Wednesday, April 29, 2015

CINDERELLA LOVE "My Gay Deception!"

No, it does not involve a lesbian relationship and a "beard"!
This was the 1950s, you silly gooses!
It involves photobombing with the 1950s version of PhotoShop!
Photo-manipulation software is now so prevalent in our lives that it seems we couldn't live without it.
But, as recently as the 1990s, doing what Carol did required expensive equipment and materials as well as some technical expertise.
Talk about a tale reflecting its' era...
This story from Ziff-Davis' Cinderella Love #6 (1952) was illustrated by Bob Oksner, but the writer is unknown.
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, April 22, 2015

REACH FOR HAPPINESS Episode 8 Part 2

Dr Greg Chambers takes his fiance, Rita Phillips, to the Silva Club to unwind after a stressful day.
But, Dr Chambers is unaware that Rita and club owner Ray Silva were once a hot 'n heavy couple when she was a singer at the venue, and that Ray has announced his intentions to Rita to reclaim her from the doctor.
Rita attempts to back out, but Greg insists, and they go.
After the couple is seated...
I take it we're not going to have a discussion about Adam West's performance as Batman when our story continues...
Be back next month as we continue romance comics' longest-running soap opera!
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)
BTW: This chapter of "Reach for Happiness" from Secret Hearts #117 (1966) was written by Jack Miller, with a cover by Gene Colan and Tom Palmer with the remainder of the story something of a mish-mash with layouts and pencils by several different people including John Rosenberger, Jim Mooney and Gene Colan with primary inks by Tom Palmer and additional inks by a couple of others I can't identify right off.
And now a word from out sponsor...

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

REACH FOR HAPPINESS Episode 8

You'll note a change as of this issue.
The page after the splash (which also doubles as the cover) now features a cast listing along with the usual "What Happened Before".
But, you, dear reader, will have to wait until next week's installment to hear what Ray will say to the man who will marry his One True Love!
Next Week...
Dinner and a movie...with Batman and Robin???
(Hey, it was 1967! Those guys were everywhere!)
We can guarantee that...
You'll Cry Your Eyes Out if You Miss It!
(Oh, you've heard that, eh?)
This chapter of "Reach for Happiness" from Secret Hearts #117 (1967) was written by Jack Miller, with a splash by Gene Colan and Tom Palmer with the remainder of the story something of a mish-mash with layouts and pencils by several different people including John Rosenberger, Jim Mooney and Gene Colan with primary inks by Tom Palmer and additional inks by a couple of others I can't identify right off.
And now a word from out sponsor...

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

YOUNG ROMANCE "I Love You, Frank Gerard"

You think "mansplaining" is a new phenomenon?
Hardly.
It was happening at least as far back as 1948, when this tale appeared!
This never-reprinted story of business, love, and the business of love is from Prize's Young Romance #4 (1948).
Layouts by Jack Kirby, pencils by Jerry Robinson & Mort Meskin, inks by Joe Simon.
The writer is unknown, but believed to be Simon and/or Kirby.
Next week:
The Return of Reach for Happiness...
You'll Cry Your Eyes Out if You Miss It!
(Oh, you've heard that, eh?)

And now a word from out sponsor...

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

MODERN LOVE "Love Story to End ALL Love Stories!"

Sometimes comics pros are their own harshest critics...
...as this tale from EC's Modern Love #8 (1950) demonstrates!
Notes: "T. Tot" is a fictional character whose name is based on "Tiny Tot Comics, Inc", one of the shell company name used by EC for several of its' titles including Modern Love).
The man with glasses is based on EC Comics publisher/story co-writer Bill Gaines.
The other sycophant is based on editor/co-writer/illustrator Al Feldstein
 Notes: "Wolf Comics" is based on Fox Comics, who actually put romance titles out before EC (along with crime comics like the titles on the wall)...
Notes: Comics in those days were only 10 cents each, so the "two dollars and thirty cents for twenty-three comics" is accurate!
And, at that point, 20% of all comics were romance titles including hybrids like Golden West Love, Wartime Romances and Love Mystery!
The publisher in Panel 2, "Love" Greasin, is based on rival publisher Lev Gleason, who, like EC, published crime and romance comics.
Notes: "Jack Lyman" (the tall one) is Joe Simon and "Joe Curry" (guy with the cigar) is Jack Kirby, the actual creators of the romance comics genre.
Guess few people wrote in since "The Love Story to End All Love Stories" was the final story in the final issue of Modern Love.
EC cancelled all it's titles except horror, crime, and sci-fi, but adding two humor titles, MAD and PANIC in 1952.
When the "Seduction of the Innocent" witch hunt drove many comics publishers out of business in the mid 1950s, EC cancelled everything but MAD (which was rebooted as a b/w magazine and continues to this day) and launched a new line of "picto-fiction" adult-oriented b/w magazines including the romance-themed Confessions Illustrated, which lasted only two issues.
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...