Early Comic Book Loves

A question on Yet Another Comics Blog re: what was the first comic you bought got me to remembering my early comics. I don't recall which one I bought first. It was more than 45 years ago and my memory isn't that good. Plus, I've had comics nearly as long as I can recall, including Archies and Classics Illustrated (I remember one with a gruesomely drawn version of Poe's "The Cask of Amantillado" that gave me chills and I was a big Poe fan), Katy Keene, and a variety of Batman and Superman titles. Lois Lane, too, though I don't recall when I started with that title. I even had one issue of a Fantastic Four from the '60s.

I got comics from my parents and the dentist let me take some of the older ones from his waiting room. I don't remember when I switched from having comics bought for me exclusively and when I started adding to my collection by using funds from my allowance. They were likely already 12 cents each, though I did and still do have some that were 10 cents.

But there was one comic that was nagging at me. I can still picture the art, but couldn't recall the title. And while writing my comment to that blog entry, I remembered it was a nursing comic. A quick Google search brought up this: Linda Carter, Student Nurse. Yes! I found the name of one of my early comics addictions. This is definitely one of my earlier comic book reads, since Marvel published it between 1961 and 1963.

And in doing the Google search and looking around, I'm also reminded that I had some Millie the Model comics, too. Most of this stuff looks so cheesy now, but when I was growing up, it didn't matter. Art plus words = enjoyment. Sure, I eventually dropped everything except superheroes and related titles, but these other books I read in the early to mid-'60s will always have a special place in my heart.