Romantic comic books issue 2

Tales of secret love, heartbreak, unrequited love, and reconciliation. Margot's secured a good job through long years of struggle, but then she makes everyone else work just as hard, including the man who loves her. Carol sabotages her roommate's chances for romance because she doesn't want to find another place to live. In a story that's a sign of its times, radio actress Marilyn lives in a boardinghouse until she gets her big break, and then she forgets her old friends for the trappings of stardom. Plus a PSA for Savings Bonds featuring the original Captain Marvel. Invitation to Heartbreak; I Spurned Love; Forgotten Rapture; Beautiful Dreamer; Unworthy of Romance. 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Cover by Ken Bald (?). "A Woman's Diary," pencils by Charles Sultan; A girl voted mostly likely to succeed is offered the job of copy girl by a romantic interest. "Everything but Love!," pencils by Ken Bald; A woman ruthlessly works her way to the top at a clothing store. "Cornbeef, Cabbage... and Love!" text story. "Heartbreak for Sale!," pencils by Max Elkan; A woman who works in department store finds drudgery instead of excitement and romance. "Long-Distance Love!"; A telephone operator listens in on love and longs for her own romance. "That All-American Kiss" text story. "For me Alone," art by Art Gates; An incompetent office worker dates her boss. 52 pgs., full color. $0.10. Cover price $0.10.

Art by Walter Johnson, Manny Stallman, Bill Draut and Howard Larsen. Lurid tales of love and crime, with lush covers reprinted from Avon paperbacks. Sheila wants to reunite with old flame Perry, but her gangster boyfriend Lefty isnt the sharing type; A stewardess is reunited with an old flame from the war, a blond soldier named Steve Rogers; A woman finds love on a cruise, but thinks it cant last back on land. Featuring a painted cover reprinted from Avon paperback #141. I Took His Love for Granted; I Couldn't Forget!; Money Madness; Star of the Month: David Brian; Shipboard Romance. 36 pages, Full Color. NOTE: There is an I.W. reprint of this issue. Cover price $0.10.

Cover by Allen Anderson. Stories and art by Murphy Anderson, John Buscema, Ralph Mayo, Frank Borth and Jack Lehti. Ziff-Davis published the first incarnation of this early romance title. Joan and Peter's marriage gets off to a shaky start, because of his controlling mother. Laura fears that her husband Mark is working himself to death, and becomes determined to save him, even after he falls for someone else. This story features art by comics legend Murphy Anderson. Peg and Clark's perfect marriage goes awry after the arrival of their son, Tommy, changes Peg's focus. Stenographer Kathy marries wealthy Greg, but doesn't fit in with his upper-class world, in a story with early art by future Marvel legend John Buscema. Plus a look at the real-life romance of King Edward VIII and American divorcee Wallis Simpson. And a pinup of movie star Mona Freeman. He Gave Up a Throne for Love; Mother's Boy; Orchids for Kathy; In Sickness and in Health; I Was a Social Climber; The Two Sides of Love; I Was a Clinging Vine; Her Father's Image! 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Stories and art by Robert Louis Stevenson, Betty Baker, and Dorothy Bowen. This early romance comic from Fawcett had particularly complex plots to go with the tears and kisses. Alicia sets out to woo Bob away from his girlfriend Connie. In town to negotiate a contract, June realizes the handsome man she's negotiating with is the same one who once rescued her father. Sally's the sort of gal who blames others for her mistakes, but she soon learns that doesn't work on the guy she's fallen for. And a romantic poem by Robert Louis Stevenson in comics form. Plus a pin-up of screen legend Joseph Cotten, star of Citizen Kane and future star of Hitchcock's Shadow of a Doubt. Trouble Maker; Romance; My Tremulous Heart; And Be My Love; New Secretary Wanted; Love's Epitaph; I Was Deceitful; Romantic Secrets' Star of the Month: Joseph Cotten. 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Volume 2 - 1st printing.

Written by Wataru Watari. Art and cover by Naomichi Io. Translated by Jennifer Ward.

Hachiman Hikigaya may be in a club with two hot girls, but this isn't going to turn into a rom-com. He may have given out his number, but his phone will remain untexted. Besides, the only true cutie around here? Yeah, it's a guy. Hachiman the loser, Yukino the ice queen, and Yui the bimbo have to find some way to put the "service" back in Service Club - but so far they've scored zero points in the game of high school life.

Softcover, 5-in. x 7-in., 208 pages, B&W. Age 13 and up

Cover price $13.00.

Cover art by John Prentice. "Love Never Listens," art by John Prentice; Stenographers Lee and Marcia spend their vacation at the ritzy Cedar Lodge. Lee falls in love with Tony, even though Marcia discovers hes a gambler who "has a girl in every summer resort"; Lee and Marcia argue; Back in the city, Tony proposes to Lee then asks her for a loan for a "business" proposition. "I Didn't Fool You"; After school, Anita works as the social secretary for the wealthy Mrs. Darrow, and pretends to be her employer's niece to impress fellow student Don, whose father is also rich. "Was I Unworthy Of Love?"; Diner waitress Bella dates widower Carl, a scientist; She also makes friends with his son Jackie. "Romance Of New Salem"; Young Abraham Lincoln loves Ann Rutledge but she dies of malaria; He promises to live up to the faith she had in his future as a man of the people. "Old-Fashioned" text story. "I Got What I Wanted," art by Al McWilliams; Frances spends her youth studying piano and at age 21 is awarded a scholarship to the Memorial Conservatorium; Her teacher says she will never be great until she knows love, so Frances picks up fellow student Alec and pretends to fall in love with him. "My Wonderful Mistake"; College secretary Marianne falls for student athlete Steve, ignoring studious Tom; Steve asks her to steal the answers to an exam from the deans office and she does. 52 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.10.

