R.I.P. Steve Ditko

Never wanted to write this post, Groove-ophiles. Steve Ditko has passed at the age of 90. Ol' Groove has struggled with how to best honor, nay, celebrate the memory and talent of Steve Ditko. He always seemed to prefer to let his work represent him. I think it's most fitting to do the same....

The man will be missed, but his legacy will last forever!

Making a Splash: Steve Ditko's NEW Captain Atom

Hey, hey, hey, Groove-ophiles! As the Groovy Age dawned, Charlton's Captain Atom was going through some huge changes. A slight bit of de-powering. A new uniform. And even a new attitude (hipper, going for the Marvel crowd, it seemed). It wasn't enough to save his mag from cancellation, but it did make for some fun stories. Of course, Steve Ditko's art was downright supoib (usually inked by Rocke Mastroserio) as shown by this smattering of spectacular splashes (Captain Atom #84-89, November 1966-October 1967)...

Captain Atom #88

Amazed by Aparo: "Masque of Mirrors" by Kaler and Aparo

By popular demand, here's Dave Kaler and Jim Aparo's third solo Nightshade strip from the final issue of Charlton's Captain Atom (#89, September 1967)! Prepare to face the..."Masque of Mirrors"!

Amazed by Aparo: "Poetry of Peril!" by Kaler and Aparo

Greetings, Groove-ophiles! We're back with part two of Dave Kaler and Jim Aparo's Nightshade mini-epic from the pages of Charlton Comics' Captain Atom! (If you wanna read part one, click here.) "Poetry of Peril" comes to us via Captain Atom #88 (Cover dated October 1967). Can you dig it?

Amazed by Aparo: "The Image's Idyl!" by Kaler and Aparo

Hey, hey, hey, Groove-ophiles! Ya'll have been begging for some Charlton Action Hero goodness, so, having been inspired by the guys from Charlton Arrow (man, if you're don't have the first two issues of Charlton Arrow, you're missing two of the best comics of the decade! I kid you not!! Click that Charlton Arrow logo over in the sidebar and get those mags in your hands a.s.a.p.!), Ol' Groove figures it's about time! We're gonna kick off with something really cool--the first Nightshade back-up from Captain Atom #87 (cover-dated August 1967)! Written by early pillar of comicbook fandom Dave Kaler, "The Image's Idyl!" is not only the first Nightshade solo story, but it's also (can ya believe this?) our man Jim Aparo's very first super-hero strip! Oh, and dig the villain's name and chest emblem...makes ya wanna go "hmmmmmm" dunnit?

The Grooviest Covers of All Time: Steve Ditko's Super-Heroes

Hey, hey, hey, Groove-ophiles! From the beginning to the end of the Groovy Age, Sturdy Steve Ditko laid some far-out covers on comicdom (Wow, was that putting things mildly!). Plant your peepers on just a select few of his best super-hero covers...

The Plastic Man half of this cover is penciled by Dave Cockrum, baby!

Black and White Wednesday: Byrne in the Bullseye

Greetings, Groove-ophiles! In 1974/75 John Byrne was a fast-rising star, rocketing from the fanzines to Charlton to Marvel in the seeming blink of an eye. In Charlton Bullseye (Charlton Comics' answer to Marvel's FOOM and DC's Amazing World of DC Comics), Byrne contributed heavily with pin-ups, spot illos,articles, unpublished tales (of Doomsday +1, natch), and even inking vintage Steve Ditko (Captain Atom). Ol' Groove thought you might wanna pass some time looking at a few samples of the rising young mega-talent's Bullseye work...