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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2016 7:44:21 GMT -5
Mark Millar writing a young Aunt May. Gee, what could possibly go wrong? Maydreaming is better than daydreaming...  Things like this will NEVER EVER get old. |
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Crimebuster
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Post by Crimebuster on Jan 31, 2016 21:54:23 GMT -5
Girls' Love Stories #103
May, 1964
Story One: Nan and Jeff are in love! how sad that it won't last. Yes, everything seems all wonderful right up until they rescue a floundering girl named Sandra from the middle of the ocean. Sandra, you see, has designs on Jeff herself, and she uses all of her feminine wiles to get what she wants. Nan tries to play it cool, but behind closed doors when Jeff isn't around, Sandra just outright mocks Nan and promises to steal Jeff away just for the spite of it. Nice lady, this Sandra. And then she proceeds to do exactly what she promised. But once she has Jeff, she immediately dumps him in favor or some other rando. We've sort of seen this whole story before, haven't we, with the engaged couple in #83. In that issue, the dude was so distraught at being a dilweed that he broke things off. This time, though, Nan refuses to take the brushoff; she waits out his self-loathing until he realizes he hasn't actually completely blown it - though by all rights he should have - and somehow Nan still wants him. So, joke's on Sandra! Kind of. THE END!!! Story Two: Oh. Em. Gee. Get ready to meet the worst people in the entire world, drawn better than they have any right to be by the amazing Gene Colan:  Bea and Wanda are cousins and besties. One day, they visit a traveling carnival, and there they both set their sights on a hunk of man flesh named Stacy, even though Wanda is already going steady with a dude called Karl. Bea is sure she has no chance, because she's kinda plain, and Wanda is hotter than the devil's toenail. But to her surprise, Stacy comes calling for her, and they begin dating. Bea falls madly in love! One problem: Stacy and actually banging Wanda on the sly. Here's a hot page from Colan, with the 1963 hit The Great Escape referenced on the theater marquee:  So what's the deal? Well, Stacy was only seeing Bea as a cover to hide his dalliances with Wanda; they set the whole thing up to deceive Karl. Bea, I think quite naturally, is enraged, because that's about as damn low as you can get. SO she comes up with a pretty simple plan, and arranges for Karl to stumble upon Wanda and Stacy in the act. For some stpuid reason, she has second thoughts about ratting them out, and decides to warn them, but too late! Karl shows up and decks Stacy. Stacy and Wanda then ream out Bea for being such a horrible person, and Bea believes them for some reason, even though the two of them are amoral jackasses. Bea runs off crying over how she supposedly betrayed them, even though it was totally the opposite! What the heck, DC. THE END!!! Story Three: Hey, remember that story a while back about the lady who fell in love with a poster and followed it to a vacation spot to meet the model? Well, guess what! This is the same story, only with a guy as the main character, and with a different ending. Seems like there's a lot of that going around this issue. Anyway, Will falls in love with a poster. He finds the ad agency that placed it, but the receptionist Hanna won't tell him who the model is. He hounds her about it ceaslessly, taking her to dinner and dancing and everything. But even after she spills the beans and reveals the model's name, he can't find her anywhere. So he keeps going out with Hanna, though he's up front the whole time about just wanting to find this chick. That doesn't stop Hanna from falling in love with him, though. So she finally finds a way to cure him of his dumb dream: she arranges for him to meet his dream girl. Turns out she's a shallow knob who uses their meeting as a photo op to get some publicity at the expense of the idiot who fell in love with a poster. Felling like the prize chump that he is, Will goes back to Hanna and is like, you know, when I kissed that model chick, I was actually thinking about you! Which is true - since we got to see his inner thoughts at the time - but how Hanna can buy that line of claptrap is beyond