Wednesday, February 15, 2017

YOUNG ROMANCE "Full Hands, Empty Heart"

There are very few black romance stories in comics before the 1990s...
..and even fewer interracial romance stories during this tumultuous period in American racial relations!
Note: On some pages Phyllis' skin is gray and on some it's brown.
That's because on the pages showing her as gray, the color separators used the wrong combination of yellow, red (magenta) and blue (cyan) screens.
To find out what happens next...
Be Here Next Week
for the heart-rending conclusion as well as some background about the writer of the tale!
You'll Cry Your Eyes Out if You Miss It!
And Now a Word from Our Sponsor!
featuring the cover art from all four HTF issues
on kool kollectibles!

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Valentine's Day Special: MARGIE "Elusive Valentine!"

Here's a never-reprinted Valentine's Day treat...
...from 71 years ago, featuring a teen humor character from the company that later became Marvel Comics!
Until the mid 1970s when Archie Comics became the sole "teen humor" publisher, every company had several titles with wacky teenage protagonists.
Margie, created/written/illustrated by Morris Weiss was typical of the genre...
Irresponsible, impulsive teen (of either gender), constantly-annoyed parents, an annoying younger sibling (usually of the opposite gender to the protagonist),  and various friends.
Initially a backup strip that floated to whatever humor comic needed a 5-6 page filler, she finally got her own title by taking over Timely's Comedy Comics in 1946 as of #35 and holding on to it until #50 in 1950, when the book became Reno Browne: Hollywood's Greatest Cowgirl.
Margie went back to being a floating backup strip for another year before disappearing completely, never to be seen again!
This particular tale (one of the few comic tales I could find with "Valentine's Day" in the title that didn't deal with the famous gang-war massacre!) is from Margie Comics #37 (1946).
Happy Valentine's Day!
Be here tomorrow for our usual Wednesday Post!

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

REACH FOR HAPPINESS "Episode 26" Part 2

...it looks like Karen will finally be with Greg as his fiance Rita remains in her coma!
Is it too good to be true?
Or will something else come between the star-crossed lovers?
You didn't really think Rita was going to stay in her coma, did you?
If you're a soap opera fan, this was the most expected plot twist of all!
This chapter of "Reach for Happiness" from Secret Hearts #135 (1969) was written by Jack Miller, penciled by Jay Scott Pike, and inked by George Roussos.
New editor Dick Giordano inked the Bill Draut-penciled cover.
 Next Week:
A Valentine's Day Special!
You'll Cry Your Eyes Out If You Miss It!
And now a word from our sponsor...
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Wednesday, February 1, 2017

REACH FOR HAPPINESS "Episode 26"

Luckily, the story contains its' own built-in synopsis page!
Will Karen's love be enough?
What would happen if Rita woke up?
The Most Unexpected Plot Twist of All!
(If you never watched soap operas, that is...) 
This chapter of "Reach for Happiness" from Secret Hearts #135 (1969) was written by Jack Miller, penciled by Jay Scott Pike, and inked by George Roussos (except for the splash page which new editor Dick Giordano inked).
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Wednesday, January 25, 2017

LOVE STORIES "That Special Man"

Romance comics were experiencing a slow death spiral in the early 1970s...
...with DC cancelling books one-by-one until only this generically-titled book remained!
This Art Saff/Vince Colletta-illustrated tale from DC's generically-titled Love Stories #152 (1973) was the penultimate romance story from DC, since it was the next-to-last tale in this final issue of the company's last surviving romance title!
The writer is unknown, but is suspected to be editor Robert Kanigher, who had penned numerous stories before...
Next Week...
We Don't Know What We're Presenting...Yet!
But You'll Cry Your Eyes Out if You Miss It!
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