Long Running Romance Comic Book Serial "Reach for Happiness!"- Episode Four

Last time we visited with the Danville Corners gang, nightclub owner Ray Silva paid a visit to Rita Phillips and the love triangle between Rita, blonde beauty Karen Wilder Sommers, and Dr. Greg Marsh became more evident. In this fourth episode from Secret Hearts #113 (July 1966) Gene Colan once again takes us through "The day-by-day story of real people trapped in a whirlpool of life and death, love and hate, laughter and tears..."

If you are new to the "Reach for Happiness!" series, be sure to check out the previous posts, or catch up with this handy little summary page!


After Greg bails on Lila and Roger's party, Karen is left to ponder the situations of those around her. She is most concerned about her sour sister, Peggy. Lila explains that she is so bitter because she hasn't found love. Karen worries that she may be in for the same fate if she doesn't find love herself.


The sisters leave the party for the evening and make a stop at the Crystal Club for a drink before heading home. While there, Peggy spots none other than Rita and Greg enjoying a romantic evening together. Naturally, Karen wants to split.


Meanwhile, Lila and Roger's teenage son, Richie is out cruising with his girlfriend in his grandfather's Rolls Royce. When challenged to a drag race by a passerby, Richie can't resist. After a bit, Ritchie spins out of control and crashes. Unhurt, he is still in trouble and detained by the police. When Roger and Lila are called with the news, Roger decides to let him sit in jail for the night. The news of the accident is relayed to Ritchie's grandfather who was at Ray Silva's nightclub. The grandfather goes to bail Ritchie out and requests that Dr. Greg Marsh is sent to Lila and Roger's house to inspect Ritchie. Karen and Peggy are called and made aware of the accident.


Karen decides to head over to the house. Fortuitously, Greg is over there as well and when the grandfather asks Greg to check on Richie's girlfriend at the hospital, Karen tags along at Greg's request. During the quiet car ride, Karen longs for Greg to tell her he still loves her. He doesn't say the words, but he draws her close for a passionate kiss.


After the kiss, Greg goes into the hospital to check on Richie's girlfriend. When he comes back to the car, Karen expects they will pick up where they left off, but Greg just drives her home in silence and only musters out "See you, Karen." And so, Karen is left to ponder their future.


My goodness, the drama! What do you think so far? Are you able to keep up with all the names and faces? Dying to know what happens next?! Stay tuned next month for another installment!

Reach for Happiness! - Episode Three

If you can handle the intense drama, keep reading for another emotion-fueled episode of "Reach for Happiness!" from Secret Hearts #112 (June 1966) as illustrated by Gene Colan.* The last time we took a trip to Danville Corners, the old beau of Rita Philips, Ray Silva, had snuck his way back into Rita's life to tell her that he wasn't through with her.






Rita is in love with Dr. Greg Marsh and doesn't hesitate in letting Ray know. Ray teases her about it, believing Greg is just giving Rita the runaround. In a moment of intense passion and rage, Rita slaps Ray for his cruelty.


Ray stands in shock after Rita's display of aggression -- for at one time she was grateful to him for taking a chance on her as no one ever had. The two ex-lovers seem to come to terms, but Rita fears that Ray will get in the way of her potential future with Greg.


Meanwhile, Lila and Roger Smathers are preparing for a dinner party to celebrate the homecoming of their godchild, Karen. While setting the table, Lila and Roger get into it with their teenage son Ritchie who took the car without permission the night before. Interrupting their disciplinary procedures is Lila's father who insists that Richie have the best life has to offer. Lila and Roger abhor the spoiling of their son. In a vindictive move, Lila's father reminds her that Roger owes everything he has to him.


A few hours later, the party for Karen begins. All invited guests seem to be in attendance except Dr. Greg Marsh. With loving feelings for the doctor creeping back in, Karen is devastated that he is a no-show.


Unbeknown to Karen, Greg wants to attend the party but Rita's jealousy prevents him leaving her side. He stays with Rita and Karen is left at her party heartbroken at his absence.

And that, my friends, is where this episode ends!

I don't know about you, but I am most interested at this point in the Roger and Lila storyline -- why does Roger owe everything to her father and why is he guilt-tripping them? Only time will tell!!!

*Scans for this episode most generously provided by Pat Curley of the blog, Silver Age Comics!

Reach for Happiness House Ad!

Tune in tomorrow, right here at Sequential Crush
for the third episode of the long running serial,
"Reach for Happiness!"

Reach for Happiness! - Episode Two

Back in August I featured the inaugural episode of the long running DC romance comic serial "Reach for Happiness!" that appeared in Secret Hearts. I am happy to share with you today, episode two from Secret Hearts #111 (April 1966) illustrated by Gene Colan!

Thus far in the storyline, our leading lady, Karen has returned from Hollywood after the sudden death of her movie star husband only to be greeted by a resentful sister and a competitive redhead named Rita. If you didn't catch the first post, however; do not fear! Read that post here or catch up with the following handy, "What Came Before" page!


After Rita's confrontation with Karen, Rita herself is accosted by the man caught in the cross-hairs -- Dr. Greg Marsh. Greg lets Rita know that the way in which she broke the news to Karen about their relationship was harsh and insensitive. Rita turns the tables a bit and asks why he hasn't taken her out on the town -- could it be that he is ashamed of her? Greg denies the notion and requests that Rita call up Karen and apologize for her behavior. When Rita refuses, Greg threatens to apologize on her behalf. In turn, Rita threatens Greg with a break up, which is quickly warded off by a passionate kiss.


Karen makes her way home from the uncomfortable run-in with Rita and is greeted by sister Peggy, who already knows the scoop about Karen's visit with Greg and the confrontation with Rita.


