Rest in Peace, Gene Colan - Romance Comic Book Artist Extraordinaire

Sad news struck the comic book industry early this morning -- Gene Colan has passed away. Primarily known for his work on Daredevil, Howard the Duck and Tomb of Dracula, Gene was also a prolific romance artist. Gene had been on my mind lately and I think that is why I posted a "Reach for Happiness!" episode just the other day. He had been ill for quite some time, so while not completely unexpected, his death is nonetheless a time for reflection. Below, are a few images which I feel eloquently capture Colan's distinct 1960s and '70s romance work for DC and Marvel.

Colan excelled at illustrating the sadness
that sometimes accompanies romantic relationships.

"Love is Two Strangers!"
Secret Hearts #101
(January 1965)

On the other end of the emotional spectrum,
Colan drew kisses effortlessly, and with a high degree of intimacy.

"A Visit to a Lost Love!"
Young Love #56
(July/August 1966)

Colan's romance work was realistic and never
shied away from the vulnerabilities inherent in romance.

"Diary of a Broken Heart"
Young Romance #144
(October/November 1966)

Gene's 1970s pencils for Marvel helped to show his range.
Colan's characters most definitely knew how to have fun!

Inks by Dick Ayers
"Born to be Unloved?"
My Love #8
(November 1970)

Youth and movement were not things Colan
took for granted in the pages of the romance comics.

Inks by Dick Ayers
"I Loved You Once -- Remember?"
My Love #9
(January 1971)

Gorgeous layouts and sweeping
cinematic scenes came naturally for Colan.

Inks by Dick Ayers
"He's Hers, But -- I Want Him!"
Our Love Story #21
(February 1973)

Rest in peace, Mr. Colan

♥♥♥

Rest in Peace, George Tuska (1916-2009)

I was offline most of the day today and so, I just heard about George Tuska's passing. He lived to be 93, attending conventions up until the end I hear.

Besides his freelance work for Marvel -- working on such titles as Iron Man, Luke Cage, and Planet of the Apes, Tuska penciled a hefty amount of romance comics for DC, penciling both interior and cover art. Though his work on romance comics may not be as stylized as some, Tuska's ladies were always beautiful and filled with a sense of motion, as exemplified by one of my favorite Tuska covers, Heart Throbs #128 (October/November 1970).

"Which Love is Mine?"
Girls' Love Stories # 146 (October 1969)

"Too Young For Love"

Young Romance #172 (June/July 1971)

Tuska's work on the romance books have stood the test of time, and his diverse contribution to comic books will no doubt have an impact on artists and fans for years to come.

Remembering Ric Estrada

This past weekend was a sad time for the comic book world and for fans of romance. As I am sure many of you know, the incredibly talented Ric Estrada passed away this past Friday, May 1st. He not only led a fascinating personal life, but also made a significant contribution to the romance genre. According to Mike's Amazing World of DC Comics, Estrada had 289 story credits under his belt, just for DC alone. Out of those, 56 were romance stories. This isn't even counting the likelihood of unsigned stories, or ones misattributed. It is almost inevitable that he worked on countless more.

Ric Estrada definitely had a handle on drawing gorgeous and sensual women. This panel from the story "The Wrong Kind of Love," originally featured in DC 100-Page Super Spectacular #5 (1971) (image from the 2000 replica edition) really demonstrates that. There is a certain "realness" to his girls and they tend to come off as effortless beauties.


Besides drawing females with great skill, Estrada also drew incredibly handsome men. This particular guy, Tony from "Not Good Enough for Me!" which appeared in Girls' Love Stories #137 (August 1968) not only has style, but the chiseled face to match. Good looking male characters are essential to any first-rate romance story and in my opinion, just as important as having attractive leading ladies.


Lastly, I picked one of my favorite pages to show the caliber of artist Ric Estrada was. This scene comes from Secret Hearts #148 (December 1970) in the story, "Love Song in Blue." The bridge over the young woman's head is really striking in contrast to the rest of the panels, and the closeup on her face is breathtaking.



I should admit that I happen to be the happy owner of the original page from this story. Perhaps I am a tad biased, but it really is a beautiful example of romance art and showcases Estrada's talent well.

Hopefully all of his family and friends know that the community is keeping them and Ric's legacy in their thoughts. It is always hard when the tight-knit comic book industry loses someone, and Mr. Estrada's passing is no exception.