Groovin' Back In the Summertime: June 1968

Hey, hey, hey, Groove-ophiles! We're gonna take one more loving look back at comics that came out in the month of June; this time we're going back 50 years to 1968! What was playing on the radio during those trips to the ever reliable King Kwik (where I'd always get a new comic)? Money Money, Jumpin' Jack Flash, Do You Know the Way to San Jose?, This Guys In Love With You, A Man Without Love, Mrs. Robinson, The Look of Love, and my neighborhood pals' fave Yummy Yummy Yummy! On TV, Rowan and Martin were sockin' it to us on Laugh-In, but I can also remember Family Affair, Dark Shadows, and Candid Camera lighting up the boob-tube a my house. Li'l Groove was too young for the movies, but if I could time-travel back to the Woodlawn, Twin, Oakley, Jolly Roger, or Forest Auto drive-ins during June 1968, I'd surely go see Bandolero!, Rosemary's Baby, and Speedway--and I'd hope Planet of the Apes was still running at one of 'em, too! Now, Li'l Groove was not yet five years old, but I can still remember actually getting the comics below off the sensational spinner racks at the aforementioned King Kwik. I didn't get a lot of comics (yet), but they were some good ones. I still have some of 'em, believe it or don't. The thing I remember most about this particular batch was Dear Ol' Dad's reaction to the cover of Hawk and Dove #1 (he thought it was really weird!) and that Flash #181 was my first experience with a continued story. I didn't know how to deal with that, yet, but I'd soon learn.

Dear Ol' Mom picked this one out. She loves Deadman!

If you're interested in all the comics available in June 1968 head over to Mike's Amazing World of Comics Newsstand!

Random Reads: "A Connecticut Ice Cream Man In King Arthur's Court" by Fleischer and Toth

Hey, hey, hey, Groove-ophiles! Last week we took a look at Michael Fleischer's "melting man" trope (for the second time, that is--oops). Well, Groove-ophile B Smith noted that Fleischer gave his "melting man" a new (Ol' Groove's gotta say it) twist with House of Secrets #123's (June 1974) "A Connecticut Ice Cream Man In King Arthur's Court" with scrumdiddlyumptious art by the great Alex Toth! You won't be able to resist this'un, Groove-ophiles!

Cover art by Frank Robbins

Black and White Wednesday: "As the General, Young and Restless Hospital Turns" by Bill Ward

Dig it, Groove-ophiles! Back during the Groovy Age, daytime dramas, aka Soap Operas, ruled daytime TV, the choices of shows numbering in the teens. Today, only four remain...and two of them can be found in this post's title: The Young and the Restless and General Hospital (45 and 55 years old, respectively!). Not sure who the writer is--according to the contents page of Cracked #137 (cover dated November 1976)--it could be Joe Catalano, George Gladir, or Epstein's Mother (if you don't get that reference, you weren't around in the Groovy Age, but we're sure glad to have ya here), but the artist is most definitely the great Bill Ward. Now, yers trooly was never a fan of soaps, but Dear Ol' Mom was, so they were always on. I did dig Cracked and Bill Ward, and I can still dig "As the General, Young and Restless Hospital Turns!"  Bet you'll dig it, too!

Decent Comics: "War Against the World-Builders!" by O'Neil, Grell, and Austin

Check it out, Groove-ophiles! A highly underrated era of Green Lantern was when the mag was revived in 1976 under the guidance of Denny O'Neil and Mike Grell. The stories were more sci-fi and super-heroic than O'Neil's legendary earlier work with Neal Adams, but there are still messages and tons of fun to be had! "War Against the World-Builders!" from Green Lantern #93 (November 1976) should prove Ol' Groove's point! Oh, and if you've not been sufficiently grabbed, how 'bout this: Terry Austin inks Grell's pencils and man, do they make a far-out combo! Happy Thanksgiving in June, Groove-ophiles!

Marvel-ous Monday: "Wheels of Death!" by Kirby and Royer

Greetings, Groove-ophiles! Jack Kirby (with the able aid of inker/letterer Mike Royer) is once more showing us how to do sci-fi comics with "Wheels of Death!" Still using The Monolith as a catalyst to explore the origins of mankind in the ancient past and the possibilities of mankind in the far (well, it was then) future, The King combines action, drama, and thought-provoking (yeah, at times admittedly head-scratching) concepts and blends them into comicbook bliss. Let's head back to December 1976 for 2001: A Space Odyssey #4 for the conclusion of Marak, the Warrior King's titanic tale...