Charlton Arrow Week! "Second-Rate Wife?"
What's up, Groove-ophiles! It's Charlton Arrow Week here on the Diversions! I know this is
kinda different--and yeah, call it a week's worth of plugs if you
want--but I think Fester Faceplant and the Gang behind the new Charlton
Arrow comic deserve all the plugs and kudos they can get! I mean, to Ol'
Groove, gathering a group of fans and pros to revive Charlton Comics
(or as close as legally possible) is a task worthy of great praise! To
think that pros like Paul (Life With Archie) Kupperberg, Roger (Captain
America, Daredevil) McKenzie, Joe (E-Man, Dick Tracy) Staton, Rick
Stasi, Lou Mougin, Mort Todd, and so many others would join such an
enterprise out of sheer love for Charlton Comics makes it a mag above
and beyond wanting. It's a mag we need! If you don't have a copy (first
printing is sold out!!), go here
right now and get a copy (Not sold in stores!). Aaaaaand get ready to order ish #2 which
promises to be even better (E-Man by Nick Cuti and Joe Staton, anyone?)!
Now, Ol' Groove ain't gonna jive ya, Groove-ophiles: I never bought any romance comics. Ever. My mom, though? She kept buyin' 'em until the finally quit makin' 'em! Now, just 'cause I didn't buy 'em doesn't mean I didn't read 'em. The following tale, "Second-Rate Wife?" (couldn't verify the writer or artist--assistance, please?) was originally published in Just Married #112 (May 1976), and I have to say, it left an indelible impression on Young Groove. Now, the awesome art (doesn't it just scream "1970s"?) alone failed to tell the story of why one sister was so much more desirable than the other --they look just alike!--but I finally read the words and the story really did make sense. The following scans come from the reprint, I Love You #128 (November 1979)...
If you dug this tale, you just have to treat yourself to Charlton Arrow #1's Johnny Love mini-saga by Michael Mitchell! It's far-out!
Special thanks to Mike's Amazing World of Comics and Grand Comics Database for being such fantastic resources for covers, dates, creator info, etc. Thou art treasures true!
Note to "The Man": All images are presumed copyright by the respective copyright holders and are presented here as fair use under applicable laws, man! If you hold the copyright to a work I've posted and would like me to remove it, just drop me an e-mail and it's gone, baby, gone.
All other commentary and insanity copyright GroovyAge, Ltd.
As for the rest of ya, the purpose of this blog is to (re)introduce you to the great comics of the 1970s. If you like what you see, do what I do--go to a comics shop, bookstore, e-Bay or whatever and BUY YOUR OWN!
Wow, between your occasional posts and Jacque Nodell's Sequential Crush blog, you're making me sorry I never dabbled in romance comics back in the day. There's some real hidden treasures in those books. Also, how cool that you mom read (romance) comics! I can't imagine what it would have been like having a parent who not only tolerated my comics addiction but also indulged in it herself!
ReplyDeleteAs for the pages you posted, it's the art that really makes it shine (the story's a bit off-putting to be honest - that Jeff is kind of a jerk). Anyway, I can't put my finger on the artist, either - but it looks tantalizingly familiar (and also a bit reminiscent of Alex Nino's work).
Edo said: "Also, how cool that you mom read (romance) comics! I can't imagine what it would have been like having a parent who not only tolerated my comics addiction but also indulged in it herself!"
DeleteIt was very cool, Edo! I was very lucky. Both of my parents grew up with comicbooks and had no problem with my hobby. Growing up in Kentucky, comicbooks were easier to get than into the movies or a TV set. Made a big difference, I s'pose!
Guessing the artist here to be the late great Sanho Kim...(Correct me if I'm wrong.)
ReplyDeleteLooks a lot like Enrique BadÃa Romero
ReplyDeleteAgreed. It looks like Romero.
DeleteOr Jorge Badia Romero
ReplyDeleteRickM, isn't Sanho Kim still alive?
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm not a forensic art examiner but it sure looks an awful lot like that dude who drew Modesty Blaise (I'd recognize those lines anywhere) - Enrique Badia Romero!
ReplyDelete- Mike from Trinidad & Tobago.
Jorge Badia Romero seems to be it.
ReplyDeleteSamples of his artistry at
http://www.comicartfans.com/searchresult.asp?txtsearch=jorge%20badia%20romero
Fairly certain I saw the death of Sanho Kim in his native Korea reported on one of the comic blogs within the past 6 months, although as I look now I can find no trace of it. It was a nice little piece which talked about how the Charlton editors discovered him, selling sidewalk sketches in San Francisco (?) or someplace…Wish I could find that now.
ReplyDeleteJust seeing this! This gorgeous work is definitely by one of the Romero brothers. I'm leaning toward Jorge, but I'm hesitant to say absolutely. Either way, KB over at Out of This World has some fantastic examples of artwork from both Romero brothers. http://kb-outofthisworld.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteThank you, Anonymous guys, Mike, and Jaque! At least we've got it narrowed down to two fellas--and brothers, at that! :D
ReplyDeletehi Groov, the artist of this story is Jorge Badia Romero. Incredible art!
ReplyDelete