Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Tales Twice-Told TIPPY TEEN / VICKI "3rd Finger, Right Hand"

She's supposedly two different girls, almost a decade apart...
...even though both of them have the same boyfriend!
When this story from Tower's Tippy Teen #3 (1966) was reprinted in Atlas/Seaboard's Vicki #1 (1975), more than just the fashions and hairstyles were altered*.
Tippi became "Vicki", though her boyfriend remained "Tommy Trippit" in both versions!
Trivia: this was one of the most-reprinted Tippi Teen stories of all!
Besides the reprint in Vicki, it had previously-been reprinted (without hair/fashion alterations) in the final issue of Tippy Teen in 1969!
Why did Seaboard change the character's name from Tippy to Vicki?
Nobody's certain.
But, since Vicki was cancelled after only four issues, the question is now moot.
*With sales falling on most non-superhero genres in the late 1960s (including Western and war as well as romance and teen humor [except for the Archie titles]), "updated reprinting" became a common practice on teen humor and romance comics until the genres all-but died out in the late 1970s.
Editors felt that:
a) the plots were relatively timeless.
b) updating the art was cheaper than totally-redrawing the story. 
c) the artists were better-utilized doing stuff that sold better (like superheroes).
d) the audience for teen humor and romance comics, unlike superhero comics, totally-changed every 5-6 years anyway, and wouldn't notice the "old" plots.
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 our sponsor..
Support True Love Comics Tales!
Visit Amazon and Buy...

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

It's the Season for Lovin' MY ROMANTIC ADVENTURES "Spring Meeting"

Since Spring is now in full bloom, let's look at a tale from a Spring over a Half-Century ago...
...and see a story that some would say could happen today, almost 70 year later!
"I figured right off that any check I gave you would be just a way of keeping the money in the family!"?
Now that's a lawyer!
This never-reprinted short illustrated by Al Williamson and Angelo Torres (who penciled and inked different sections as they passed the pages back and forth) appeared in ACG's My Romantic Adventures #86 (1958).
Odds are the script was by editor Richard E Hughes who wrote almost everything at ACG!
Next Week:
We don't know what we'll present..yet,
but we can guarantee that...
You'll Cry Your Eyes Out if You Miss It!
And now a word from our sponsor...
Support True Love Comics Tales
Visit Amazon and Buy...

Wednesday, May 6, 2026

LOVE 1971 "Reckless Losers"

55 years ago...
...romance comics were on their last legs.
But DC Comics' wasn't going down without a fight, starting with the torrid tale under this psychedelic Charlie Armentano cover!
Written/pencilled by Ric Estrada and inked by Tony DeZuniga, this cover-featured, never-reprinted story from DC's Super DC Giant #21 was the only new tale in the 64-page book.
Note: artist Charlie Armentano did only two comic pages that were ever published; this cover and the back cover of DC 100-Page Super-Spectacular #5 Love Stories (1971)!
The art was apparently submitted with coloring done on the original art itself, unheard-of at the time...
Armentano is still active in graphic arts!
Visit his website!
Next Week...
We Don't Know What We're Presenting...Yet!
But You'll Cry Your Eyes Out if You Miss It!
And now a word from our sponsor!
Support True Love Comics Tales
Visit Amazon and Buy...
Love Stories 1971 100-Page Super-Spectacular
Replica Edition
...which features Charlie Armentaro's only other comic book art on the back cover!
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