Wednesday, June 27, 2012

GIRLS' ROMANCES "How To Get Your Man"

Do you really need a self-help book to find True Love?
Page 1 inked by Dick Giordano
This story from Girls' Romances #139 (1969) gives you the answer!
The cover art by Dick Giordano was reused as the splash page for the story itself...
...but the art for the story is actually by Bob Brown and George Roussos, neither of whom were particularly noted for romance story work.
The story was reprinted in Young Romance #203 (1975), retitled "Love Lessons" and with some hairstyles and clothing redrawn to update the styles.
For example, the panel from page 7 used on the cover above shows Eloise now wearing pants instead of shorts...
Next week:
We haven't decided yet what it'll be, but we can guarantee that...
You'll Cry Your Eyes Out if You Miss It!
(Oh, you've heard that, eh?)

And now a word from out sponsor...

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

BARBIE & KEN "Wedding"

For girls of the late 1950s thru early 1970s, Barbie and Ken dolls were fashion icons...
...so it was inevitable that there would be a comic book about their adventures.
 But, as it turns out, Barbie and Ken were secretly married the entire time!
It's true!
Here's the whole story from Dell Comics' Barbie & Ken #1 (1962)...
Surprised?

Next week:
We haven't decided yet what it'll be, but we can guarantee that...
You'll Cry Your Eyes Out if You Miss It!
(Oh, you've heard that, eh?)
And now a word from out sponsor...
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Wednesday, June 13, 2012

REALISTIC ROMANCES "My Scandalous Affair!"

With a name like Realistic Romances, you know this will be a gentle, wholesome tale...
..."My Scandalous Affair!"...er, forget I said anything.
Just enjoy...

This cover-featured story from Avon's Realistic Romances #16 (1954) was illustrated by Everett Raymond Kinstler who went on to better things...notably portraits of the rich and powerful!
He's painted every American President from Nixon thru George W Bush!
Presumably, when President Obama has a free afternoon (he's been rather busy with projects like disposing of Bin Laden.)...
In fact, Kinstler's Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan paintings are the official White House portraits for them!
Unlike many other "fine" artists who started out doing commercial art, Kinstler happily acknowledges his comic book work.

Trivia:
This story was from the second run of Realistic Romances which ran #15-#17.
The first series ran from #1-#8.
A third series from another publisher ran #1, then #8-#9!
So if you're looking to collect this title, there's no #10-#14, but two #1s and #8s!

Next week:
We haven't decided yet what it'll be, but we can guarantee that...
You'll Cry Your Eyes Out if You Miss It!
(Oh, you've heard that, eh?)
And now a word from out sponsor...
Support Small Business

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

BOY MEETS GIRL "Kind of Man I'd Like to Marry" & "Will You Be a Bride...or an Old Maid?"

You thought Cosmopolitan had a monopoly on these kind of quizzes?
Art by Curt Swan and ?
They were a popular feature of romance comics as well, as these pages from Lev Gleason's Boy Meets Girl #2 (1950) and #20 (1952) show!
And to help you avoid ending up an "old maid", the editors thoughtfully provided...
Next week:
We haven't decided yet what it'll be, but we can guarantee that...
You'll Cry Your Eyes Out if You Miss It!
(Oh, you've heard that, eh?)
And now a word from out sponsor...
Support Small Business