Ugly Duckling Week - Marvel's Turn!

Charlton and DC have had their turns tackling the "Ugly Duckling" here at Sequential Crush, but today Marvel takes the reins!

"How? How Can He Love Me?" from Our Love Story #22 (April 1973)* (script by Stan Lee, pencils by John Buscema and inks by Frank Giacoia) is the story of Jo, little sister to glamorous model Jennifer Blythe. Though Jo describes herself as not "exactly an ugly duckling," she still has a tough time keeping up with her elegant sister.







Not only beautiful, sister Jen is benevolent and encourages Jo to come out of her shell instead of living off of her success. Jen has faith in Jo, but Jo is unwilling to believe in herself wholeheartedly. Jo embraces the notion that, "...if I don't expect too much, I can't be hurt too much!"


After Jen leaves the house for her modeling gig, she calls Jo to tell her she has left behind her Pucci and she needs Jo to deliver it to the shoot. Upon her arrival, Jo gets a cold welcoming from handsome and famous photographer Martin Drake. As Jo stands before him, her brain turns to mush.


Later, back at home -- Jen apologizes for Martin Drake's boorish behavior. Jo hardly seems to mind, as Martin's attractiveness lingers in her mind. As a consolation (and knowing she could use the social exposure) Jen invites Jo to the "Model's Ball" being held that evening. Upon arrival, Jo immediately regrets accepting Jen's invitation.


Just a few moments pass -- suddenly, Martin Drake comes up to Jo. He tells her he is so happy she made it and apologizes for his earlier behavior. He asks if he could drop by the following day to see her. Jo agrees, but in the back of her mind thinks that Jen must have put him up to it.

Martin drops by and much to Jo's disappointment, he and sister Jen talk shop the whole time. Just before he leaves, Martin tells Jo that he paints and would like her to pose for him. Once again, Jo agrees to Martin's request but doesn't get her hopes up for anything to happen between them romantically.


But Jo is wrong! Martin has the hots for her and the goddess-like painting shows! As Martin unveils his masterpiece he declares, "No mere painting could ever capture your true, natural, innocent beauty!" The heat of the moment takes over and Martin removes Jo's glasses and ravenously kisses her. It is in that instant that Jo feels herself transform into a beautiful young woman.

Join me tomorrow for

one more "Ugly Duckling" tale!

*Cover art by John Romita. This story was originally published a few years earlier in Our Love Story #6 (August 1970).

Marvel Romance Redux + Giveaway!

Don't worry -- you aren't seeing double! Below are pages from 1960s and '70s Marvel romance stories along with pages from the Marvel Romance Redux issue Love is a Four Letter Word from August of 2006. From 2006 to 2008, Marvel briefly published a line of romance comics that re-scripted romance stories from the 1960s and '70s, but retained the original art. Incorporating smatterings of 21st century popular culture and technology with new dialogue -- these updated stories are no holds barred goofy! Check out the splash page from each story, accompanied by the splash page from the original story!* Don't forget to click on the images to enlarge them!

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Our first story, "Hot Alien Love" originally was titled "Another Kind of Love" and appeared in My Love #18 (July 1972) with a script by Stan Lee and art by John Buscema. What was once a story of a nurse who falls in love with a patient after breaking it off with a dull banker, is transformed into a story of a "Homeworld" security agent who catches extraterrestrials for a living.

"Buffy Willow Agent of A.D.D." is a crazy take on "He Never Said A Word!" originally from Love Romances #101 (September 1962) with art by Gene Colan. The 1962 version has a sweet and simple plot of a young woman who falls for a quiet hero, but the 2006 version turns the young woman into a forgetful secret agent looking for defectors.

The third story in the Redux issue, "Mice and Money" is a retelling of "By Love Betrayed!" first presented in Love Romances #102 (November 1962). With pencils by Jack Kirby and inks by Vince Colletta, "By Love Betrayed!" chronicles the fears of newly engaged Laura. "Mice and Money" turns the original story on its head to include a serious rodent obsession on behalf of the main characters.

