History:
MOLLY MANTON
Real Name: Molly Manton
Identity/Class: Human (Post-World War 2 Era
Occupation: Boarding house owner
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Charles Beltram, Sally Beltram, John Billings, Dr. Curtis, Janet Davis, Kane Evans, Joshua Farnham, Vivian Fay, Gregory Galton, Carol Jordan, Joan Manton, Bobby Nelson, Fred Nelson, Marie Nelson, Pete, Alice Phillips, Sidney Phillips, Ben Stanley, Jason Stanley, Lucy Starret, Johnny Stone, Nancy Talmadge, Judge Telliger, Bob Tilson, Jack Torrance
Enemies: Verne Bartok, Charles Galton, Dennis Morley, Howard Toler
Known Relatives: Marie Manton Nelson (daughter), Joan Manton (daughter), Bobby Nelson (grandson), Fred Nelson (son-in-law)
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Manhattan, New York, USA
First Appearance: Molly Manton's Romances I#1 (September, 1949)
Powers/Abilities: Molly Manton had a kindly disposition and willingness to advise others. She was an excellent cook and made a terrific cup of coffee.
Height: Unrevealed (approximately 5'8")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 165 lbs.)
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Black
History:
(Molly Manton's Romances I#1) - Molly Manton ran a boarding house in Manhattan. Her boarders included her daughter Marie, who was married to Fred Nelson, and had a son, Bobby. Molly's younger daughter Joan still lived with Molly as well. The other boarders were test pilot Jack Torrance, mechanic Verne Bartok, stenographer Lucy Starret and Ben Stanley, the son of Fred, Jack, Lucy and Verne's employer at the Stanley Aeronautical Co.
Joan was interested in Jack Torrance but Molly cautioned her that Jack was too old for her and she should pay more attention to Johnny Stone, "the boy next door." When Johnny came by to deliver the newspaper, Molly sent him to see Joan but she persisted in her crush on Jack.
Molly served dinner to all of her boarders but the tensions caused by Jack and Ben's mutual affection for Lucy and the strain on Fred and Marie's marriage caused some arguments to break out at the table. Just then, they were interrupted by a woman claiming to be Louise Russell (actually Nancy Talmadge, a wanted woman), who needed a place to stay. When she fainted, Molly ordered Ben to carry "Louise" to the room next to his. When "Louise" revived, Molly brought her some soup. "Louise" claimed she couldn't afford to pay for her room but Molly allowed her to stay until she could get a job. Molly asked Lucy to find a job for "Louise" at the Stanley Aeronautical Co. office.
After dinner, Molly, Marie and Joan cleaned the dishes together. Marie took Molly aside to confide that she wanted to divorce Fred. Molly warned her that the decision would have a great impact on Bobby and it would put a great strain on Fred. Molly convinced Marie to wait another week and not rush into the decision to get a divorce. After their conversation, Joshua Farnham arrived asking for a room. Molly confirmed she had just one spare room left and gave it to Joshua.
The next morning, Molly served breakfast to all of her boarders. Joshua asked Molly if "Louise" was a new boarder and she confirmed "Louise" had arrived shortly before him. That evening as the boarders were getting ready for dinner Jack and Ben got into a fight over Lucy that ended with Ben injured while Molly watched. Marie approached Molly and told her she'd determined to divorce Fred that day but Molly told her to sleep on her decision again.
The following day, Jack died when Verne sabotaged his aircraft. Bobby was nearly run over by Verne's car but Fred rescued him, thereby repairing his marriage to Marie. Molly saw the police take Verne into their custody. Molly was contacted by Jason Stanley, Ben's father, who needed Lucy all the more at the factory. Molly relayed the message to Lucy and, despite her turmoil at Jack's death, remained determined to help her employers, which impressed Molly. Next, Molly received a phone call for Joshua, who then revealed he was a detective who was in search of Nancy Talmadge. Joshu revealed he'd come after "Louise," suspecting her of being Nancy, who was wanted for stealing $10,000, but Nancy's brother George had just confessed to the crime, leaving Nancy free. As Ben's father Jason came to the boarding house to reconcile with Ben, Molly invited him to a cup of coffee. Jason told Molly he was going to promote Fred. Molly realized that after the day's events all of her boarders (except Joan) would be moving on. Jason remarked Molly would have an empty house, but Molly opined "a house is never empty that has been lived in!" Molly remained confident that new boarders would soon arrive.
