Too Tall to Love - Falling in Love #130 (March 1972)
I am back from Baltimore, and the trip was a success! I will be sure to let you know when the episode airs! Now -- onto tonight's story!
Way back last month I queried which "Too (fill in the blank) to Love" story you all wanted to see! The first choice was "Too Smart to Love!" from Falling in Love #137 (October 1972). Closely behind was the gem I am going to share with you this evening -- "Too Tall to Love" from Falling in Love # 130 (March 1972). Not sure the artist on this one (edit: pencils by Jack Katz, inks by Mike Esposito), but whoever was responsible sure knew how to convey the despair of our vertically gifted leading lady, Iris Manton!
Being on the shorter side myself, I can't necessarily identify with 6 foot tall Iris, but I can certainly sympathize with her! Constantly harassed by high heel shoe salesmen and boys who say, "yuk! yuk!" Iris finds herself in perpetual misery.
The only time when she isn't sobbing or cursing herself in the mirror is when she is around the children in the neighborhood who are naturally drawn to her impressive size.
During her high school class graduation photos, she is told by the photographer to stand in the back so that she doesn't "block all the others!" Completely mortified, she begins to cry. Before having a complete meltdown, Iris is distracted by her friend Barry who shows her a newspaper clipping from a New York paper that reads:
Tall Gal Finds Happiness at Amazon Club
Only Girls 6 Feet Tall and Over are Welcome
Come and Meet a Man You Can Look Up To
Intrigued by the ad, Iris talks with her high school counselor who sets up an appointment for her with an employment agency in New York. Iris lands a position at a "day nursery, where working mothers left their children," and is instantly a smash hit with both the children and the other employees.
Iris immediately checks out the Amazon Club where she meets taller-than-her Flora. The two young ladies become roommates and Flora helps Iris navigate a world designed exclusively for women of their stature. The guys Iris meets are handsome and height proportionate, but their dull nature leaves Iris looking for someone who not only towers over her, but keep her from nodding off.
While on a park outing with the children from the day care, Iris bumps into Jack -- a coworker. Though Jack is shorter than Iris, he is very patient and kind. He even buys Iris and all the children ice cream cones!
Iris and the children decide to take a carriage ride, while Jack and his horse stand nearby and wait. All of a sudden, the carriage driver loses control and is thrown out of his seat. At this point, the children and Iris are at the mercy of the runaway horse, but not for long! Jack stops the horse and saves the day!!! Jack's heroics make Iris swoon and she realizes that despite his height (or lack of) he is a catch. The feeling is mutual and Jack asks her to dinner that evening...
...and as you can see -- their date went well!
For more stories on how characters dealt with insecurities in the romance comics, read How to Go Steady!
