Our Love Story by Spider-Man?

At one time, comics weren’t all guys in spandex fighting each other.

They had war, espionage, humor…and romance!

There were many books that focused on romance, but, I’ll focus on “Our Love Story” from Marvel Comics.

The series ran 38 issues from October, 1969 to February, 1976, and over the years featured work by writers Stan Lee, Steve Englehart and Gerry Conway and the usual Marvel Bullpen artists, including John Romita, John Buscema, Don Heck, Gene Colan, Jim Sterenko, Jim Starlin, Sal Buscema, Gil Kane and Alan Weiss, as well as reprints from earlier romance books with art by Vince Colletta, John Forte, Jay Scott Pike, Matt Baker and Jack Kirby!

Later issues reprinted earlier stories, as well as covers! Check out some of that crazy cover copy…

 ...more drama than 50 Shades of Gray!

Or at least as much as the Comic Code Authority would allow!

 

The stories did get a little repetitive...

...then again, they at least changed hair colors and outfit colors!

 Love might be blind...

...and maybe romance comics readers too!

But, one of the most important parts of “Our Love Story” was the first two issues, with a Stan Lee/John Buscema story “We Dare Not Marry!” and it’s sequel, “I Can’t Forget You!”.


Looking at those two covers by John Romita….

…do they remind you of anyone from the Marvel Universe?

Don’t think too long about it…


....the answer is coming soon…


…real soon, in fact!




The story was reprinted in Marvel Treasury Edition #1 (among many other places…)

If you said Mary Jane Watson, “face it, tiger, you hit the jackpot!”….and that scene was from Mary Jane’s first appearance in Amazing Spider-Man #42 (November, 1966) by Stan Lee and John Romita.

Peter and MJ have had their problems over the years, but are still a romance for the ages, and proves that comic characters (like comic collectors) aren’t that different from anyone else…we all just want someone to love!