Cover art by Dick Beck. "Lost Love," pencils by Pete Costanza (?), inks by Dick Beck; Donna breaks her engagement to Bert after falling in love with Harris, who is directing her in an amateur play; However, Harris then tells her "men like me...only play at love!"; Donna tries to go back to Bert but learns he is now engaged to someone else and her only hope is that someday she'll find happiness. "Part Time Wife," art by Ed Goldfarb; Ella is engaged to Joel but wants a career of her own first; She gets a job working for department store executive Francesca in New York; Francescas husband John lives in California and visits her infrequently but "phones her at least three times a week, all the way from the coast!" "Love's Second Chance" text story. "Love Was the Winner," art by Lou Cameron; Physical education teacher Janet meets tennis pro Clint and becomes his "secretary and practice tennis partner" on the tour, as well as his girlfriend; However, she discovers him cheating on her and learns from Clints manager Cy that Janet was "Clints fifth secretary." "A Ballot from My Heart": Marcia goes to work for the Independent Party after her politician father dies; She falls in love with assistant district attorney Mark and they are married; Party boss McCracken urges Marcia to convince Mark to run for district attorney; Mark agrees, planning to clean up corruption. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.10.

Cover art by John Prentice. "I'll Tell You of Love," art by John Prentice; Ronnie and her fiancé Phil cant agree on a home: he wants something modern but she prefers a run-down old house; Unknown to Phil, Ronnie rents the old house and has it repaired; She meets Carey, who lived there as a boy. "No One Man for Me," art by Bill Ely; Irene boasts she "can get any male I set my cap for!"; Her cousin Mary bets she cant win over farmer Mark, but they do fall in love and get engaged; Irene cheats on him with salesman Andrew. "Those Who Live in Glass Houses"; Vic doesnt think his girlfriend Megs modeling job is "respectable"; With the aid of photographer Larry, Meg proves to Vic that being in love means trusting the other person. "And Now Too Late"; Eileen leaves her fiancé David at the altar because she thinks he still loves Marsha; She dates other men and believes shes gotten over him; But when she hears David is engaged, Eileen begs him for another chance but he says her distrust ruined their love. "Some Call It Romance" text story. "The Plain Girl"; Flamboyant decorator Jane dates wealthy businessman Neil, a client, and they fall in love; He asks her to redecorate a large house he owns. "Peaceful Alley": In a small French town, Denise loves penniless Claude but her father insists she marry Andre; When Andre is exposed as a gambler, the engagement is off but Claude has already left town; 3 years later, Claude has become a wealthy Parisian businessman and is engaged to Lisette. 52 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.10.

Early American move fan magazine with typical eye-catching fodder such as movie reviews and celebrity gossip, but the majority of Romantic Movie Stories magazine includes novelizations of popular golden-age movie classics, accompanied by still shots from the film. 8" x 11", 82 pages, B&W. Cover price $0.15.

Volume 2 - 1st printing.

Written by Wataru Watari. Art and cover by Ponkan 8. Translated by Jennifer Ward.

Hachiman Hikigaya's life has changed little since being forced to join the Service Club. Sure, he now spends his time after school in the company of the icy Yukino Yukinoshita and bubbly airhead Yui Yuigahama, but his warped personality still ensures that he won't wring a moment's enjoyment from his insufferable school life. When someone starts trolling his class with hateful e-mails, though, and the Service Club is enlisted to help solve the case, Hachiman's "unique" perspective as an outsider might finally come in handy...or he could still just be a loser.

Softcover, 5-in. x 7-in., 208 pages, Text (with B&W Chapter Illustrations).

Cover price $14.00.

Volume 2 - 1st Printing. Story, art, and cover by Wataru Momose. Thanks to magical fairy Riris magic, Anzu is now stuck spending her days fending off hot guys. First it was classmate Kazuki, then childhood friend Junta. Now the rich and naive Koganei has suddenly taken an interest in her!! Softcover, 6-in. x 8-in., 200 pages, full color. Cover price $16.99.

NOTE: Title continues under Romantic Love (1939-1943 Columbia Publications) with vol. 2 #8 Cover price $0.10.

NOTE: For earlier issues see Dramatic Novels (1924 Albert Publishing) Cover price $0.20.

Stories and art by Al Williamson, Al McWilliams and Joseph Millard. For those who prefer romance with a little Southwestern seasoning, Fawcett presents tales of love on the range. Prodigal son Jerry returns when he and his brother Wayne inherit their father's ranch, but trouble begins when Jerry falls for Wayne's gal Dale. Beautiful Conchita's suitors are judged by the fists of her overprotective brother Marko, but wandering cowpoke Gene is willing to take that beating, in a story with art by EC legend Al Williamson. Joyce swears that corrupt banker Gates will never get her father's ranch, and a handsome wandering cowpoke offers to help. Save My Love; A Man for Conchita; Branded; Prairie Vengeance. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.