Number 1848: The Latin Bombshell from Hoboken

By a show of hands, how many of you remember the Mexican Spitfire, Lupe Vélez? Hm. I see some of you remember. For the rest, Ms Vélez was born in Mexico. She became a movie star in her country, then came to America in the late 1920s and became a Hollywood movie star. She found success in movies, and failure in love. At times her public image overcame recognition for her movie roles. She had a reputation as hot-blooded, “tempestuous,” as I’ve read. She loved Gary Cooper, who would not marry her. She loved Johnny Weissmuller, who did, but they could not stay married. In 1944, after yet another busted romance, she tragically ended her own life.

In our story today, the star Nita Gomez, the Latin Bombshell, is patterned after Ms Vélez. In this version her antics are also distractions that hurt her career. Even her one noble act, taking the blame for an accident committed by her lover and co-star, Jimmy Dean (!!) gets her in trouble. 

[SPOILER] The difference is that Nita is really Nancy Grogan from Hoboken. Love comics are meant to send our hearts soaring because the lovers connect by the final panel, and Nita/Nancy finds true love...with the wealthy studio boss. My advice to my female readers is, if you can’t have the guy you love, then marry someone rich. If you can talk him out of having to sign a pre-nup the divorce settlement will be much better.[END SPOILER].

From Quality Comics’ Love Secrets #41 (1954), reprinted from Love Confessions #9 (1951). Artist and writer are uncredited by the Grand Comics Database.

Number 896


"I won't let you steal my man! Not without a fight!"


Says Kaye, the heroine of "Flames of Fury," as she watches her fiancé, Ronny, fall for the sultry seductress, Gloria. Not on Valentine's Day, anyway.

Ronny and Kaye have made a name for themselves doing a dance called "Country Capers" which gives us some unexpectedly hilarious panels at the anonymous artist's interpretation of the dance.

The other thing I notice about this story from 1951's Love Confessions #13 is the cover. I like the model showing off her prominent...teeth. I also noticed the term "heart rendering" in the cover copy when they meant heart rending. It's a fairly common mistake that an editor should have caught.


Happy Valentine's Day, everybody. On this February 14 put your hands on your monitor and feel the warmth of my love for Pappy's readers.