tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post4073707426287835754..comments2024-03-25T11:21:33.915-04:00Comments on Diversions of the Groovy Kind: Items of Interest to Invigorate Your Imagination!The Groovy Agenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466541479854942040noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-79357552046587473212020-04-16T14:37:10.780-04:002020-04-16T14:37:10.780-04:00How about Sandy Plunkett? He was part of the Crus...How about Sandy Plunkett? He was part of the Crusty Bunkers in Neal Adams' Continuity Associates in the '70s, but seemed to make quite an impression in 1983 when he pencilled a story in Marvel Fanfare #6 with Spider-Man and the Scsrlet Witch. The villain was the same one in Ditko's Spidey-Dr. Strange teamup in a 1965 Spider-Man annual, and Plunkett's work is evidently a tribute to that, though he has quite a bit of Jeff Jones influence in his drawing. P. Craig Russell provided the inks. <br /><br />Though Sandy had been doing comics work since 1975 and as recently as 2012 this 1983 effort seems to be his most acclaimed. Have a look at a page:<br /><br />https://coolpages.tumblr.com/post/153399582764/marvel-fanfare-6-switch-witch-marvel-comics/amp<br /><br />I'm told he was very slow in producing pages, so mainstream comics wasn't really for him (similar to Mark Schultz of Xenozoic Tales who has since turned to scripting).<br /><br />Regards,<br /><br />Chris A.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-39227922838228327542020-04-13T17:37:19.896-04:002020-04-13T17:37:19.896-04:00And I will!
Canadian artist Bill Payne. Per his ...And I will!<br /><br />Canadian artist Bill Payne. Per his bio at Lambiek, he drew comic strips in Toronto:<br /><br />https://www.lambiek.net/artists/p/payne_bill.htm<br /><br />Here, after Berni Wrightson's superb cover and frontispiece, is a story drawn by Bill vom/read/comic-house-of-mystery-1951-eng/207<br /><br />I've only seen one other one he did for HOM, and it seems he only did a handful for DC.<br /><br />Another great, unsung talent!<br /><br />Regards,<br /><br />Chris A.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-45313341804696181812020-04-13T15:55:00.859-04:002020-04-13T15:55:00.859-04:00It's amazing how many great artists had brief ...It's amazing how many great artists had brief comics careers, whereas others hung in there for many decades.<br /><br />Most fans of The Studio artists (Wrightson, Jones, Kaluta, & Windsor-Smith) don't know the work of their friend Steve Harper. He was similar in some regards to Jeff Jones in approach, and was inked by Neal Adams in Weird War #8 in 1972 and inked by Mike Kaluta in Star Spangled War Stories in 1976. Harper left comics to do landscape paintings in New Mexico over 40 years ago. <br /><br />There are others like him that I could cite from the Groovy Age.<br /><br />Regards,<br /><br />Chris A.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-2650244998697487722020-04-12T20:12:43.756-04:002020-04-12T20:12:43.756-04:00I think he soured on the industry due to some unpl...I think he soured on the industry due to some unpleasant experiences he encountered from Archie after its Fly relaunch in the 80s. Also he was less than pleased by the inking he received from Jack Abel on the Challs series in Super-Team Family. I met him at a few conventions he was at when I lived in NYC. Nice man. He also did a fill-in of the Silver Surfer (39) in Volume 3 of that title.keythd23https://www.blogger.com/profile/00690368680707726203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-52187327980051932222020-04-09T08:02:38.244-04:002020-04-09T08:02:38.244-04:00I know that James Sherman did some work on the Fla...I know that James Sherman did some work on the Flash Gordon strip, with Bruce Jones scripting, but it could have been in the '80s. Not sure.<br /><br />Gene Poole Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-81791299737211858602020-04-08T08:42:36.338-04:002020-04-08T08:42:36.338-04:00Thanks, keythd23. I'm sure Neil's original...Thanks, keythd23. I'm sure Neil's original comments were shared with the best of intentions. It is quite interesting to note how Charlton (and Archie, if we look really closely) churn out the mags earliest in the month.The Groovy Agenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17466541479854942040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-69505321939919827902020-04-08T08:40:23.949-04:002020-04-08T08:40:23.949-04:00McSCOTTY, From what I've been able to glean, S...McSCOTTY, From what I've been able to glean, Sherman went into commercial art sometime in the 90s. He's credited with designing the ShopRite grocery chain's logo. As for IndyPlanet (thanks for acknowledging Diversions, by the way, 'tis appreciated), they do ship to the UK, but their shipping is pricey. I plan on putting out a couple more publications very shortly, though, which would help alleviate the cost of shipping (they can ship a few books for the price of one, usually). Or, if you're interested, e-mail me directly (thegroovyagent@yahoo.com). I have a few copies and as long as they don't shut down international mail service due to the pandemic, perhaps we can work out a way for me to send you one of mine. :DThe Groovy Agenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17466541479854942040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-68130877043111952532020-04-08T05:05:18.141-04:002020-04-08T05:05:18.141-04:00Nice to see