Bring on the Back-ups Week! Black and White Wednesday: "And There Shall Come Death!" by Warner, S. Buscema, and Nebres

Hey, hey, hey, Groove-ophiles! As promised, here's the third chapter of the Rampaging Hulk's Bloodstone back-up series (continued from our first annual Black (and White) Friday post, natch). This time 'round, Our Pal Sal Buscema steps in as penciler joining regular writer (and Bloodstone creator) John Warner and inker Rudy Nebres on "And There Shall Come Death!" All this and Iron Man, too! Enjoy!

Bring on the Back-ups Week! Amazed by Aparo: "Medicine Man!" by O'Neil and Aparo

Greetings, Groove-ophiles! It's been way too long since we Wander-ed into the back-pages of Charlton's Cheyenne Kid to dig on Denny O'Neil (writing as Sergius O'Shaugnessey) and Jim Aparo's western/sci-fi romp Wander! "Medicine Man!" is Wander's second appearance (you can read the first one here), appearing in Cheyenne Kid #67 (April 1968). Slap leather and grab your laser gun, kemosabe!

Bring on the Back-ups Week! Monday Miscellanea: Shameless Self-Promotion, Pluggin' a Pal, and Lex Luthor Back-up Series (?!)

What it is, Groove-ophiles! Haven't done a Monday Miscellanea in a while, so...

ITEM! Dunno if you've noticed, but over in the side-bar Ol' Groove's been running covers for a couple'a mags from Red Leaf Comics. Why, you ask? 'Cause they're publishing me, baby! The first five issues of Daring Adventures are running my kozmic/sci-fi super-hero ULTIMUS. The first three issues are on sale via Red Leaf, and the fourth ish should be out soon. Once the first ULTIMUS story arc is complete, Daring Adventures is gonna run my super-team, POWER CORPS, for a few issues. After that? Who knows? Main thing is, Ol' Groove would sure appreciate it if you'd order a few copies of Daring Adventures (if ya haven't already).

ITEM! Also at Red Leaf is KENDRA, DRACULA'S DAUGHTER by my pal, Jonathan "A" Gilbert (of E-Dispatches from the Great White North and Red Lion Comics fame) and Seppo Makinen (whom I was lucky enough to work with on a few stories back in the day). KENDRA is one cool comic, to put it mildly! I mean, how can you not love the idea of a dysfunctional Dracula Family--Undead Daddy Dearest vs. daughter?  Jon's writing is always top-notch and Seppo's art is a joy. Again, if you haven't already done so, treat yourself to a copy of KENDRA, DRACULA'S DAUGHTER. You'll be glad ya did!

ITEM! Believe it or not, Groove-ophiles, there was a time when DC actually contemplated giving Superman's arch-nemesis Lex Luthor his own strip. Yep, right there in the back of Action Comics #486 (May 1978) is "Hero for a Day--?" touted on page one as "...the first episode in a new series...THE SECRET LIFE OF LEX LUTHOR". The story was written by letterhack-turned-pro Elizabeth M. Smith ("abetted" by Thomas E. Smith) with art by Kurt Schaffenberger and Frank McLaughlin. Strangely enough, editor Julie Schwartz must have quickly changed his mind, as the next two issues (part of the infamous DC Explosion) introduced two new "permanent" rotating back-ups featuring the Atom and Air Wave. Let that be a lesson, Groove-ophiles: crime never pays. It can't even get you a lousy regular back-up berth!

Black (and White) Friday: "Scream, the Shrike!" by Warner, Brown, and Nebres

Hey there, bargain hunters! Nothing for sale here in Groove City--just free comicbook wonderment to soothe your weary soul. To make our first annual Black (and White) Friday super-special, Ol' Groove thought it would be cool to share another hard-to-find Bloodstone classic from Marvel's far-out and freaky Rampaging Hulk mag! "Scream, the Shrike!"  by Bloodstone creator John Warner, Batman/Daredevil/Avengers artist Bob Brown, and inker Rudy Nebres appeared in Rampaging Hulk #2 (February 1977), and I always thought it was pretty awesome. It's probably my all-time fave Bob Brown art job (and sadly, one of his last as he lost his battle with leukemia in January of '77). I love that he was allowed to cut loose with some big, giant, powerful-looking monsters (shades of his Silver Age Challengers of the Unknown days!), and I thought Nebres' usually over-powering inks really complimented Brown's art; some of the faces look more Nebres than Brown, but the musculature and poses are pure Bob. Check it out!

Oh, while it's on my feeble little mind, Ol' Groove's gonna let ya in on a cool bit o'info: coming this Black and White Wednesday, you can read the third Bloodstone saga from Rampaging Hulk (with pencils by Our Pal Sal Buscema). Now you've got something else to look forward to!