"Our Pal" Sal: "Kill! Cried the Raven!" by Thomas, Buscema, and Esposito

Dig it, Groove-ophiles! Here's another example of early Sal Buscema from Sub-Mariner #26 (March 1970)! Of course, he has a cool story to illustrate as writer Roy Thomas brings back Timely's winged warrior Red Raven! Roy's love for Golden Age characters knows no bounds--but he doesn't hesitate to put those old characters through the ringer when a good story calls for it! Oh, and while the credits say "Joe Guadioso", the inks are by Mike Esposito, who was moonlighting from DC with Marvel. Are you ready to dive (ouch) into..."Kill! Cried the Raven!"? Here we go!

Is it just me, or does this page look like Ross Andru's handiwork?

"Our Pal" Sal: "A World My Enemy!" by Thomas, S. Buscema, Mooney, and Esposito

Greetings, Groove-ophiles! We're back with more superior scribblings featuring Our Pal, Sal Busecma! This time we're going way back to one of Sal's earliest jobs--his first issue of Sub-Mariner! By the time Sub-Mariner #25 (February 1970) hit the spinner-racks, Sal had become an established inker and was making quite a name for himself as a penciler (mainly on The Avengers). Some of the best issues of Subby's mag came to us via the Roy Thomas/Sal Buscema team, and this one is just the beginning! Dig it!!

 Oh, yeah, the nice, crisp, detailed inks were provided by Jim Mooney and Mike Esposito (moonlighting as Joe Gaudioso)!

Our Pal Sal: "Attuma Triumphant!" by Thomas and S. Buscema

Hey, hey, hey, Groove-ophiles! Today let's dig on some superior Sal Buscema art from Sub-Mariner #31 (August 1970). Yers trooly got his grubby li'l paws on this piece of comicbook heaven during a trade at a friend's garage in the Summer of 1971. What I most remember about the trade is that it took some real wheeling and dealing, 'cause my pal didn't wanna part with that stunning Sal cover--and Li'l Groove had no intention of leaving that garage without it (oh, yeah, and the mag that went with it, natch). Prince Namor, Triton, and Stingray (man, I dig those ca-razee threads!) making like gladiators for Attuma and his minions? Yeah, that was going home with me! So a couple'a old DC's and perhaps a baseball card later, I was able to take "Attuma Triumphant!" to my humble pad where I could rapturously read Roy Thomas' tale of savage super-heroing and let mine eyes savor the awesome artistry of Sal Buscema inked by Mike Esposito (under the guise of "Joe Guadioso"). And you, you lucky Groove-ophile, don't have to trade a thing to get to enjoy this Groovy Age masterpiece!