True Secrets #17

In "Poverty," a 1952 Marvel gem, Jean’s dream cruise to Bermuda takes a dramatic turn when a masked figure known only as Satan disrupts her night at a costume ball—only to be foiled by a mysterious masked cavalier. The next day, she learns her savior is Terry, a struggling artist with a quiet charm, sparking a fleeting romance aboard the ship. When Jean is drawn to a wealthy admirer named Allan, a twist reveals he’s actually smitten with her roommate Peggy, clearing the way for Jean to embrace her feelings for Terry. The story, illustrated with expressive detail by Al Hartley, unfolds with quiet emotional stakes and a bittersweet edge, all captured in a cover by Hartley that mirrors the tale’s mood.