me. But she does, and they do it! THE END!! Story Four: Eileen is a wishy-washy fruitloop. She's about to get married to James, but then she's selected to man the kissing booth at the annual charity fair. She tries to get out of it, afraid that kissing other men will undermine her love for James. That sounds stupid, but then it actually happens. A guy named Tom shows up and plants one on her that makes her toes curl. That settles it: she can't possibly marry James any more. Obviously. She starts having erotic dreams about Tom. Then, one day, Tom shows up at a beach bonfire. The two of them steal away and make out like there's no tomorrow. And for Tom, there isn't, because Eileen tells him that despite the fact they are clearly meant for each other, he must leave and never come back, because she's promised to James. So, Tom leaves. That sort of works out until the delusional Eileen starts calling James "Tom" by accident. Whoops! Cat's out of the bag! James dumps Eileen and calls off the wedding. but then he goes way above and beyond for her: he tracks down Tom and tells Tom to go get with her. Tom and Eileen fall into each other's arms and it's happily ever after for everyone except James, who honestly deserved better than this. THE END!! My Notes: Quite a bit of retreading here, though some of the stories I've reviewed with similar plots might have actually come after this issue. Story credits, courtesy of GCD. Back to just art, and often just pencillers: Story One: Arthur Peddy Story Two: Gene Colan Story Three: no credits known Story Four: GCD is guessing Sekowsky, but I'm honestly not seeing it Cover: GCD is guessing Romita, but I'm not sure I'm seeing that either Man, Gene Colan is a genius. His romance stuff might be as good as his horror stuff. My Grade: B-. Colan brings this up a bit even with the repetitive plots.
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Crimebuster
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Post by Crimebuster on Feb 1, 2016 1:09:06 GMT -5
Girls' Love Stories #110
April, 1965 Story One: Helene is a jerk who sort of falls for a really hot guy named Danny. One problem: Danny has a sense of humor, and all Helene wants is romance. She feels like he should be able to deliver because he looks nice and has a sexy voice, so she can't understand why his personality doesn't conform to her fantasies. Every time he tries to make her laugh, she flips out on him. She even has nightmares about the horror of having to smile or laugh at one of his jokes:  It's like Steve Ditko drawing Jerry Lewis as The Creeper. Finally, she can't take it anymore: she tells him she's going to marry someone else. He's so distraught he promises to never tell another joke again if she will marry him instead. She accepts, because it was just a ruse to get him to stop being funny. And so they kissed, Danny happy in the knowledge that he was now trapped in a joyless, unfulfilling and emotionally controlling relationship forever. THE END!! Story Two: Well, this one is different! Barbara is a nice girl, but she's bored, so she takes a job as a companion to Ann, a hot young lady who happens to be in a wheelchair. Ann also has a doting brother, Roger, who is a serious writer type guy. Watch out for those guys! They're heartbreakers! Roger and Barbara start developing feelings for each other, but are too reserved to admit it. But then things come out in the wash: Ann reveals that she was once in love with a guy named John, but Roger forced her to turn down his proposal. Barbara is infuriated and reams Roger out. But Ann recants her story; Roger was just protecting her, because John only wanted her inheritance. Barbara apologizes to Roger and they have a heavy makeout session. Man, writers always get the girls. Or, wait, no they don't. But hey, good on you, Rog! THE END!! Story Three: You better get some booze close at hand before you read this synopsis. Fair warning. You're going to need it. April O'Day is a starlet trying to make it big in Hollywood. She also has a hunky admirer, Dave, a reporter who she showers with kisses while trying to pry industry secrets from him. What's this, two stories in a row where the writer is getting all the action. Some serious wish fulfillment going on here. Who wrote these, me? Anyway. So, she goes up to visit this mogul to try to get a part in his next film, only he