Secrets of Love and Marriage #17
"Lover Be Strong" is a poignant 1960 Charlton story that explores heartbreak and self-discovery, as Marie’s emotional spiral after a breakup leads her to confront her past patterns with men. Written by Joe Gill and illustrated with quiet intensity by Joe Sinnott, with inks by Vince Colletta, the issue unfolds through a sensitive, character-driven narrative. The cover, a striking double portrait by Dick Giordano, captures the story’s emotional weight before a single word is read.
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Bob breaks up with Marie and she falls into a depression, quitting her job out of spite and refusing to eat. Her family doctor recommends a psychiatrist. Marie tells Dr. Martin about her youthful problems with boys who cheated on her or made fun of her. Marie develops a crush on Dr. Martin, but eventually realises she never loved any of her boyfriends, she "only wanted to possess something out of [her] reach." Marie is cured and finds true love in her new boyfriend George.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).