The emergence of Torchy Brown marked the first appearance of an independent African-American woman in a nationally syndicated comic strip. Torchy's self-reliance drove her to leave her Mississippi home at an early age and pursue her dreams of performing on stage, ultimately becoming a staple act at Harlem's Cotton Club. The strip was resurrected in 1950's Torchy in Heartbeats. Since, Torchy Brown, the feisty and independent singer and dancer, has appeared in her own TPB and several hardcover tributes to her creator, Jackie Ormes.