that wonderful James Sherman LSH splas...Nice to see that wonderful James Sherman LSH splash page again, he was a great artist. Does anyone know what happened to him after his run on LSH etc did he stay in comics as I can't recall seeing his work in decades. Incidentally I don't think Indy Planet post books out to the UK (not into digital downloads I'm afraid) McSCOTTYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00180091610187270638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-8867317793994390292020-04-07T18:05:40.557-04:002020-04-07T18:05:40.557-04:00I think it was pretty well known that Charlton was...I think it was pretty well known that Charlton was mobbed up. Check out all the Italian names associated with them (I'm Sicilian. I can say that. Lol).keythd23https://www.blogger.com/profile/00690368680707726203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-75495966939892328782020-04-07T18:02:41.914-04:002020-04-07T18:02:41.914-04:00You certainly are the arbiter of what should and s...You certainly are the arbiter of what should and shouldn't get posted! Charlton occupied a unique niche in comics publishing and collecting. I liked their publications including the covers.keythd23https://www.blogger.com/profile/00690368680707726203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-9408627063285603092020-04-05T07:20:07.955-04:002020-04-05T07:20:07.955-04:00Charlton was founded by two men who met in prison(...Charlton was founded by two men who met in prison(!)----John Santangelo & Ed Levy.<br /><br />True story.<br /><br />Regards,<br /><br />Chris A.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-27882314126911534682020-04-04T18:58:22.322-04:002020-04-04T18:58:22.322-04:00Good theory. May have to check with my pal and Cha...Good theory. May have to check with my pal and Charlton guru Mort Todd about that!The Groovy Agenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17466541479854942040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-77459628834542009312020-04-04T18:12:50.647-04:002020-04-04T18:12:50.647-04:00Maybe that was their distribution deal and they re...Maybe that was their distribution deal and they released the entire line on the first week of every month.<br /><br />- NeilAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-45709831660648532602020-04-04T16:40:57.172-04:002020-04-04T16:40:57.172-04:00I've noticed since I started this new format t...I've noticed since I started this new format that Charlton really unloaded a lot of titles during the first week or so of the month. Archie put out a lot, too, but it almost looked like Charlton tried to grab as much space as they could when each month started.The Groovy Agenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17466541479854942040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-75635720773457882432020-04-04T16:20:42.472-04:002020-04-04T16:20:42.472-04:00That's surprising! Seems Charlton flooded th...That's surprising! Seems Charlton flooded the market that week. Whodathunk?<br /><br />- NeilAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-45420287529135894302020-04-04T13:43:10.909-04:002020-04-04T13:43:10.909-04:00Um. Nooo...the covers I posted were the only books...Um. Nooo...the covers I posted were the only books published during that particular week 50 years ago. I'm not picking and choosing the covers, I'm posting covers of all the books that actually came out on the racks on the dates listed. The 50 Years Ago posts are historical, not my personal choices. Sorry for the confusion.The Groovy Agenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17466541479854942040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-80196421990860588632020-04-04T13:36:29.156-04:002020-04-04T13:36:29.156-04:00Sorry, Groove, but those Charlton covers are all k...Sorry, Groove, but those Charlton covers are all kinds of >>blecch<< to me. Really bland, unimaginative and with terrible design to boot. There are so many more great Marvel and DC covers you could have posted instead.<br /><br />- Neil Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-52392128664445260152020-04-04T08:34:02.909-04:002020-04-04T08:34:02.909-04:00I normally dislike those split in half cover image...I normally dislike those split in half cover images, but Joe Kubert made it work on Sgt. Rock 220!<br /><br />Gene Poole Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-3788525581295912572020-04-03T19:31:11.675-04:002020-04-03T19:31:11.675-04:00Challengers of the Unknown #74 has a great Neal Ad...Challengers of the Unknown #74 has a great Neal Adam's cover and an eight page sequence with Deadman & the Challs, followed by a one page Wrightson story that really belonged in House of Mystery or one of its sister titles.<br /><br />Speaking of Berni, he did an atmospheric story in Unexpected #118 called "Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall, Who's the Deadliest of Them All." Nice Nick Cardy cover.<br /><br />I owned that Superboy issue! Great Neal Adams cover & fun story inside.<br /><br />Regards,<br /><br />Chris A.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-43596858156651273472020-04-03T15:17:05.113-04:002020-04-03T15:17:05.113-04:00I had the Josie and the Pussycats, B&V, Betty ...I had the Josie and the Pussycats, B&V, Betty and Me, and Life with Archie issues. I think I still have that Life with Archie.Bryan Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06314802281973219840noreply@blogger.com