Young Romance #175

Young Romance #175 (On Sale: August 12, 1971), has a cover by I'm not sure. Some say Jay Scott Pike, but, not likely I think. The grease pencil style of inking looks more like Win Mortimer or even Jack Sparling, but I don't think it is Sparling.

We begin with "The Wall Between Us" drawn by Artie Saaf and Vince Colletta. A social worker becomes infatuated with one of her out-of-work clients.

Next up is "Man's View" by Robert Kanigher and John Romita and reprinted from Girls' Love Stories #92 (1963). Jim has a girl in every port and doesn't want to get tied down, but when he meets Nina he can't get her out of his mind. Reprinted in Heart Throbs: The Best of DC Romance Comics HC (1979) and Heart Throbs: The Best of DC Romance Comics SC (1979).

That leads us to "A Girl Without Love" drawn by Artie Saaf and Vince Colletta. Gloria's family is affluent and her parents force her to go out with wealthy escorts, but she finds them boring. Then she meets a musician who works in a gas station to make ends meet.

Next, we have "My Summer Romance" drawn by Gil Kane and Bernard Sachs and reprinted from Secret Hearts #25 (1954). Vivian returns to Lighthouse Island to reminisce about a summer romance that had ended badly.

We end with "The Love Game" drawn by John Rosenberger and reprinted from Young Love #42 (1964). Phyllis' glamorous older sister teaches her that all fellows should be treated coldly and ruthlessly to avoid getting hurt by them.

Edited by Dorothy Woolfolk.

Girls' Love Stories #162

Girls' Love Stories #162 (On Sale: August 5, 1971), has a cover by Winslow Mortimer.

We begin with "Honeymoon for Three" drawn by Jay Scott Pike and Vince Colletta. Chuck agrees to marry Sally but he is not happy that he also has to raise Billy, her orphaned nephew.

Next up is "Which Girl Am I?" drawn by both Gene Colan and Dick Giordano and reprinted from Young Love #52 (1965). Tomboy Judi gets a makeover, but now she looks just like movie star Didi Taylor and thinks that everyone just wants to meet her because of the resemblance.

That brings us to "The Hard Way" drawn by Winslow Mortimer and Vince Colletta. After Jay breaks up with Liza she has a hard time moving on and treats her next boyfriend badly.

Next, we have "Castle of Love" drawn by Bill Draut and reprinted from Falling in Love #86 (1966). Nolan Grant tries to solve the mystery of "Sleeping Beauty," a girl named Eileen who has cut herself off from the world because of a past heartbreak.

We end with "This Is Our Moment" drawn by John Romita and reprinted from Secret Hearts #109 (1966). Katie always takes advantage of her younger sister Jane but Jane ends up getting the guy they both want.

Edited by Dorothy Woolfolk.

Girls' Romances #159

Girls' Romances #159 (On Sale: July 6, 1971), has a cover by Don Heck and Vince Colletta.

We begin with "Made for Each Other" drawn by Artie Saaf. Candy and Jeff live together in poverty, each one making secret sacrifices so that the other one will be happy, until they find that they both would rather change their lives for the better.

Next is "Hold Me Hold Me" drawn by John Romita and reprinted from Girls' Romances #92 (1963). Susan loves Joey from afar as he dates one girl after another and breaks their hearts. When she finally gets her chance with Joey she then finds that she isn't sure of his love.

That is followed by "Love Letters" drawn by John Rosenberger. A girl reads letters from her late mother, written years earlier telling how she married her fiance in spite of the fact that she had a fatal illness so that they could have a year of happiness together, and a child.

Next up is "Please Don't Hurt Me!" created by persons unknown and reprinted from Girls' Love Stories #13 (1951), Abby is determined to concentrate on her job as a teacher and not to fall in love with Tod, the new teacher hired to help her. 

That brings us to  "Portrait of an Actress" by Robert Kanigher and Mike Peppe and reprinted from Falling in Love #58 (1963). Ann leaves behind her dreams of stardom on the stage when she finds love more important than the endless fighting for fame.

