Girls' Love Stories #81

Few comics capture romantic tension quite like this September 1961 issue of Girls' Love Stories, with cover art penciled and inked by John Romita. The cover scene is charged with unease: a dark-haired bride in a stunning white gown looks away with a troubled expression, her thought bubble reading "It—it isn't bad enough she's here… must he stop to speak to her!" — while in the background, a suited man leans attentively toward a smiling blonde woman in yellow, with two other figures nearby. Featuring the story "The Wrong Time to Cry," this is a fine example of DC's National Romance Group delivering heartfelt, beautifully illustrated drama at its ten-cent best.