Sweethearts Vol. 1 (1948-1954) comic books 1951

Sweethearts was the first monthly romance title. Psychiatric nurse Bette meets handsome writer Jim, who's researching a book about her asylum, but they've fallen in love by the time she learns his dark secret. Social worker Nina falls for handsome, down-on-his-luck Bob, but can't tell her supervisor Ralph, who has feelings for her too. Wealthy ladies' man Les meets beautiful redheaded Paula at an exclusive resort and is immediately intrigued by her mysterious and standoffish behavior. Gateway to Heartache; Forbidden Dream!; Two Is Company; Faithless. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Sweethearts was the first monthly romance title. The developing relationship between Don and Joyce is challenged because Joyce's aunt refuses to sell her land to developer Don. A tale of love in the Old West opens with this great paragraph: "She was baptized by the blaze of gunfire and reared in the shadow of the outlaws' code! Yet - like some rare desert bloom whose splendor shines even in the drab, acrid wastes, Frances Kirby grew into radiant womanhood. The tall, lean stranger, Slim Darill, looked to her as he did to the rising of each morning's sun.... But she was pledged to an outlaw's world - and he to the laws of justice!" Barbara has a nervous breakdown and is found and nursed back to health by handsome Milton and his mother. One Tragic Night; No Stronger Bond; Our Tomorrow; My Loves Executioner. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Sweethearts was the first monthly romance title. Singer Fran is in love with the open road, but Doug, who helped her when she was struggling, wants her to settle down in his small town. Young Terry meets handsome Mitch at a nightclub, and soon learns that he runs a "lonely hearts club" dating service and wants her to be one of his "smart girls." Judith changes her mind after dumping handsome mechanic Jim, but her rivalry with his new love Lydia is destined for a tragic end. My Heart Is a Gypsy; The Sometime Bride; Smart Girl; One Mad Interlude. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Sweethearts was the first monthly romance title. Lissa's heart belongs to sailor Bruce, just returning from two years at sea, but Andrew, who she's been seeing in the meantime, isn't ready to let her go. Sara's skill at forging letters gets her good jobs, but her plan to fake a relationship with handsome, wealthy Tommy falls apart when the real Tommy shows up. Kate's romance with Dan is challenged by the complicated relationship they both have with the factory that supports their small town. Night Fury; My Counterfeit Love; Love and Marriage Customs; Love Is For Always; Retribution. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Photo cover. "No Other Love"; Ruthies high school sweetheart Al goes off to college; She thinks theyll be married when he graduates, but then learns he eloped with fellow student Inez; Ruthie vows never to marry and moves to the city and throws herself into her career; Ruthie dates fellow employee Ben but turns down his marriage proposal. "A Fearful Redemption"; Renée loves Charley but his small business doesnt yet earn enough for them to marry; She feels life is passing her by; Learning her former classmate Neil is now a famous singer and composer, Renée rekindles their acquaintance. "Photo Finish" text story by John Martin. "I Lived For Danger"; Printer Larry agrees to perform dangerous publicity stunts to earn money so he can have his own shop and marry drugstore clerk Irene; Irene is afraid Larry will be hurt and wants him to quit, but ad executive Selma urges him to continue; Irene and Larry break up, but when Larry is injured during a stunt, he sees that Selma only cares about him as a performer, not a person. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.10.

Sweethearts was the first monthly romance title. Wartime WAC (female soldier) Joan finds love in uniform, but is soon forced to choose between two men who love her. Aspiring cartoonist Fran hits the skids in the city when she runs out of money, but comes upon a plan when she meets handsome homeless vet Mack. Jerry meets businesswoman Nancy and they begin dating, but their idea to open a store together may doom their relationship. I Joined the WACs; Shameless; Masquerade at Midnight; The Reluctant Heart. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

"A Stranger on the Road" (art by Bob Powell), "My Kind of Man," and "Bitter Betrayal." Photo cover. Cover price $0.10.