Edited by Dorothy Woolfolk.

Falling in Love #125

Falling in Love #125 (On Sale: June 10, 1971), has a cover by Artie Saaf and Vince Colletta.

We begin with our cover story, "Clinging Vine!" drawn by Artie Saaf and Vince Colletta. Sue promises not to go after Dinah's boyfriend Bill but she doesn't keep her word.

Next, we have "I Hate Your Kisses" drawn by Tony Abruzzo and reprinted from Young Romance #144 (1966), Things always go well for Carla on dates, until the boy tries to kiss her and her feelings immediately change. Eventually, she meets the right boy, whose kisses don't turn her off.

We follow that with another reprint, "Magic Moment" drawn by Mike Sekowsky and John Romita and reprinted from Girls' Love Stories #65 (1959). Hanny's daydreams about becoming a movie star get in the way of her relationship with Tommy.

Next, we have an untitled one-pager on "Do's and Dont's of Dating" drawn by Steve Englehart and Vince Colletta. Englehart is best known as a writer, but this is one of the few art pieces he did before devoting himself to writing. This looks much different than the story he did wor Warren with Neal Adams and appears to be his first (only) pencils for DC. Reprinted in Heart Throbs: The Best of DC Romance Comics (1979).

That is followed by "His Kind of Girl" penciled by Tony Abruzzo and reprinted from Girls' Romances #100 (1964). Katy always feels inferior to her best friend Lori, especially when they are competing for the same man.

We end with "Once Upon a Time" inked by Vince Colletta. Peggy borrows a dress from the store where she works to go to a fancy party where she calls herself Cindy and meets Lee, but she has to run off at midnight to return the dress and doesn't think she will ever see Lee again.

Edited by Dorothy Woolfolk.

Young Romance #172

Young Romance #172 (On Sale: April 27, 1971), has a cover by Don Heck and Vince Colletta. and it is a fairly uninteresting piece of work.

We start this issue with "Too Young for Love" by Robert Kanigher, George Tuska, and Vince Colletta.

Next is "A Kiss to Remember" drawn by John Forte and reprinted from Girls' Romances #64 (1959).

That is followed by "The Lie" drawn by Artie Saaf and Vince Colletta.

That leads us to "He Loves Me Not" drawn by Mike Sekowsky and Bernard Sachs and reprinted from Falling in Love #34 (1960). Should a girl just wait for the man she loves to notice her?

Next up is "I Can't Marry You, Darling" drawn by John Romita and reprinted from Heart Throbs #99 (1966). We were deeply in love... but when it came to marrying him I ran into a stone wall of opposition.

That brings us to "Heartache for Three" reprinted from Girls' Love Stories #13 (1951). This one is a little different in that there is a new header at the top of page one and a new panel at the end of the story, mentioning that this story is a classic from twenty years ago, reprinted exactly as it was back then, and then asking the reader to respond if they would like to see more. This was a change from the normal DC policy of updating hair styles and clothing on the reprinted romance stories.

So we end with "So Little Time" reprinted from Falling in Love #33 (1960). There was so little time for happiness.

Edited by Dorothy Woolfolk.

Secret Hearts #152

Secret Hearts #152 (On Sale: April 6, 1971), has a cover by Don Heck and Frank Giacoia.

We begin with "My Father's Wife" by Jack Oleck and Tony DeZuniga. When Sherry's father remarries, she refuses to accept her new young stepmother and nearly drives her boyfriend away with her vicious attitude.

Next is "The Day I Fell in Love" by Robert Kanigher and John Romita reprinted from Falling in Love #59 (1963). Mary has wanted to be a successful actress for many years and has neglected her personal life to do so. This makes her unable to portray a woman in love onstage until she meets and falls for director Vincent May.

We end with "The Story of Karen" drawn by Jack Katz and Vince Colletta. Kathy is shocked when she begins to have feelings for another man while her fiance is away.