won't even let her audition. Blinded by tears of frustration, she drives away... ...and this story takes a left turn into MADNESS!! First, April recalls her days living in an orphanage, dreaming of being a movie star. Then she suddenly finds a weird, mystical cottage in the woods, which triggers more memories:   Then, inside, this happens:  Yes, it's some guy that she makes out with under a hypnotic spell. She comforts him for a bit, then leaves. She meets an old woman in the woods who explains that the dude is her son, Arthur. He built this cottage for his fiancee, Gloria. But she died, and he's been moping around in the cottage since, apparently... what, casting Satanic spells to lure women into it? I dunno. April goes home and has a patented Romance Comics Dream Montage, where she imagines Arthur's lustful lips caressing her lady business. The next day, she tracks down Dave. Funny coincidence, of all the people in the world, Dave happened to be the one guy who was there when Gloria died. See, Dave was off scuba diving when he saw two surfers - Arthur and Gloria. Gloria crashed, though, and was swept under. Arthur didn't see it, and by the time he and Dave managed to swim back to where she fell, she was gone, disappeared forever into the ocean. Arthur blamed himself for her death and has been a wreck ever since. So, April goes back to the cottage where the feverish, delusional Arthur roams at night. There, they apparently make sweet, bizarre love throughout the day, with Arthur slipping in and out of reality, sometimes thinking she's April, other times calling her Gloria. It's like a three-way, but with only two actual people involved. Entranced by his deranged love, April keeps going back for more, despite Dave's warnings that Arthur has gone completely looney. But what can she do when stuff like this is happening:  Then it all comes to a head. April suggests they go surfing at the same spot where Gloria died. What in god's name would ever possess someone to suggest something that idiotic is beyond me. Dave begs her not to go - Arthur's going to kill her! But she goes. Sure enough, a big wave hits and she wipes out! She's caught in the rip tide! This is a really bad place to go surfing! But then, just as she's about to die... Arthur saves her! The shock of it restores his mind! They wash up on the beach and make out, just as Dave runs up - with the producer, for no apparent reason, who suddenly decides to have her audition for that role after all! God, that's random. THE END!! WHAT JUST HAPPENED?! Notes: Okay, so our last issue was #103. In the following issue, #104, the ongoing serial adventures of April O'Day, Hollywood Starlet began. This was a thing DC started doing in many of their romance titles around this time; Bonnie Taylor the airline stewardess over in Young Romance is another example. April O'Day's feature ran through #113, a solid 10-issue run. I don't know if any of the other issues are like this one, but my god, that story was amazing. I mean, that's just pure, unadulterated freak show weirdness right there. I don't know what was going on, but man, I loved it. I have one more issue with April O'Day coming up, but it's going to have to go a long way to equal this! GCD credits: Story One: no credits Story Two: Mike Sekowsky and Bernard Sachs Story Three: written by Bob Kanigher, art by Bob Oksner Cover: Bob Oksner Okay, that explains it. Bob Kanigher. I should have recognized his lunacy from Lois Lane. So good. I hope he wrote the whole April O'Day series. My Grade: A+. Pure magic from start to finish with this issue.
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Feb 1, 2016 1:25:14 GMT -5
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Crimebuster
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Post by Crimebuster on Feb 2, 2016 1:25:11 GMT -5
Girls' Love Stories #112
July 1965
