Monday, July 9, 2012

SINISTER HOUSE OF SECRET LOVE "Kiss of the Serpent" Part 1

What's kooler on a hot summer day than a Gothic romance?
NOTHING, as you'll see this week during our presentation of this book-length graphic novel!
Meet the master of the palace and learn of...
The Curse!
This tale from Sinister House of Secret Love #4 (1971) was recently-reprinted in the trade paperback Showcase presents Secrets of Sinister House...but in black and white!
DC Comics' Showcase reprint series presents big anthologies of comics stories (in this case, the complete 18-issue run of Sinister House of Secret Love/Secrets of Sinister House) at a low price, but the material is presented sans color.
Nonetheless, this anthology is well-worth getting to have the entire hard-to-find series in one package.
(And it makes a great beach read!)
The other Gothic comic from DC, Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love, has not been reprinted, but we did present one of the novel-length tales HERE!

A non-romance comic note:
We used to present links to Amazon.com so you could purchase related products (like the Showcase book) direct from this site.
Unfortunately, Amazon dumped affiliates who live in the states we call home (we divide our time between New York and Illinois) due to those states imposing Internet shopping taxes on businesses based in them.
So, as much as we'd like to do so, until Amazon re-certifies us, you're on your own in tracking down the titles we recommend.
Sorry.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

FOXHOLE "Dear Joan"

Getting dumped by your Significant Other is a traumatizing experience....
...but discovering it in the middle of a pitched battle is...well...read for yourself...
Art for this tale from FoxHole #6 (1955) by Rocco "Rocke" Mastroserio, a mainstay of the Charlton line with numerous credits in both war and romance comics, so he's an excellent choice to render this story.
The writer is unknown.
Happy 4th of July to all!

Next week:
 Starting MONDAY...a week-long presentation of a novel-length Gothic Romance, perfect for "beach reading"...
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, June 27, 2012

GIRLS' ROMANCES "How To Get Your Man"

Do you really need a self-help book to find True Love?
Page 1 inked by Dick Giordano
This story from Girls' Romances #139 (1969) gives you the answer!
The cover art by Dick Giordano was reused as the splash page for the story itself...
...but the art for the story is actually by Bob Brown and George Roussos, neither of whom were particularly noted for romance story work.
The story was reprinted in Young Romance #203 (1975), retitled "Love Lessons" and with some hairstyles and clothing redrawn to update the styles.
For example, the panel from page 7 used on the cover above shows Eloise now wearing pants instead of shorts...
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, June 20, 2012

BARBIE & KEN "Wedding"

For girls of the late 1950s thru early 1970s, Barbie and Ken dolls were fashion icons...
...so it was inevitable that there would be a comic book about their adventures.
 But, as it turns out, Barbie and Ken were secretly married the entire time!
It's true!
Here's the whole story from Dell Comics' Barbie & Ken #1 (1962)...
Surprised?

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...
Support Small Business

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

REALISTIC ROMANCES "My Scandalous Affair!"

With a name like Realistic Romances, you know this will be a gentle, wholesome tale...
..."My Scandalous Affair!"...er, forget I said anything.
Just enjoy...

This cover-featured story from Avon's Realistic Romances #16 (1954) was illustrated by Everett Raymond Kinstler who went on to better things...notably portraits of the rich and powerful!
He's painted every American President from Nixon thru George W Bush!
Presumably, when President Obama has a free afternoon (he's been rather busy with projects like disposing of Bin Laden.)...
In fact, Kinstler's Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan paintings are the official White House portraits for them!
Unlike many other "fine" artists who started out doing commercial art, Kinstler happily acknowledges his comic book work.

Trivia:
This story was from the second run of Realistic Romances which ran #15-#17.
The first series ran from #1-#8.
A third series from another publisher ran #1, then #8-#9!
So if you're looking to collect this title, there's no #10-#14, but two #1s and #8s!

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...
Support Small Business