Photo cover. "Come Back, My Beloved"; After graduating from college, Jay turns down a job in private industry and joins the Army, over the objections of his sweetheart Pat; While Jay is away, Pat dates Ken, a college friend who got the job Jay turned down; Pats brother Dave, also in the Army, disapproves of this relationship. "Torment"; Margo is a dietician in a womens penitentiary and looks down on the inmates; Convict June is assigned as her assistant; On visiting day, June introduces her loyal boyfriend Al to Margo; Margo thinks Al is too good for June and decides to steal him for herself. "Hearts Trump Clubs" text story by Matt Suarez. "Farewell to Laughter"; Marys boyfriend Joe, assistant district attorney, warns her that her younger brother Jerry keeps bad company; Jerry wont listen and is arrested for grand larceny; Joe recommends a light sentence but Mary breaks up with him anyway; Shyster lawyer Appleton gets Jerry released and he returns to his delinquent ways and is soon arrested again. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.10.

Photo cover. I Was a Spy; Madge leaves Delville for Washington, DC; Her boyfriend Dennis nags her to come home but she refuses and gets a job in the State Department; She meets Paul Lavelle and he says he's writing a book about the State Department and invites her to become his collaborator; She accepts and slips department files to him; The FBI on is to her. Love Passed By; Josie, Michael, and Clark manage a successful lumber mill. Josie is in love with irresponsible, carefree Clark while steady and hardworking Michael loves Josie; When Clark sells his share of the business to Michael for ready money to finance his fun-loving ways, Josie is convinced Michael connived to get Clark out of her life. The Letter text story by Bernard Graham. Forlorn, art by George Evans; Dagny cherishes her privacy and buys a small isolated farm where she can have as much privacy as she wants; She believes her neighbors are nosy gossips and avoids them, but falls in love with handsome, young local doctor Jeff Faren; He is annoyed with her coldness to the people of the community and eventually drops her; One winter night, Dagny breaks her leg tumbling down a staircase at home and remains unconscious on the floor for days. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.10.

Photo cover. "Flight to Destiny"; Elaine loves pilot Steve but is jealous of fellow stewardess Marlene; Their plane crashes on a flight to Hawaii and the survivors reach shore; Steve and Marlene are injured so Elaine goes for help but Marlene dies before rescuers arrive; Elaine blames herself. "My Deception!"; Tina is elderly Mrs. Mercers paid companion; She "borrows" earrings and loses them, and juggles the household accounts; Grocery clerk Nick covers for Tina and she agrees to date him in return; He uses Mrs. Mercers house to store stolen goods and strikes the homeowner when she confronts him. "Find My Love" text story by John Martin. "One Alone"; Rina travels with a fast crowd and thinks pianist Harvey is a square; He tutors her in piano and falls in love with her but she isnt interested; Rina gets a job playing piano for a dance band, rejecting Harveys classical teaching, then realizes he was right and that she loves him. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.10.

Photo cover. "Jeanne Come Lately"; Golfer Jeanne is jealous of her widowed father Dougs relationship with old flame Johanna; Jeanne is courted by photographer Jeff, who says hes assigned to a do a photo-story on her; Jeanne, angered by her fathers engagement, goes out on her own; During a big tournament, Jeanne sees her father, Johanna, and Jeff and realizes shes been selfish. "I'll Never Forget You"; Apprentice seamstress Rita romances middle-aged designer Jorreau and becomes his personal aide; Jorreau is married but promises to wed Rita when hes free; Mrs. Jorreau warns Rita that her husband will just use and discard her; Rita is romanced by young designer Don - hes actually Jorreaus son, teaching his father a lesson. "Where My Love Goes" text story by John Martin. "No Way Out!"; Orphaned Dorothy lives with her Aunt Mae in "an underprivileged area" of the city; She dates Rick, a criminal, and is involved in a robbery; They split up and Dorothy gets a ride with farmer Jay; Jay and his mother hire her to work on their chicken farm; The police arrive but Jay defends Dorothy and she realizes they love each other. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.10.

Photo cover. "No Greater Sin," art by Bob Powell; Sonia is the court-appointed attorney defending artist Joseph, whos charged with murdering his wife; She falls in love with him and bribes the prosecutions witness to lie on the stand; Joseph is acquitted. "Navy Nurse"; Sally and Gene work in the same hospital and are in love; they decide to join the Navy to help change the world for the better; Sally, a nurse, is rated an officer while Gene is just an enlisted man; Sally dates Lt. Commander Bob and Gene thinks shes a snob. "Sauce for Love" text story by John Martin. "The Temptress"; Helen works in a welfare agency; Her supervisor Lon loves her, but hes not rich enough to give her the luxuries she desires; When he suddenly takes her to fancy restaurants and gives her gifts, Helen thinks hes stealing charity donations; Lon is arrested and Helen feels guilty. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.10.