True Love Problems and Advice Illustrated (1949 McCombs/Harvey) comic books 1951-1953

Cover by Lee Elias. Stories and art by Lee Elias and Bob Powell. Torrid tales of love and heartbreak dressed up as advice to the lovelorn from Harvey. Kim meets a handsome drifter and realizes he's her dream man, although others can't see his freewheeling spirit. Milly and Rita go on a Caribbean cruise to find romance, but Milly meets the wrong man. Talent agent Jerry remakes April into a star, but she falls in love with him in the process. My Secret Marriage; Betrayed By Beauty; I Was a Lovesick Fan; The Romantic Season; My Plan For Love. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.10.

Cover by Lee Elias. Stories and art by Peggy Walker and Bob Powell. Torrid tales of love and heartbreak dressed up as advice to the lovelorn from Harvey. Sally fakes musical expertise to win musician Paul, but soon becomes attracted to her own musical tutor, Steve. Knute and Ivy try to put the past behind them. Ellen finds love on the wrong side of a long-standing family feud. My Fatal Decision; One Wild Night!; Easy Money; Is He Too Old for Me?; Right Time for Love; I Was a Cheat!; Masquerade!; Afraid to Love. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.10.

Cover by Lee Elias. Stories and art by Peggy Walker and Bob Powell. Torrid tales of love and heartbreak dressed up as advice to the lovelorn from Harvey. In an unusual story, an amnesiac woman found on the docks is taken in by the waterfront folk, and transformed into torch singer Chichi. Jilted Taffy decides to take out her hatred of men on the next one who comes along. Joan decides that if she's going to be hurt by love, it might as well be with a rich guy. Gangster Girl!; Sunday Rendezvous; Jilted; I Cheated On Love!; Should I Elope?; Freshman Fiasco; The Truth Hurts. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.10.

Lee Elias cover. Contains original and reprinted material as noted. In order of appearance: "Wild Fury!", retitled and reprinted with post-Code story alterations as "New Boy in My Life" in Romance Stories of True Love (1957) #49 ; "Roadhouse Waitress" art by Bob Powell, reprinted with post-Code story alterations in Romance Stories of True Love (1957) #49 ; "I Was a Failure on My First Date!" art by Bob Powell, reprinted from First Romance Magazine (1949) #4 and in Hello Buddies (1940's) #51, True Brides Experiences (1954) #9, Hi-School Romance (1949) #65, and Hi-School Romance Date Book (1962) #3; and "Shameless" reprinted in Harvey Comics Hits (1951) #58. "Blind Date" and "Cinderella Girl!" text stories, and "Peggy Walker's Test for Romance, Are You Really in Love?" and "Dear Peggy, Love Problems and Advice" text articles. Indicia states "LOVE PROBLEMS AND ADVICE ILLUSTRATED. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.10.

Cover text quoted in Fredric Wertham's "Seduction of the Innocent". Cover art by Lee Elias. "Fallen Woman," art by Bob Powell; Stewardess Terry and pilot Ken are the only survivors of a plane crash in the mountains; Theyre rescued after several days; Terrys fiancé Fred suggests they postpone their wedding until the "headlines" have blown over. "Runaway Passion!"; Brenda dumps her boyfriend Jay to become private secretary to wealthy Monroe; She makes a play for his nephew Zip, but two-times him with handsome gambler Lucky; When Zip agrees to marry another girl his uncle has chosen for him, Brenda goes to Lucky, but he abandons her during a police raid on a gambling joint in the Everglades. "Should You Keep Him Guessing" contest page. "How to Use Make-Up"; Jane asks beauty consultant Elizabeth how to apply natural-looking makeup. "Forbidden Love!", art by Lee Elias; Helen loves Gene but he prefers Lil; Helen tries to make herself love Vic, but leaves him at the altar; Gene marries Lil but Helen won't give up; She goes to a mountain cabin with the couple and contemplates pushing Lil off a cliff. "My Foolish Mistake" text story. "The Price of Pride"; Wealthy Kathy and Tad visit a soda shop to see "how the other half lives"; Kathy urges Tad to dance with meek Lisa, then Lisa's date Larry dances with Kathy. "Must I Reveal My Past?", art by Bob Powell; Myra loves Gary but has a secret in her past: rebelling against strict parents, she dated bad boy Lenny. "Morning Glory"; How to get ready in the morning. Indicia states "LOVE PROBLEMS AND ADVICE ILLUSTRATED. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.10.

