MANILA, Philippines?It?s that time of year again when love is supposedly in the air; when greeting card companies and chocolatiers see their highest sales; when mens? wallets hang limp and bruised, buttressed only by the loving coos of their objects of affection; when single people curse couples and more than one person will be conceived. Ahh, l?amour. So what better time to take a look at some love-themed comics?

In the ?50s romance comics were a huge section of the industry; even fan-favorite artists like Jack Kirby and John Buscema drew them for Marvel, who used to publish more than just superheroes. These days, most romance comics?in terms of volume alone?are Japanese in origin. But you don?t have to look far to find a number of shining gems in the rough, at least where Western comics about relationships are concerned.

?Blankets? by Craig Thompson

?Blankets? is considered Craig Thompson?s masterwork, and clocking in at a hefty 600 pages, there?s certainly some weight to the argument (excuse the pun). In spirit, it?s basically a retelling of Thompson?s first book, ?Goodbye Chunky Rice,? except it?s less metaphorical and without the anthropomorphic characters. It does go a long way in fleshing out other areas: his childhood in Wisconsin, his relationship with his brother, his Catholic upbringing. But it?s his first love that?s the main anchor of the book, and the reason it?s a favorite gift among those in similar sway. His artwork was no slouch but here they improved a great deal: brushwork more confident, compositions more considered, with a sublime use of negative space. It?s even got a soundtrack of evocative instrumental post-rock by one-man band, Tracker.

?The Mirror of Love? by Alan Moore & Jose Villarrubia

Originally a short comics story published in the late ?80s by Alan Moore himself (for a charity book against government homophobic legislation), the new edition of ?The Mirror of Love? is a swanky hardcover with the original text of the piece?an epic poem about the history of same-sex love, here juxtaposed with Villarrubia?s photographs rather than illustrations. The photographs range from simple compositions to ornate, surreal imagery. Complementing the work is a helpful index for the historical figures and events referred to in the text.

?Paris? by Andi Watson & Simon Gane

But what about just lesbians, you say? Fear not, true believer. How about the new Andi Watson book, ?Paris?? Though his most popular works like ?Breakfast After Noon,? ?Slow News Day,? ?Dumped,? ?Little Star? and ?Love Fights? concerned themselves with heterosexual relationships, damaged or otherwise, ?Paris? sees Watson heading into less familiar territory: a lesbian romance between a shy American art student staying for a spell in gay Paree and an older, more mature Parisienne. Also less familiar is that he?s not handling the art chores this time around?the visuals are provided by Simon Gane, whose stylized drawings give a unique look to Paris, both its environs and its occupants.

?Scott Pilgrim? by Bryan Lee O?Malley

And finally, here?s a love story for your friendly neighborhood ubergeek. O?Malley had only one book under his belt before embarking on the Scott Pilgrim saga (four volumes so far, the first being ?Scott Pilgrim?s Precious Little Life?), inspired by his own life but incredibly exaggerated and embellished. A 20-nothing slacker/guitarist in a local garage band, Scott Pilgrim meets Ramona, the perfect girl, but in order to date her he must engage her seven evil ex-boyfriends in combat. Why, yes, it is very much inspired by video games; why do you ask? Add in heaping helpings of indie rock, humor, gorgeous artwork that?s a blend of Eastern and Western influences, and you?ve got one of the best comics going, which has also been optioned by director Edgar Wright (?Shaun of the Dead,? ?Hot Fuzz?).

All titles are available at Sputnik, Cubao Shoe Expo (Cubao X), Araneta Center, Cubao, Q.C. Visit www.sputnikcomics.com.