(P)Raising Kane: "He That Hath Wings!" by Hamilton, Kane, and Esposito

Here's a beautifully illustrated adaptation of Edmund Hamilton's 1938 sci-fi fable, "He That Hath Wings!" It was the back-up (and the longest) story in the debut issue of Marvel's sadly short-lived sci-fi comic, Worlds Unknown (February 1973). Adapted, scripted, and penciled by Gil Kane (but of course!) and inked by Mike Esposito, one has to wonder just how much Hamilton's original story influenced Stan Lee and/or Jack Kirby in the creation of a certain winged mutant...and is that why it made the cut for this should-have-been prestigious first issue?

(P)Raising Kane: "And a Child Shall Lead You!" by Thomas, Kane, and Adkins

Hey, hey, hey, Groove-ophiles! Yesterday we dug on DC's Captain Marvel (well, at least his junior side-kick), so today let's marvel at Marvel's Mar-Vell! Y'know, a lot of folks think Marv got his awesome red-and-blue uniform when Roy Thomas and Gil Kane took over with this ish (Captain Marvel #17, July 1969), but the truth is, our Kree captain got his new threads the issue before. Roy and Gil's masterstroke was merging Marv with Rick Jones in a sort of homage to Fawcett's original Captain Marvel (whom DC would later publish as Shazam! as we just saw yesterday. Oh, and check out the colors Rick wears starting with this ish and compare 'em to Billy Batson's duds if ya don't believe me!) As great as Roy is, Gil Kane (aided and abetted by inker Dan Adkins) is the real draw here. Kane's long, lanky, powerful figures are in constant motion, and his action sequences are mind-boggling (to say the least). Plus, he gets to draw Captain America (okay, so it's rarely really Cap, but still...), some Avengers, and the Hulk for a few panels, so, ya know, this is one special mag!

(P)Raising Kane: "Vengeance of the Molecule Man!" by Gerber, Kane, and Sinnott

Check it out, Groove-ophiles! When the ever-lovin'-blue-eyed Thing's team-up mag moved from Marvel Feature to the long-running Marvel Two-In-One, editor Roy Thomas turned writer Steve Gerber, penciler Gil Kane, and inker Joe Sinnott loose on the first fab ish! How fab was it? Well, Benjamin J. Grimm sorta/kinda teamed up with the lumbering Man-Thing to battle the cosmically powered Molecule Man! Sound fab to you? From October 1973, here comes the..."Vengeance of the Molecule Man!"

Cover art by Gil Kane and John Romita, Sr.