Diggin' Ditko: "The Magnet of Magento" by Gill and Ditko!

Hoo-hah! What better way to cap off a week than with some classic Steve Ditko sci-fi, Groove-ophiles? This Joe Gill scripted shocker is from Charlton's Space Adventures #5 (October 1968). Are you ready, baby? We're gettin' ready to blast off, but before we go remember the immortal words of the late, great Jim Croce: "You don't tug on Superman's cape, you don't spit into the wind, you don't pull the mask off the ol' Lone Ranger and you don't mess with 'The Magnet of Magento'!" ...Or somethin' like that!

Wonder if Sturdy Steve got paid double for that splash-page-that-became-a-cover? Or was it a cover-that-became-a-splash-page? Hmmmmmmm...

Black and White Wednesday: Jeff Jones' "Sleep"

Greetings from the "future," Groove-ophiles! This is Ol' Groove from 15 years after this post! I was recently contacted by writer Steve Stern about a problem with the credits for "Sleep" in Psycho #21--specifically, somone  in editorial had dropped Mr. Stern's name from the credits from Psycho #6 which DID credit Mr. Stern as the story writer for whatever reason. I am here (from the future) to present the splash page from the original printing from Psycho #6 which properly credits Mr. Stern as the writer of "Sleep." Mebbe someone else out there can fill us in on why the credits were changed when the story was reprinted? 

Hey, hey, hey! Here's another winner from the wonder that is Psycho #21, aka The 1974 Nightmare Summer Special. This time the spotlight falls on "Sleep" (originally published in Nightmare #6) by the incredible Jeffrey Jones. With a plethora of out-of-this-world comics and cover paintings, Jones (along with Studio mates Barry Windsor-Smith, Mike Kaluta, and Bernie Wrightson) helped elevate the public perception of our humble medium into a bona fide art form during the Groovy Age. Jones' mastery of shape and shadow is just as mind-blowing today as it was back in then.

See?

Black and White Wednesday: A Pair of Kaluta Sci-Fi Shockers

Welcome back to Groovyland! It's been a while since we admired some fabamundo Mike Kaluta art, hasn't it? Well, here are two sci-fi shockers (just like the title says!) not only illustrated by the mood-master, but written by him as well. How's that for a special treat, Groove-ophiles? The first story, "Hey Buddy, Can You Lend Me A..." is from Marvel's Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction #1 (October 1974), while the second, "The Hunter and the Hunted" is ripped from the pages of the second issue (December 1974) of that self-same mag. Both, mind ya, are reprints; examples of Kaluta's fan/semi pro/early pro work. "Hey Buddy..." was first published in Scream Door #1 (1971), while "The Hunter..." first appeared in Abyss (1970). How's that for more info than you actually need? Enjoy!

Black and White Wednesday: Jim Starlin's Darklon the Mystic

Somewhere between Adam Warlock and Vanth Dreadstar, there stood Darklon the Mystic. After finishing his way-out Warlock epic at Marvel, Jim Starlin produced several strips starring the cosmic sorcerer for the pages of Warren's Eerie magazine, beginning with issue #76 (cover-dated August, 1976). Darklon by Starlin appeared in only five issues of Eerie (not counting a reprint in #137): #'s 76, 79, 80, 84, and 100, but made enough of an impression that they were collected and reprinted (in color) by Pacific Comics in 1983, probably due in part to many of the themes and situations being revamped and reused in Starlin's early 80s works for Epic Comics, Metamorphosis Odyssey and Dreadstar.

Darklon was Starlin at his wildest. The stories were like fever dreams (inspired by the trials and tribulations Starlin was suffering through at the time, including his father dealing with cancer) filled with self-loathing and despair. The art was fabulous, with Starlin obviously inspired by the style of Filipino artist supreme Alex Nino (a Warren mainstay). This is especially evident in the layouts and inking style. Savage, graphic, brooding, and as always with Starlin, quite thought provoking stuff.

Black and White Wednesday: Charlton Comics' Space: 1999 Magazine

Somewhere/time (cryptically cosmic, huh?) between Star Trek/Planet of the Apes and Logan's Run/Star Wars (1975 to be exact), there was Space: 1999, the syndicated British series that kept sci-fi space opera on the tube during what Ol' Groove likes to refer to as "The Lull". There are tons of sites, like this one, dedicated to the show, so if you wanna learn more about it, remember that Google can be your friend. I think the series' intro does as good a job of fillin' ya in on the series and its stars as anything, myself. Check it out!



Anyway, the main thing I want ya to know about is that Charlton Comics produced 8 issues (November, 1975-October, 1976) of a spiffy b&w Space: 1999 mag during the show's heyday . Space: 1999 sported some magnificent art by folks like groovy Gray Morrow. Don't believe me? Then check out this sensational strip, scripted by the ever-talented Nick Cuti, from ish #1 called..."Endgame!"