Patsy Walker #44

This January 1953 Atlas romance-comedy issue delivers a perfectly timed visual punchline: a dark-haired young woman in a red dress sits forlornly by a pond — fishing rod in hand, a few caught fish beside her — watching helplessly as a red-headed Patsy Walker and a young man share a romantic moment beneath a nearby tree, prompting her wry lament, "Maybe I'm using the wrong bait!" Al Jaffee's cover art balances sharp comic timing with breezy charm, capturing the rival dynamics between Patsy and co-star Hedy Wolfe that made this series so endearing. At 52 pages for a dime, it's a delightful snapshot of early-'50s teen romance comics at their most playful.