Story One: Hey guys, it's April O'Day. April is acting in a movie opposite a bro named Roy. They're supposed to dance and kiss. They do, but it's so awesome that they forget they are acting and they just start making out on camera. I think that's how The Brown Bunny was filmed. Anyway, the film's star, Jewel, flips out and fires both of them on the spot! Roy and April are both upset, because this film could have been their big break, but at least they have each other. Wait, they have each other? What happened to Arthur! Where's Dave the Hot Journalist?! There's only been one issue in between, how could so much have changed for April already?! I NEED TO KNOW. You know, I blame my grandmother for this. She used to watch us after school every day, and that meant we got to watch soap operas all day. The Young and the Restless, One Life to Live, General Hospital. Luke and Laura's wedding had nothing on April O'Day, though. Anyway. April and Roy go to a beach bonfire - a lot of these going on recently as well, this must have been a really popular pastime in the 60's - and make out. Suddenly, Jewel shows up on a giant horse for no apparent reason. She reams them out for daring to be in love, then dramatically ride off. They ignore her and keep kissing. Seems legit. Later, Roy is all mopey about the lost chance to become a movie star. April makes the daft decision to go to Jewel's house and beg for a second chance - not for herself, but for Roy. Jewel is like, oh, honey. Do you really think Roy is worth humiliating yourself? April is sure she is, so Jewel says okay, let's make a bet. bring him here and have him grovel and I'll give him a second chance. April is sure Roy will never beg for his own sake, but she agrees to deliver the message. To April's surprise, Roy has no qualms about groveling at all, as long as he gets a shot at stardom. The two of them head to Jewel's place, only to find a raging party. Jewel then introduces each of them to other hot movie stars. APril falls into the arms of a guy named Gordon, who is a big mogul. Gordon says, yeah, you can be a big star, as long as you enjoy the taste of my flesh. April is momentarily blinded by the thought of seeing her name in lilghts, and she makes out with him. Then she realizes what's happening and changes her mind - not for her own sense of pride, mind you, but because she's worried what Roy will think. Here's a hint: he thinks it would be great to into the blouse of this random dame he's feeling up. April runs off in tears. Jewel finds her and gloats for a second, having proven that their "true love" was just as shallow as she thought. But then Jewel breaks down herself in shame; the Hollywood system has destroyed her heart. April wanders off to the beach, presumably to look for Arthur? Instead, Roy shows up and apologizes. April apologizes back and they do it. True love wins again! Until April meets someone totally different next issue. THE END!!! Story Two: Uh. So, Lois, Nancy, and Miles are best friends. The three of them do everything together, all the time, from when they were little kids until now, when they are adults. It's kind of like Archie, Betty, and Veronica. Actually, it's exactly like that. Except this time, Lois and Nacy demand that Miles pick one or the other. He loves them both... but it's Nancy he wants to get busy with. This breaks everyone's hearts, because they all love each other, but since they don't live in Brazil they can't have a three-way marriage. So Miles and Nancy get hitched, with Lois as the Maid of Honor. THE END!! My Notes: So, I didn't mention this last time, but both April O'Day stories feature what are clearly caricatures of Hollywood stars of the time period, but I'll be damned if I recognize any of them. GCD lists cameos this issue from Desi Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Cary Grant, and Danny Thomas. In #110, there was cameo by Fabian. Even with these credits, I still don't see it, even though I am looking right at the panels in question. Well, whatever, man. Only two stories this time around. There's a bit of filler - two different fashion pages, and a page of random trivia about marriage. There's an ad on the inside back cover for the "World's Biggest Life-Size Poster of The Beatles." This is paired with an ad that promises "100 dolls made of genuine Styrine plastic and hard synthetic rubber for only $1 for entire set. You get baby dolls, nurse dolls, dancing dolls, foreign dolls, clown dolls, cowboy dolls, bride dolls, and many more in Lilliputian cuteness. And not made of paper or rags but of STYRENE plastic and hard synthetic rubber." Well, when you put it that way! Man, they are really pushing the benefits of getting a hard rubber Lilliputian Clown Doll. Who the hell could resist that? My Grade: B-. Another fun April O'Day adventure, but the rest of the issue was a bit of a let down.
