Figuring that the concept should be able to work in comics, they tentatively put their toes in the waters of romance with four issues of My Date. That comic was for kids, done in the vein of Archie. When that proved moderately successful, they decided to press a bit further.

The first real romance comic aimed at adults was thus Simon and Kirby's Young Romance #1. It was a massive success that spawned an entirely new genre. The reception that Young Romance received was comparable to the sensation that Action Comics #1 had generated. Within three years, the market was jammed with similar titles from all manner of publishers.

By the end of the 1950's the Kirby/Simon partnership was over. Prize Comics (the company also known as Crestwood) was left holding Young Romance without either creator still on board. By 1963, they sold the title�and its companion, Young Love�to DC, who continued publishing the comics with the same numbering they had already accrued.

Before Crestwood/Prize had parted with the title, though, they had a proud record of achievement to reflect on.

� They were responsible for impressively expanding the comics market to capture young female readers.

� They made first person narrative a commonly accepted perspective among comics writers.

� The romance market, which they spawned with this title, kept publishers afloat in the superhero-less 1950s.

Young Romance (Prize Publications) continue in Young Romance (DC Comics).

Number of issues cataloged: 124