Romantic Adventures #1

"Second-Hand Love" in Romantic Adventures #1 (1949) tells the poignant story of Pigeon, a woman whose life unfolds through chance encounters and quiet choices—first with a troubled man named Smitty, then with the idealistic lawyer Curly, whose promise to wait for her leads to a separation that shapes her path. Written and drawn by Charles Sultan and Paul Gattuso, with inks by Sam Cooper, the tale unfolds through a heartfelt narrative framed by Jane recounting her past to her daughter Susan, whose own misstep with a father’s credit line echoes a long-ago rift. The cover, by Ken Bald, captures the story’s bittersweet mood with a striking, period-accurate illustration.