Wedding Bliss GIRLS' LOVE STORIES "Marriage without LOVE!"

The course of True Love is rarely smooth...

...especially in romance comics!

Illustrated by romance comics regulars Jay Scott Pike and Win Mortimer, this tale from DC's Girls' Love Stories #121 (1966) combined almost all of the reasons I can imagine for a bride having "cold feet"!
(Note, my niece's wedding last Saturday went off perfectly!
No "cold feet"!)
Sadly, the scripter of this tale is unknown, but the odds are the writer was male.
(There were very few female comic book scribes in the Silver Age.)

Next Week...

We Don't Yet Know What We'll Present!

But, We Can Guarantee That...

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

(Yeah, we know you've heard that before, but it's true!)

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Agonizing Love
The Golden Age of Romance Comics
(BTW, note she's wearing a wedding dress!)

JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY "Man Who Changed!"

Here's a decidedly-different (and very sweet) take on Valentine's Day...

...with an ending you won't see coming!

Illustrated by Penciler Jay Scott Pike and inker Christopher Rule, this story from Atlas' Journey into Mystery #27 (1955) isn't a typical romance.

But sometimes we need to be reminded that "love" takes many forms from passionately-romantic to simply caring about someone else...and that everybody deserves to be loved!

Since we're posting today, there won't be a post on Wednesday, February 16th, but we will be back on February 23rd!

💕Happy Valentine's Day!💘

Halloween HeartBreak / Tell a Tale of Terror Thrice WORLD OF FANTASY "If...!"

Ever think men and women are from totally-different worlds?

This reworking of yesterday's story (Seen HERE) proves you right!

Writer Carl Wessler had already used the basic plot for this story twice before:

1. "If!" in Atlas' Suspense #27 (1953), with the girl and her family being werewolves and vampires (talk about a blended family) as you saw yesterday!
2. "Out Cold" in EC's Haunt of Fear #25 (1954), with the girl and family shown to be ghouls!

But, by the time this never-reprinted story in Atlas' World of Fantasy #2 (1956) was published, the Comics Code had been implemented, banning "creatures of the night", except in humor titles.

So Wessler went with aliens.

Sci-fi was experiencing a resurgence, so it was the logical way to go.

The illustrator was Jay Scott Pike who ended up specializing in romance comics.

You can see some of his work on this very blog by clicking HERE.

Look for the final version of this terrifying tale in baleful black-and-white from Pastime Publishing's Weird Mysteries #1 (1959)...

TOMORROW!

(You didn't think we'd make you wait a week...did you!)

You'd Cry Your Eyes Out if We Did That!

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Gothic Tales of Haunted Love

ACTUAL CONFESSIONS "Summer Romance"

It's summertime, so when better to present a tale about  summer romance?

But, I have to ask, was "Heartbreak Harry" a nickname for a "love 'em and leave 'em cad?

The "bad boy's" name in the story is "Jim"!

Jim would be seeking "friends with benefits" rather than "happily married" status if this never-reprinted story from Atlas' Actual Confessions #14 (1952) was created today!

As was common in comics "back in the day", the cover (by penciler Carmine Infantino and inker Gil Kane) and story (by artist Jay Scott Pike) were likely created weeks if not months apart,

Editor Stan Lee would sometimes come up with an idea, have a cover done based on it, then he (or another writer) would flesh out the concept for the story's illustrator (usually someone other than the cover artist) weeks or even months later, resulting in inadvertently changing story elements between the two!

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...

Please Support True Love Comics Tales

Visit Amazon and Order...

Agonizing Love

The Golden Age of Romance Comics

The Love Poems of Len Wein

The late writer Len Wein was best known as the co-creator of the All-New X-Men...

Secret Hearts #148 (1970) art by Gray Morrow

...including Storm, NightCrawler, Colossus, and particularly, Wolverine!

But before he hit the comics equivalent of the motherlode, Len took writing assignments in a variety of genres, including romance!

And, when DC romance titles needed poems on their intro/contents pages, the then-neophyte scribe was eager to try his hand...

Secret Hearts #146 (1970) Art by Jay Scott Pike

Secret Hearts #147 (1970) Art by Jay Scott Pike

Secret Hearts #150 (1970) Art by Gray Morrow

Young Romance #170 (1971) Artist Unknown

This last one is more an intro than a poem.

 Next Week:

We don't know what we'll publish...yet!

But, You'll Cry Your Eyes Out If You Miss It!

And now a word from our sponsor...

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True Love Comics Tales!

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Heart Throbs

Best of DC Romance Comics

REACH FOR HAPPINESS "The End"

Let's look in for the final time at the residents of Danvile Corners...

With Rita out of her coma (and breaking her engagement with Greg), Karen should be happy!
But she's experiencing self-doubt about her love, even turning down Greg's marriage proposal!
Disillusioned, Karen prepares to leave town...

With a classic "only in soap-opera" miscommunication, the series ends on a joyous note!

Did Karen and Greg live "happily ever after"?

What do you think, dear reader?

This chapter of "Reach for Happiness" from Secret Hearts #138 (1969) was written by Barbara Friedlander and Jack Miller, penciled by Jay Scott Pike and Jack Sparling, and inked by George Roussos (except for the cover which publisher Carmine Infantino penciled and editor Dick Giordano inked).

 Next Week:

We don't know what we'll publish...yet!

But, You'll Cry Your Eyes Out If You Miss It!

And now a word from our sponsor...

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True Love Comics Tales!

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Heart Throbs

Best of DC Romance Comics

REACH FOR HAPPINESS "Episode 29"

We've followed the lives of Karen, Greg, Rita, and the rest of the populace of Danville Corners for 56 installments...

...but now, the final chapter begins!

Has Karen suddenly developed a magic touch to solve romantic relationships (except her own)?
And where the heck is she going?

Next Week:

The Heart-Stopping Finale!
You'll Cry Your Eyes Out If You Miss It!

This concluding chapter of "Reach for Happiness" from Secret Hearts #139 (1969) was written by Jack Miller and Barbara Friedlander, penciled by Jay Scott Pike and Jack Sparling, and inked by George Roussos.

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True Love Comics Tales!

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Heart Throbs

Best of DC Romance Comics

REACH FOR HAPPINESS "Episode 28" Part 2

We Have Already Seen...

Rita has come out of her coma and, realizing she doesn't really love him, broken her engagement with Greg.
But, most of the people of Danville Corners think Karen has stolen Greg from Rita!
Meanwhile, Karen receives some rare good news from teenager Joanie who was considering getting married while still in high school...

Yes!

You read it right!

Next Month!

The Final Chapter!

Don't Miss It!

This chapter of "Reach for Happiness" from Secret Hearts #137 (1969) was written by Jack Miller, penciled by Jay Scott Pike, and inked by George Roussos (except for the cover which Bill Draut penciled and editor Dick Giordano inked).

 Next Week:

We don't know what we'll publish...yet!

But, You'll Cry Your Eyes Out If You Miss It!

And now a word from our sponsor...

Please Support

True Love Comics Tales!

Visit Amazon and Order...

Heart Throbs

Best of DC Romance Comics