by John | Apr 25, 2021 | Uncategorized
Vintage Art & Text:
Art by Jack Sparling from the story “Kisses $1” in Great Lover Romances #15, Feb. 1954.
Transcript:
Scene: Image of many $100-bills in the background. Woman in foreground looks out at the reader.
WOMAN: I know
you love the trickle down theory,
Dear! So I’m
spending all your money to stimulate the economy! See? Everyone wins!
1954 Art: Jack Sparling Re-Creation: Diego Jourdan Pereira
Background Photo: Giorgio Trovato Everything Else: John Lustig
DJP.lk79B
GreatLoverRomance14.5
↓ TranscriptScene: Image of many $100-bills in the background. Woman in foreground looks out at the reader.
WOMAN: I know
you love the trickle down theory,
Dear! So I’m
spending all your money to stimulate the economy! See? Everyone wins!
1954 Art: Jack Sparling Re-Creation: Diego Jourdan Pereira
Background Photo: Giorgio Trovato Everything Else: John Lustig
DJP.lk79B
GreatLoverRomance14.5
by John | Apr 22, 2021 | Uncategorized
Happy Arbor Day!
I’ll admit that before I looked up Joyce Kilmer’s Trees, I only knew the first two lines of the poem. And I had those lines wrong.
(It’s not “A poem as lovely as a tree.” It’s just “A poem lovely as a tree.)
Another surprise—Joyce Kilmer was a he, not a she.
And third, and most importantly,
My inner teenager whooped with glee
When I saw “breast” (and “bosom”) in Tree.
You say that’s immature? Well I agree!
Inks by Dick Giordano from the story Heartbreaker in FIRST KISS #12, 1960.
Transcript:
SCENE: A man and a woman are apparently resting after picnicking. The woman is seated on the grass with back against a large rock. The man has his head leaned back in her lap. In the background is a tree.
CAPTION: “I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
”A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast”
Wait!
Breasts? Oh, gee!
Between you and me,
Now I’m thinking of something
I’d rather see
Besides a tree!
1960 Art: Dick Giordano Color: Allen Freeman
First Four Lines: From “Trees” by Joyce Kilmer
Everything Else: John Lustig
12.3.4.4
↓ TranscriptSCENE: A man and a woman are apparently resting after picnicking. The woman is seated on the grass with back against a large rock. The man has his head leaned back in her lap. In the background is a tree.
CAPTION: “I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
”A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast”
Wait!
Breasts? Oh, gee!
Between you and me,
Now I’m thinking of something
I’d rather see
Besides a tree!
1960 Art: Dick Giordano Color: Allen Freeman
First Four Lines: From “Trees” by Joyce Kilmer
Everything Else: John Lustig
12.3.4.4
by John | Apr 20, 2021 | Uncategorized
Be cool like Tony Isabella (and me.) Get vaccinated!
Art by Dick Giordano for the cover of Teen Confessions #26, Dec. 1963. Charlton Comics.
Transcript:
SCENE: Man and woman in foreground touching tenderly and appear about to embrace. Woman in background looks on in distress.
WOMAN IN BACKGROUND (thinking): *sob* I love Bradley with all my heart! But I can’t compete against Carmen! Not only
is she fully vaccinated…She has stars in her ears!
1963 Art: Dick Giordano Color: Diego Jourdan Pereira
Guest Writer: Tony Isabella
DJP.lk570
↓ TranscriptSCENE: Man and woman in foreground touching tenderly and appear about to embrace. Woman in background looks on in distress.
WOMAN IN BACKGROUND (thinking): *sob* I love Bradley with all my heart! But I can’t compete against Carmen! Not only
is she fully vaccinated...She has stars in her ears!
1963 Art: Dick Giordano Color: Diego Jourdan Pereira
Guest Writer: Tony Isabella
DJP.lk570
by John | Apr 18, 2021 | Uncategorized
Last Friday’s comic came with a challenge. It mentioned two real women by their first names: “Bettie” and “Bunny.”
I asked readers to guess the full names of the women. I offered no prize, but said the first person to do so would have “the glory of knowing you’re cooler than everyone else.”
Therefore let it be known that Tom Duffy guessed first and correctly: “Bettie Page” (famed pinup model from the 1950s) and “Bunny Yeager” (Page’s most famous photographer.)
So forevermore—at least for now—Tom Duffy is officially “cooler than everyone else!”
Congrats, Tom!
Vintage Art & Text:
Art by John Tartaglione from the story “The Sea Green Eyes!” in FIRST KISS #5, 1958.
Transcript:
SCENE: Man wearing an ascot is talking to a woman and has her chin in one of his hands.
MAN: We did the social. Now for the distancing!
WOMAN: Call me sometime. I’ll enjoy not calling you back!
1958 Art: John Tartaglione Color: Diego Jourdan Pereira
Everything Else: John Lustig
DJP.lk333
↓ TranscriptSCENE: Man wearing an ascot is talking to a woman and has her chin in one of his hands.
MAN: We did the social. Now for the distancing!
WOMAN: Call me sometime. I’ll enjoy not calling you back!
1958 Art: John Tartaglione Color: Diego Jourdan Pereira
Everything Else: John Lustig
DJP.lk333
by John | Apr 15, 2021 | Uncategorized
We can’t see Monk’s and Ham’s dates here. But writer Tony Isabella named these wind-blown women after real people. Who were they?
The first person to identify them properly wins…absolutely nothing. Except, of course, the glory of knowing you’re cooler than everyone else.
(Yes. This is gonna be embarrassingly easy for many of you pop culture fans.)
Vintage Art & Text:
Art & script by Jack Keller from the story “Highway Halfwits” in Teenage Hotrodders #15, 1965.
Transcript:
SCENE: Two grinning men as their hair blows in a fierce wind.
CAPTION: Doc Savage aides Ham and Monk…are on a
double-date.
HAM: Hey, girls!
Doesn’t this Wind Tunnel of Love…make my
hair look great? Bettie?
Bunny?
MONK: Our dates can’t hear you, shyster! They were blown…about 200 yards down this contraption!
1965 Art: Jack Keller Color: Diego Jourdan Pereira
Writer of Bronze: Tony Isabella
DJP.lk449
Teenage-Hotrodders-#15.21.4
↓ TranscriptSCENE: Two grinning men as their hair blows in a fierce wind.
CAPTION: Doc Savage aides Ham and Monk...are on a
double-date.
HAM: Hey, girls!
Doesn’t this Wind Tunnel of Love...make my
hair look great? Bettie?
Bunny?
MONK: Our dates can’t hear you, shyster! They were blown...about 200 yards down this contraption!
1965 Art: Jack Keller Color: Diego Jourdan Pereira
Writer of Bronze: Tony Isabella
DJP.lk449
Teenage-Hotrodders-#15.21.4
