Random Reads: Howard Chaykin's The Scorpion Takes "The Devil Doll Commission"

Ahh, the creations of Howard Chaykin. One of his earliest and best, natch, is his Atlas/Seaboard creation, Moro Frost aka The Scorpion. Unfortunately, the powers-that-were at Atlas didn't dig what Howard was doing, so by the third issue they'd replaced Chaykin and updated The Scorpion, complete with costume, into a sort of Spider-Man/Daredevil rip-off. Fortunately, Howard talked to the powers-that-were at Marvel, The Scorpion morphed into Dominic Fortune, and for a few years, Fortune popped up in various Marvel mags, gambling and chasing the bad-guys in the manner in which Chaykin had intended.

Anyway, let's get back to The Scorpion. The handwriting must have been on the wall when the second ish (February 1975) of was in production, since Chaykin needed the help of several extremely talented, and very well-known (at least to all my loyal Groove-ophiles) pals to complete the issue, namely Bernie Wrightson, Mike Kaluta, Walt Simonson, and Ed Davis. Chaykin's cover was even rejected and replaced by a nice, but not nearly as cool--and very misleading--piece by Ernie Colon. It was Howard and the real Scorpion's swan song, but what a way to go-go! 1930s Hollywood, Gangsters, voodoo, and even a zombie. Get ready to thrill and chill, my Groovy Ghoulies!