Jack Katz was born in Brooklyn, New York, on September 27, 1927. He attended the School of Industrial Art in New York City and began his comics career in 1943 working in the C. C. Beck and Pete Costanza studio on Bulletman. Katz used a number of pseudonyms such as Jay Hawk, Vaughn Beering, Alac Justice, Alec Justice, and David Hadley.

From 1946 to 1951, he worked as an art assistant on various King Features Syndicate comic strips, working briefly on Terry and the Pirates as an assistant to George Wunder. 

Katz went to work for Standard Comics in 1951 doing horror comics, war comics, and some romance comics until the company went out of business. From 1952 to 1956, Katz worked as a penciler and inker at the studio of Jack Kirby and Joe Simon, working alongside Mort Meskin and Marvin Stein. A slow worker due to heavy detailing, Katz was let go and moved on to Timely Comics under Stan Lee around 1954 where he worked on war and horror comics, as well as Westerns. In 1955 he left mainstream comics to paint and teach art, both privately and for the YMCA in New York City. 

Impressed by Jim Steranko's Captain America, Katz reentered mainstream comics in 1969 penciling Sub-Mariner #17 and three other stories for Marvel, a few stories for Skywald, and four stories for DC, this being the first.

But Jack Katz is better known for writing and drawing The First Kingdom,  a 24-issue, 768-page graphic novel that took Katz 12 years to complete. The first Kingdom was published as a black and white underground comic book. 

Edited by Dorothy Woolfolk.

Girls' Love Stories #159

Girls' Love Stories #159 (On Sale: March 25, 1971), has a cover by, I am going to guess, Werner Roth and Vince Colletta.

We begin with "Someone to Love!" by Robert Kanigher, Werner Roth, and Vince Colletta. Angela and Celia worry because they don't have boyfriends but eventually they find themselves in relationships. When the guys start to lose interest, each girl helps the other to bring her beau back in line.

Next is "I Loved the Wrong Man!" drawn by John Romita and reprinted from Girls' Romances #62 (1959). Abbe is determined to catch a rich suitor when she goes to an exclusive resort, but she winds up in love with the sailing instructor. 

We end this time with "Sweet ... and Simple!" by Jack Oleck, Artie Saaf, and Vince Colletta. Phil wants a girl who's not too smart or independent, and thinks Sharon is a perfect match, but he gets a surprise when he accidentally overhears her on the phone.

Edited by Dorothy Woolfolk.

Young Love #86

Young Love #86 (On Sale: March 11, 1971), has a cover by Don Heck and everyone says Tony DeZuniga, but once again everyone is full of it. Might be Dick Giordano, but the two main characters are not inked very well. This issue also has a new and not improved logo to go along with the new editor Dorothy Woolfolk.

We begin with "The Two Faces of Liza" drawn by Winslow Mortimer and Jack Abel.

Next is "Never Bet on Love" drawn by Jay Scott Pike and Vince Colletta.

We end with "My Sister's Lover" drawn by John Romita and reprinted from Falling in Love #52 (1962). As a little girl, Linda falls in love with Nicky, the older boy next door. Linda's sister, Rita, ridicules Linda and has her own designs on Nicky. As Linda grows up, Nicky tries to discourage her attentions, saying she isn't a little girl anymore. 

Eventually, he leaves town and Linda receives a letter from Nicky, telling her she should forget him. But Nicky is actually in love with Linda and just afraid he is stealing her chance of happiness with someone her own age. He comes back and proposes to Linda.

Edited by Dorothy Woolfolk.

Young Romance #171

Young Romance #171 (On Sale: February 18, 1971), has a cover by Don Heck and Dick Giordano.

We begin with "Let Me Share My Heart with You" by Robert Kanigher, Artie Saaf, and Tony DeZuñiga.

Next is the reprint "Strangers in Love" penciled by John Romita and originally published in Heart Throbs #93 (1965) where it was entitled "A Date with Heartbreak!".

