of her costume for a panel.
- We Help the Helpless: Although Lady Rawhide initially begins her career out of a desire for revenge, she quickly moves on to Zorro's goal of fighting injustice and helping the poor and downtrodden.
- Whip of Dominance: Lady Rawhide takes her name from the bullwhip that is her primary weapon; one which she wields with consummate skill. This further complements her Dominatrix motif.