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Confessor
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Post by Confessor on Feb 2, 2016 4:24:46 GMT -5
GUYS. Look at what arrived!  Based on the way that Jack Kirby normally drew women, that book must read like a gallery of grotesques.  Runs away from a hail of rocks! |
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Confessor
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Post by Confessor on Feb 2, 2016 4:32:56 GMT -5
Ugh. I was thinking more of the 60's and 70's era Marvel. A lot of the Stan Lee/John Romita era was like reading a romance comic, when Spidey wasn't beating up super-villains, of course. Personally, I love the soap opera elements in mid-to-late '60s Amazing Spider-Man more than the superhero punch ups, if I'm honest. |
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Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
Posts: 10,199
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Post by Confessor on Feb 2, 2016 4:37:10 GMT -5
DC put out these Gothic romance comics that had extra long novel length stories with gorgeous covers and some nice art from the likes of Tony DeZuniga and others. After about 5 or 6 issues they began to morph into regular DC horror anthology books with slight title changes but they were kind of cool in the beginning I love me some Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love (and Forbidden Tales of Dark Mansion, as it became). The romance comic/horror comic mix is really interesting and I'm slowly working towards having a complete run. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2016 7:08:36 GMT -5
GUYS. Look at what arrived! Based on the way that Jack Kirby normally drew women, that book must read like a gallery of grotesques. Runs away from a hail of rocks!Actually, it's not bad at all. And if you scroll back to pages 5 and 6, you can see some scans I posted from it. The women were quite pretty. |
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Post by MDG on Feb 3, 2016 11:29:11 GMT -5
I got Showcase presents Young Love yesterday. I was surprised how many stories in the TOC had "unknown" listed as the artist when I could make a good guess and GCD had credits listed. I guess it's a little different if you're paying royalties.
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Post by Farrar on Feb 3, 2016 11:58:45 GMT -5
I got Showcase presents Young Love yesterday. I was surprised how many stories in the TOC had "unknown" listed as the artist when I could make a good guess and GCD had credits listed. I guess it's a little different if you're paying royalties. Plus they credit Don Heck for Arthur Peddy's work IIRC. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2016 18:49:08 GMT -5
Because of this thread, I just ordered these:  "Your Valentine likes it hard...cover. Here's the must-give book for them (or just get it for your depraved self)! 'Weird Love: All You Need Is Weird Love' collects the first three issues of the so-bad-it's-good comic book that is the buzz of geekdom! Plus a raging bonus showcase of the most bizarre and sexy romance comic book covers! Revealing foreword by Craig Yoe and Clizia Gussoni who 13th Dimension calls, 'The Masters and Johnson of comics!' Fascinating introduction by Comic Book Girl 19. These vintage stories will blow your mind: 'I Fell for a Commie!', 'Love of a Lunatic!', 'Yes, I was an Escort Girl!', 'Love, Honor and Swing, Baby!', Gangster's Girl', 'Too Fat to Frug!'?and MORE!"And volume 2:  '(CA) Iger Shop 'Love on the Racks: A History of American Romance Comics,' provides a fascinating introduction to 'Weird Love: That's The Way I Like It!', the second sleazy and stupefying volume in the series that 'Wired' magazine calls 'deranged genius!' You'll love, you'll hate these lurid stories: 'Too Fat to Frug,' 'Men You Shouldn't Marry,' 'Leader of the Pack,' 'Love Slaves,' 'Stay Away From Married Men,' 'Trailer Park Girl: Flirtation on Wheels,' 'Mail-Order Marriage,' 'Thrill Crazy!,' and much more cringe-worthy, laugh-riot comic book kitsch!' |
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Feb 3, 2016 18:58:42 GMT -5
Because of this thread, I just ordered these: And volume 2: Read the first volume from the library and enjoyed it as a change of pace. Didn't know there was a followup. Have to check if they have it |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2016 19:08:36 GMT -5
Girls' Love Stories #112
July 1965
