As a long-time horror fan and one who still appreciates the Universal fore-fathers, Young Monsters in Love promised a tantalizing twist to the 2018 Valentine’s Day.

Kelley Jones’ depiction of Swamp Thing planting a big, wet one on the Frankenstein monster’s bride while the cobbled creation looks on, set the mood.

This 80-page anthology is a mixed bag. Ten stories ranging from tale tellers James Robinson to Paul Dini with art by the aforementioned Mr. Jones, Guiseppe Camuncoli, Cam Smith, Stephanie Hans, Javier Fernandez, Mirko Colak, Nic Klein, Bryan Hitch, Andrew Currie, Razer Irving, John McCrea and Guillem March.

Young Monsters in Love

Jones is the perfect choice to render the opening Man-Bat story, worthy of a read. Skip the Frankenstein monster’s tale for Solomon Grundy’s as Superman passes along some words of wisdom to Superboy.

Too bad Raven’s – of Teen Titans – story isn’t more like Edgar Poe’s.

Dini does Deadman – gotta love alliteration – proud keeping Boston Brand from spinning in his grave.

Swamp Thing is represented by Russell and Frazer with a flowery tale. Pun intended.

The book is rounded out with some mediocre stories. Maybe the most memorable is the Mallah and Brain taboo romance.

The torrid torch the two carry deals with their dissimilar species, but same sex attraction.

Like the allure of any solicitation, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Don’t take my opinion, try it for yourself.

“Just Batty Over You” plucked another five bucks outta fanboys pockets in 2015. In the Golden, Silver and Bronze ages those five bucks may have been the only money spent on anything Valentine’s Day-oriented for us, the comic book fans. With the wide reaching influence of silver screen appearances we, the lovers of print and picture, no longer need suffer in solitude.

Harley is one of the reasons for this. With her popularity throughout the various mediums, Harleen Frances Quinzel, PhD, was and, to an extent, is still hot. Hot as in dollars and cents. Men, women, boys and girls were throwing down money for pretty much anything she appeared in at the time. Any holiday gave the harlequin honey an excuse to appear in a special.

With skimpy attire and double entendre Valentine’s Day was a no brainer. But, with her and Mr. J’s relationship over, who to target? Why not dust off a notion from the animated series and target Gotham’s most eligible bachelor.

Harley robs from the rich to secure a date with Bruce Wayne who is pimping himself out in a charity auction. Harley has plenty of time to fantasize what her $1 million, $100 bid will buy her. Those dream sequences allowed guest writers and pencilers a chance to fill some blank pages.

Not a bad way to spend Valentine’s Day, but here’s hoping you spend it with someone even more special. Sorry Harley.

As the first of February dawns cold and promising little, but more of the same to come, flower, greeting card and jewelry shops wait with baited breathe. February is the month for love. Valentine’s Day.

Zombies go with pretty much anything. Why not Valentine’s Day?

Much like George Romero’s Dawn of the Dead, Dan Mendoza uses the mall setting – to a lesser extent – to pontificate on American culture and Valentine’s Day itself.

The main thrust of the book is love (?) and loss.

Not much to say about the title. Not one I read, so no background to relate. Just a (moldy) cheesecake comic featuring a shapely zombie.

Sorry. You’ll hafta wait till Valentine’s Day for a better posting.

DC Valentine’s Day cards, circa 1980.