Friday Favorites - Gothic Romance Comic Covers!

Let's hear it for October! One of my very favorite months! And if you frequent the internet, clearly also the favorite of lots and lots of other people. Not only has the infamous Pumpkin Spice Latte returned to our everyday conversations, but the leaves are turning, and Halloween is just around the bend! So, in celebration of October, here are five of my favorite Gothic romance covers! It's such a shame that so few of these beauties were published; between DC and Charlton, only 19 issues in total ever made their way into the hands of the public. Ranging from breathtakingly beautiful (The Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love #1) to supremely goofy (I'm looking at you Haunted Love #2), these issues remain one of the most fascinating attempts at a romance comic book sub-genre.

The Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love #1 (September/October 1971) Painted by George Ziel

The Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love #1 (September/October 1971) Painted by George Ziel

The Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love #3 (January/February 1972) Pencils and Inks: Jeffrey Catherine Jones

The Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love #3 (January/February 1972) Pencils and Inks: Jeffrey Catherine Jones

Haunted Love #2 (June 1973) Pencils and Inks: Frank Bolle

Haunted Love #2 (June 1973) Pencils and Inks: Frank Bolle

The Sinister House of Secret Love #1 (October/November 1971) Painted by Victor Kalin

The Sinister House of Secret Love #1 (October/November 1971) Painted by Victor Kalin

The Sinister House of Secret Love #3 (February/March 1972) Painted by George Ziel

The Sinister House of Secret Love #3 (February/March 1972) Painted by George Ziel

*All images and credits for this post are from the Grand Comics Database. I currently only have a handful of the Gothic romance comics in my collection, but hopefully, I'll be able to pick up a couple more at an upcoming convention thanks to your generous donations!