Dear Lonely Hearts #5
"Tea with Terror" is a poignant 1954 tale from Dear Lonely Hearts #5, where Elsa’s correspondence with a mysterious man named Clint takes a shocking turn when she finally meets him in person—only to recoil in horror at his disfigured face, believing him to be the infamous wrestler “The Monster.” After her regret sets in, her heartfelt apologies go unanswered, until a surprising return visit from Clint—now cured and transformed—brings closure and a quiet, tender reconciliation. The story, illustrated with expressive detail by Marty Elkin, whose art defines both the cover and interior, captures the fragile hope of second chances with a restrained, emotional precision.
Sell my copy
Have this issue — or a whole collection? Get a fair offer from us, skip the marketplace fees and the hassle.
We Buy Collections ▸Full credits
Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers
▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers
Elsa has a romantic relationship via correspondence with Clint, and on the spur of the moment decides to visit his town. She discovers Clint is a wrestler called “The Monster,” with a very misshapen face, and rejects him hysterically. Back home Elsa realises she was unfair, and writes to apologize. Her letters are always returned “address unknown.” One night, a handsome man appears and refunds the money Elsa spent on her trip to meet Clint: it’s Clint, who had been suffering from a glandular problem when she met him. He’s now cured. Elsa shows him her repentant letters, and they reconcile.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).