Number 623


Fast girl, slow boys


Bill Ward drew this story, a "pulsating tale" as it claims on the cover. Got me pulsating, all righty. As usual, Ward's girls are some of the sexiest to ever appear in comics. Tess, in "They Said I Was Too Fast!" is a Torchy-clone, and there is nothing wrong with that.

Love was about the most popular genre of comics at the time Campus Loves #2 was published in late 1949 by Quality. They were supposedly bought by girls, but I wouldn't doubt that a lot of boys--and men--read these things, too. Especially when they saw Bill Ward's gorgeous leading lady. Love comics were written and drawn for young women by older men, and seemed to follow some male-female prejudices. The girl who teases isn't well-liked by guys, and Tess fits that description. Man, how she worked over poor "corn-fed" Elmer..."Hey, Elmer, is that a corncob in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?" Still, love triumphs in the end, doesn't it? That's why it's a comic book and not real life.