Next is a one-page "Do's and Dont's of Dating" drawn by Tony DeZuñiga.

That is followed by "How Much Can My Love Buy?" by George Kashdan, Artie Saaf, Vince Colletta, and Tony DeZuñiga.

Next, we have "Which Man Is Mine" with pencils by John Romita and which is reprinted from Secret Hearts #68 (1961).

Following that is a one-page "How to Lose 5 lbs. in 5 Days!" by Liz Berube.

Our next reprint is "Afraid to Love" also with pencils by John Romita and which is reprinted from Falling in Love #36 (1960).

We end with "Nice Girls Are Out of Style" by Barbara Friedlander, Kurt Schaffenberger, and Vince Colletta.

Edited for the first time by Dorothy Woolfolk.

Girls' Romances #155

Girls' Romances #155 (On Sale: January 19, 1971), has a really nice cover by Tony DeZuniga. Some think this is Gray Morrow and you know what we think of people that delusional.

We begin with "Which Girl Am I?" which is called the much more provocative "What Kind of Girl Am I?" on the cover. Who penciled it may never be known after the pencils were destroyed by Vinnie Colletta. Brainy Paulette tries to hide her intelligence so that her dates are not intimidated by her.

Next is a one-page "Teen Fables" by Henry Boltinoff.

Our next story is the reprint "Rebel Heart" which is drawn by Werner Roth and John Romita and is reprinted from Girls' Romances #85 (1962). Jane falls in love with Jimmy, one of her uncle's employees, but Jimmy thinks that the class differences between them will tear them apart.

This issue ends with "The Secret Door to My Dream World" drawn by Ric Estrada and Vince Colletta. When Margaret has disturbing dreams about her boyfriend she consults a psychiatrist, only to be surprised by the result.

Edited by Murray Boltioff.

Falling in Love #121

Falling in Love #121 (On Sale: December 22, 1970), has a wonderful cover by Tony DeZuniga.

We begin with "Love Me Tonight, Forget Me Tomorrow" drawn by Ric Estrada and Tony DeZuniga. Alice gives up a promotion and her feminist beliefs to ensure that her boyfriend advances in her place.

Next, we have "Not for These Arms" drawn by Mike Sekowsky or John Romita and Bill Draut and reprinted from Girls' Romances #85 (1962). Paul meets a despondent Elaine and tries to cheer her up, falling in love with her in the process. He later learns that she recently broke her engagement and realizes that she is only on the rebound and doesn't love him in return.

That is followed by a two-page text story "How to Be Happy -- and Single" with illustrations by John Rosenberger.

Our next story is "The Secret in My Past" with inks by the ever horrible Vince Colletta. Amy is afraid to tell her boyfriend Jimmy that she was engaged once before - until she learns that he was also once engaged.

We end with "I Gave My Love Away" drawn by Artie Saaf and Vince Colletta. Mary helps Tommy, a boxer, learn how to act in polite society but then her rich friend Iris sets her sights on him. 

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

Girls' Love Stories #155

Girls' Love Stories #155 (On Sale: September 24, 1970) has a cover by, well, some with failing eyesight say Neal Adams, while others say Tony DeZuniga. Now, I do see some DeZuniga in the face of the Judge, but the other characters look more like Alex Nino to me. Alex does not officially arrive at DC till 1972, but when he comes it will be through Tony DeZuniga that he gets here. We are free to ponder this one.

We begin with our cover story, "Will No One Trust Me Again?" written by Jack Miller, penciled by John Calnan and inked by either Joe Giella or Murphy Anderson (wish I had access to this book as it is hard to mistake Giella and Anderson). Jill makes a mistake in judgment by becoming involved with Lance and when they are both arrested, his rich father gets Lance's record erased, while Jill is left with a bad reputation which she finds hard to overcome.

Next we have "Summer Love" drawn by John Romita and Bernard Sachs and reprinted from Heart Throbs #63 (1959) where it was originally entitled  "I Know My Love." The story is told in pantomime, and the artwork has been partially redrawn with updated fashions.