"Love Me, Love My Clones!" was originally titled, "Jilted!" and was published in My Love #14 (November 1971) with art by Don Heck and John Romita, Sr. In the original story, raven-haired Connie is jilted by her boyfriend, only to find out that it is a blessing in disguise. The Redux version, "Love Me, Love My Clones!" is about -- you guessed it -- a girl who is smitten by a set of handsome clones!

The Colletta inked "They Said I Was... Insane!" originally, "Someday He'll Come Along!" from Teen-Age Romance #77 (September 1960) goes from being about a young woman working at an advertising agency who isn't willing to settle, to a story of a woman convinced that there has been an alien infiltration in town.

So what do you think of Marvel's modern spin on the romance comics? Do you like? Do you think these humorous takes on romance comics are fun or blasphemous?! I want to hear your opinion! When you leave a comment with your feelings about the Marvel Romance Redux concept, I will throw your name in a hat (AKA random.org ) for a chance to win your very own copy of Marvel's Our Love Story #11, plus a few other goodies! You have until this Sunday evening at 5pm (EST) to comment and be eligible for the giveaway. I will announce a winner Monday! Good luck!

*All of the original stories appeared in the 2006 Marvel trade paperback Marvel Romance. Scans and credits appearing in this post are from that publication. 2006 was a dynamite year over at Marvel for the romance comics!

No Man is My Master - My Love's Portrayal of the Women's Movement

The late 1960s and early 1970s were dynamic -- to say the least. Chock full of changing attitudes towards people of various ethnic groups, women, and other marginalized individuals -- the years of the "Long Civil Rights Movement" (a term used to broaden the confines of what is traditionally thought of as the Civil Rights Movement, into time and place outside of the 1950s/1960s American South) are clearly portrayed in romance comics. The (intended) audience of young females consuming romance comics made for the perfect crowd for communicating thoughts on the Women's Movement.

"No Man is My Master" from My Love #10 (March 1971) is only one example of many. One of the predominant reoccurring themes in the romance comics of the late '60s and early '70s was the Women's Movement and its effect on character relationships. Like any blossoming social revolution, the romance comics dealt with issues of feminism in various ways. Many of the stories seem to have good intentions behind them, but fall flat -- especially for today's reader. One has to question the intentions of this story though, as the main character -- Bev comes off as flaky and naïve.

The cover (John Buscema) of this issue depicts a young woman who is torn between "female freedom" and her boyfriend. The interior, written by Stan Lee, penciled by Buscema and inked by John Verpoorten tells a similar story -- but with a different outcome than one may think based on the cover.


We are given a glimpse into the date of Bev and Nick, an attractive young couple. It becomes quickly evident that despite his good looks, Nick is bossy, brutish and self-absorbed. Not the most attractive qualities in a potential mate! Bev is obviously distressed about the state of their relationship, but carries on anyway.

The next day, Bev is convinced by a friend to attend a "female freedom rally." Bev is moved by the message on a personal level. From the rally she takes away the realization that Nick is no good for her.

After the rally, Bev resolves herself to only date men that treat her as an equal. The next time she speaks with Nick on the phone, she lets him know that she is going to be busy for a while. In the time away from him, Bev dates boys who are respectful, mild-mannered and who value her opinions. The men she dates let her take control of their outings -- they let her decide what to do and where to go. Bev becomes put off by this though, as she feels they are meek and indecisive. After an unsuccessful date one night, Bev rethinks her liberation.

Thinking that she has misunderstood equal rights, Bev ceases her casual dates with nice, respectful men and waits by the phone for Nick to call. Eventually he does, and comes over for a visit where he so supportively asks, "did you get whatever was buggin' you out of your system?" Nice!

Nick's tired, cheesy, barbaric line tugs at Bev's heartstrings and their embrace is tagged as "the start -- of something lovely!" Lovely indeed!!!

Before reading the story and purely based on the cover, I really thought the leading lady was going to stick to her new found idealism, but that is my bias from being a female of today. One has to remember when reading these stories, that they need to be understood within the context of the rise of the Women's Movement -- which to some was probably confusing, tumultuous and even upsetting. To today's reader, this story may just seem like a silly and sad product of mass culture. In reality though, this romance story should not be easily dismissed, as it helps give perspective to the rollercoaster of emotions that accompanied the large-scale social change of the early 1970s.