Making a Splash: Black Panther in Jungle Action, Part Two

Dig it, Groove-ophiles! Last week we looked at Rich Buckler and company going into Jungle Action with the Black Panther, so this week we're following up with the incredible art of Billy Graham as he (along with top-notch inkers Klaus Janson, Craig Russell, Pablo marcos, Dan Green, and Bob McLeod) joins author Don McGregor on a trek through the wilds of Wakanda (JA issues 10-22, April 1974-April 1976). Wanna join 'em? Ol' Groove knew you would...

Making a Splash: P. Craig Russell's War of the Worlds/Killraven

Dig it, Groove-ophiles! For Ol' Groove, one of the highest-of-the-high-points of Marvel in the Groovy Age was Don McGregor's War of the Worlds/Killraven run in Amazing Adventures. With artists like Herb Trimpe, Rich Buckler, and Gene Colan, McGregor took Roy Thomas' cool idea (H.G. Wells' Martians return to conquer Earth) and elevated it into a unique, way ahead of it's time sci-fi strip. When neo-artist P. Craig Russell joined him as artist (A. A. issues 27-32, 34-37 (layouts only on 35-36), and 39, August 1974-August 1976 ) the comic became legendary. Russell's art was as unique and cool as McGregor's writing, with both men elevating the comics medium with each passing issue. Russell is a master, there is no doubt, and even his early work showed a style that stood out from all the rest...

Our Pal Sal: "And Who Shall Inherit the Earth?" by Wein, S. Buscema, and Green

Hey, hey, hey, Groove-ophiles! We're back with the conclusion of our Defenders/Nebulon/Squadron Sinister mini-epic from Defenders #14 (April 1974), and it's a doozy! Len Wein wrote cool story with plenty of far-out action and ugly aliens for Our Pal Sal Buscema to draw, and inker/finisher Dan Green's brush-strokes compliment Sal's layouts/pencils quite nicely, imo. Oh, and this is the ish in which Nighthawk turns hero and becomes part (and do I ever mean part) of the non-team's non-ranks--which works out quite nicely since Sub-Mariner flakes out and splits (this time for good--there's a Super-Villain Team-Up with Dr. Doom in his not-too-distant future). Join us as Dr. Strange, the Hulk, Valkyrie, and Subby help decide..."And Who Shall Inherit the Earth?"

Making a Splash: Iron Fist Before He Was Byrne-d

HiiiiiiiiYA, Groove-ophiles! Ol' Groove has Iron Fist on his mind today. Well, I've had Danny Rand and company on my mind for a while now 'cause I've been reading the totally far out Iron Fist Epic Collection recently (and looking forward to the Power Man/IF EC* in time for m'birthday next week--woot!). As I read the stories, I was reminded of how much I dig IF. The mystical, kung-fu origin (inspired by Bill Everett's Golden Age Amazing Man**). The Ninja. Colleen Wing and her dad. Misty Knight and the revelation of her bionic arm. The reveal of who The August Personage In Jade truly was. I could go on and on, but you get the idea. Yeah, it was one of those strips that had a virtual merry-go-round of creators (five writers, four pencilers, five inkers, two editors and a K'un-Lun partridge in a pear tree), but it all hangs together, almost like there was a master plan was in place to keep things moving forward until the ultimate IF team of Chris Claremont and John Byrne took over. Rand transformed from a vengeance-seeking near-madman to a mis-understood victim to a super-hero over the course of these issues. Kudos to writers Roy Thomas, Len Wein, Doug Moench, Tony Isabella, and Claremont for keeping things moving so steadily for our hero! The other heroes, co-creator (with Thomas) Gil Kane, Larry Hama, Arvell Jones, and Pat Broderick (usually inked by Dick Giordano or Vinnie Colletta) get to strut their stuff right now with the mind-bending splash pages from Marvel Premiere issues 15 through 24 (February 1974-June 1975)!

(*Yeah, Ol' Groove has the original MP, IF, and PM/IF mags, but I'm splurgin' a little and these tpbs are really well made!)

(**Gallant Comics is publishing, as we speak, a fantastic new AM comic, John Aman, Amazing Man ,written by Barry Gregory with gorgeous art by Steven Butler. You can read the first four issues online so get thee to gallantcomics.com and enjoy!)