We end with "Scrapbook of Tears" drawn by maybe George Tuska and butchered in the inks by Vince Colletta. Alice and Bill meet again several years after their earlier acquaintance, but they have very different memories of the past.

Edited by Joe Orlando.

Young Romance #164

Young Romance #164 (On Sale: December 9, 1969) has a cover inked by Vinny Colletta. Some say this is penciled by Bill Draut and some say it is Werner Roth. This is the problem with Colletta; he just destroyed people's pencils.

We begin with "The Searing Conclusion to Next Door to Love" drawn by Alex Toth and Ric Dano (Dick Giordano). Amy hears nothing but bad things about men from her mother, which makes her afraid to trust that Larry, who lives next door and is really interested in her. This was reprinted in Young Love #114.

Next is "Please... Don't Step on My Heart" by Robert Kanigher, John Celardo and Vinnie Colletta.

Next is a lovelorn letters section, Laura Penn...Your Romance Reporter with an illustration by John Romita.

That is followed by a fashion page, Dates 'n Mates drawn by Liz Berube.

We end with "I Laughed at Love" by Tony Abruzzo and Vinny Colletta. This was reprinted under a different title in Young Romance #203.

Edited by Joe Orlando.

Girls' Love Stories #144

Girls' Love Stories #144 (On Sale: May 13, 1969) has a cover by supposedly George Tuska and Vinny Colletta. It looks nothing like Tuska and certainly nothing like the Tuska/Colletta art on Iron Man at Marvel. Oddly, this cover falls back on the old logo that was replaced two issues prior.

We begin with "Can Love Last Forever?" drawn by John Rosenberger. Next is "Too Late for Tears" a reprint from Secret Hearts #43 drawn by John Romita and Bernard Sachs. That is followed by "He Loves Me... He Loves Me Not" drawn by Jay Scott Pike. Lastly is our cover-story, "Memory of Margret" drawn by George Tuska and Vinny Colletta.

This is George Tuska's first work of DC in ten years (Tales of the Unexpected #34) and his first cover since Uncle Sam #3 in 1942.

George Tuska studied at the National Academy School of Art. In 1939, he became an assistant on the Scorchy Smith newspaper comic strip. As he explained in an interview in Alter Ego #3, he also worked for for the Eisner & Iger studio, "alongside Bob Powell, Lou Fine, and Mike Sekowsky" , adding that the studio later expanded "with Charles Sultan, John Celardo, Nick Cardy, and [writer] Toni Blum joining in. I worked on 'Shark Brodie' [for Fiction House], 'Spike Marlin' [in Harvey Comics' Speed Comics, as Carl Larson], and other strips" for comics including Fiction House's Jungle Comics and Wings Comics, and Fox Comics' Wonderworld Comics and Mystery Men Comics."

Tuska later left to work with packager Harry "A" Chesler's studio, helping to supply content for such Fawcett Comics publications as Captain Marvel Adventures, and for such characters as Golden Arrow, Uncle Sam and El Carim. Tuska also drew the debut of the Quality Comics feature Hercules — starring a superhuman circus strongman, not the mythological figure — in Hit Comics #1 (July 1940).

Following Tuska's military service in World War II, he worked on Lev Gleason Publications' comic-book series Crime Does Not Pay, and later became one of the last writer-artists of Scorchy Smith, which ran until 1961. Tuska also did the comic strip Buck Rogers from 1959-1967.

Tuska freelanced primarily for Marvel during the 1960s Silver Age of comic books and beyond, penciling and occasionally inking other artists on series including Ghost Rider, Luke Cage, Power Man, Black Goliath, Sub-Mariner, The X-Men and the movie tie-in series Planet of the Apes. His first Marvel story, a "Tales of the Watcher" feature in Tales of Suspense #58 (Nov. 1964), had a special introduction by editor Stan Lee hailing the return of the Golden Age great. He enjoyed a nearly ten-year, sometimes briefly interrupted, run on Iron Man from issue #5 (Sept. 1968) to #106 (Jan. 1978).

