TOMB OF TERROR "What D'You Know, Joe?" / WEIRD "Gruesome Shock"

Here's a tale that's so NOT nice...

...that it was told twice, by two different publishers...using the same script!

The first version, illustrated by Jack Sparling, is from Harvey's Tomb of Terror #13 (1954).
Because it was considered too gruesome (even with heavy editing) to be reprinted, it was never printed in Comics Code-approved color comics.
But, the script, by an unknown writer, was re-used verbatim in a re-drawn version for Eerie Publications' b/w magazine Weird V9N1 (1969) with Cirilo Munoz providing the expanded (6 pages compared to 5 in the original) story's art!

Which version do you prefer, reader?

Next Week:

More Halloween-season romance!

You'll cry your eyes out if you miss it!

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Gothic Tales of Haunted Love

PHASE 1 "Soul Food"

It's time to kick off our month-long Halloween romance series...

...with this never-reprinted tale from SQ Productions' Phase 1 (1971)!

If writer Phil Seuling and artist Chris Notarile are unfamiliar to you, it's understandable since they didn't do much creative work in the comics industry.

In fact, this is Notarile's only comic work!

Today he runs Outlines Inc, a studio providing storyboards for movie and TV projects, as seen HERE!

Seuling wrote a dozen or so stories and text features, but is best-known as the founder of SeaGate Distributors, the first company to supply non-returnable comics to stores, creating the Direct Market and Comic Book stores as we know them!

Next Week:

More Halloween-season romance!

You'll cry your eyes out if you miss it!

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Gothic Tales of Haunted Love

THRILLING ROMANCES "Impatient Hearts"

What's the best way to get married?

A big ceremony with months of planning? A quick elopement? Something in-between?

For Ron and Jeannie, as shown by artist Art Saff and an unknown writer in this never-reprinted tale from Standard's Thrilling Romances #25 (1954), a traditional family-sized wedding was the solution!

Your mileage may vary!

Next Week:

We're Not Sure Yet Exactly What We'll Present!
But...

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

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Love on the Racks

A History of American Romance Comics

YOUNG ROMANCE "See Yourself as He Sees You"

Here's a totally-surreal tale from the editor who created the romance genre in comics...

...which appeared in the next-to-last issue of this series!

In 1947, Joe Simon (with Jack Kirby) created Young Romance, the first romance comic, for Prize Comics...which sold the title to DC when the publisher went out of business in 1963.

In 1973, DC returned Simon to the editorship of Young Romance as of #196.

Joe attempted to "update" the title by dropping all the traditional "romance artists" from new material, assigning edgier, experimental types like the ones who illustrated this short from #207 (1975), Jerry Grandenetti and Craig Flessel.

It didn't work, and, with sales dropping, the book (which had gone bi-monthly) ended with the next issue, #208.

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We're Not Sure Yet Exactly What We'll Present!
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You'll Cry Your Eyes Out if You Miss It!

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Young Romance
And

Young Romance
Volume 2

TRUE LOVE PROBLEMS AND ADVICE ILLUSTRATED "Love Flirt" After and Before

When this story appeared in Harvey's True Love Problems and Advice Illustrated #36 (1955)...

...the newly-formed Comics Code forced some alterations to the reprinted tale!

Now, here's the original version, from True Love Problems and Advice Illustrated #16 (1952)...

Wow!

There's a lot more of Kit in that splash panel!

And there's a "naughty" caption in the second panel that the reprint leaves out!

The last word balloon "Hold me close, Bill -- very close!" was removed from the reprint!

In the reprint, part of the second panel's caption is deleted, Kit's swimsuit is blackened out, and her bust is reduced...and it wasn't a very revealing swimsuit to begin with!

The only change here is the removal of Kit's cleavage in panels 1, 3, and 5 and a change in her eyes in panel 4!
Interesting what the Comics Code Authority thought was "naughty" enough to warrant removal/modification, especially her eyes in panel 4 of the final page...

Next Week:

We're Not Sure Yet Exactly What We'll Present!
But...

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

And now a word from out sponsor..

Please Support True Love Comics Tales!

Visit Amazon and Order...

Love on the Racks

A History of American Romance Comics