Making a Splash: Star Hunters

Ya know, Groove-ophiles, after Star Wars made such a big hit, comicbook publishers were gonna try their darndest to capture the sci-fi/science fantasy market for their four-color babies. DC's best shot owed more to Star Trek than Star Wars, but the Star Hunters' leader, Donovan Flint, was definitely from the Han Solo school of swagger. The brain-child of writer David (Claw, Starfire, Iron Man) Michelinie and inker Bob (Iron Man) Layton, The Star Hunters found a unique way and reason to send their crew on their long, deep-space mission, and if it weren't for that dat-blamed DC Implosion, they might have had a chance to catch on. Though it lasted only eight issues (July 1977-July 1978, including the double-sized debut in DC Super-Stars #16, June 1977). Another truly groovy thing about Star Hunters is that is laid some superior artwork on us. DCSS 16 and SH 1 were penciled by Don Newton, ish #2 by Larry Hama, #3 by Mike Nasser (Michael Netzer), and the rest of the series by Rich Buckler. Layton inked DCSS #16 and issues 1-5. Tom Sutton inked issues 6-7. Each of these pages is pre-tty far out, in Ol' Groove's opinion!

Thursday Terrors: "Pyramid of Peril!" by Isabella, Mayerik, and Adkins

Dig it, Groove-ophiles! Tony Isabella, Val Mayerik, and Dan Adkins really had it going on with Supernatural Thrillers #9 (July 1974)! With their latest chapter of The Living Mummy, they merged the supernatural with super-heroics as N'Kantu went wrapped head-to-crowned head with the X-Men's own  Living Pharoah! Check it out!

Black and White Wednesday: "Quirks" by Toomey, Simonson, and Austin

Dig it, Groove-ophiles! When you flip through your Creepy back issues, you're bound to find some really cool stuff. Take f'rinstance Creepy #107 (cover-dated May 1979), a special sci-fi ish. Tons of great stuff there, but the story that really made Teen Groove's pulse pound was "Quirks" by the fantastic creative team of writer Bob Toomey and artists Walt Simonson and Terry Austin.

Sometimes it's better to have good taste than to taste good, baby!!

Groovy Age Gold: "The Count That Never Ended!" by Kanigher and Kane

Hey, hey, hey, Groove-ophiles! How 'bout some early Bob Kanigher and Gil Kane on Wildcat? It's a match made in heaven when Wilcat meets The Huntress in "The Count That Never Ended!" This one originally appeared in Sensation Comics #71 (November 1947), but we got to read it in 100-Page Super Spectacular #DC-20 (June 1973). Check it out!

Micronauts Monday: "The Great Escapes" by Mantlo, Golden, and Rubinstein

Greetings, Groove-ophiles! Between the family visits and barbecues (at least here in the U.S. where it's Memorial Day, the rest of ya out there are probably sloggin' up on a plain ol' Monday), why don't we take a side-visit to H.E.L.L. and the Microverse? Bill Mantlo, Michael Golden, and Joe Rubinstein are in charge of the trip, so ya know we're in good hands. From Micronauts #6 (March 1979), dig "The Great Escapes"! Ready? Set? Go!

Ever wanna read the walls, signs, and script in the Microverse? Well, here's Michael Golden's Microverse alphabet (from this issue's letters page)! how cool is this?

Oh, and if ya can't wait for the next ish with guest-star Man-Thing, just click here and boogity, boogity--Micronauts #7 is at your fingertips!