Story One: Hey guys, it's April O'Day. April is acting in a movie opposite a bro named Roy. They're supposed to dance and kiss. They do, but it's so awesome that they forget they are acting and they just start making out on camera. I think that's how The Brown Bunny was filmed. Anyway, the film's star, Jewel, flips out and fires both of them on the spot! Roy and April are both upset, because this film could have been their big break, but at least they have each other. Wait, they have each other? What happened to Arthur! Where's Dave the Hot Journalist?! There's only been one issue in between, how could so much have changed for April already?! I NEED TO KNOW. You know, I blame my grandmother for this. She used to watch us after school every day, and that meant we got to watch soap operas all day. The Young and the Restless, One Life to Live, General Hospital. Luke and Laura's wedding had nothing on April O'Day, though. Anyway. April and Roy go to a beach bonfire - a lot of these going on recently as well, this must have been a really popular pastime in the 60's - and make out. Suddenly, Jewel shows up on a giant horse for no apparent reason. She reams them out for daring to be in love, then dramatically ride off. They ignore her and keep kissing. Seems legit. Later, Roy is all mopey about the lost chance to become a movie star. April makes the daft decision to go to Jewel's house and beg for a second chance - not for herself, but for Roy. Jewel is like, oh, honey. Do you really think Roy is worth humiliating yourself? April is sure she is, so Jewel says okay, let's make a bet. bring him here and have him grovel and I'll give him a second chance. April is sure Roy will never beg for his own sake, but she agrees to deliver the message. To April's surprise, Roy has no qualms about groveling at all, as long as he gets a shot at stardom. The two of them head to Jewel's place, only to find a raging party. Jewel then introduces each of them to other hot movie stars. APril falls into the arms of a guy named Gordon, who is a big mogul. Gordon says, yeah, you can be a big star, as long as you enjoy the taste of my flesh. April is momentarily blinded by the thought of seeing her name in lilghts, and she makes out with him. Then she realizes what's happening and changes her mind - not for her own sense of pride, mind you, but because she's worried what Roy will think. Here's a hint: he thinks it would be great to into the blouse of this random dame he's feeling up. April runs off in tears. Jewel finds her and gloats for a second, having proven that their "true love" was just as shallow as she thought. But then Jewel breaks down herself in shame; the Hollywood system has destroyed her heart. April wanders off to the beach, presumably to look for Arthur? Instead, Roy shows up and apologizes. April apologizes back and they do it. True love wins again! Until April meets someone totally different next issue. THE END!!! Story Two: Uh. So, Lois, Nancy, and Miles are best friends. The three of them do everything together, all the time, from when they were little kids until now, when they are adults. It's kind of like Archie, Betty, and Veronica. Actually, it's exactly like that. Except this time, Lois and Nacy demand that Miles pick one or the other. He loves them both... but it's Nancy he wants to get busy with. This breaks everyone's hearts, because they all love each other, but since they don't live in Brazil they can't have a three-way marriage. So Miles and Nancy get hitched, with Lois as the Maid of Honor. THE END!! My Notes: So, I didn't mention this last time, but both April O'Day stories feature what are clearly caricatures of Hollywood stars of the time period, but I'll be damned if I recognize any of them. GCD lists cameos this issue from Desi Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Cary Grant, and Danny Thomas. In #110, there was cameo by Fabian. Even with these credits, I still don't see it, even though I am looking right at the panels in question. Well, whatever, man. Only two stories this time around. There's a bit of filler - two different fashion pages, and a page of random trivia about marriage. There's an ad on the inside back cover for the "World's Biggest Life-Size Poster of The Beatles." This is paired with an ad that promises "100 dolls made of genuine Styrine plastic and hard synthetic rubber for only $1 for entire set. You get baby dolls, nurse dolls, dancing dolls, foreign dolls, clown dolls, cowboy dolls, bride dolls, and many more in Lilliputian cuteness. And not made of paper or rags but of STYRENE plastic and hard synthetic rubber." Well, when you put it that way! Man, they are really pushing the benefits of getting a hard rubber Lilliputian Clown Doll. Who the hell could resist that? My Grade: B-. Another fun April O'Day adventure, but the rest of the issue was a bit of a let down. Another fantastic and funny review, Crimebuster! Your add-ins are the best ever. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2016 19:09:53 GMT -5
Because of this thread, I just ordered these: And volume 2: Read the first volume from the library and enjoyed it as a change of pace. Didn't know there was a followup. Have to check if they have it I cannot wait to get them! It's, like, they had to have picked all the BEST romance comics ever and put them all into one book specifically for meeeeee. Because I do not see any way possible that I'm going to dislike any of those stories. |
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