Darling Romance (1949) comic books 1938-1955

Bettie Page photo cover from early in her career.

Photo cover (Bettie Page). "Gossip!", script by Joan August; Art accepts a teaching job in a small town; He falls in love with Liz and they decide to get married, but she asks him to take a job at a college elsewhere and he agrees; In their new town, gossip spreads about a romance between Liz and student Dan. "Two Loves" text story. "Personality... and You"; Ellyn Lee analyses handwriting. "I Stole My Sister's Man," script by Mary Woods, art by Bill Fix; Nancy was raised by her older sister Sue after their parents are killed; Home from college on vacation, Nancy meets Sues boyfriend Jim and sets her cap for him: "I want that man, hes just my type!"; When her efforts to romance him fail, Nancy lies and tells Sue that Jim made a pass at her. "No Time For Love," script by Kate Tempest; Abbys mother raises her daughter to become a star as a way to escape poverty; Abby goes along with the program, but she doesnt dislike the residents of their slum neighborhood as her mother does; Abby falls in love with bus driver Jed. Two Loves Have I publisher ad. "She Played With Love," script by Rhoda Temple; Jean loves steel worker Lon and they plan to marry; Buck, an old Army buddy of Lon, arrives in town and takes Jean out while Lon is on the night shift; Buck frames Lon for infidelity so he can have Jean for himself; Lon and Buck fight in the steel plant and Buck falls into a huge vat of molten metal. "I Was a Heart-Breaker," script by Neila Garland; Hilda steals Mac from his girlfriend Marianne, although she doesnt really love him; Marianne commits suicide as a result; Hilda falls in love with Roger and they decide to get married, but Mac shows up and reveals Hildas past. 52 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.10.

Photo cover. "Dark Secret"; A few weeks before her wedding to Bob, Helen accepts a ride from Arthur, her friend Janes husband; Arthur gets fresh, Helen resists, the car wrecks, Arthur is killed, and Helen flees; The authorities know a woman was with Arthur and Jane says shell kill the woman if she finds her. "I Failed at Love"; Sharon is fascinated with high society, and thinks her mechanic boyfriend Jimmy is "Dull! Dull!"; Sharon has a crush on socialite David and turns down Jimmys marriage proposal; She meets and dates David; they fall in love, but Sharon is ashamed of her parents and Davids mother looks down on Sharon. "A Handful of Stars"; When Pete returns from the war, he tells his girlfriend Sonia hes not returning to his job as a miner--he plans to become a lawyer; Sonia doesnt want to wait 5 years to get married and Petes studying leaves little time for romance. "I Played at Marriage!"; Jay marries the "sheltered" Barbara, who thinks "this business of cooking, cleaning and being a wife" will be "real fun!"; Barbara is incompetent at housework and cooking and often shirks her duties, but when Jay is injured due to her carelessness, she changes her ways and "our home is now the well-regulated, orderly existence it should be." "Flight from Love"; Airline pilots Roger and Larry compete for the affections of stewardess Leslie; She chooses Roger and they become engaged; Larry reacts badly. 52 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.10.

Barbara Bates photo cover. "My Phantom Rival"; Laura visits the Southern plantation of her fiancé, widower John; Johns wife Anne died several years before; John and housekeeper Abigail constantly remind Laura about Anne; Laura decides to leave, feeling John can never love anyone else. Personality and "You From Your Handwriting" article by Ellyn Lee. "Forbidden Love"; Brenda and Lee are engaged but when Brendas brother has a nervous breakdown and she learns one of her aunts was insane, Brenda fears its hereditary; She breaks up with Lee, but later learns Tims illness was caused by a blood clot. "Platter Previews" record reviews. "The Most Dangerous Game!", art by Bill Fix; Diner waitress Jean falls in love with truck driver Hank, then meets slick Lucky, whos opening a gambling hall nearby; Jean learns Lucky and his henchman intend to hijack a shipment of furs that Hank is driving. "I Want My Soldier Boy" Darling Love publisher ad. "My Love Was Wrong," pencils by Pen Shumaker; Dennis and Vera are childhood sweethearts; When they graduate, they intend to wed, but Veras parents urge her to wait, since shes never dated anyone else; They try to set her up with Kent; Vera and Kent decide to play along "on a friendly basis." "Spoiled!", pencils by Bill Fix; Trudi grows up spoiled, demanding the best from her parents and boyfriends, regardless of the cost; All that matters is that she gets what she wants; She meets Roy and falls for him, but he returns to his home town and never writes. 52 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.10.

"Not Fit for Love"; Bonnies parents are very strict, so she sneaks out to date Bill; He proposes marriage; when Bonnies parents find out, they beat her; Her "father" says he is really her uncle: her real father was a murderer and her "mother was a--well, no better!"; They fear Bonnie has "bad blood." "I Wanted a Real Man"; Eve is "disappointed" at the "emptiness" she feels in her marriage to George, who seems to take her for granted; They go on a Caribbean cruise and Eve meets handsome Hal Villon; They fall in love and George offers to give Eve a divorce "if thats what you want, dear." "Love on the Sly"; Brenda dates Allan but "the spark was missing"; She prefers college basketball player Fred and dumps Allan, saying "I could never love you! Youre just not my type!"; However, Fred makes it clear hes not interested in a long-term commitment so Brenda turns to Tony on the rebound. "Have No Fear" rhyme by May Richstone. "Hot Number," art by Sam Cooper; Rita has an inferiority complex about her appearance from an early age: her own mother says she "looks like a circus clown!" with her snub nose, red hair and freckles; In college, Rita decides to become a "hot number" who doesnt "object to a little fast romance" and thus attracts many young men. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.10.