Puppy Love Week - Sweet Mystery of Love!

Happy Monday, everyone! I hope you had a wonderful weekend! Let's dive right into a theme week, shall we? For many of us, dogs play an important part in our lives. They give us companionship, exercise and lots of laughs! As you will see in this week's romance comic book stories, dogs can even play an important role in facilitating love!

This adorable story that ran as part of a semi-regular feature called, "Sweet Mystery of Love!" is from Falling in Love #95 (November 1967) and illustrated by the ever-talented Nick Cardy. In it, we meet Jean, a young woman terrified of making the first move on a guy she likes. Trouble is, the clock is ticking as the army is about to ship Bill off!


Jean frequently walks by Bill's house, but is never able to muster up enough courage to say a simple hello. Her friends give her advice on how to strike up a conversation, but Jean never follows through and consequently, wallows in her fears and inaction.


One day, Jean decides to get a dog to occupy her time. She picks out a little French Poodle and names the little guy Billy -- after her crush.


Girl and dog quickly form a bond, and the two go for a walk. Naturally, she takes Billy past Bill's house, feeling a little bit more confident that she has an excuse to walk by. Though Bill doesn't notice Jean, Billy notices Bill's dog, Missy. Billy breaks free of his leash and chases Missy off of Bill's porch.


And just like that, Jean has a reason to talk to Bill! The two chase after their dogs and eventually catch up to them. Jean apologizes, but Bill says he is actually glad that it happened. And the rest, as they say, is history!

Such a sweet little story, don't you think?
Check back all this week for more puppy love!!!

10 Reasons Why I am Thankful for Romance Comic Books!

Now that the turkey has been eaten and the pie gobbled down, it is time to say thanks for romance comics! There are so many reasons why I love these gems from the 1960s and 1970s, but here are just ten reasons (in no particular order) I am thankful for the oft-dismissed genre!

♥ The Thrill of the Hunt ♥

Whether found at conventions, comic book stores or on Ebay,
looking high and low for romance comics
is one of my favorite things to do!

♥ House ads ♥
Advertising titles, stories and collections of books,
the house ads of the romance comics
are both informative and fun!

♥ Stories from the People Who Were There ♥
I am so thankful that I have been able to conduct
interviews with the likes of Suzan Loeb, Irene Vartanoff and
José Luis García-López! I can only hope that many more are in store!

♥ Cardy Covers ♥
Not much needs to be said on this point --
who isn't thankful for beautifully rendered Cardy covers?

♥ Crazy Product Advertisements ♥

Fishing rods! Sea-Monkey necklaces! Diet aides! Wigs!
The list goes on and on of advertisements from the
romance comics to be thankful for!

♥ Marc and Paul ♥
One is completely lovable and one is practically the Antichrist...
Twin advice columnists Marc and Paul couldn't be more
different, but that is why I love them so!

♥ Serial Stories and Recurring Characters ♥
Becoming attached to a character in romance stories is
usually problematic due to their fleeting nature. Thankfully,
serials like "Reach for Happiness" and recurring characters like
Page Peterson, satisfy the need for continuity and familiarity.

♥ Inspiring Fashion Spreads ♥

Romance comics from the '60s and '70s are so
captivating, in part, because of the incredible fashions worn by
glamorous characters! I know I sure am thankful for
Mad Mad Modes for Moderns and Dates 'n Mates!

♥ Easter Eggs ♥
Finding an Easter Egg in a romance comic
(like this ode to Green Lantern) is always a treat!

♥ Readers of Sequential Crush ♥

I have saved my number one reason for being thankful for romance comics for last. I will try not to be too gushy or cliche here, but honestly... I am truly thankful for all the amazing people I have met through a mutual love of romance comics. Readers, fellow bloggers, dealers and everyone else -- I am so thankful for you all! You have taught me things, inspired me and made my research of romance comics a continually enjoyable and worthwhile endeavor!!!

♥ Happy Thanksgiving ♥

DC's Pity Party

Influenced by the struggles of other groups fighting for Civil Rights, the Disability Rights Movement gathered steam and momentum in the late 1960s and early '70s. During this time, DC made efforts to be socially "with it" and began to feature stories of the Women's and Student Movements as well as African-American characters. It was also during this time that DC published numerous stories with wheelchair-bound characters.

DIAGNOSIS: Paralysis from car accident

"Don't Pity Me -- Love Me!"
Falling in Love #108 (July 1969)
Cover pencils by Ric Estrada, inks by Vince Colletta

DIAGNOSIS: Broken leg due to falling of porch

"Love, Love Go Away... Come Again Another Day"
Falling in Love #120 (January 1971)
Cover pencils and inks by Nick Cardy

DIAGNOSIS: Knee injury as a result of a football accident
(yes, even guys can be pitied)

"Too Much Loving... Too Many Tears!"
Girls' Romances #150 (July 1970)
Cover pencils by Nick Cardy, inks by Vince Colletta

DIAGNOSIS: Hit by a car while trying to catch up with two-timing Paul

"Pity Her -- But Love Me!"
Love Stories #147 (November 1972)

The word "pity" seems to be the signifier of a character in a wheelchair. In the world of DC romance, pity and wheelchairs go hand-in-hand. In these stories, none of the characters are permanently disabled or in a wheelchair due to congenital disorders or childhood illnesses. All are results of recent accidents, are temporary and are overcome within the length of the story.

I have yet to come across any wheelchair-bound characters in the Marvel or Charlton romance comics, but I am sure they are out there somewhere!

Fashion Files - Wedding Fever

I currently live in a crazy little tourist town in Indiana called New Harmony. It is scenic and really quite lovely, and it is a very popular spot for weddings. People from all over Indiana come to this town on the banks of the Wabash River to say, "I do." Last weekend there were five in town. That's a whole lot of wedding action for a town with a population of only 800!

'Tis the season for weddings and to continue with the Wedding Fever I thought I would share a couple wedding themed romance covers!

Falling in Love # 107 (May 1969)
I'm thinking its Cardy inked by Colletta, but not positive about that.

This apprehensive beauty comes from Girls' Love Stories #162 (October 1971)
Cover by Jay Scott Pike

Heart Throbs #142 (June 1972), Cover by Art Saaf
I feel exceptionally bad for those bridesmaides!

As you can see, long sleeves with high collars were all the rage in the late '60s and early '70s for wedding dress apparel. Obviously the artists drawing the romance books were with pretty with it when it came to fashion as evidenced by this Simplicity sewing pattern #9608 from 1971.

Extremely different from today's wedding fashions!

Dozens of romance comic books had wedding themes, so look forward to further installments exposing Wedding Fever!