Auctions: comic books in 'Romance'

True Life Secrets (1951 Capitol Publications Inc.) 23 VG+ 4.5

The fantastic (and unfortunately uncredited) Good Girl cover art for this issue was repurposed from My Desire #34 (sometimes listed as My Desire #4) with altered dialogue, making the scene a bit more salacious. Stories and art by Leon Winik and Ray Osrin. Early romance comics that include noirish tales of melodrama, scandal and deceit. Lola is contemptuous of her friends' make-do marriage plans, and sets out to find a wealthy husband. Nurse Ginny falls for Carl, the handsome doctor she works for, but hypochondriac Sandra wants Carl's attention for herself. Helen enjoys walking in the rain and brooding over her loneliness, but that's how she meets handsome Tod, who comes to her aid when she twists her ankle. Plus a romantic poem by Robert Louis Stevenson in comics form. Fast Track for Love; A Savage in Love; Romance; The Price I Paid; None But the Lonely. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Vision and the Scarlet Witch (2025 Marvel) 2F CGC 9.8

Paper: White

Anacleto Variant Cover.

Label #4622801015

Limited 1 for 25 Retailer Incentive Variant Cover. Written by Steve Orlando. Art by Lorenzo Tammetta. Cover by Jay Anacleto. Vision and Wanda deal with the explosive fallout of a spell gone wrong. Will the latest fiasco draw them closer together or further apart? And what will they find on the other side of the Grim Reaper's mysterious black doors? 28 pages, full color. Rated T+ Cover price $3.99.

Young Love (1963-1977 DC) 96 CBCS 7.5

Paper: White

From the Jerome Wenker Collection.

Label #19-3D26CEC-168

Last 25c cover priced issue. Cover pencils by Don Heck. Stories by Robert Kanigher and unknown. Art by Werner Roth, Gene Colan, John Romita, Sr. and unknown. Cathy is drawn to Paul, the new man in town, but when everyone learns that he left the Army as a conscientious objector, they judge him a coward, and Cathy doesn't know if they can be together in "My Kind of Man"! Plus: Gloria's roommate Nora uses Gloria's boyfriend Allan to make her own boyfriend jealous, and Allan gets angry at Gloria when she points it out. When Nora tries the same trick with another guy, Gloria is reluctant to tell him what's going on in the retitled reprint story "Don't Let Her Fool You"! Also: A kind and considerate guy like Peter is always better than a brash and conceited show-off like Dirk in the reprint? story "Get Lost, Lover!" And: Insecure Jeannie doesn't believe that she's pretty or interesting, so she doesn't know how to behave when Kirk becomes interested in her in the retitled reprint story "Teach Me to Love"! Plus: Test Yourself 2-pager "Does He Treat You Right?"; 1-page Marc -- On the Man's Side! advice column; and 1-page text story "How to Get a Boyfriend"! 48 pages, full color. Cover price $0.25.

Young Love (1963-1977 DC) 123 CGC 8.5

Paper: White

Slab: Chipped/broken bracket

Four Scratches on Back Around 3" Long.

Label #4229237015

Stories by George Kashdan, Robert Kanigher, Barbara Friedlander and unknown. Art by Win Mortimer, John Rosenberger, Alex Toth, Michael Netzer (as Mike Nasser), Liz Berube, Henry Scarpelli and Vince Colletta. Janice tries to figure out what is wrong with her boyfriend Hal when he returns from Vietnam after being presumed dead. The truth shocks her, but also inspires her to do something that will help Hal and also the community they live in in "Love Is the Answer!" Plus: Robin becomes impatient with her boyfriend Paul when he seems more interested in his college studies than in her, and she starts dating Brad. Months later, she learns that Paul has written and published a novel about their relationship and she finally realizes how much he loves her in "The Lost Love"! Also: As Melanie is hitchhiking out of town, she accepts a ride from Juan Perez and they discuss how society would never approve of them being together. They stop at a restaurant for dinner and decide to join other couples who are dancing, but a fight breaks out when others object to them. Melanie runs out and is hit by a car, and wakes up back at her mother's house where she learns that Juan was arrested in the reprint story "20 Miles to Heartbreak: Part II"! Plus: Joan is surprised by the real identity of a masked man she meets at a costume party in an untitled How We Met 1-pager; 2-page horoscope "Winter Forecast"; tips on dating manners in "Love Letters" letters page; different ways to wear and accessorize your hair in a Beauty on a Budget 1-pager; and 1-page poem "You're Young and You're In Love"! And: Batman and Robin star in a 1-page Hostess ad, "The Muse"! 48 pages, full color. Cover price $0.50.

Young Love (1963-1977 DC) 125 FN+ 6.5

Cover by Walt Simonson. Stories by Nick Cuti, Bob Rozakis, Joyce Jurnovoy, Steve Skeates and Barbara Friedlander. Art by Bill Draut, Jack Abel, Juan Ortiz, Alex Toth and Vince Colletta. Carl and Helen are attracted to each other, but he is engaged and she has a big secret -- her young "niece" is really her daughter in "Love Song of the Albatross"! Plus: Ricky's mother doesn't like any of the girls he dates, and isn't afraid to tell them, which gives him a bad reputation at school in "My Mother -- The Enemy"! Also: Nancy agrees to sign a solo recording contract, breaking up with her partner (and boyfriend). Fortunately, when things don't work out, he is still waiting for her to come back to him in "Nancy's Song"! And: Ted and Joan meet in a martial arts class, but he doesn't know she's the assistant instructor and much better at fighting than he is in an untitled How We Met 1-pager! Plus: Melanie shocks her mother by announcing that she is going to marry Juan. Later, Juan makes her realize that she doesn't really love him, but is planning the wedding to hurt her mother. Melanie leaves for New York with her sister and John, who are now engaged, in the reprint story "20 Miles to Heartbreak [Part IV]"! Also: 2-page article "Getting Along With Your Parents"! 48 pages, full color. Cover price $0.50.

Young Romance Comics (1963-1975 DC) 199 CGC 9.4

Paper: White

Label #4727469004

First 60c cover priced issue. Stories by unknown. Art by Win Mortimer, Ric Estrada, Tony Abruzzo, Irwin Hasen?, Liz Berube, Vince Colletta, Bernard Sachs and unknown. Karen finds that the perfect guy has been right in front of her -- her best friend Paul -- in "Love? Why Ruin a Perfect Friendship?" Plus: 1-page poems "My Creed," "Silent Song of Love" and "First Love"! Also: Humorous high school bulletin board postings with illustrations in 2-pager "Bulletin Board"; Sew Here's How 2-pager; Beauty on a Budget 1-pager; and 1-page Paul -- the Other Side! advice column. And: Reprint stories "Second Choice," "You Can't Ever Be Mine" (retitled), "Hopeless Love," "Reach for a Star" (retitled), "Make Love to His Friend" (retitled), "Why Can't I Fall in Love?" (retitled?) and "The Mirror" (retitled?). Softcover, 96 pages, full color. Cover price $0.60.