(Molly Manton's Romances I#1/2) - After taking in a number of actors and actresses as boarders (including Pete), Molly welcomed the young couple John Billings and Sally Beltram to her boarding house. They asked Molly where they could find the nearest minister; Molly suggested she could bring them to Judge Telliger after lunch to be married. Just as they started to leave, Sally's father Charles and her fiance Howard Toler arrived in search of Sally, attempting to prevent their marriage. When Charles denounced John as a "fortune hunter" Molly lectured Charles to behave himself in her house. Sally refused to leave with Charles and Howard and because of a storm outside, the two men didn't want to force her so Molly let them wait in her parlor. Sensing that John and Sally were right for each other, Molly contacted Pete and requested his help in convincing Charles and Howard. Pete pretended to be a disgruntled employee of Charles and threatened him with a gun. When Howard behaved cowardly but John swiftly decked Pete, this convinced Charles that Howard was wrong for Sally and he finally accepted John as his future son-in-law. Afterward, Molly thanked Pete for helping to keep the couple together.
(Romances of Molly Manton I#2) - Molly's latest boarders were librarian Carol Jordan, and the married couple Sidney and Alice Phillips, whose marriage was under strain because Alice had a job but Sidney didn't. When Carol and her boyfriend Bob Tilson brought an amnesiac man to the boarding house, Molly put the man up in her spare bedroom. Seeing that he had a wound on his head, she sent Bob to bring Dr. Curtis to treat him. Molly asked Sidney to help her with the amnesiac man. Because he had a ring with a "G" engraved on it, the amnesiac suggested people call him "George."
When Alice returned from work she asked Molly for advice, feeling she couldn't go on supporting Sidney and revealed her employer, John Phipps, wanted to marry her. Molly suggested that if Alice divorced him she wouldn't find happiness. Later, Molly brought some beef broth to "George." Bob found a newspaper article about an accused murderer named Charles Galton, showed it to Molly and Carol and Bob determined "George" was the missing Charles, as he matched the physical description. "George" overheard them but admitted with his amnesia he didn't know if he was Charles or a killer but he'd surrender to the police and find out. When Bob saw how Carol cared for "George" he said to Molly that he'd lost her, but Molly replied "you never had her."
Sidney told Molly that Alice wanted to leave him but Molly encouraged him to put a up fight to keep her. Carol also confided to Molly about her feelings for "George." A man claiming to be a detective came to the boarding house in search of "George" and identified him as Charles Galton. When Molly saw a photo of Charles in the newspaper she realized they weren't the same man and Alice ran after the fake detective to save "George." When the fake detective threatened Alice, Sidney sprang into action and fought him. The man shot and wounded Sidney but an arriving policeman shot the fake detective dead. The policeman identified the fake detective as Charles Galton; "George" was actually Gregory Galton, Charles' cousin, explaining their visual similarity. Alice was impressed by Sidney's courage and they decided to remain together.
After being injured by Charles outside the boarding house, Gregory proved to have forgotten everything that happened while he was "George" and Carol expressed her concern to Molly that he'd forgotten his love for her. Molly told Gregory about all that Carol had done for him, but wound up leaving with his fiancee, Janet Davis. Soon after, Sidney and Alice told Molly they were leaving the boarding house to buy a farm.
Days later, Gregory came back to the boarding house and told Carol he'd realized he was in love with her, not Janet. Bob Tilson also came by to ask Molly to inform Carol that he was in love with Janet, not her. Molly was pleased at how everything had worked out.
(Romances of Molly Manton I#2/3) - Molly latest boarder was Vivian Fay, who was engaged to marry the broker Dennis Morley. Dennis considered the boarding house a "dump" and was eager to get Vivian out of there. Vivian confessed to Molly she wasn't certain about marrying Dennis. Vivian later met Kane Evans, an ex-convict who'd been framed for embezzlement by Dennis. Vivian fell in love with Dennis and brought him to meet Molly. Dennis came to the boarding house with police to confront Kane but Vivian stood up for Kane and told Dennis she'd help him prove Kane had been wrongly convicted. Molly was pleased to see Vivian and Kane were a happy couple.
