Below is the original 1960s First Kiss art:
I once had an editor who used to always end his letters to me with the phrase “Don’t Ever Change.”
Now, I don’t think he was singling me out. (Don’t change, John, because you’re already perfect.) I assume he told everyone not to change.
I could never figure out if he was being ironic. I mean—honestly, it came across as so phony. Such a cliche. So Hollywood. You had to hope that the guy was kidding.
He wasn’t my editor for long. The comics company he was working for went belly up. And we soon lost touch. Years later, I learned that he ended up in Hollywood—working in TV or films. I wonder if he ever changed.
And here’s the original 1960s romance art. The text is almost certainly by Joe Gill.
Below is the original, 1958 art from First Kiss.
Below is the original 1957 art from First Kiss #1. Yes, it’s very different from the finished Last Kiss art above.
Colorist Allen Freeman extended the art for use in a Last Kiss licensing presentation. And now…I’m happy to show it off here!
