by John | Mar 15, 2022 | Uncategorized
Happy St. Patrick’s Day, everyone. And Happy 38th Wedding Anniversary to my personal leprechaun—not a lepre-can’t—Shelagh!
Many thanks to my pal Mike Pascale for the idea that sparked this gag as well as the awesome St. Pat’s makeover from the original art.
Original Vintage Art & Text

Inked by Dick Giordano. From the story “My Foolish Heart” in FIRST KISS #21, 1961. Curious to see more? Click the link to read the entire vintage comic book.
Transcript:
SCENE: In the foreground an upset young woman is holding her hands to each side of her face. In the background (in a thought balloon), a leprechaun (or a man dressed as a leprechaun) is running away towards a boat.
WOMAN: At first I felt so lucky!
WOMAN: I was dating a real LEPRECHAUN!!!
WOMAN: Sure, I was disappointed…he never gave me a pot o’gold! or any magic wishes!
WOMAN: But no orgasms? That was a problem!!!
WOMAN: Then he left me and I realized the truth!
WOMAN: I’d been LEPRE-CONNED!
1961 Inks: Dick Giordano
New Color: Allen Freeman
Lepre-Artist: Mike Pascale
Lepre-Writer: John Lustig
21.5.2.5-6_StPatricksDay_2022_MP
↓ TranscriptSCENE: In the foreground an upset young woman is holding her hands to each side of her face. In the background (in a thought balloon), a leprechaun (or a man dressed as a leprechaun) is running away towards a boat.
WOMAN: At first I felt so lucky!
WOMAN: I was dating a real LEPRECHAUN!!!
WOMAN: Sure, I was disappointed...he never gave me a pot o’gold! or any magic wishes!
WOMAN: But no orgasms? That was a problem!!!
WOMAN: Then he left me and I realized the truth!
WOMAN: I’d been LEPRE-CONNED!
1961 Inks: Dick Giordano
New Color: Allen Freeman
Lepre-Artist: Mike Pascale
Lepre-Writer: John Lustig
21.5.2.5-6_StPatricksDay_2022_MP
by John | Mar 16, 2021 | Uncategorized
I’m dedicating this comic to Shelagh Lustig, who married me 37 years ago on St. Patrick’s Day—even though I didn’t have a pot o’ gold. I, on the other hand, struck the motherlode when I married her. Ever since then St. Patrick’s Day has been my lucky day! Happy Anniversary, sweetie!
(My thanks to Mike Pascale for collaborating with me on another fun holiday gag.)
https://www.gocomics.com/lastkiss/2021/03/17

Artist unknown (but I suspect it’s Vince Colletta.) From the story “You Can Never Tell” in FIRST KISS #10, 1959.
Transcript:
SCENE: Wedding guests watch as a bride kisses her leprechaun groom.
MALE Wedding Guest: I hear she just wants his pot o’ gold!
FEMALE WEDDING GUEST: So that means…
MALE WEDDING GUEST: Yup! She’s a Lepre-con-
artist!
1959 Art: Vince Colletta? Color: Allen Freeman Lepre-Con Job: Mike Pascale
Writers: Mike Pascale & John Lustig
10.1.3.3
↓ TranscriptTranscript:
SCENE: Wedding guests watch as a bride kisses her leprechaun groom.
MALE Wedding Guest: I hear she just wants his pot o’ gold!
FEMALE WEDDING GUEST: So that means…
MALE WEDDING GUEST: Yup! She’s a Lepre-con-
artist!
1959 Art: Vince Colletta? Color: Allen Freeman Lepre-Con Job: Mike Pascale
Writers: Mike Pascale & John Lustig
10.1.3.3
by John | Mar 15, 2020 | Uncategorized
Happy St. Patrick’s Day from Lucky Mike Pascale and me!

Art by the Vince Colletta Studio from FIRST KISS #8, 1959.
Transcript:
SCENE: Woman swooning and smiling in the background as a leprechaun plays a guitar.
CAPTION: First, the music caressed her soul! Then it moved lower–tingling her loins and making her hips gyrate to the magically delicious rainbow rhythms of…
Shamrock ’n’ Roll!
8.1.9.5
8.1.9.5WiderTaller_StPat_guitar2020Tall_MP
↓ TranscriptSCENE: Woman swooning and smiling in the background as a leprechaun plays a guitar.
CAPTION: First, the music caressed her soul! Then it moved lower--tingling her loins and making her hips gyrate to the magically delicious rainbow rhythms of...
Shamrock ’n’ Roll!
8.1.9.5
8.1.9.5WiderTaller_StPat_guitar2020Tall_MP
by John | Mar 12, 2020 | Uncategorized
It’s a few days early, but Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
If you enjoy today’s Last Kiss then all credit goes to my pal Mike Pascale. (And, if you don’t like it, then what the %$#@ is wrong with you?!!)
Check out the amazing job he did transforming the original art! (See both panels below.)

Art by Jack Keller from the story “World Champion” in Teenage Hotrodders #7, May 1964.

Art by Charles Nicholas & Vince Alascia from the story “Does He Love Me?” in FIRST KISS #21, 1961.
Transcript:
SCENE: Startled woman looks on in the background of a gay leprechaun bar as four leprechauns smile and drink.
WOMAN: A leprechaun gay bar?
LEPRECHAUN: What did you expect to find at the end of a rainbow?
Underlying 1960s Art: Jack Keller male characters.
Charles Nicholas & Vince Alascia female character.
Leprechaun Humor, Makeover & Green Beer: Mike Pascale
DJP.lk426_StPats2020gaybar_400ppi-Pointy Ears_MP 22.1.6.1
↓ TranscriptSCENE: Startled woman looks on in the background of a gay leprechaun bar as four leprechauns smile and drink.
WOMAN: A leprechaun gay bar?
LEPRECHAUN: What did you expect to find at the end of a rainbow?
Underlying 1960s Art: Jack Keller male characters.
Charles Nicholas & Vince Alascia female character.
Leprechaun Humor, Makeover & Green Beer: Mike Pascale
DJP.lk426_StPats2020gaybar_400ppi-Pointy Ears_MP 22.1.6.1
by John | Mar 14, 2019 | Uncategorized

Art by Al Avison from the cover of Hi-School Romance #24, December 1953.
Transcript:
SCENE: A woman (a full-grown leprechaun) and a man are kissing. In the background is a closeup of a bunch of shamrocks.
HEADLINE: Breakfast Cereal Theater Presents: Leprechaun Love (A sugar-coated romance!)
WOMAN: You’re always after me lucky charms!
MAN: They’re magically delicious!
CAPTION: I’m feeling lucky already!
1953 Art: Al Avison Re-Creation: Diego Jourdan Pereira
Art by Al Avison from the cover of Hi-School Romance #24, December 1953.
Art Code: DJP.lk462
↓ TranscriptSCENE: A woman (a full-grown leprechaun) and a man are kissing. In the background is a closeup of a bunch of shamrocks.
HEADLINE: Breakfast Cereal Theater Presents: Leprechaun Love (A sugar-coated romance!)
WOMAN: You’re always after me lucky charms!
MAN: They’re magically delicious!
CAPTION: I’m feeling lucky already!
1953 Art: Al Avison Re-Creation: Diego Jourdan Pereira
Art by Al Avison from the cover of Hi-School Romance #24, December 1953.
Art Code: DJP.lk462