Friday, February 21, 2020

Incredible Illos and Inconceivable Info to Intrigue and Illuminate!

Hey, Kids! Comics from 50 Years Ago!
February 15, & 19, 1970
































Groovy Age Splash Page of the Week


Groovy Age Spotlight On...

Supergraphics' (Steranko's) Comic Savers!

Here's one that got away from Ol' Groove--did any of you out there in Groove City fare any better? I'm rappin', natch, about Jim Steranko's Comic Saver comicbook storage boxes! He, through his Supergraphics company, had a Marvel-style design which he sold through FOOM Magazine...

...and a more "generic" style design (spotlighting his own character Talon, along with some Golden Age heroes, classic monsters, etc.) via outlets like the short-lived Atlas/Seaboard comics (this particular ad is from Demon-Hunter #1)...



For Young Groove, the timing was all wrong for mail-order as my family was moving from Ohio to Kentucky during the time Comic Savers were being advertised. My folks were afraid they'd be lost in the mail and I'd be out the two-fifty (that was TEN comics back then, baby). As I was searching for images, I found someone selling the Marvel one (autographed by Steranko) for a mere $299...

Anywho, Ol' Groove is curious about my Groove-ophiles' experiences with these beeyooteeful boxes! Share your Comic Saver stories in the comments, puh-leeze! And thank you! Pax!

9 comments:

  1. That Comic Saver looks awesome! Those were a *little bit* before my time, so I've only ever seen the ads for 'em!

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  2. I remember seeing the comic saver advertisements in Atlas titles, & have a friend who owns them (& everything else from the silver & bronze age). Steranko was always such a great designer.

    As for the comics I see a lot of Harvey for starters. The company was put out of business for not paying the mafia the increase in distribution fees, so the comics sat in trucks which did not move. I believe there is a new documentary out there chronicling this.

    Love the DC & Marvel covers! Kubert, Adams, Buscema, & other stalwarts. The Buscema-Adkins Silver Surfer #8 splash is memorable, but the first five issues were my favourites.

    Regards,

    Chris A.

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    Replies
    1. The Harvey documentary is called "Ghost Empire."

      https://www.storystreetproductions.com/

      - Neil

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  3. Seems like the gals were always cryin' on those romance covers. Didn't anyone like seeing a h a p p y theme?

    Or what if they riffed on one of those old Kubert war covers. The happy, smoochin' couple are about to walk into a war torn building where Nazis, armed to the teeth, are waiting for them.

    Never saw one like t h a t !!

    - Neil

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  4. I own Witching Hour no. 8. A solid issue with cover art by Neal Adams and interior stories drawn by Neal Adams, Alex Toth, Nick Cardy and Sergio Aragones. Great lineup!

    Gene Poole

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  5. Amazing Spider-Man #84 has a cover by John Romita Sr. who also did the interior layouts, but John Buscema pencilled it & Jim Mooney provided the inks. I believe at that time, after drawing the web spinner for 45 issues that Romita was growing weary, so it was a welcome switch for him to ink Gil Kane on Spidey for a while afterwards while still doing the covers well into Ross Andru's run.

    Regards,

    Chris A.

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  6. Fantastic Four 98 is cover dated May, 1970 yet its story takes place in July, 1969 when the Apollo 11 put the first men on the moon. A fictitious Kree sentry tries to disrupt the mission, but the FF see that there is no interference. Fun stuff by Lee, Kirby and Sinnott, but a little surprising as the landing occurred several months before the comic hit the stands.

    Gene Poole

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    Replies
    1. They probably played it safe with an after the fact story, considering the tragedy of Apollo 8.

      - Neil

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    2. I watched the moon landing live in 1969. Was so happy we beat the Commies to the moon!

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