Thanks to Beatles: Rock Band (did'ja catch the VH-1 special?), Beatlemania is in full bloom again. When Ol' Groove sat down to figure out how to celebrate our 500th post, I asked myself, "What could I rap about that would capture the Spirit of the Groovy Age?" Rock and roll and comics. Members of both genres seem to be huge fans of each other. And who was ever bigger, more iconic than the Beatles and Marvel Comics? In the mid-to-late 1960s (especially the dawning years of the Groovy Age) the Fab Four (without using too much hyperbole) revolutionized rock and roll and the music industry. Marvel Comics, during that same time period (again, without too much hyperbole) revolutionized super-hero comics and the comicbook industry. During the 1970s Marvel became the top-selling comicbook company.The twain did meet in the spring of 1978 when Marvel Super Special #4 hit the stands. Written by David Anthony Kraft with art by George Perez and Klaus Janson (with a stunning wrap-around cover by Tom Palmer), The Beatles Story is one of the most far-out, daring, and original comics of the entire Groovy Age. This "unauthorized biography" did a fine job of organizing the highlights of the Beatles tumultuous history, capturing the look, feel, and mood of each Beatles "era". You could tell this was a labor of love for Kraft, a former rock journalist who was a firm believer in the rock and roll/comicbook connection. George Perez was a natural choice for drawing the Fab Four as he had made a name for himself as a "group artist", having for a period of time drawn the Avengers, Fantastic Four, and the Inhumans simultaneously. On top of that, his ability to draw realistic likenesses was rarely given such free reign. Enough talk! Here it comes! It's one of Groove's Faves, and it's all right here for you, Groove-ophiles!
Thanks for the sensational support you've lavished 'pon DotGK for the past year-plus, Groove-ophiles! Keep telling your friends about us, and please keep those comments and requests comin'! Remember, this blog's for you!
I ALWAYS WANTED TO SEE THE BEATLES COMIC,BUT MISSED IT. THANKS FOR POSTING IT.THE BEATLES FOREVER!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the milestone, O Groovy One! And here's to many more to come!!
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for posting The Beatles Story, it's a real rarity which I've never seen before. Cheers mate!
Congrats on #500, Groove!! I'm ready for the next 500, and the 500 after that, and the 500 after that... Thanks for doing a great job on my favorite blog!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on # 500 Groovy One! Bet you even top 'em all with the next 500!
ReplyDeleteI'll try, Steve, I'm sure gonna try!
ReplyDeleteThis comic was what first really turned me on to the Beatles, and it remains the one comic which I actually read until it fell apart. It loomed so large in my childhood, I was shocked to learn years later that it didn't sell at all, and Marvel wrote it off as a flop. But it's no flop with me, and never will be. :)
ReplyDeleteWow! I own this and haven't seen it in years. For Perez and Janson it's kind of a piece of crap.
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