A romance series that began publication in the 1950's featuring gripping stories of newlyweds receiving the very first signs that they've made a horrific mistake. I bought this issue because I thought I might actually learn something valuable about marital relationships. Maybe not so much what happens if this guy decides to blow off the wife and hang out with "vulgar clod" Joe, I know full well what happens then. No, I was more interested in the little tagline in the upper right: "Does a man lose his self-resepect when he marries?" The quick answer is yes, but for a meager $8 bid, let's let the comic book be the judge! Here we go (click the images below for a larger, easier to read view):
Now a proper wife is kind of like the Chinese government. If she just keeps her man overworked and reading the right material, then he won't even notice that he doesn't have a silly thing like an independent will at all! Fishing trip? Not while those cabinets need sanding, citizen!
And whenever hubby starts to get wise to her ploys, it's time to smooth it over with a well-timed booty call. Our new bride is savvy enough to know that there isn't a problem on this planet that can't be solved with a vagina. And why not? Keep that up and sooner or later they'll have a baby and that will fix everything! Come to think of it, maybe there isn't a problem on this planet that can't be created with a vagina? Oh well, check out the unfortunate line break on the last panel!
"It's too bad that Mark detests cock-
tail parties!"
That's editing at its finest there!
But when things go wrong, it's time for her final ploy...the old pack the suitcase and call the bus depot. Things backfire when he goes "great, I'll grab my jacket and pipe and get the car started!". But she's not about to admit she's wrong! After all, in marriage nothing...and I mean nothing...is as important as being right all of the time!
So after all this setup...how are they going to resolve this? Are they headed for divorce? No, they never go there. This is the 1950's after all. Instead, they wrap it all up with a bow on the next page. A tight little 6 panel sequence where she realizes that she's completely wrong, he's completely right, and here's your suit, now let's make love. Now THIS is going to be pinned on the refrigerator as a flowchart for marital conflict resolution!
I loved it so much I went out and purchased another one. Now I know enough about 1959 to understand that when the husband comes home from work in his suit, briefcase, and wacky hat, his wife should be greeting him at the door in full makeup and evening attire ready to devote all of her attention to his every need. And that's AFTER she's spent the day doing all of the dishes, vacuuming and laundry so that she won't have to run those noisy machines and ruin his peace and quiet after a long day at the office. Instead, there she lounges with her back to the door chatting on the phone with her old boyfriends....just like today's modern Facebook housewives! Yeesh...what's next, is this guy going to have to cook his own pot roast for dinner?
But I guess these marital problems of the 50's pale in comparison to what starts happening in the 70's. I saw this cover on eBay (but alas did not purchase it). I can't even begin to guess what the hell is going on here...but it would be an awesome subject for a caption contest.
And to round it out, check out this page in the back of the first issue I posted from the 50's. Some Red-Scare religious propaganda! Now that's a sign of the times that speaks for itself. Especially that last panel. No Communist is going to keep us from heading to the Catholic high school dance and cupping our girlfriend's right breast! Let freedom ring!
