Decent Comics: "The Courtship of Captain Nazi" by Bridwell, Newton, and Schaffenberger

Dig it, Groove-ophiles! One more twisted valentine headed your way before February is over: "The Courtship of Captain Nazi" from World's Finest Comics #258 (May 1979). This SHAZAM episode by E. Nelson Bridwell, Don Newton, and Kurt Schaffenberger  features Captain Marvel, Jr. and his arch enemy Captain Nazi with appearances by the Big Red Cheese and the good-looking Sivanhas, Magnificus and Beutia. Not quite an episode of The Love Boat, but here it is...

Marvel-ous Mondays: "Panic Beneath the Earth!" by Wein, S. Buscema, and Janson

Greetings, Groove-ophiles! Here's another favorite two-parter from the Len Wein-authored period of The Defenders. Not only do we get some su-perior art by the team of Sal Buscema and Klaus Janson, but we get the debut of Nighthawk's definitive costume (including his jet-pack) and Magneto (back in his full-on super-villain mode days), the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, and Professor X (still a few months away from Giant-Size X-Men #1). From Defenders #15 (June 1974) get ready for a..."Panic Beneath the Earth!"

Cover art by Sal Buscema, John Romita, Frank Giacoia, and Mike Esposito

The Grooviest Covers of All Time: Al Milgrom Made Me Buy These!

Hey, hey, hey, Groove-ophiles! Al Milgrom was not only a crackerjack inker, penciler, and editor, he was also a most excellent cover artist, to boot. Editors sure liked him, 'cause he was among a mere handful of artists who did covers for both Marvel and DC simultaneously during the Groovy Age. Didja realize Editori-Al penciled (and often inked) these oh-so-noteworthy covers...?

Dave Cockrum lay-outs

Bring On the Back-ups: "Battle Cry" by Starlin and Tanghal

Check it out, Groove-ophiles! The final chapter of Jim Starlin's OMAC revival from Warlord #39 (August 1980)! "Battle Cry" (with finishes/inks by Romeo Tanghal) is an all-out action epic with two full-page splashes of piled-up and piled-upon warriors.

Is it just me, or did Hitler and The Whizzer cameo on page 3?