The Boys from Derby: "The Genius Plant" by Cuti and Staton

What it is, Groove-ophiles! We're only a few short weeks away from the dazzling debut of Charlton Arrow Vol. 2, No. 1 featuring the return of E-Man and Nova! To celebrate, let's truck on back to April 1975 for E-Man #9 and "The Genius Plant!" This one has it all! A powered-up Nova! Teddy Q.! A cool, painted cover ('Cause Charlton had learned that painted covers were cheaper to print than standard comicbook covers! Who'd'a thunk it?)! Mike Mauser! General Dove (who looked like a cross between George C. Scott and Sarge from Sad Sack)! Scientists with big heads! And a villain who used the same tailor as The Red Ghost during the 70s * (talkin' 'bout the one RG wore in Defenders #'s 7-8)! This should hold ya until co-creators Nick Cuti and Joe Staton give us a brand new E-Man and Nova adventure next month!

*Here's The Red Ghost's costume for comparison...mebbe they were related?

Charlton Arrow Week! The Grooviest Covers of All Time--featuring The Charlton Horror-Hosts

 Greetings, Groove-ophiles! We're winding up our week-long salute to The Charlton Arrow, and Ol' Groove sure hopes you've had as grand a time as moi! Hearing from Mort Todd, Roger McKenzie, and the gang behind the Charlton mini-revival has been a hoot! Looking back at the Charlton of yore has been a blast, too, but it wouldn't be complete without some sort of tribute to Charlton's far-out Horror Hosts!  Can you name 'em all?

 (And if you love those hosts, you're gonna go bonkers for Lou Mougin and Mort Todd's "The Hosts of Horror" in The Charlton Arrow #1!)

The party doesn't end here! No way! Now let's have a word from Mort Todd and the Gang from Charlton Arrow about Charlton Arrow #2!!
 

Mr. Bones returns to host a story "The Cure-All," by Stephen Skeates, Howard Bender and Neil D. Vokes.

A panel from Jack Keller's "Never Hitch a Ride," featuring Clint Curtis. Originally appeared in Hot Rods and Racing Cars #89 (February 1968) and presented to promote ACE Comics' new title Classic Hot Rods and Racing Car Comics #1, appearing in May, and shot from the original Charlton silver prints. 

An unpublished 1967 epic by Joe Gill and Pat Boyette, "The Golden Pharaoh," which will be serialized for a couple issues of The Charlton Arrow. 

 "The Barely Sentients," a parody of Charlton's off-beat superheroes The Sentinels, written & drawn by Mort Todd. 

 A panel from the highly regarded Spookman series, a Pay Boyette creation, brought back to "life" by Roger McKenzie & Sandy Carruthers. All material © their respective creators. Hot Rods & Racing Car Comics © & ™ ACE Comics Co., Inc. 




We're also talking with a very well-known Charlton creator to print a poster of his art, but can't say who yet! The Charlton Arrow #1 has a planned June 2014 release date. It and the first issue, will be available at http://morttodd.com/charlton.html

To which Roguish Roger McKenzie adds... 

...one piece of news Mort didn't mention is The Charlton Arrow #2 will feature the return of Mr. Jigsaw (man of a thousand parts!) in an all-new, all-outrageous adventure by creators: Ron Fortier & Gary Kato!




Keep the Charlton love flowing, Groove-ophiles! Buy those Arrows!!

Charlton Arrow Week! "Second-Rate Wife?"

What's up, Groove-ophiles! It's Charlton Arrow Week here on the Diversions! I know this is kinda different--and yeah, call it a week's worth of plugs if you want--but I think Fester Faceplant and the Gang behind the new Charlton Arrow comic deserve all the plugs and kudos they can get! I mean, to Ol' Groove, gathering a group of fans and pros to revive Charlton Comics (or as close as legally possible) is a task worthy of great praise! To think that pros like Paul (Life With Archie) Kupperberg, Roger (Captain America, Daredevil) McKenzie, Joe (E-Man, Dick Tracy) Staton, Rick Stasi, Lou Mougin, Mort Todd, and so many others would join such an enterprise out of sheer love for Charlton Comics makes it a mag above and beyond wanting. It's a mag we need! If you don't have a copy (first printing is sold out!!), go here right now and get a copy (Not sold in stores!). Aaaaaand get ready to order ish #2 which promises to be even better (E-Man by Nick Cuti and Joe Staton, anyone?)!
  
Now, Ol' Groove ain't gonna jive ya, Groove-ophiles: I never bought any romance comics. Ever. My mom, though? She kept buyin' 'em until the finally quit makin' 'em! Now, just 'cause I didn't buy 'em doesn't mean I didn't read 'em. The following tale, "Second-Rate Wife?" (couldn't verify the writer or artist--assistance, please?) was originally published in Just Married #112 (May 1976), and I have to say, it left an indelible impression on Young Groove. Now, the awesome art (doesn't it just scream "1970s"?) alone failed to tell the story of why one sister was so much more desirable than the other --they look just alike!--but I finally read the words and the story really did make sense. The following scans come from the reprint, I  Love You #128 (November 1979)...

If you dug this tale, you just have to treat yourself to Charlton Arrow #1's Johnny Love mini-saga by Michael Mitchell! It's far-out!

Charlton Arrow Week! Black and White Wednesday: Interviews from Charlton Bullseye with George Wildman, Nick Cuti, and Don Newton

What it is, Groove-ophiles! It's Charlton Arrow Week here on the Diversions! I know this is kinda different--and yeah, call it a week's worth of plugs if you want--but I think Fester Faceplant and the Gang behind the new Charlton Arrow comic deserve all the plugs and kudos they can get! I mean, to Ol' Groove, gathering a group of fans and pros to revive Charlton Comics (or as close as legally possible) is a task worthy of great praise! To think that pros like Paul (Life With Archie) Kupperberg, Roger (Captain America, Daredevil) McKenzie, Joe (E-Man, Dick Tracy) Staton, Rick Stasi, Lou Mougin, Mort Todd, and so many others would join such an enterprise out of sheer love for Charlton Comics makes it a mag above and beyond wanting. It's a mag we need! If you don't have a copy (first printing is sold out!!), go here right now and get a copy (Not sold in stores!). Aaaaaand get ready to order ish #2 which promises to be even better (E-Man by Nick Cuti and Joe Staton, anyone?)!

Let's keep this Charlton Arrow Week rolling along with interviews of some of the Groovy Age greats of Charlton Comics! From Charlton Bullseye #1, here's a talk with author Nick Cuti...

 In  #2, the Bullseye gang raps with Charlton editor George Wildman...

 And finally, from CB #5, Howard Siegal's discussion with artist Don Newton...

Dig that Dave Cockrum spot illo!