By Carla Woodson
A New Frontier
Hello friends! If you wanted to know something about me, I enjoy old-fashioned things, and I mostly read Dick Tracy thanks to my father's love of the comics. I'm therefore something of a novice when it comes to new comics. When my good pal Gideon (the Traveler) recently handed me a stack of a variety of comics to peruse, I decided to choose something different from my usual adventurous fare. I slid past the usual Batman and other superhero comics, and went straight for the Girl’s Love Stories. The most recent issue, Girl's Love Stories #115, is representative: full of slice of life stories about, well, young women in love. Something like this needed to be read with bon-bons and Cola if I wanted the whole intended effect, but it's just as fun on it's own.
Note: I have never reviewed anything, especially a comic before. I usually just hand it off and tell a friend 'read this, I liked it!' But Gideon and I thought it would be fun if I gave it a shot, so let's go!
Girl on the Run.
April O'Day is a young starlet with big dreams on her mind, and like most girls, romance. When Nick Hanson, the dashing young assistant director is teaching April to fall in love on the screen, she begins to fall for him for real.
Oh reader, I was captivated. It wasn't good versus evil; it was your simple love story. Girl meets Boy, Girl literally throws herself at Boy, Boy…isn't interested? Oh no, I'm laughing now. Did she really think this tactic would work? After a good back and forth, and an angry pursuer getting punched, they lean in close… and you'll just have to check it out for yourself, now won't you?
Love- Love- Love!
Helen is surrounded by people in love, literally! Her gal-friends tell her all about their lives and the guys they're in love with, but she has the startling realization: she has never been in love!
Reader, I'm laughing again. I shouldn't — it happens to people outside of the world of comics, but not as dramatically. Anyway, she gets advice from her friends and decides to try it out to no avail. She berates herself for being unable to fall in love, and gets jealous of her friends in the process. But, a mysterious stranger turns up one evening…could he be the turning point in her love life?
There are your usual letter sections, with young girls getting advice from an editor, and an absolutely darling art section, where girls can send in fashion designs. All the designs are smart, cool, and something I could and would make and wear out. But this isn't a fashion review, sadly. [Next article? Gwyn, I think we've found a kindred spirit! (Ed.)]
Part-Time Girlfriend!
Chris is madly in love with her boyfriend Perry. Their young love is the kind that is simply infectious. They kiss every few seconds while saying goodbye, and they are constantly seeing each other. A few days go by without getting together, so, feeling lonely, Chris goes out on a drive, and she sees none other than Perry, and gasp, another girl?!
But it's ok, reader: she's Sandra, an old friend. Everything is fine and dandy, and they all live happily ever- oh it's not done? He kisses the 'old friend' in the darkened theater? Oh my goodness, I may have have to get some bon-bons. Chris is crushed, they both talk the next day, and she needs time to think everything over (completely understandable, but personally I think she should dump him and go on about her merry life). She goes to visit an aunt in the next town over, and the aunt sets her up with a guy next door, and she decides to go on a date with him, and another date, and another. But they realize neither of them love the other, and they part as friends. She comes back home to tell Perry she's alright with her seeing Sandra, but she hopes he will come back to her.
Whoa boy. That's an interesting way of taking things. This could either end well, or in tears. I quietly munch another bon-bon (yes, I gave into temptation halfway through and secured some!). Next time it's movie night, Chris calls Carl, the guy from her aunt's town, and they go out to a movie, and Perry sees them together. He eventually confronts Chris, but do they reconcile? Oh I would tell you, but you must read this. I think this was my favorite story.
Stuffed
I found these vignettes fascinating. Girl's Love Stories#115 is perfect if you are having a terrible day, and need something of a pick me up, or a quick giggle. As someone who doesn't read enough comics, I'm now looking forward to reading as many genres as possible — including some good old super-hero comics thrown in for good measure. I can't wait to share more reviews with you!
And Gideon: you're not getting this issue back, friend.
Welcome aboard!
Good to see a review of something that is often dismissed in comparison to the more widely discussed superhero comics. Maybe that's because they're supposed to be for girls. In any case, they are as worthy of consideration as any others.
Great review of a love comic from National. This particular issue looks like a delight, especially the typically lovely artwork by the great Gene Colan on the third story. Colan has been a journeyman artist (he even had one story published by the classic E.C. Comics line in the early 1950s) and it looks like this story is a visual treat. Most (all?) of the stories were probably written by Robert Kanigher, who wrote thousands of comic stories throughout his career. Any logical fallacies or strange twists are attributable to his probably churning out the story in one draft in about 2 hours, as he famously always did.
Welcome to the comics beat! I'm really glad to have you join me reviewing comic books.