MODERN LOVE "They Wouldn't Let Me Love Him!"

The "star-crossed lovers from different ethnic groups" trope is not new as a tale from 1971 shows!

But, Hispanic girl-Anglo boy relationships seem to have a particular interest for comics writers and artists...even back to the 1950s!

Both this never-reprinted tale from EC Comics' Modern Love #7 (1950) and the 1970s story show the woman leaving the man to avoid prejudice against her from affecting his career!

In the 1950s, it was disturbing, but in the pre-civil rights era, it was the status quo.

In the 1970s, it was disturbing, but far less common.

In the 2010s, the resurgence of this sort of prejudice is frightening, setting America back over 60 years!

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!

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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?)

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A MOON, A GIRL, ROMANCE "Hearts Along the Ski Trail"

Despite the fact the cover is not by Wally Wood...

...this is, indeed, another never-reprinted tale by the legendary artist!

And it's winter-themed, on top of that!

"I see enough smart women!

I'm sick of them!"

This is the guy she wants?

Wow!

I bet this marriage doen't last more than a year...if that!

Taken from EC's A Moon, A Girl, Romance #11 (1950), this never-reprinted tale was penciled by Harry Harrison and inked by Wally Wood.

Harry worked in comics from 1947 to 1955, first as a penciler, then as a writer.

He moved on to writing sci-fi short stories and novels, creating several series including Stainless Steel Rat, DeathWorld, and Bill the Galactic Hero, winning numerous awards during his career.

Harry and Wally worked together a number of times, usually with Harrison penciling and Wood inking.

The writer is unknown, but could be Harrison or Wood.

The cover, BTW, was by the multi-talented (editor-writer-artist) Al Feldstein.

As a special project from now through Valentine's Day we're running a series of these never-reprinted tales taken directly from the original comics, alternating them with our ongoing soap opera Reach for Happiness!

Next week:

The Finale of our Wally Wood Tribute, just in time for Valentine's Day...

You'll Cry Your Eyes Out if You Miss It!

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MOON GIRL "Introducing Moon Girl & the Prince"

Here's a slightly-different love story...

She was the princess of a far-off land, come to America after winning an athletic tournament!
She was super-strong, near-invulnerable, and could fly for short distances!
Equipped with exotic weaponry, she battled evil and constantly rescued her non-super powered boyfriend!
And, she wore a red-yellow-blue costume with a revealing top and VERY short blue shorts!
Sounds like Wonder Woman, doesn't it?
But, it's NOT!
It's MOON GIRL!
"WTF!!!" you may exclaim! "Who's 'Moon Girl'?"
Read on...

Moon Girl appeared in her own title, originally called Moon Girl & the Prince (1947),
co-created by writer Bill Woolfolk and illustrator Sheldon Moldoff.
Note: Woolfolk's first wife, Dorothy Woolfolk, was also a comics writer/editor who worked on, among others, Wonder Woman, Lois Lane, Supergirl, and romance titles at DC Comics!

As of #2, it became just Moon Girl as Prince Mengu disappeared from all but the lead story in each issue.
When #7 came out, it became Moon Girl Fights Crime, the Prince was gone entirely, and the backups became true-crime tales narrated by Moon Girl. The lead stories were still Moon Girl adventures.
Two issues later (#9), the book became a romance title, A Moon, A Girl, Romance! (The final Moon Girl story appeared in the back.)
Finally, as of #13, the book shifted gears into science fiction and became Weird Fantasy!
Curiously, though almost all of EC Comics' output over the years has been reprinted in both comic and book form, AFAIK, Moon Girl has yet to appear, except as a footnote in Weird Fantasy reprints!

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?)

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