Young Love #122
Published and © by DC, November 1976
Title: “There’s No Such Thing as Love”
Synopsis: A man falls hard for a woman who wipes out on a surfboard – but her mommy issues stand between them.
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciler: Ric Estrada
Inker: Tony DeZuniga
Review: Looking for a clue as to why Gen X wasn’t particularly good at relationships? Perhaps check out the pop culture they were fed as kids. This messed-up tale of “love” has crazy-stalker vibes going every which way, and “NO!” and “I don’t like you” are met with forced kisses. Yikes!
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Title: “How We Met”
Synopsis: A man walks into a flower shop to purchase a bouquet … for the beauty working behind the counter!
Writer: Uncredited
Penciler: Bill Draut
Inker: Uncredited
Review: A smooth-talking customer steps to the help in this one-pager featuring solid art from comics veteran Bill Draut.
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Title: “The Boy of My Dreams”
Synopsis: A woman refuses to settle for any of the men she’s set up with, waiting instead for her perfect man.
Writer: Barbara Friedlander
Artist: Ernie Colón
Review: This slight story doesn’t break from the romance template, but Ernie Colón’s illustration-influenced art is a great fit such tales.
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Title: “20 Miles to Heart Break, Part 1”
Synopsis: A young woman crushing on her stepdad flees her racist mother and beau, hitching a ride with a Hispanic bandleader.
Writer: Barbara Friedlander
Penciler: Alex Toth
Inker: Vince Colletta
Review: Wow. Bronze Age romance comics are even harder to follow that the superhero ones. Nice Alex Toth art, though.
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Title: “Two Heads … One Heart!”
Synopsis: A young couple about to be separated by college plans has second thoughts about leaving love behind.
Writer: D.J. Arneson
Penciler: John Tartaglione
Inker: Dick Giordano
Review: Another one-pager, this one about love and long-distance longing. Above average art, thanks in part to Dick Giordano’s stylish brushwork.
Grade (for the entire issue): B
Cool factor: An interesting relic of its time featuring some nice art …
Not-so-cool factor: … and scripts that can be pretty cringey from the vantage point of today’s social mores.
Notable: Also includes a “You Can Edit Young Love: and Here’s How …” reader poll; “Your Fall Forecast” horoscopes by Christina Schubert with art by Elizabeth Safian-Berube (as “Elizabeth”); a one page illustrated text feature on “Young Woman of the Month” Gilda Radner by Ellen Spencer, Joe Orlando and Vince Colletta; and a “Beauty on a Budget a Budget” feature by Elizabeth. … “20 Miles to Heart Break, Part 1” is reprinted from 1970’s Young Love #78.
Character quotable: “I don’t like names, really … they seem so phoney! I mean, if you know who you are, and who I am… what’s the point in names?” – Davis Miles, sensitive dude or creepy stalker … you decide!
Editor’s note: This review was written Feb. 14, 2024.
