Posted in: Comics, Heritage Sponsored, Vintage Paper | Tagged: roy lichtenstein, Secret Hearts

Two Roy Lichtenstein Inspirations, Secret Hearts #83 up for Auction

Secret Hearts #83 published in 1962 by DC contains two "inspirations" for the work of Roy Lichtenstein, both originally from Tony Abruzzo.

Published Wed, 25 Oct 2023 13:27:07 -0500

by Rich Johnston

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Secret Hearts published by DC Comics was part of a boom in romance comics popular in the Golden Age of Comics and the early Silver Age. Kicked off by Captain America co-creators Joe Simon and Jack Kirby with Young Romance in 1947, Secret Hearts was one of the many imitators of the form. But Secret Hearts #83 published in 1962 hides something under its John Romita Sr cover. The lead story, Run for Love! drawn by Tony Abruzzo, lettered by Ira Schnapp and written by an unknown writer, opens like this.

Despite the wording at the bottom of the page, the imagery was lifted by Roy Lichtenstein for his painting Drowning Girl, also known as Secret Hearts or I Don't Care! I'd Rather Sink, exhibited the year after the Secret Hearts #83 publication, without source credit. It is currently on display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

And while this may be one of the most famous Roy Lichtenstein paintings, recreated from romance and war comics that would define him, the comic also has a second Roy Lichtenstein swipe in it as well for the painting Hopeless, also from 1963. Here's the page from the comic, also drawn by Tony Abruzzo.

…and the Lichtenstein painting, Hopeless which is currently on display at the Kunstmuseum Basel in Basel, Switzerland.

A copy of Secret Hearts #83 is currently up for auction from Heritage Auctions, and will go for a lot less than a Roy Lichtenstein "original", whose artwork Masterpiece sold at auction for $165 million in 2017.

Secret Hearts #83 (DC, 1962) CGC VG+ 4.5 Off-white to white pages. The splash page from this issue was used as inspiration for Roy Lichtenstein's "Drowning Girl". John Romita Sr. cover. Mike Sekowsky and Bernard Sachs art. Overstreet 2023 VG 4.0 value = $8. CGC census 10/23: 2 in 4.5, 11 higher.