Toni Gayle

Golden Age Origin
Toni Gayle (later "Toni Gay") was the daughter of Gunmaster (Novelty) Gregory Gayle, a famed police detective. She was always a clever girl, but her father didn't want her to have anything to do with police work, so she went into modeling. But when a murderer known as the Ape severely injured her father, Toni decided to investigate.

After bringing the Ape to justice, Toni decided to split her time between modeling and investigating crimes. She also occasionally dabbled in acting. Toni was assisted by Biff Muggson, a reformed criminal her father once helped put away. Biff served as a bodyguard, but Toni was more than capable of defending herself when he wasn't around.

When Star Publications acquired Novelty Press' assets, Toni became one of the features in School Day Romances' - a title that mostly featured college-aged girls. At this point, Toni stopped investigating crimes and focused on her modeling. Biff vanished and a new supporting cast developed around her. She found a boyfriend in "Butch" Dykeman, a struggling actor, and an enemy in Eve Ardor, a fellow model. Her stories took on a more humorous tone, though it never reached the Archie-like levels of situational comedy.

Novelty Press

 * Young King Cole''
 * 4 Most Vol. 8 #1-5
 * Guns Against Gangsters #1-7

Star Publications

 * School Day Romances #1-4
 * Popular Teen-Agers #5-7, 8 (Reprint)