Greetings, Groove-ophiles! Well, we're just ten
(10!) posts away from #3000 here on The Diversions. That's a big deal, don'tcha know! It's also gotten Ol' Groove to do some thinking. Ten years ago, I was a substitute teacher. Now I'm full-time, looking at retirement in just a shade over four years. Ten years ago, I didn't have any grandchildren. Now I have five loveable grandkiddos. Ten years ago, I didn't have a regular (as we say 'round here in South East KY) home church. Now I'm a deacon at the little church on the hill just out the road. Ten years ago I had retired from writing comicbooks. Now I have two regular books, and am doing stories for nearly a half-dozen publishers. A lot has changed during for me in the last ten years, huh? And it's ALL good!
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Ten years ago there was little out there extolling the virtues of 1970s comic books. Most of the trade paperback collections focused on modern comics. Now there are magazines, books, and tons o'websites dedicated to the 1970s and/or the Bronze Age of Comics. Books we thought we'd never see collected (Skull the Slayer, E-Man, Marvel's Doc Savage and Master of Kung Fu, Creature Commandos fer cryin' out loud!) line our bookshelves. It's an amazing time to be a lover of Groovy Age comics!
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Ten years ago, when I started this blog, I had a name for it and not much else. It quickly found its footing and became a place to share and discuss comics from 1967-1980. I've enjoyed the company of thousands of like-minded fans and dozens of pros who dig The Diversions. Ten years ago I my goal was to do 500 posts. Now we're nearing #3000.
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While there are still some uncollected and unshared Groovy Age gems out there, I think we've done what we've set out to do here--and, thanks to you dedicated Groove-ophiles--even more. We've made a fun "home away from home" where we can escape into our beloved comics and our four-colored childhoods for a while every day. We've campaigned to see our Groovy Age mags treated with more respect--and to be given the high-quality tpb treatment. I'm not taking credit for anything, but isn't it nice to know that we now have collections featuring the Groovy Age Black Panther, Adam Warlock, OMAC, and more? Stuff we didn't have ten years ago? Yeah, it's a coincidence, but hey, mebbe someone out there was listening to you guys! :D
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So, now what? As you can see, Ol' Groove is one busy dude. I'm going to have to slow down in some places so I can move forward in others. My love for Groove City hasn't diminished one bit, but, as I said, we've more than accomplished our original mission. No, I'm not shutting down or locking up The Diversions, but I am going to slow down. My posts will be more irregular, but I'll be around. With nearly 3000 posts, you should still have plenty to "discuss", and I'll be around for that, too. I'm not saying "goodbye." Nope, no intentions of that. I'll post when the muse hits. When I discover (or re-discover) something really cool. I guess what I'm actually saying is, "I'll be seein' ya." And thank you, so very,
very much.
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The short-lived Stan "sticker"
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See ya tomorrow, in fact! Let's make this countdown to #3000 a par-TAY!
Congratulations and thanks. A couple days don't go by without me stopping by here to see whatever the heck is going on. A venue for comics fans to see something they might have missed, or celebrate something they enjoyed. My hat is off.
ReplyDeleteM.P.
It has been a blast these past 9 years(for me). Thanks, Lloyd. Totally understand your decision. keep on groovin', Groove!
ReplyDeleteOl' Groove, I've loved how this place both summons up memories but also introduces me to comics utterly unknown to me, widening the canvas of the Groovy Age which lives on in us all. This is such a regular, familiar, and strange treat. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteWell, glad you're not going to shut down completely, but this seems like a common thread at certain Bronze Age blogs of late.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I can't fault you for needing more time to take care of other things in your life. And I'm amazed at the pace you've kept all these years (for which you have not only my admiration but also heartfelt thanks).
So congratulations on the milestone and best wishes for your other endeavors.
Love your site! �� My only complaint is not enough female superheros profiled!�� To the amazement of some guys, lots of girls read comics back in the day too! ��
ReplyDeleteGod bless! ��
.........ugh
DeleteI doff my raggy cap to you, sir. take yourself a well-earned breather. you earned it, Groove. much love, mate.
ReplyDeleteWhat can I say? It was your example that made me start blogging in the first place? Absolutely true.