His work at DC would include numerous romance and horror/mystery stories, but he is best remembered at DC for his super-hero work, starting with Challengers of the Unknown #73 in 1970. Besides the Challs, Tuska would work on the Teen Titans, Superboy, Superman in Action Comics and Superman Family, Jimmy Olsen in Superman Family, Justice League of America, Legion of Super-Heroes, Superman/Batman and Black Lightning in World's Finest Comics, Masters of the Universe, Green Lantern, Infinity Inc., and Fury of Firestorm.

George Tuska also pulled a 15-year stint drawing The World's Greatest Superheroes Present Superman newspaper strip from 1978-1993. His last DC work was on a Wildcat story in Wildcats: Mosaic #1 in 2000. Tuska retired from active comics work and lived in Manchester, New Jersey where he did commissioned art until his death at age 93 in 2009.

Edited by Joe Orlando.

Heart Throbs #118

Heart Throbs #118 (On Sale: December 24, 1968) has a cover by Jay Scott Pike and Dick Giordano.

We begin with "Stand-In for Love" penciled by Tony Abruzzo. Next is "Two Hearts Lost" a reprint from Falling In Love #31 penciled by John Romita. Lastly is this month's "3 Girls -- Their Lives...Their Loves Episode 17" penciled by Jay Scott Pike.

Edited by Jack Miller. This is Miller's last romance book for DC.

Girls' Love Stories #140

Girls' Love Stories #140 (On Sale: November 14, 1968) has a cover by Ric Estrada and Dick Giordano.

We begin with "New Face, New Love" penciled by John Rosenberger. That is followed by "Never Look at Love" drawn by John Romita and Bernard Sachs, which must be a reprint from somewhere. Next we have an untitled Cindy the Salesgirl story also penciled by John Rosenberger. The book ends with "My Computer Romance" penciled by Ric Estrada.

Edited by Jack Miller.

Girls' Romances #137

Girls' Romances #137 (On Sale: October 10, 1968) has a sort of throw-back cover by Jay Scott Pike.

We begin with "I Couldn't Trust Him" pencilled by Tony Abruzzo. That is followed by "Substitute for Love," a reprint from Falling In Love #53 pencilled by John Romita. We end with our cover story, "The Wrong Boy", pencilled by Tony Abruzzo and later reprinted in Young Romance #199.

Edited by Jack Miller.

Girls' Love Stories #139

Girls' Love Stories #139 (On Sale: September 24, 1968) has a cover that aptly demonstrates Nick Cardy's ability to create amazing, sexy woman of beauty and innocence.

We begin with "The Only Man for Me" drawn by Ric Estrada. That is followed by "How Could He Stop Loving Me?" drawn by Tony Abruzzo. Next is "Kiss Me -- If You Dare" a reprint from Secret Hearts #89 drawn by John Romita and Bernard Sachs. Lastly we have our cover story, "She's Young, Beautiful -- and Alone -- Why?" drawn by John Rosenberger.

Edited by Jack Miller.

Heart Throbs #116

Heart Throbs #116 (On Sale: August 27, 1968) has a cover by Jay Scott Pike. I'm not real crazy about this one.

We begin with "The Truth About a Lie" a reprint from Falling In Love #50 drawn by John Romita. This is followed by a Cindy the Salesgirl story drawn by Jay Scott Pike and "3 Girls--Their Lives...Their Loves, Episode 15" also drawn by Jay Scott Pike.

Edited by Jack Miller.

Girls' Romances #136

Girls' Romances #136 (On Sale: August 27, 1968) has a beautifully modish cover by Jay Scott Pike. I love the colors on this one!

We begin with "Secret Love" drawn by John Rosenberger, followed by "Letter to a Lost Love" drawn by John Romita and reprinted from Secret Hearts #91 and finally "My Time to Love Part II" drawn by Jay Scott Pike.

Edited by Jack Miller.