The two get into it over their mother's death (which Peggy attributes to Karen running off to Hollywood) and Karen explains that she is just trying to forget all of her grief over their mother and the sudden end to her marriage. Peggy then starts to pour her heart out to Karen about her own lost opportunity for love. Just as Karen begins to swell up with sympathetic emotion for her usually cold sister, Peggy pushes her away.


Meanwhile, on the other side of town... Rita goes to visit her father who has an inquiring mind about her relationship with Dr. Marsh.


Rita's father asks whatever became of the seedy nightclub owner named Ray Silva she was previously engaged to, a man with whom Rita holds no apparent resentment towards, but left (leaving only a note) to pursue greener pastures with Dr. Marsh. The conversation quickly takes a turn for the worse and Rita winds up defending herself against her father's critique by playing the old "I was born on the wrong side of the tracks" card. Naturally, her father who raised her alone after her mother died, takes issue with her "woe is me" attitude and implores her to make something of herself. Ultimately, Rita's father is pleased with her decision to attempt to marry a doctor -- in his eyes, it is a step in the right direction. As Rita rides the bus home, she thinks about her father's advice to play her cards right in order to capture the handsome doctor's eternal affections and decides it is a future she can get behind 100%.


As Rita enters her building to retire after the exhausting conversation with her father, she is shocked to see her ex -- Ray Silva waiting for her in her apartment.


Shocking... I know! But you will have to wait for episode three to see what transpires!!! In the meantime, tell me readers -- are you "enjoying this continuing drama of life in Danville Corners!" thus far? I know I am!!! So juicy and scandalous! Everything a perfect serial romance should be!!!

*Scans for this post most graciously provided by Pat Curley of the always informative and entertaining blog, Silver Age Comics!

Reach for Happiness! - Episode One

Everyone knows the names Peter Parker, Gwen Stacy, Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent, but are you familiar with Karen Wilder Summers, Rita Phillips and Greg Marsh? If you aren't now, you will be - after I review all twenty-nine episodes of the DC serial classic, "Reach for Happiness!"

The epic "Reach for Happiness!" story-arch made its debut in Secret Hearts #110 (March 1966) with art by the equally epic Gene Colan. Though "Reach for Happiness!" was not the first or last serial for the DC romance titles (the blurb on the cover of this issue is a bit deceiving), it is one of the longest running -- appearing in twenty-nine consecutive issues.

Starring Karen Wilder Summers as the lead protagonist, the series wove together the intricate lives and loves of the inhabitants of Danville Corners in soap operatic fashion. With that quick introduction, I am happy to present to you, the very first episode of DC's roller coaster of an opus "Reach for Happiness!"*


After two years away from home, Karen Wilder Summers returns to Danville Corners. Sick with the thought that no one may even want her back in town, she waits to be picked up by her Godparents, Roger and Lila. But Karen isn't back home just for a visit. It quickly becomes apparent that she is there to stay.


On the ride to Karen's home, they pass by the office of Dr. Greg Marsh. Karen reminisces how she was supposed to become Mrs. Marsh, but was derailed by meeting Frankie Summers who was at the time, a rising Hollywood star. In a flashback, we see Karen and Frankie's whirlwind courtship and subsequent engagement. We are also taken back to the heart-wrenching day when Karen had to tell Greg about her decision to break it off with him.

Upon her arrival to her family home, Karen is greeted (not very warmly, I might add) by her sister, Peggy. Cross with her for leaving home, and marrying a movie star, Peggy blames Karen for their mother's death. But after a few tears and some cold chicken straight out of the fridge, the two sisters seem to come to an understanding.

Once Karen settles in a bit, she goes to visit Greg -- the man whom she so impulsively dropped two years earlier. Surprised to see her, Greg gives his condolences for what happened to Karen's husband.


You are probably wondering -- what did happen to Frankie? Well, one night Frankie and Karen were out on a joyride with Frankie at the wheel. Going faster and faster around the bend, they crashed, and Frankie was thrown out of the vehicle and killed. As readers, we are privy to Karen's horrifying memories (brilliantly illustrated by Colan) but the memories are quickly shut out when Greg asks her to lunch.


So off they go to lunch at their favorite spot. Lunch turns into reminiscing, which quickly turns into slow dancing -- as many of my lunch dates often do!


Karen and Greg's romantic lunch is interrupted by the cruel hands of time, and Greg lets her known he must return to work. Accompanying him back to his office, Karen sits blissfully in the waiting room while he finishes up with his afternoon patients. Her momentary happiness is cut short when in walks red-headed acquaintance, Rita. Thinking Rita is engaged to a man named Ray Silva, Karen starts congratulating her; however, there is a twist in the plot. Rita reveals she is betrothed to none other than Dr. Greg Marsh! Nooooooo!


Intact with a sufficient amount of suspense -- that my friends, is how the first episode ends. In the concluding panel, DC promises readers a surprising second episode and asks them to write in and share their thoughts on the feature. Though it may be too late to tell DC how you feel about the first episode of "Reach for Happiness!", please do not hesitate to share here in the comments your first impressions! Perhaps together we can convince Warner Brothers to make the first feature film based on a romance comic!!! Or perhaps not! It will be fun nonetheless!

Be sure to join me for future posts over the next year to see how the saga of Karen and company unfolds!!!

*I have to sincerely thank Pat Curley of the blog, Silver Age Comics for providing the fine scans of this particular issue. I was hesitant to blog about this serial since I was missing the first couple issues, but thanks to Pat and his generous contribution of scans, I was able to share this episode with you while I continue to build my collection! Be sure to visit Pat's informative blog, and while you're at it, read his take on "Reach for Happiness!"