BEACH BUM COMICS : MY HEART BROKE IN HOLLYWOOD! STERANKO DREAMY ROMANCE !!!

Originally published in Marvel Comics Group's Our Love Story #5 and then reprinted in their My Love #23, both with a John Romita cover, is a timely tale of the miracle of romance as narrated to Stan "The Man" Lee and magnificently illustrated & captivatingly colored by legendary Jim Steranko.

Steranko's original, non-traditional color guide for "My Heart Broke in Hollywood."

I got my wife to go to a Comic Con with me many years ago in Seattle, the only time by the way. When we met Steranko, he told us a bit about his personal experience with this story since I'd been the first person to present it for his autograph at the comic con. After penciling and inking the story, Steranko decided he would color it himself. Knowing his color choices were non-traditional for a romance story, he decided to wait to turn the pages in just before the 5pm deadline, by which time it would be too late to change anything. Steranko recalled Marie Severin thought it was pretty wild, but ultimately let the story pass through as he intended. He not only enjoyed telling us about his sole romance story, but that he had a great time creating it!

The finished product, "My Heart Broke in Hollywood."

Our Love Story #5
"My Heart Broke in Hollywood"
Wendy Nelson and Victoria Grant go to Hollywood to make it in pictures and meet exciting new director Artur Lavelle, whom "Vick" falls foolishly in love with.
Written by Stan Lee with art & coloring by Jim Steranko.

Thankfully this story ran as Steranko intended. Unfortunately, this was Steranko's last story for Marvel.

Reprinting Love Romances #89 & #101-104, My Love #2, #14, #16 & #18-20, Teen-age Romance #77 & #84, Our Love Story #5 & Patsy Walker #119. Artists include John Romita, Gene Colan, Jack Kirby, Jim Steranko, John Buscema, Jim Starlin and many more.

Fortunately, this story has been reprinted more times than I realized. You can also find it in Captain America Special Edition #2, Marvel Visionaries: Jim Steranko TP & Marvel Romance TP.

Just one last parting bit, just prior to meeting Steranko at that same Seattle Comic Con, there was a young man just in front of us in line, but with no comics in his hands. We both wondered what he was in line for. As it turned out, he was Steranko's nephew, by the name of Jim Steranko also. They reminisced and took photos, it was a wonderful experience!

Years later, when I got to the front of a line to see Paul Gulacy for the first time, again in Seattle, I got to hear him talking about Steranko seeing his nephew at a previous comic con. Gulacy had been on the other side of the table! It was the rounding out of an experience I'll never forget.