Wednesday, December 18, 2019

O Henry's "Gift of the Magi" x2!

As our pre-Christmas gift to our faithful readers...
...here's both of the versions of "Gift of the Magi" we've run!
This never-reprinted adaptation of the O Henry short story from First Comics/Berkley Publishing's short-lived revival of Classics Illustrated was written and illustrated by Gary Gianni in his comic book debut!
Trivia: Gianni scripted and rendered the entire six-story issue, #15 (1990), himself!
Gary's detailed, decidedly-retro style has since made him a fan favorite, especially for his work on Indiana Jones, The Shadow, Doc Savage and Hellboy!
And now...our most popular Christmas-themed post ever...
...and it shows how True Love and Christmas shopping can go hand-in-hand!
This straightforward adaptation of O Henry's Christmas classic appeared in Pendulum Press' Best of O Henry (1977) digest-sized comic.
Written by John Fago (whose father, longtime comic artist/editor Vince Fago packaged the series) and illustrated by Anton Caravana, it was part of a series of Classics Illustrated-type publications released, like the Scholastic Book Club, directly to students and school libraries.

Next Week, on Christmas Day:
The comic adaptation you didn't know existed of...
Louisa May Alcott's
Little Women!
You'll cry your eyes out if you miss it!

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

OUR LOVE STORY "Hurt and the Heartbreak!"

Some romance comic book titles just say it all...
...like this one from Marvel's Our Love Story #3 (1970)!
Don't you just love those late-1960s/early-1970s fashions?
Story by Stan Lee, art by Don Heck and Frank Giacoia, all of whom have extensive romance comics credits going back to the 1950s, and forward to the mid-1970s!
Special Bonus:
The wonderfully-overwrought cover from this issue!
Art by John Buscema & Frank Giacoia
Next Week:
Because You Demanded It...the Return of a Christmas Classic x2!
But...
You'll Cry Your Eyes Out if You Miss It!

And now a word from out sponsor..
Marvel's picked some of the best love comics from the 60s and 70s...including "My Heart Broke in Hollywood,"
Collects Love Romance #89 and #101-104; My Love #2, #14, #16 and #18-20; Teen-Age Romance #77 and #84, Our Love Story #5; and Patsy Walker #119.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

PERSONAL LOVE "Too Late for Love"

There's a long-standing stereotype about scheming secretaries who steal married men...
...demonstrated in this superbly-rendered story from Personal Love #25 (1954)!
Though the writer is unknown, the art is by fantasy art master Frank Frazetta, who did another story we've presented HERE.
A couple of bits of trivia...
1) "Too Late for Love" is one of the most popular titles for romance comic tales!
There are at least a dozen different stories using it (or some variation like "Never Too Late for Love")!
2) Lila is based on 1950s pin-up queen Bettie Page...
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, November 27, 2019

OUR LOVE STORY "My Heart Broke in Hollywood!"

Hollywood's a town of dreams, both fulfilled and unfulfilled.
Which one is the case here?
This tale from 1970's Our Love Story #5 was written by Stan Lee and illustrated by Jim Steranko.
With less than 100 comic stories to his credit, Steranko was still one of the most influential comic illustrators of the 1960s-70s, bringing a deliberately-cinematic storytelling style to the page.
Next Week:
We're Not Exactly Sure Yet What We'll Present!
But...
You'll Cry Your Eyes Out if You Miss It!

And now a word from out sponsor..
Marvel's picked some of the best love comics from the 60s and 70s...including "My Heart Broke in Hollywood,"
Collects Love Romance #89 and #101-104; My Love #2, #14, #16 and #18-20; Teen-Age Romance #77 and #84, Our Love Story #5; and Patsy Walker #119.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

WARTIME ROMANCES "Make-Believe Marriage"

The 1950s.
When employers could legally-discriminate against you if you weren't married!
Here's a litany of lies and love (and a couple of wildly-improbable coincidences) illustrated by the legendary Matt Baker in St John's WarTime Romances #1, 1951.
Scripted by either Dana Dutch or editor Ruth Roche, this densely-plotted tale rivals the Simon-Kirby Young Romance and Young Love for appeal to both teen and young adult readers!
(In fact, the two demographics were pretty-evenly represented in 1940s-50s romance comics' readership!)
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...