Weird Love #1

Released by: IDW Publishing
Released on: May 14, 2014

A series of short stories published over 20 years in various romance comics, this one's a hoot! Let's dive right in to its contents:

I Fell For a Commie - First published in Love Secrets #32 in Aug., 1953, this story is the near-tragic tale of Gladys, who fell for a man that was apparently a Communist! Unable to find a job, Gladys finds herself at the unemployment office. But a rabble rouser causes some confusion and she's kicked out with the troublemakers. However, one of them is just dashing and this gentleman, Tom, helps her out by getting her back into the unemployment line and smoothing things over there. Of course, they fall head over heels but, soon, Tom is quiet more often, preoccupied by something. Gladys can't figure it out and is then heartbroken when he leaves her with a letter, saying it can't work between them right now. She's devastated but soon afterward she spies Tom driving with her friend Ruth. She confronts Ruth who tells her it's an innocent association, that he was just giving her a drive home from a “special club meeting.” Gladys jumps at the chance to spend more time with Tom again so Ruth offers to bring her along.

So they head off to the Young Americans club and, despite her misgivings at all their talk of a peaceful Russia and workers, her love for Tom is so strong that she shuts down her objections. She becomes more and more indoctrinated the deeper she goes with this group and so great is her love for Tom that she keeps fighting down the urges of “truth” there. But, eventually, it's even too much for her and she lashes out at the leaders for being traitors. She runs, then, fearing for her life and it's Tom that catches her. She tells him to get it over with quickly since she's certain he's going to kill her. But it's then that Tom reveals he's an undercover F.B.I. agent - that's what he coudn't tell her and why he had tried to talk her out of joining the group. Relieved beyond measure, Tom then calls in to his bosses that the group is indeed a bunch of evil Commies, leaving he and Gladys to pursue their true, pure, capitalist love together.

Love - From Love Diary #71, published Mar. 1971, is a one-page, five-panel “story” of John who gets jealous of his girlfriend Laura's old flame saying hello, causing Laura to leave John for being stupid and jealous. But that's okay as John closes with, “Women! You can't trust any of them!”

Love of a Lunatic! - From Romantic Adventures #50, published Oct.-Nov. 1954, is the story of mental-ward case Ruth, who did indeed once know love! She details how she never knew her father, so different, with such a violent temper - traits she had inherited and her mother resented. When her mother sets her up with the son, Ed, of an old friend, Ruth is incensed. At the first opportunity, she's going to let him have it but he beats her to the punch. Neither is happy about this arrangement but, sensing the similar in each, decide to play along, pretending to be a happy couple, just to fully dash their mothers' hopes. But, of course, as the charade continues, the two realize that they are indeed in love. Once they admit it they make plans to get married and all seems well and perfect in the world.

But then a surprise appearance from Ruth's father tips everything upside-down. He apparently had been confined to an insane asylum and rather than live with that shame Ruth's mother had pretended he was dead. Once she recovered from this shock Ruth then embraces him and the three try to live together. However, father and daughter are too much alike, with both her parents fearing that Ruth has inherited her father's mania. This gets worse and worse over time until one night she cracks, running from the house into a blizzard, wandering for hours until Ed finds her and takes her home. But she's very sick and, out of this, much weaker, letting her parents' fears take hold to such an extent that she views herself as so broken no man should have her. She pushes Ed away harshly, just to “save” him and then she loses it again with her mother who calls the asylum due to her violence and has her carted away.

This, clearly, does not help her mental state and she slides further into insanity. But, soon, the head psychiatrist brings Ed back in to confront her. She freaks, he gives her a hearty slap to the face, and she's rational again. The doctor explains that she's not sick, that insanity isn't inherited, that her parents are screwed up but that she still needs help. Soon enough, then, she's certifiably sane and off to procreate with Ed.

The Taming of the Brute - Originally in Just Married #53, published July 1967, is the tale of Loretta who sets out to domesticate the muscly, brutish Nic. She has a plan that basically uses her sex to force him to behave like a gentleman. It becomes overbearing, though, as she begins making all the decisions and forcing them on Nic. Finally, one night hosting people at their home, she pushes it too far, with even the guests remarking negatively at Nic's timidity. Loretta then pushes him too far and he dismisses the guests and, taking her over his knee, gives her the spanking she deserves/secretly craves, making it clear who's in charge here, that he'd just been humoring her up until this point. And she's delighted. Ah, white people love.

Love In High Style - from Dear Lonely Hearts, Aug. 1954, wherein Bobbie and her steady boyfriend, Chick, are beset by the wolfish, older Doug Brown. They meet and Doug immediately sets his sights on Bobbie while mocking Chick's “high style” of youthful, exuberant clothing. He even asks Bobbie's dad if he can take her out on a date which she initially rejects. But after arguing with Chick later she accepts Doug's offer. And he's one smooth player for a balding older man. At the end of a splendid night out, though, he's all “Roman hands and Russian fingers,” ignoring Bobbie's pleas of “No!” That's enough for Chick to intervene as he's waiting at her place for her to return, to apologize to her. The two males exchange words but Doug speeds off, leaving the two lovers to politely belittle each other and declare their perfect love to one another.

You Also Snore Darling - from Just Married #57, Mar. 1968, is the cautionary tale of newlyweds Sam and Linda Brennan, on their honeymoon in exotic Hawaii. Their love is pure, fresh and strong in the way only the American youth of the Fifties can be. She wants to be THE perfect wife for him - but then she discovers that he snores! And he has to shave first thing in the morning! And he admires a well-stacked broad in a bikini on a beach! Saddened, disappointed and angry, she storms off the beach back to their hotel room, dozing off on her own. Sam reappears, apologizing for all those things but, then to her shock and amazement, points out that she, too, snores! She doesn't - she can't! - believe him but figures she can forgive him those few faults indeed if what he says is indeed true. The power of love, detailed.

About Face - from Best Romance #7, Aug. 1952, is a one-page, six-panelled warning to all young women to always think of their “back-view.” That only a neat, well-presented all-around package will succeed in men's critical eyes and win the day for the smart, young woman. Thankfully, this is the last installment in this collection as it makes one question how we ever evolved out of the 1950's at all.

This is an excellent collection of “social morality” stories of love and the cost of it, what romance really means and how best for ladies to win and keep a proper mate. It's also absolutely batshit insane and HIGHLY entertaining. Edited by Clyzia Gussoni and Craig Yoe this collection really does live up to its title, finding so many ways through so many years to declare that love is, indeed, weird.