Bill Ward and the Forbidden Love of Broadway Romances #1, at Auction

Posted in: Comics, Heritage Sponsored, Vintage Paper | Tagged: Bill Ward, high quality comics, Romance Comics

One of Quality Comics’ themed romance titles, Broadway Romance #1 options Bill Ward cowl and artwork and well-crafted tales about love on Broadway.

Bill Ward‘s cowl for Broadway Romances #1 is one of the greatest romance covers Quality Comics printed throughout its 1949-1956 romance period.  Best remembered for his character Torchy, Ward was effectively fitted to the romance style, throughout this era probably labored on at least 200 comedian books at Quality, at least half of these romance.  There’s a high-grade copy of Broadway Romances #1 up for public sale in the 2024 February 29 – March 1 Golden Age Romance Featuring Fox Comics & Comic Art Showcase Auction #40258.

Quality printed 14 short-lived romance titles at its peak, many of which included covers or artwork by Ward and Reed Crandall, and had been typically extra subtle than the typical romance comedian e-book of the period — to not point out extra risque.  Some of Quality’s romance output included promoting from Frederick’s of Hollywood throughout the later half of this period.

The firm printed a number of romance titles with particular themes like Broadway Romances, equivalent to Campus Loves, Hollywood Secrets, Range Romances, and G.I. Sweethearts.  Quality put greater than the normal effort into making these themes genuine.  For instance, the greatest story from Broadway Romances #1, Thief of Hearts, options an NYPD detective on the path of Broadway ticket scalpers, who finally ends up discovering romance in an sudden place.  The writers for this difficulty are unknown, however it’s not unlikely that Quality Comics affiliate editors Elaine Allen and Gloria Bley had a hand in the tales for this difficulty.

This debut difficulty is a ravishing instance of romance comics at the peak of the style, and there is a high-grade copy of this difficulty for public sale in the 2024 February 29 – March 1 Golden Age Romance Featuring Fox Comics & Comic Art Showcase Auction #40258.

Broadway Romances #1 (Quality, 1950) CGC VF+ 8.5 Cream to off-white pages. Bill Ward cowl and artwork. Paul Gustavson artwork. Overstreet 2023 VF 8.0 worth = $334; VF/NM 9.0 worth = $567. CGC census 1/24: 2 in 8.5, 3 increased.

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