Wednesday, November 8, 2023

Alex Toth Tales THRILLING ROMANCES "Chance for Happiness"

Can a war bride find happiness in America with her ex-army husband?
Or will annoying in-laws who look down their noses at immigrants screw the whole thing up?
While the scripter of this poignant tale of redemption and reconciliation from Standard's Thrilling Romances #23 (1953) is unknown, the pencil art is by comics legend Alex Toth (with inks by Mike Peppe) who went from being one of comics' best storytellers to designing/art directing most of the 1960s-70s non-funny animal output of tv animation studio Hanna-Barbera, including Space Ghost, Scooby-Doo, Super Friends, and Josie and the Pussycats!
So, this month, our topic is one particular artist, and we'll be featuring his romance comics art from the 1950s through 1970s!
Next Week:
We Don't Know Which Alex Toth Tale We'll Present...Yet!
But, We Guarantee That...
You'll Cry Your Eyes Out If You Miss It!
(and now a word from our sponsor...)
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True Love Comics Tales!
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Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Halloween HeartBreak SPEED CARTER "KIss of Death"

We originally intended to run this story around Valentine's Day...
...but after carefully re-reading it, you'll understand why we decided against it and ran it the day after Halloween!

This story of futuristic male/female relations from Atlas' Speed Carter: SpaceMan #6 (1954) was scripted (as were all Speed Carter tales throughout the series' run) by Hank Chapman, and illustrated (as were all Speed Carter tales in this issue) by Bob Forgione.

Next week:
We Don't Know What We'll Run...Yet!
But We Do Know...
You'll Cry Your Eyes Out if You Miss It!
(Oh, you've heard that, eh?)
And now a word from out sponsor...
Please Support True Love Comics Tales
Visit Amazon and Order...

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Halloween HeartBreak MISTER MYSTERY "All or Nothing at All!"

Mister Mystery was the host of his own self-titled horror anthology.
Though he looked like a jovial stage magician in a mask, his stories easily matched those of the Crypt Keeper and other ghoulish comics hosts..as you shall see!
For such an innocent-looking guy, Mister Mystery tells a nasty story, aided by illustrator Tom Feelings and an unknown author in this story from Stanley Morse's Mister Mystery #14, (1953)!

Next Week:
We Don't Yet Know What We'll Present, But We Can Guarantee...
You'll Cry Your Eyes Out If You Miss It!
And now a word from our sponsor...
Please Support True Love Comics Tales!
Visit Amazon and Order...

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Halloween HeartBreak WITCHING HOUR! "I Married a Ghost"

Does True Love transcend the barriers between life and death?
Cover art by Nick Cardy
Or is it merely a delusion brought on by grief?
Judge for yourself...
Writer Murray Boltinoff (using a pen-name because he was the book's editor, and company policy dictated that editors didn't edit their own work) and artist Art Saff leave this story from DC's Witching Hour! #15 (1971) open-ended as to whether Jen's ghost actually exists or not.
What do you think?
Next Week:
Another Surreal Story of...
HAUNTED HEARTBREAK
You'll Cry Your Eyes Out If You Miss It!
And Now a Word From our Sponsor...
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Showcase Presents
Witching Hour!
Volume 1
(which reprints this tale...but in black and white...not color)
Paid Link

Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Halloween HeartBreak ASTONISHING "Unknown Ones!"

The story's title has a double meaning to graphic literature aficionados...
...since it also covers the fact this story hasn't been seen in color since 1957!
It was reprinted (in b/w) in Dark Horse's Al Williamson: Hidden Lands TPB (2004), but that now-OOP tome had a very limited print run.
Written by Carl Wessler, this Williamson-penciled and Roy Krenkel-inked tale from Atlas' Astonishing #57 (1957) was done after the horror comics purge of the mid-1950s reduced EC Comics to just MAD Magazine, and the majority of their now-unemployed artists were scrambling around for work.
Besides Atlas, Williamson freelanced for ACG and Harvey, doing full pencils and inks, inking others like Jack Kirby and Matt Baker, or, as in this case, penciling for others (usually fellow Fleagle Gang members*) to ink.

*The "Fleagles" were a group of artists including Williamson, Roy Krenkel, Frank Frazetta, Wally Wood, Angelo Torres, and George Woodbridge who would help each other on tight deadlines by doing a "jam" with individuals penciling and inking different pages...even different panels on a single page...producing some absolutely amazing visuals...and always meeting the deadline!
Next week:
Another Tale of True Love...with a Halloween Twist!
You'll Cry Your Eyes Out if You Miss It!
(Oh, you've heard that, eh?)
And now a word from out sponsor...
Please Support True Love Comics Tales
Visit Amazon and Order...