Wednesday, February 13, 2013

NEGRO ROMANCE "Forever Yours"

It's said that Love is blind.
In comics, at least, it's also color-blind.
Looks like a "happily ever after" scenario?
But, you know there's going to be potholes in the road to happiness!
This tale from Fawcett's Negro Romance #2 (1950) doesn't feature either a miracle cure or a "whoops, wrong diagnosis" ending, as so many of these tales often do!
It was written by Roy Ald (who was also the book's Editor) and illustrated by Rudy Palais, an artist with over 300 stories and covers during his long career from 1941 to 1957.
Tomorrow, a Valentine's Day BONUS
Another torrid tale from Negro Romances!
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Friday, February 8, 2013

Whatever Happened to Jill Jerold?

Jill Jerold became one of the Millie the Model ensemble...
...appearing in most stories (such as this one) as well as in pin-up pages, both with the other models...
...and solo pages.
But, when Millie transformed from soap opera to Archie-style humor...
...Jill disappeared from the series!
From 1967 to 2009 (32 years), Jill was nowhere to be seen in the Marvel Universe, not even a cameo!
In 2009, the Models, Inc. mini-series revived the Millie ensemble (including Jill), this time firmly-set in the Universe itself...
 ...and even gave Jill some play with Johnny (Human Torch) Storm!
Let's see if she'll pop up somwhere during Marvel NOW!...
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Stand tall and proud with a Lichtenstein-style comic book image of lovers in a romantic clinch!
A Pop Art classic with a Black twist!

Thursday, February 7, 2013

MODELING WITH MILLIE "Crisis at the Hanover Agency!"

Returning to New York from a trip to London, fashion models Millie Collins and Chili Storm run into British model Jill Jerold (whom they had just met in London) at the airport.
They introduce her to their boss, Howard Hanover, who immediately offers Jill work!
But the English model's first day proves eventful when a scandal rears it's ugly head...
Don't ya just love a happy ending?
So, after this auscpious debut, whatever happened to Jill Jerold?
Be here tomorrow for the answer!
BTW, this never-reprinted tale from Marvel's Modeling with Millie #48 (1966) was created by Denny O'Neil (writer) and Stan Goldberg (artist) with inking assists from Jim Mooney and Jack Abel.
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UrbanWear with that Black is Beautiful flair!
Stand tall and proud with a Lichtenstein-style comic book image of lovers in a romantic clinch!
A Pop Art classic with a Black twist!

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Jill Jerold: Marvel's FIRST Black Woman!

Before Ororo Munroe was Storm...
Before Misty Knight was a Daughter of the Dragon...
...there was Jill Jerold, Marvel's first ongoing Black woman and third ongoing Black character*!
Debuting in Millie the Model #141 (1966), the British model reflected the fact that European fashion houses were already using Black and Asian models while mainstream American fashion shows didn't, at least until the end of the 1960s.
Created by Denny O'Neil and Stan Goldberg, Jill's first appearance had to have a special notation on the original art...
...as seen on the right side of the panel below...
...to indicate her coloring.
You'll note it's not quite right. It should be a combination of magenta, cyan, and yellow, but the color separator left out the yellow, giving her a grayish/violet skin tone.
When she next appeared, in Modeling with Millie #48...
...the separators got it right (at least on the cover)!
Inside the book, it was another story...
...as we join Millie and Chili returing from London, where they first met Jill...
Wow, Jill's having one hell of a first day, eh?
Be here tomorrow to see how things develop!
*The other two ongoing Black characters were Gabe Jones (in Sgt Fury and His Howling Commandos and Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.) and Prince T'Challa, the Black Panther (in Fantastic Four).

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Wednesday, January 30, 2013

GO-GO "Violin Violation"

One of the most successful Archie-style imitators was Tippy Teen...
...who sold well enough to spin-off a book featuring some of her supporting cast, led by Tippy's best friend, Go-Go and her on-and-off boyfriend Animal.
Written and illustrated by Sam Schwartz and Harry Lucey, this never-reprinted tale from Tower's Tippy's Friends Go-Go and Animal #1 (1966) has the look and feel of an Archie comic of the era.
That's not surprising since both Schwartz and Lucey were regular contributors to various Archie titles!
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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