Cover by Lee Elias. Stories and art by Jack Sparling, Ray Bailey and Bob Powell. Torrid tales of love and heartbreak dressed up as advice to the lovelorn from Harvey. June marries for money and comes to regret it when she later meets the right man. Carol is tormented by guilt after she gives up her child. Redheaded nurse Peg betrays the man who trusted her and comes to regret it. I Married For Money; A Letter From My Love; Must I Cheat On Love?; What's In A Name?; I Deserted My Child!; Love Thief; What I Learned From Love! 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.10.

All stories reprinted in True Love Problems and Advice Illustrated (1949) #32. Most stories further reprinted with post-Code story alterations in Romance Stories of True Love (1957) #47. "Bittersweet Love"; Betsy and her father run a desert gas station; One day Toby wanders in and is hired to help. Betsy tries to make friends but Toby is cold to her; She discovers an inscribed photo of actress Rosalind in Tobys room and he says he was married to her. "I Won't Cry Anymore!" text story. Intimate "Interlude"; Harriet takes a cross-country train to a new job in California; On the journey, she meets Ed and they have an affair; However, when they arrive in Los Angeles, Ed is greeted by his wife and children. "Can I Trust Him?", art by Bob Powell; Pat is engaged to Ted but he confesses hes having an affair with diner waitress Daphne. My Scarlet Affair!", art by Jack Sparling; Although boyfriend Johnny wants her to "forget all these career ideas" and marry him; Doris wants to be an artist; Middle-aged patron of the arts Rodney offers to help Doris; Doris allows Rodney to make love to her to repay his assistance. "Broken Love"; College teacher Valery marries Barry, an older student back in school because "the war had interrupted [his] education"; They have to keep their marriage a secret because it is against the colleges rules. "LOVE PROBLEMS AND ADVICE ILLUSTRATED. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.10.

Most comic stories reprinted in True Love Problems and Advice Illustrated (1949) #34. In order of appearance: "Somebody Else's Girl" and "No Wedding Ring for Me!" further reprinted in Romance Stories of True Love (1957) #52 and Hi-School Romance Date Book (1962) #3; "What Promises Does This Love Hold?"; "Trapped in His Arms!" art by Bob Powell; and "No Love for a Cry Baby". Text stories: "The Story Behind the Cover, My Silent Love!" reprinted in True Love Problems and Advice Illustrated (1949) #34, and "Love Is Trust!" reprinted in True Love Problems and Advice Illustrated (1949) #31. Indicia states "LOVE PROBLEMS AND ADVICE ILLUSTRATED. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.10.

Cover by Lee Elias. Stories and art by Jack Sparling, Lee Elias and Bob Powell. Torrid tales of love and heartbreak dressed up as advice to the lovelorn from Harvey. Redheaded June shamefully admits she's only dating boring Joe because he's rich. Meg loses the only man she'd ever loved because of one little white lie. Sue enjoys the chase, but rapidly loses interest once she wins a man, and heartbreak follows. Torrid pre-Code cover with nice art by Lee Elias. Love for Sale!; My Phantom Lover!; Threat to My Love; Should I Give Up My Career for Marriage?; Lovers' Quarrel; Too Good at Love!; My Life Was a Lie; Suspicious of Love. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.10.

Stories and art by Jack Sparling, Lee Elias and Bob Powell. Torrid tales of love and heartbreak dressed up as advice to the lovelorn from Harvey. Working at her father's gas station in the desert, Betsy meets handsome, tormented drifter Toby, and falls for him as she learns his story. Struggling artist Doris is taken in by wealthy art patron Rodney for all the wrong reasons. College professor Valery must keep her marriage to student Barry a secret, which works fine until Sue comes along. Torrid pre-Code sailor cover, possibly by Al Avison. Bittersweet Love; I Won't Cry Anymore!; Intimate Interlude; Can I Trust Him?; My Scarlet Affair!; Broken Love; What I Learned From Love. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.10.

Stories and art by Jack Sparling, Tom Hickey, Al Avison, John Sink and Bob Powell. Torrid tales of love and heartbreak dressed up as advice to the lovelorn from Harvey. Karen wants to play the field, until she drives away the man she really loves. Stacey is willing to sacrifice the respect of one man for a smile from another. Reporter Cynthia falls for a man she despises. Torrid pre-Code cover, possibly by Al Avison. I Courted Heartbreak!; Stars in My Eyes; Can I Betray My Love?; Assignment to Love!; 3 Kisses to Paradise. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.10.