ReplyDeleteThat I've enjoyed each and every post, even when I've been too lazy to comment? Equally true.
That my teeth ground with well-meaning envy when you found a gem I'd completely forgotten about? Unequivocally true.
That you'll be back? True with a massive side order of true, dude!
Congratulations on your impending 3000, Groovester. This site was a major influence on my decision to launch a blog of my own and you, Joe Bloke and Cerebus 660 were the first three people to post comments on it, which gave me the motivation to persevere with it and not abandon it after a few weeks.
ReplyDeleteHowever infrequent, I look forward to each and every post that still comes down the pipe, up to and hopefully well beyond #3000. You've made an amazing contribution here--thank you so very much!
ReplyDeleteThank you for all your hard work promoting this classic age of comics, Groove! 3000 posts is an amazing accomplishment. Long may the funky times continue!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Groove and thank you for all the posts. Because of you I have discovered(and purchased) a lot of great comics that I would have never known about. Your site is my favorite and I visit it almost everyday. I understand you wanting to slow down but am really grateful you're not stopping. Thank you so much for this wonderful site you have shared with all of us. Best wishes to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteSuch nice comments, can't believe no one has expressed what I feel after reading this post ~ Sort of sad! Slowing down?! Say it ain't so! Anyone else feel that twinge after reading this?
ReplyDeleteAll the rest I totally understand. Yes, slowing down, prioritizing the things in your life, not being owned by your success ~ and what a success it has been. Great respect for all you've done. Truly, cannot thank you enough for all the joy you have made possible for us. (Now I finally have a chance to go back and catch up with you and all those awesome posts I missed :o) Thanks a million. Look forward to seeing what you do next!
Hey Groove,
ReplyDeleteYou don't have to post this, but that Unknown from November 8 is Andrew Laurence. Somehow I thought it was picking up my name from Facebook. Anyway, if you want to put a name to the words you can now do so. Thanks again for all this great stuff. Your site was just what I needed when I found it.
Mission accomplished, and then some! Thank you for compiling this massive library of vintage comics. It's a great place to revisit old favorites and discover new ones. You've inspired others to write and get creative, and it's great to see your journey has brought you back to creating new stories of your own.
ReplyDeleteHi
ReplyDeleteI posted a comment when this first appeared, however it never showed up!(No, I did not use any bad words).
So here I am, re-posting it as we all mourn the loss of Stan Lee...
Just a word of thanks added to the others. I too check here almost daily to see what's new. I always used to think "Where does he find the time??" I mean DAILY posting of comic art and history! (OK, so you slacked off on weekends...). You greatly deserve time to devote to other parts of your life. I will continue to check regularly for flashbacks to the 70s. Once again, Thank you very much for all your hard work and devotion.
Mike
Your column has been a joy to me since i discovered it. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI love this site, Groove. Congrats and thanks.
ReplyDeleteAhh Groove, have I discovered this amazing site so late, only to be on hand for its twilight? What a shame, but I suppose that means I have tons of material to work my way back through, which should keep me entertained for a long while to come, even if the frantic pace you've somehow managed to achieve slows down.
ReplyDeleteI always read your site, and it's one of my first stops each day. I've loved your posts and have enjoyed discovering the Bronze Age through your jovial guidance. Your work here inspired me to create my own little attempt at comic blogging, showing me how it is done.
It sounds like you have some of the best reasons in the world to slow things down, and I am very happy that you have reached a state of such pleasant busyness. May God bless you and your family!
Thanks for all your great work, Groove. You have a VERY impressive body of posts; I certainly understand the need to 'slow things down'. Maybe it's Father Time catching up to us Bronze age kids...
ReplyDeleteWill be looking forward to seeing your posts, whenever and wherever!
Sorry to see the column going into the Phantom Zone. It was an eagerly anticipated 5 times weekly entry into my life. Thanks for everything. But did it really take up THAT MUCH of your time?
ReplyDeleteGlad you're still around and, better yet, that you didn't shut everything down and wipe it out like Mr. Door Tree at the Golden Age Site. Does anyone know why he vanished like that? I can still access the old site through Google's cache entries and also through web.archive.org, but still...
ReplyDeleteGene Poole