Famous First Fridays: Mike Ploog's Eerie Premiere

"More Ploog! Halloween's almost here, the Countdown's almost done, and we need more Mike Ploog!" That's the hue and cry of Groove-dom on this All Hallows Eve--er--Eve, and ne'er let it be said that Ol' Groove would ever let his gang down. How's this for a tasty trick-or-treat--Ploog's first professional comicbook work! Believe it or not, although Ploog had worked as a cartoonist on military magazines like Leatherneck and P*S (where he worked with his inspiration, Will Eisner), and had even worked as an artist on many Saturday-morning cartoons (including Superman/Batman, Wacky Races, and Scooby-Doo), it wasn't until 1971, at the behest of legendary pros Ben Oda and Wally Wood, that Ploog sought work in comicbooks. Well, you know his moody, Will Eisner-inspired art got him gigs p.d.q., baby! From Warren's Eerie #35 (cover-dated September 1971), here's "The Tower of the Demon Dooms!" written by the great Gardner Fox. Enjoy!

Ol' Groove's Request Line: Nick Cuti and Mike Zeck's "The Hour of the Werewolf"

Hey, hey, hey! Time for a brand new feature, Groove-ophiles: Ol' Groove's Request Line! Got a Groovy Age memory you'd like to relive here on the DotGK? Well, drop Ol' Groove a line and if I can beg, borrow, steal, or scan it, I'll post it here for ya! For our inaugural request post, here's Nick (Today's his birthday!) Cuti and Mike Zeck's "The Hour of the Werewolf" from Monster Hunters #9 (October 1976) requested by Groove-ophile Tim Butler! Enjoy!

Black and White Wednesday: Gardner Fox and Barry Smith's "The Boy Who Loved Trees!"

Here's a far-out collaboration between Golden Age vet Gardner Fox and Groovy Age maestro Barry (Windsor-) Smith from Vampirella #9 (cover-dated January 1970). Bet you'll dig "The Boy Who Loved Trees!"

Diggin' Ditko: Ghost Manor Tuesday Double-Play

Any kid who plunked down two dimes for a copy of Charlton's Ghost Manor #2 got more than their money's worth in thrills, chills, and Ditko artwork! Under that haunting Ditko cover lay two (count 'em, two!) Steve Ditko masterpieces! And you, you lucky Groove-ophile, get to enjoy 'em today! (And you don't even have'ta plunk down any dimes at all! Who loves ya, baby?)