Stories and art by Jack Sparling, Joe Certa and Bob Powell. Torrid tales of love and heartbreak dressed up as advice to the lovelorn from Harvey. Connie wants to dump sailor boyfriend Peter when she falls for Rex, but Peter's not ready to let her go. Laurie loves Ed, but he can't say no to his gambling problem. Redheaded Margo runs into old flame Dan, but now he's got dangerous underworld connections and doesn't want her to get involved. Saucy pre-Code cover, possibly by Al Avison. Foolish Illusion; Gambling with Love; Hidden Heartbreak; Dead End Desire; This Time Forever; Passion for a Stranger. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.10.

Cover by Al Avison. Stories and art by Jack Sparling, Al Avison, Joe Certa, Mike Peppe, John Sink and Bob Powell. Torrid tales of love and heartbreak dressed up as advice to the lovelorn from Harvey. May falls for her sister's fiancee and he wants her too, but that can't end well. Dot is a private in the Women's Army Corps who meets and falls for another soldier at a USO dance. Redheaded Kitty loves Larry, who loves someone else, but for Kitty it's all or nothing. Sultry pre-Code cover by Al Avison. Stolen Passion; Test of Love; How Can I Win Him Back?; Prove You're a Woman!; Careless Love; Journey to Heartbreak; I Couldn't Share Love. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.10.

"Merry-Go-Round Romance," art by Bob Powell; Peggy travels with her fathers small carnival, and is courted by trapeze artist Eric; At one stop, she falls in love with local resident Larry and vows to marry him; Jealous Eric sets the carnival on fire and Larry rescues Peggys father from the flames. "Wrong Way to Love" text story. "A Game of Hearts"; Sociology student Carol takes a summer job in a fish cannery to research the lives of the workers; She hides her identity and romances Tod, trading "kisses for information" about his life and work. "Island of Desire!", art by Jack Sparling; Hal bets his ad agency partner Bret that he can convince hostile secretary Judy to marry him, even though Hal feels marriage is for insecure people only; Hal and Judy are stranded together on an island during a boat trip and eventually fall in love. "10 Seconds to Love"; Air hostess Thelma dates pilot Steve, a "thick-headed stickler for the rules" while in the air; They fall in love and Steve insists they not fly together anymore; Thelma breaks up with him and goes out with wealthy passenger Ronald; Steve takes over as pilot on a flight and puts the plane into a dive, exposing Ronald as a coward. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.10.

Stories and art by Jack Sparling, Joe Certa, and Bob Powell. Torrid tales of love and heartbreak dressed up as advice to the lovelorn from Harvey. Kay gives in to passion amid the music and hubbub of the New Orleans jazz scene. Marion finds the man she really loves, but unfortunately, she's already married to someone else. Anne loves Barry, but must first tempt him away from Helen. I Couldn't Resist Him; Color Clues; No Interest In Love; Faithless to My Vows; Slave of Passion; Interrupted Honeymoon; Hair-Do Hints; Sworn to Tempt Him. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.10.

Stories and art by Jack Sparling and Bob Powell. Torrid tales of love and heartbreak dressed up as advice to the lovelorn from Harvey. Mary misses out on love because everyone thinks she's too nice. Betty finds love with a handsome stranger, but he has a dark secret. Nurse Connie loses her professional edge around a handsome patient. Classic nursesploitation cover, possibly by Al Avison. Too Nice For Kisses; Love Problems and Advice; Shattered Dream; Dead End Love; Out of Control; Which Man Shall I Choose?; Dangerous Escapade; Double Heartbreak. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.10.

Stories and art by Bill Draut, Joe Certa and Bob Powell. Torrid tales of love and heartbreak dressed up as advice to the lovelorn from Harvey. Struggling actress Eve learns that her ambitious ex-friend Claire has designs on her boyfriend Scott. Old-fashioned farm girl Janie is ostracized by her 1950s teen peers, until she meets class clown Lanny, who doesn't care how she dresses. May's dedication to work gets her a stand-offish reputation that undermines her desire to win Bill. My Shattered Love; Second-Choice Husband; Nobody's Sweetheart; Brief Enchantment; Dare I Marry Steve?; I Played for Keeps. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.10.

Cover by Lee Elias. Stories and art by Bill Draut, John Prentice and Bob Powell. Torrid tales of love and heartbreak dressed up as advice to the lovelorn from Harvey. Frustrated country girl Carol goes to New York, and gets caught up in the tawdry world of jazz in smoky nightclubs. Redheaded Claire gets a secretary job that could be her ticket out of tenement life, but boyfriend Tom isn't so thrilled. Gail falls for fisherman Dan, but she's terrified at his dangerous occupation. Sin Town; Can My Marriage Wait?; Crying On the Inside...; Tempted; Storm Warning; Pick-Up; Raw Passion. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.10.