Making a Splash: Rich Buckler's Deathlok

Hey, hey, hey! Howzabout some far-out Deathlok the Demolisher splashes by the astounding (and sometimes DotGK contributor) Rich Buckler, Groove-ophiles? It's been a while since we celebrated "The Swash", and Ol' Groove can think of no better way to show off Rich's genius than by showcasing the sensational splashes featuring his coolest and most classic creation. Deathlok held forth, natch, in Astonishing Tales #'s 25-28, 30-36 (May-November 1974, March 1975-April 1976) dragging comics into the future. Not just "the future" in the sci-fi sense, but the future of comics with its anti-hero, its more realistic violence, and its adult characterization (Buckler was smart enough to team with writers like Doug Moench and Bill Mantlo to make that happen). This was a ground-breaking, trail-blazing series, baby--and Buckler's superb art (inked by heavy hitters like Pablo Marcos and Klaus Janson) was the cherry on top! See for yourself!

Nope, Ol' Groove didn't forget Marvel Spotlight #33 (January 1977), baby! Where's your faith?

Addicted to Alex Nino: "From Beyond the Grave!" by Darland and Nino

Not gonna lay a big rap on ya today, Groove-ophiles. Just gonna point ya at this creepy classic written by Marjorie K. Darland (her only comicbook story, as far as I can learn) from House of Mystery #252 (February 1977). Our man Alex Nino's art is especially outstanding on this tale..."From Beyond the Grave!"

Black and White Wednesday: "Huntsman" by Goodwin and Golden

What it is, Groove-ophiles! Now, when Ol' Groove lays the fact on ya that the following rare and classic collaboration between titanic talents Archie Goodwin and Michael Golden (with Steve Mitchell on inks) came from a comic published in August 1981, you're probably gonna give me a wide-eyed "What the--?!?" What am I doing rapping about a story from a mag...shudder...post Groovy Age? No, Irving, it's not a sign of the apocalypse. It's a sign that sometimes Groovy Age stuff saw print after the Groovy Age, 'tis all. Y'see, the mag in question is the former Marvel Preview, which had months earlier changed its name to Bizarre Adventures and the story in question was actually created as a fill-in issue of Logan's Run (published by Marvel circa 1976-77). That's right, "Huntsman" is actually a re-worked "Untold Tales of Logan 5" job that would have saved the regular LR creative team from the "dreaded deadline doom"--had the mag run long enough to get into deadline trouble. Instead of letting it sit forever in a musty ol' filing cabinet, BA editor Denny O'Neil snatched it up and ran it in Bizarre Adventures #28.

So ya see, Ol' Groove's still on the up-and-up.

Mostly.

If you need any more reasons for tracking down your own copy of Bizarre Adventures #28, check this out: along with the Goodwin/Golden "Huntsman" story, there's a Triton story by Jo Duffy and Wendy (Elfquest) Pini, a one-shot hero called Shadow Hunter by Doug Moench, Larry Hama and some guy named Neal Adams, aannnd...the very first solo Elektra story by Frank Miller.

Yeah. eBay sellers can start thanking Ol' Groove right now!

Bring on the Back-ups: Ragman by Kanigher and Kubert

Hey, hey, hey, Groove-ophiles! Ragman co-creators Bob Kanigher and Joe Kubert got it all together with a special "silent" five-page back-up that ran in the back of Ragman #4 (November 1976). No need for Ol' Groove to ramble on about it--just feast your eyes on this master class of comicbook storytelling!

Awesome, Ink! Tom Palmer

Greetings, Groove-ophiles! We're kicking off a brand new month and a brand new week--so why don't we kick off a brand new department, as well? With AWESOME, INK! we'll look back on the uber-talented guys who laid the India ink and zip-a-tone so that the powerhouse pencils of our favorite artists would show up for print. The best of 'em had a style of their own, one that was instantly recognizeable and yet allowed the penciler's style to shine through as well. Not an easy task, as you can quickly see by flipping through any random stack of old comics. But when an inker had "it" he had it! Those are the guys we're gonna dig on in the weeks and months to follow. Are ya ready?

Ol' Groove just hadda pick Tom Palmer to kick this department off. Palmer's inks over Adams in X-Men and Inhumans (in Amazing Adventures), as well as his inks over Adams and the Brothers Buscema (John and Sal, natch) in the Avengers, plus his work on Gene Colan in Daredevil and Dr. Strange made Tom my first "favorite inker". His slick, dark, moody style made the Marvel Universe more real to me than any other inker's work during  my "formative fan years".

Neal Adams pencils from X-Men #57

That's right--Don Heck pencils, baby! From X-Men #64

Sal Buscema from Avengers #78

John Buscema from Avengers #82

Neal Adams from Avengers #93

Big John from Avengers #94

Adams from Amazing Adventures #5

Gene Colan from Doctor Strange #180

More Colan from Daredevil #86

As the Groovy Age trucked on, Tom found a permanent home on Tomb of Dracula, working with writer Marv Wolfman and artist Gene Colan for what had to be better than 90% of that highly acclaimed mag's run.

Gene the Dean from Tomb of Dracula #50

Still, he found time to work on a variety of Marvel projects. Nova, Thor, Conan, Howard the Duck, and even Star Wars enjoyed some fine Palmer rendering.

Our Pal Sal from Nova #4

Big John from Conan the Barbarian #54

Howard Chaykin pencils from Star Wars #8

According to the Grand Comics Database, Palmer inked somewhere in the neighborhood of 500 stories during the Groovy Age, and he's still going strong. Over 2,200 entries in the GCD with no end in sight! Keep on truckin', Tom!