Teen-Age Romances #36
"Never Trust a Stranger" is a poignant 1954 tale from Teen-Age Romances #36, capturing the raw emotions of teenage love and heartbreak. Written and illustrated by Bill Ely, the story follows Vicky and her boyfriend Rory as a storm forces them from the beach, leading to a moment of reckless daring when Rory retrieves Vicky’s scarf—only to reject her for the challenge it represented. The cover, by Matt Baker, perfectly frames the moment’s tension.
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Vicky, Rory, and their teen friends are enjoying a day at the beach when the lifeguard orders them out of the water. A storm is approaching. The wind catches Vicky's scarf and carries it out to sea. Vicky dares Rory to retrieve her scarf, believing this is the perfect way to show their friends how much he loves her. Rory risks his life to retrieve the scarf. He throws the scarf at Vicky's feet, telling her no girl would ask her boyfriend to risk his life to retrieve such a worthless thing. Rory breaks the relationship off. Vicky is left hoping he will some day return to her.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).