tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post5051726945167288327..comments2024-03-25T11:21:33.915-04:00Comments on Diversions of the Groovy Kind: A Senses-Shattering Smattering of Swell Stuff!The Groovy Agenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466541479854942040noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-26105752500728754572020-04-24T22:24:24.736-04:002020-04-24T22:24:24.736-04:00I don't recall what my first Marvel was. The ...I don't recall what my first Marvel was. The first 5 comics added to my collection were DCs that I picked up at a 7-11 type store in Houston in 1965. There my 9 year old brain came up with the idea of collecting comics. Fast forward 54 years later and I'm still at it. I didn't like Marvel at first with its continued stories and ongoing subplots. But boy did I come around a few years later. And, of course, Jack Kirby made me a Marvelite. I have to comment of FF # 100. When my teenaged comic geek eyes spied it at the 7 - 11 in 1970, my heart skipped a beat. It was the first comic of the Marvel Age to reach that number. Although it really wasn't Stan and Jack at the peak of their talents as advertised inside, it was a great romp through many of the villains of the past provided via the Puppet Master and Mad Thinker. I kept turning the pages to see who would appear next. Some were only around for a panel or two but added greatly to the story. What Stan and Jack were able to tell in 19 pages, with super inker Joe Sinnott along for the ride, proves what great storytellers they were. To this day I periodically pick up that issue in the FF Masterwork and read it again to experience that same thrill from 50 years ago. Also that Spidey 86 introduced the new Emma Peel influenced Black Widow before she launched into.her ultimately unsuccessful series in Amazing Adventures. Sorry for the verbosity. Your new format lends itself to long-windedness on my part keythd23https://www.blogger.com/profile/00690368680707726203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-16750226577912408332020-04-24T22:00:19.339-04:002020-04-24T22:00:19.339-04:00I was lucky enough to get my Witching Hour # 9 sig...I was lucky enough to get my Witching Hour # 9 signed by Mr Delbo at a convention several years ago.keythd23https://www.blogger.com/profile/00690368680707726203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-4479025407544251692020-04-21T16:30:09.512-04:002020-04-21T16:30:09.512-04:00I agree about Peter Parker, and it seems the recen...I agree about Peter Parker, and it seems the recent films want him younger still, even in high school. Why not?<br /><br />Gene Poole Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-88852832376771002172020-04-21T07:26:36.120-04:002020-04-21T07:26:36.120-04:00Sadly I can never truly recall my first comics fr...Sadly I can never truly recall my first comics from DC ,Marvel , Archie etc partially due to it being so long ago now and also the fact I had an older brother who along with his pals collected US comics so I would read these. Also in the UK, US comics were reprinted quite extensively in our weekly and some monthly comics (prior to Marvel UK) so these confuse the situation for me. But US Marvel comics I do recall picking up early on in my “career” as a comic geek are:<br /><br />Captain America 121 – The Man Brute <br />Spider Man 81 – The Chameleon<br />Avengers 70 – Squadron Supreme<br />Silver Surfer 12 - The Abomination<br />Sgt Fury 70 (cant recall to much about it though)<br /><br />Most of these were released in the US around 1969 but as UK distribution was patchy I would have probably gotten these early in 1970 (although we certainly got some US comics in Scotland at least, quite quickly after they were published in the US) . I can still recall picking up the above Silver Surfer , Spidey and Captain America comics in Glasgow on shopping trips with my mum and dad. I still have my original copies of the Surfer and Capt America comics (though the Silver Surfer book is falling apart from re reading it so often).<br /><br />I also think the quality of most (not all) comics dropped around 1976, not just because I was maybe getting older, but the artists, writers that made these books so good were getting if not old, were certainly running out of ideas (Kirby?) and not producing their best work. In addition new writers artists were just breaking into the industry and most needed time to develop their styles, But still some great books were produced after this time (for a few years at least) –I also think it was a mistake moving Peter Parker out of college.