Wednesday, February 1, 2023

GIRLS' LOVE STORIES "Make-Believe Romance" & YOUNG ROMANCE "Romance That Never Was!"

This month is dedicated to a Bronze Age experiment by DC Comics!
This tale from DC's Girls' Love Story #169 (1972) is an example of that multi-issue project.
Keep in mind that Marvel had done at least one romance story with Black protagonists several years earlier...
...and you might think "Hey, better late than never!"
But, you might not be aware of one big difference!
The Marvel story, though somewhat heavy-handed, was an original!
This tale was a modified reprint!
We've talked about how Silver Age publishers (including both Marvel and DC)would take older romance stories, modify the clothing and hairstyles and re-present them behind a new lead story to fill out a comic's page count as shown HERE and HERE!
DC editor Dorothy Wollfolk believed they could do something similar, but change more than just garb and hair!
Here's the original version of "Make-Believe Romance" from DC's Young Romance #149 (1967)...
...which was apparently a "nerds in love" tale!
You'll note the script (by an unknown author) wasn't modified at all.
We're also not sure of the penciler, but the inking (and retouching for the reprint) are by Vince Colletta.
BTW, the story was reprinted (and retitled as "I Wanted Someone Just Like Him") with the usual (non-ethnic) clothing and hairstyle alterations one more time in DC's Young Love #111 (1974).
Next week:
Another Example of the Fascinating Attempt by DC to be More Inclusive...
You'll Cry Your Eyes Out if You Miss It!
(Oh, you've heard that, eh?)
And now a word from out sponsor...
Visit our

Negro Romance
Comic Collectibles Store
featuring the cover art from all four HTF issues on kool kollectibles!

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