The Grooviest Covers of All Time: Mike Zeck's Chilling Charlton Covers

Dig it, Groove-ophiles! When we think of the Groovy Age art of Magnificent Mike Zeck, we most often think of Master of Kung Fu (and post-Groovy Age Captain America, Punisher, and Secret Wars). Like many other super-stars of the late 20th Century (John Byrne, Joe Staton, Jim Aparo, and Don Newton, to name a few), some of Mighty Mike's earliest professional color comics work rolled off the printing presses at Charlton Comics in Derby, Connecticut. Here are the scary and stunning covers he produced from 1975 to 1977. Not nearly enough of 'em, but t'was about quality--not quantity! Enjoy!

The Boys from Derby: "The Eyes of Ikaba" by Gill and Glanzman

What it is, Groove-ophiles! Here's a rare 70s Charlton Sam Glanzman story from Ghostly Tales #93 (January 1972). According to Grand Comics Database it was probably written by Joe Gill. It's a hoot of an adventure story, but it's deftly laced with a lesson in the horrors of greed and hate. Beware..."The Eyes of Ikaba!"

Amazed by Aparo: "The Eternal Mountain" by Aparo

Dig it, Groove-ophiles! Here's a short shocker ably illustrated by none other than Jim Aparo (who wrote it?), "The Eternal Mountain!" This one is from Ghostly Tales #68 (July 1968), by the way...

The Boys from Derby: "Revenge of the Dead" by Pellowski and Sutton

Season's Greetings, Groove-ophiles! Let's take a trip back to February 1975 so we can take a trip even further back to the days when pirates ruled the high seas! Of course, this being a short shocker from Ghostly Tales #115, ya know there's gonna be some supernatural shenanigans goin' down on onboard! Arrrrrrre ye ready, ye scurvy scoundrels? Then let Boys from Derby Mike Pellowski and Tom Sutton be yer creepy captains as ye sail head-first into the..."Revenge of the Dead!"

The Boys from Derby: "One Night in the Bayou!" by Gill and Molno

Ya know, Groove-ophiles, in comicbook-land, the swamps are even more dangerous than the ones in the real world! Not only are they populated by snakes and alligators, but there's a TON of swamp monsters populating them, as well! Don't believe Ol' Groove? Well then, join Joe Gill and Bill Molno for..."One Night in the Bayou!"

From Ghostly Tales #110 (December 1973), by the bye...

Amazed by Aparo: "The Phantom Crew" by Dipluhm and Aparo

'Tis almost Halloween, Groove-ophiles, so don'tcha think it's time for a good, old-fashioned ghost story? Yeah, Ol' Groove thought you would! So here's a creepy classic from "Norm Dipluhm" and Jim Aparo from Ghostly Tales #65 (December 1967)! Prepare to set sail with..."The Phantom Crew"!

The Grooviest Covers of All Time: Jim Aparo at Charlton

Hey, hey, hey, Groove-ophiles! Today, what'say we trip on back to, oh, about 1967-1970, when Jim Aparo was just taking the comicbook world by storm at Charlton Comics! Charlton's editors knew a good thing when they saw one, and they put JA on many covers--mystery, adventure, sci-fi, romance, western, race cars, even humor! And Jim could do it all--and quite magnificently! Have a heaping helping of Aparo/Charlton goodness and see if your day doesn't seem a lot brighter!

A big ol' "Thank you!" to Grand Comics Database for the suh-weet scans!