<br /><br />McSCOTTYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00180091610187270638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-38836572275569442042020-04-20T18:44:35.223-04:002020-04-20T18:44:35.223-04:00Wow, you started out on the real deal! While I hav...Wow, you started out on the real deal! While I have an all-encompassing love for Doc Strange by Ditko, Colan, Rogers, and PMS, Brunner will always be my fave Doc artist. I even got to shake his hand and tell him so!The Groovy Agenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17466541479854942040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-9637923267377621872020-04-20T18:41:56.203-04:002020-04-20T18:41:56.203-04:00I was heavily into Marvel when the mags you name c...I was heavily into Marvel when the mags you name came out, and I can so vividly remember getting most of them off the rack. While each of 'em is excellent, Avengers 101 and Cap 153 are special faves!The Groovy Agenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17466541479854942040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-17364580539689511922020-04-20T18:39:27.481-04:002020-04-20T18:39:27.481-04:00Most of those books I'd later discover as repr...Most of those books I'd later discover as reprints! So cool!The Groovy Agenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17466541479854942040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-6786552200505259042020-04-20T18:20:56.762-04:002020-04-20T18:20:56.762-04:00The first Marvel I bought was Doctor Strange #5 in...The first Marvel I bought was Doctor Strange #5 in 1974, the conclusion of the Silver Dagger saga. Scripted by Steve Englehart, pencilled by Frank Brunner, & inked by Dick Giordano, it remains a classic. <br /><br />In 1983 Marvel reprinted these five issues on Baxter paper & it looked better than ever (though Wrightson's wraparound cover was not one of his better efforts).<br /><br />These Brunner issues, along with his work in the 1975 Doctor Strange treasury edition, remain some of his very best work in comics.<br /><br />Regards,<br /><br />Chris A.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-7069537478826412932020-04-19T20:24:15.581-04:002020-04-19T20:24:15.581-04:00Wow, this is a tough one. I wracked my brain and I...Wow, this is a tough one. I wracked my brain and I came up with the following. I remember my first comics were Superman and Batman because that's what was sold at my local supermarket. What great ones, too-the Ra's al Ghul saga, the "weaker Superman who shares his powers with a kid with a lynx" run...great stuff. I begged my Mom to take me to a newsstand on Robertson Blvd. in Los Angeles and I took my saved-up allowance and bought my first Marvels! Here goes: <br /><br />Avengers 101 (a great tale by Harlan Ellison, Roy Thomas and Rich Buckler about a man who might unwittingly destroy the universe!)<br /><br />Captain America 153 (the beginning of the 50's Cap story line, left off with a cliffhanger that took me forever to find!)<br /><br />Daredevil 89 (Daredevil vs Electro by Colan! The Black Widow as well!)<br /><br />Incredible Hulk 153 (the Hulk on trial! Matt Murdock for the defense!)<br /><br />Iron Man 48 (My six year old mind was fascinated by the idea of his armor melting)<br /><br />Sub-Mariner 51 (my first look at Everett in the modern era-his 70's run is still my favorite Namor version)<br /><br />Thor 201 (Pluto, Odin, Hela, Tana Nile, Ego, what else could a kid need?)<br /><br />Thanks for the trip down Groovy Lane! I still think it is my favorite era. <br /><br />Best,<br />JohnJohn Lavinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-59033810881857791702020-04-19T13:30:38.586-04:002020-04-19T13:30:38.586-04:00Spidey 52, "To Die a Hero"-----loved tha...Spidey 52, "To Die a Hero"-----loved that one!<br /><br />- NeilAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-34519275164318913072020-04-19T10:45:12.271-04:002020-04-19T10:45:12.271-04:00Man, you picked some great comics to start off wit...Man, you picked some great comics to start off with, Groove! Especially love that "Brechh", what a fun book that was.<br /><br />I started a little before you; second grade in 1967. A neighbor kid introduced me to comics, and after beginning with Casper, Richie Rich and Superman, I tried Marvels. The first was Amazing Spider-Man 52, with the Kingpin. It seemed head-and-shoulders above anything else I'd read, and prompted a love for Spidey that lasts to this day. <br />A few other Marvels I picked up as a 'beginner': Spider-Man Annual 5, Fantastic Four Annual 6, Not Brand Echh 5, Fantasy Masterpieces 11. <br /><br />For some reason I never explored beyond Spiderman and the FF until some years later. I'd abandoned superhero comics until another friend hooked me in middle school, but that's another story...Redartzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08221459636234713619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-44982259747507668092020-04-18T12:42:18.803-04:002020-04-18T12:42:18.803-04:00Dorma is correct! Forbush Man is immortal, lol! Dorma is correct! Forbush Man is immortal, lol! The Groovy Agenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17466541479854942040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-1514263627864683872020-04-18T12:39:10.190-04:002020-04-18T12:39:10.190-04:00That would be Subby's girlfriend Lady Dorma in...That would be Subby's girlfriend Lady Dorma in Sub-Mariner no. 37.<br /><br />Gene Poole Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-25777882755261251552020-04-18T12:34:59.373-04:002020-04-18T12:34:59.373-04:00Forbush Man? ;)Forbush Man? ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-3847423380679766642020-04-18T12:28:27.855-04:002020-04-18T12:28:27.855-04:00DORMAAAAAA!!!!!!DORMAAAAAA!!!!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-30754894136632576142020-04-18T09:07:10.236-04:002020-04-18T09:07:10.236-04:00I don't think anyone was entertaining the noti...I don't think anyone was entertaining the notion of killing Gwen at that point (Captain Stacy was still kicking around), but Marvel was less than a year away from actually killing off another super-hero's long-time love interest. Anyone remember who it was?The Groovy Agenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17466541479854942040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-70754194132221753322020-04-18T09:03:04.185-04:002020-04-18T09:03:04.185-04:00I was 27 issues behind you, but man, Cap was a gre...I was 27 issues behind you, but man, Cap was a great comic to start with, wasn't it? The Groovy Agenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17466541479854942040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-5546773070078537712020-04-18T09:02:16.539-04:002020-04-18T09:02:16.539-04:00A DC "who's who" of top talent! Thos...A DC "who's who" of top talent! Those covers really did jump out!The Groovy Agenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17466541479854942040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-73196443403994178182020-04-18T09:01:06.095-04:002020-04-18T09:01:06.095-04:00That's a great comic! I didn't get to see ...That's a great comic! I didn't get to see it until it was reprinted in Marvel Super Action in 1980 or so! 1969 was when I started picking up superhero comics, too. I started first grade in 1969 and was learning to read--comics made me WANT to read and I was quickly top reader in my class. Roy and Stan and Mom are to thank for getting me started on the road to a great education!<br />The Groovy Agenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17466541479854942040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-85287958074160200652020-04-18T07:05:31.604-04:002020-04-18T07:05:31.604-04:00Interesting that Daredevil 65 has an allegedly dea...Interesting that Daredevil 65 has an allegedly dead Karen Page on the cover a full three years before Gwen Stacy died in the Amazing Spider-man 121. <br /><br />A warmup act?<br /><br />- Neil<br /><br />Of course, the first BIG death of a comics female was Raven in the 1940s "Terry and the Pirates" strip by Milt Caniff. It made a huge impact on readers nationwide. Very moving.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-49714595559075553132020-04-17T18:49:43.121-04:002020-04-17T18:49:43.121-04:00My first Marvel comic book? Captain America #100. ...My first Marvel comic book? Captain America #100. Cap, in his own mag, at last! My dad bought it for me. I was five years old. Ianni's News Stand on Olden Avenue in Trenton, New Jersey!Jim DeLorenzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00023115505833068248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-31098599225143123172020-04-17T16:49:20.379-04:002020-04-17T16:49:20.379-04:00The last cover in your current post is my favourit...The last cover in your current post is my favourite, Groove! The first fourteen issues of the Witching Hour were edited by Joe Orlando & he rallied some amazing talent in those: Alex Toth, Nick Cardy, Neal Adams, Berni Wrightson, Jeff Jones, Mike Kaluta, Al Williamson, & so many more.<br /><br />#9 has a great Neal Adams cover, some evocative Toth framing sequence pages, & the cover story drawn by Jose Delbo is, in my opinion, his career best. It takes place in feudal China & is called "The Last Straw." The other stories were also quite good, particularly the last one with its Shangri-La vibe, called "Trumpet Perilous." <br /><br />Regards,<br /><br />Chris A.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-33975705399775139312020-04-17T15:35:46.063-04:002020-04-17T15:35:46.063-04:00My first Marvel comic was Avengers no. 67 with Ult...My first Marvel comic was Avengers no. 67 with Ultron as the villain. It actually belonged to one of my older brothers, and in 1969 I was too young to read, but that didn't stop me from looking at the pictures! In a number of their comics that I perused the storytelling was quite clear, even to a four year old! Years later it was fun to rediscover what some of these early memories were from.<br /><br />Avengers no. 67 has cover art by Sal Buscema and inside artwork by Barry Smith. Script by Roy Thomas.<br /><br />Gene Poole Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7897120082101927069.post-32585665596288936692020-04-17T07:02:59.125-04:002020-04-17T07:02:59.125-04:00Looks like Harvey unloaded all their books this we...Looks like Harvey unloaded all their books this week. Perhaps they had an arrangement with Charlton, sort of like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones releasing singles on alternate weeks.<br /><br />- NeilAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com