To the right is the original First Kiss romance art.

Poor Pam is in love with Harry, but Harry totally ignores her heaving bosom!

Until now, all Pam has cared about is her career. So she’s never tried to look beautiful. Or be sexy. (Because how would that ever come in handy in business?)

Her fashion style? Business frumpy!

So now Pam needs to know how to be a real woman—pronto. So, of course, she turns to a man for advice.

Allan—the artist who’s been hanging around her office like a lovesick puppy yapping for her attention—plays Prof. Higgins to her Eliza Doolittle.

After being transformed into a glamour girl, Pam approaches Harry. But it’s…too late!

Harry cheerfully informs her that he’s marrying another woman. Congrats, Harry!

Then Pam meets with Allan and informs him that all their work was for nothing.

Fortunately, this is a romance comic. So she and Allan are in love by the next panel.

The lovely art for this gag came to me courtesy of the late Dick Giordano. In 2001, Dick loaned me a large stack of his Charlton romance art so that I could scan it for Last Kiss.

Charlton probably paid less than any of the other comic publishers. But, oh man…looking at Dick’s work, you’d think it was paying him with trucks full of gold bullion. Dick’s covers were gorgeous.

Thanks to enthusiastic Last Kiss fans, “Up Up Down Down: The Series” has moved up to Second Place in the 2012 New Media Film Festival Audience Choice Awards.

There’s still time to vote for this funny, live-action series about the nerds working at a video game store. Future episodes will feature Last Kiss images and gags.

Finishing in one of the top spots will help the series receive a distribution deal. Preliminary voting goes through May 14. Voting for finalists is May 15-31.

So…vote!

And here’s the original 1960s romance art…

And here’s the original 1950s romance comic art…

The difference between success and failure can be ridiculously small. Sometimes all it takes is a little help. And presto: success!

My pal R.A. Rayne needs a tiny amount of help from a ton or two of people if his project “Up Up Down Down: The Series” is going to win this year’s Audience Choice Awards.

Why should you go on the contest site and vote?

Well, you could vote because it’s a funny, live-action series about the nerds at a video game store and you’d love to see it win and get a distribution deal. But an even better reason (if you’re a Last Kiss fan) is that R.A. plans to use Last Kiss visuals in the series when he starts filming new episodes.

So—if you’ve got time for a few chuckles—go watch the video and please vote!

Below is the original 1960s romance comic art—which asks the eternal question: Do you have enough fun in your life?

No? Then maybe you should become a party girl…like Sherry!

Below is the original 1960s art from First Kiss #19. Need I mention that by the end of the story she discovers that she’s in love with Bill? I didn’t think so.

Below is the original romance art. It’s the opening panel to a story about a couple who spend so much time smooching and making googly eyes at each other that they make all their “friends” feel like barfing.

Click image if it doesn't display properly.

©2012 Scott R. Kurtz

Who’s the best cartoonist in the Northwest?

Join me on May 5, 2012 and find out when cartoonists, animators and illustrators gather for the 21st Annual Toonie Awards. The Seattle banquet—which is open to the public—will include live cartoon-themed music by the Amazing Martin Brothers and feature webcomics legend Scott Kurtz as the guest speaker.

In addition to the Golden Toonie for the Cartoonist of the Year, awards will be given out in categories such as comic books, comic strips, editorial cartoons and best publisher. In addition to a raffle and silent auction, the event includes a contest where diners will be given modeling clay and can create clay figures for a prize.

Put on each year by Cartoonists Northwest, the Toonies has awarded its highest honor (the Golden Toonie) to such notable Northwest comics creators as Peter Bagge (Hate); Brian Basset (Red and Rover), Ellen Forney (Monkey Food); Roberta Gregory (Naughty Bits); David Horsey (Seattle P.I.); Lynn Johnston (For Better or For Worse); Pat Moriarity (Big Mouth); Sherry Flenniken (Trots and Bonnie); and Jim Woodring (The Book of Jim).

Less notable Northwest comics creators who’ve won a Golden Toonie: Me

Established in 1981, Cartoonists Northwest is an association of professional and amateur cartoonists who
meet monthly to network, collaborate, and promote community among local artists.

Guest Speaker Scott Kurtz is the writer/artist of the phenomenally popular webcomic PvP, also known as
Player vs Player. The comic chronicles the misadventures of the employees of a fictional video game
magazine company. The PvP website receives more than 100,000 unique visitors a day.

Winner of both the Eisner and Harvey awards, Kurtz will be speaking about his career “as a cartoonist who
used web distribution” to reach success. There will be a question and answer session at the end of his talk.
Open to all cartoonists (and cartoon lovers), the Toonies is being held Saturday, May 5, at Ivar’s Salmon
House, 401 N.E. Northlake Way, Seattle. Social hour is at 6 p.m. Awards ceremonies at 7 p.m.

Dinners choices are: $40 Four-Cheese Ravioli (sun-dried tomato with cream sauce); $45 Rotisserie-Roasted Half Chicken (marinated with rosemary & olive oil); and $50 Alder-Grilled Coho Salmon (brushed with herb-infused olive oil.) Reservations can be made via e-mail at CartoonistsNW@aol.com or calling 206 369.2123.

Payments can be made at the door at the above prices if you’ve made a reservation at least 24-hours beforehand. Without a reservation, add $5 when paying at the door.