Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Warriors and Wizards Week! Bring On the Back-Ups: Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser

Hey,hey,hey, Groove-ophiles! Here's another way-out
Warriors and Wizards Week
write-up for your reading pleasure. And, ah, what the hey, it's Tuesday, so let's make it a two-fer!

From December, 1972, through August, 1973, DC comics produced one of the finest sword and sorcery mags ever published. That mag was called, appropriately enough, Sword of Sorcery. For four issues, the stellar team of writer Denny O'Neil and artist Howard Chaykin (along with a host of far-out inkers) combined their talents to adapt none other than Fritz Leiber's immortal Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser into comicbook form (after O'Neil, Samuel R. Delany, and Dick Giordano had first introduced the pair into the DC Universe in issues 201-202 [May-June, 1972] of Wonder Woman of all places!) Notice Ol' Groove mentioned four issues, though the mag actually ran for five. That's because the fifth issue's pencils were handled by Walt Simonson, who drew the Young Fafhrd back-up in ish #4, which leads us to "The Prophecy!" (Who says this isn't the Groovy Age of sneaky segues?)


Since Uncle Walt was busy penciling the lead tale for ish #5, that issue's back-up art was produced by yet another Groovy Age dream team, Jim Starlin and Al Milgrom. To complete our two-fer Tuesday, dig this sensational solo-tale starring the Gray Mouser, written by George Effinger. Here comes..."The Mouse Alone!" (And check out the plethora of galvanizing guest-stars who pop-up throughout!)

1 comment:

  1. Hey put up moreFafhrd and the Gray Mouser stuff.I liked this book,when it was out.

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