Comments: Created by an unidentified writer and Pete Tumlinson.
Molly Manton's comic changed its name with each issue; first it was Molly Manton's Romances, then Romances of Molly Manton, then it became Romantic Affairs. Although Molly didn't appear in the third issue, the lead story in that issue was clearly an altered Molly Manton story (with Molly changed to Emmy Jorden) and makes reference to supporting character Ben Stanley.
Molly Manton's Romances I#1 also had an advice column written "by" Molly Manton.
This profile was completed on 01/23/2026 but its publication was delayed, as it was intended for the Appendix's 25th anniversary celebratory event.
Profile by Prime Eternal.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Molly Manton should not be confused with:
Joan Manton was Molly's younger daughter. Joan was attracted to test pilot Jack Torrance, who boarded at her mother's home. Newsboy Johnny Stone was attracted to Joan and Molly tried to encourage Joan to be receptive to him but Joan's crush on Jack persisted despite Johnny's efforts. Joan was distraught when Jack was killed after his plane was sabotage by Verne Bartok. When Johnny told Joan he wanted to become a test pilot like Jack so that she'd think better of him, Joan admitted she realized how much she truly loved Johnny and embraced him.
--Molly Manton's Romances I#1
Bobby Nelson was the son of Fred and Marie Nelson and grandson to Molly Manton. When Bobby was nearly struck by a car driven by Verne Bartok, Fred rescued him at the last moment. This convinced Marie she wouldn't divorce Fred.
--Molly Manton's Romances I#1
Fred Nelson was married to Marie, Molly Manton's daughter; they had a son, Bobby. Fred worked at the Stanley Aeronautical Co. but he wasn't a very competitive man, describing himself as "an easygoing man-- not a pusher!" He had a tendency to come home drunk. The tension caused by Fred's behavior strained his marriage to Marie and she began considering a divorce. When Verne Bartok nearly drove over Bobby with his car but Fred dashed into the road and pulled Bobby to safety. Seeing this, Marie called Fred brave and apologized for how she'd complained about his easygoing nature. Fred admitted he'd considered himself a failure because he couldn't give Marie the things she wanted but that from then on, things would be different. After Verne was arrested, Jason Stanley decided to promote Fred in his place, giving Fred the increase in salary Marie had always wanted. Consequently, Fred and Marie were able to get their own boarding house.
--Molly Manton's Romances I#1
Marie Nelson was Molly Manton's elder daughter and was married to Fred Nelson. They had a son, Bobby. Marie resented that Fred was in a low-paying job that forced them to remain at her mother's boarding house instead of moving into their own home. Marie decided to get divorced from Fred and confided in her mother but Molly convinced Marie to delay the decision. When Fred saved Bobby from being run over by Verne Bartok, Marie was impressed by his bravery and apologized to him for complaining about their status. Fred admitted he'd considered himself a failure because he couldn't give her what she wanted and determined their marriage would be different from then on. Indeed, soon after Fred received a promotion and they were able to move into their own home.
--Molly Manton's Romances I#1
images: (without ads)
Romances of Molly Manton I#2, page 5, panel 1 (main)
Molly Manton's Romances I#1, page 1, panel 1 (face)
Molly Manton's Romances I#1, page 17, panel 3 (Joan)
Molly Manton's Romances I#1, page 5, panel 3 (Bobby)
Molly Manton's Romances I#1, page 5, panel 5 (Fred)
Molly Manton's Romances I#1, page 5, panel 5 (Marie)
Appearances:
Molly Manton's Romances I#1/1,2 (September, 1949) - unidentified writer, Pete Tumlinson (penciler), Stan Lee (editor)
Romances of Molly Manton I#2/1,3 (December, 1949) - unidentified writer, George Klein (penciler), Stan Lee (editor)
First posted: 09/01/2026
Last updated:
01/23/2026
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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