Wednesday, February 18, 2015

REACH FOR HAPPINESS Episode 6

...where joy and heartbreak are as common as in any big city!
Can anything, like maybe that guy on Page 1, keep Rita from achieving her dreams?
The Best Laid Plans...
We can guarantee that...
You'll Cry Your Eyes Out if You Miss It!
(Oh, you've heard that, eh?)
BTW: This chapter of "Reach for Happiness" from Secret Hearts #115 (1966) was written by Jack Miller, laid-out by John Rosenberger penciled by Jim Mooney and inked by Tom Palmer.
And now a word from out sponsor...

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

MY EXPERIENCE "I Dated Disaster"

Our final Wally Wood Tribute tale is...
...As we conclude the series of never-reprinted tales illustrated by him and taken directly from the original comics from December of last year to Valentine's Day.
Best-known as a horror and sci-fi artist with a penchant for illustrating beautiful women, Wally Wood's early output had quite a bit of romance comics work, much of it not seen since first publication, like this story from Fox's My Experience #22 (1949).
And, since it was done before the Comics Code Authority eliminated most adult-level content in comics after the juvenile delinquency scare of the 1950s, the subject matter was on the level of the b-movies of the era, often a bit hard-edged and tawdry.
Happy
Valentine's Day!

Next week:
The Return of Reach for Happiness...
You'll Cry Your Eyes Out if You Miss It!
(Oh, you've heard that, eh?)

And now a word from out sponsor...

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

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!
(Oh, you've heard that, eh?)

And now a word from out sponsor...

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

MY SECRET LIFE "His Wife Hated Me!"

Continuing our tribute to Wally Wood...
...with a never-reprinted tale of matrimony and madness!
Best-known as a horror and sci-fi artist with a penchant for illustrating beautiful women, Wally Wood's early output had quite a bit of romance comics work, much of it not seen since first publication, like this story from Fox's My Secret Life #26 (1950).
And, since it was done before the Comics Code Authority eliminated most adult-level content in comics after the juvenile delinquency scare of the 1950s, the subject matter was on the level of the b-movies of the era, often a bit hard-edged and tawdry.
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:
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, January 21, 2015

REACH FOR HAPPINESS Episode 5 Part 2

We Have Already Seen...
...Karen loves Greg.
But, Greg is engaged to Rita, who doesn't love him, but does love the upgrade in social status marrying the doctor will give her.
And, Greg has given Karen the impression that their long-dead love might be rekindled, which would destroy Rita's plans...
We'll return to the longest-running soap opera in comics next month...
But Next Week...
More Classic (and never-reprinted) Wally Wood tales!
We can guarantee that...
You'll Cry Your Eyes Out if You Miss It!
(Oh, you've heard that, eh?)
BTW: This chapter of "Reach for Happiness" from Secret Hearts #114 (1966) was written by Jack Miller, penciled by Gene Colan (cover) and John Rosenberger & Jim Mooney (pages 6-15) and inked by Tom Palmer.
And now a word from out sponsor...