Making a Splash: The Bludgeoning Beast!

Greetings, Groove-ophiles! Ol' Groove has mentioned before that one of my early fave series was Steve Englehart and Tom Sutton's Beast from Amazing Adventures 11-17 (December 1971-December 1973). Tom Sutton, one of the best of the Boys from Derby, was the regular Beast artist, and his style of storytelling worked exceptionally well with regular writer Steve Englehart's take on the former X-Man. Today I'd like to look back at the splashes Mr. Sutton produced, along with the last couple which were drawn by Bob Brown and Jim Starlin. Notice what a different look each inker gives Sutton's pencils. Ploog's inks were tops to me. Which inker do you prefer?

Groove's Faves: "The Man Bear Stalks at Midnight"/"Hospital of Fear" by Conway, Nasser, and Austin

What it is, Groove-ophiles! Ol' Groove's been thinking (scary, I know): we love Green Arrow and Black Canary. We love Michael Netzer (Mike Nasser) and Terry Austin art. We love to share hard-to-find, far-out comics. So why haven't we done more with the little-seen GA/BC strips from the Dollar Comics era of World's Finest (issues 244-282)? The answer? I dunno. Since I can't explain my gigantic gaff, all I can do is try to rectify the sitch starting today! In WF #245 (March 1977), Netzer and Austin ably illustrated a Frankenstein/Island of Dr. Moreau-inspired mini-epic written by Gerry Conway, "The Man Bear Stalks at Midnight" and "Hospital of Fear". Creepy, action-packed, kinda twisted and cool story. In-freakin'-credible art, to put it mildly. I mean, how 70s-slick can you get! Ollie and Dinah look like movie-stars in action (and Netzer's cinematic action scenes were awwwwwweeeesssooooooooommmmme!). Not only that, but--aw, you don't wanna read all this ramblin'! Check out the truly far-out  Conway/Netzer/Austin team for yourself!

Black and White Wednesday: "Bridge of Sorrow, Bridge of Pain" by Claremont and Nebres

What it is, Groove-ophiles! Today we're gonna dig on fifth chapter of Chris Claremont and Rudy Nebres' Iron Fist epic. From Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #23 (March 1976) prepare to cross the..."Bridge of Sorrow, Bridge of Pain"!

The Boys from Derby: "Who Roams Tyford Castle?" by Gill (?) and Boyette

Hey, hey, hey, Groove-ophiles. Not 100% sure if this short-shocker was written by Joe Gill or not, but Ol' Groove knows without a doubt that it was illustrated by the wonderful Pat Boyette! From Ghost Manor #19 (April 1971) prepare to learn..."Who Roams Tyford Castle?"