Pretty dull book, but not without some nice flashes of art in the second and third story. The first story’s art looks very childish and more like something you might see in a free industrial comic book extolling the wonders of Dixie Cups or what you will. The writing hits all romance comic cliches without any diversionary novelties. The second story tells a particularly baffling story about a dude who continually rejects a drop dead gorgeous 60’s babe in favor of reading the same books about fishing over and over again. That’s actually a new one on me when it comes to ignoring a beautiful girl and I shudder to think what Freud or even Ron Popeil, inventor of the”Pocket Fisherman,” would have to say about that. The third story is a bit more realistic and is carried along nicely by largely attractive art. I appreciated the girl having what seemed like a nice, sincere relationship with her parents and I thought the clumsy pride her budding suitor displayed was right on the money. I sure remember those days of stumbling approaches toward girls due to excessively trying to protect myself from being hurt. The first story is horribly embarrassing, with attempted “hip” slang and jargon anachronistically culled from old biker flicks in the 50’s, pretty far afield of the 60’s era of violent biker stories. The characters are pathetically hollow ciphers with no genuine substance or basis in reality and along with the middle school level art, the whole thing really proves to be a humiliating inclusion for a comic that actually costs money. I know Charlton could be desperate, but this is just uncomfortable dreck. And the rough and tumble outlaw biker is named “Red Slinkard?” Huh? Sounds more like a hog calling contestant’s name.
Link to the book:
Sweethearts 092
