Marvel-ous Monday: "What If the Avengers Had Fought the Kree-Skrull War Without Rick Jones?" by DeFalco, Kupperberg, and Patterson

Greetings, Groove-ophiles! Let's kick this week off with one of Ol' Groove's favorite comics: What If? #20 (January 1980)! "What If the Avengers Had Fought the Kree-Skrull War Without Rick Jones?" might have been a mouthful of a title, but it was a fistful of far-out and fabulous four color comics! All of Groove City knows that t'was the Kree/Skrull War (Avengers 89-97) that solidified Young Groove's standing as a comicbook fiend, so this comic was a particular pleasure when it came out--and it still is! Author Tom DeFalco (future Marvel EiC in the early days of his Marvel career, here) gave the original story some very cool twists and turns (including letting most every 1971-era Marvel character join in the fun). The art by Alan Kupperberg and Bruce Patterson was very different from Neal Adams' style on Avengers 93-96 (though Kupperberg had worked for Adams), and much closer to Sal Buscema (who drew Avengers 89-91--and according to Kupperberg, the first three pages of What If #20!) captured the look and feel of the original epic and did a great job of showing us the war side of the K/S War. We got a virtual graphic novel in 35 pages, baby! Dig it!

Cover art by Al Milgrom and Joe Sinnott

Yep! There's the infamous DD miscolored panel! Whodunnit?

Secret Origins: "The Jor-El Story" By Kupperberg, Chaykin, and Anderson

Greetings, Groove-ophiles! As Ol' Groove promised ya on Thursday (man, you guys really dug this post according to the number of hits it's gotten!), here comes the first ish of the first-ever comicbook mini-series (or limited series, if you're a Marvelite)--World of Krypton! According to most sources, World of Krypton was conceived as a three part tryout for DC's Showcase mag, but when Showcase was cancelled (along with a gazillion other DC titles) during 1978's DC Implosion, someone at DC had the inspiration that led to the mini/limited-series format that would become all the rage in the 1980s-onward (a format that would produce some of the greatest comics ever--Dark Knight Returns, Watchmen, and many others). Besides that, who would want this three-part epic that pulls together the events leading up to Kal-El's journey to earth to sitting on a shelf--especially in the days following Superman: The Movie's success?

Of equal interest (and mystery) are the credits for World of Krypton. Sure, the blurb says, " Paul Kupperberg-Writer/Howard Chaykin and Murphy Anderson-Artists", but according to the author, himself, Paul (Life With Archie) Kupperberg, editor E. Nelson Bridwell's input was "invaluable" due to his vast knowledge of all things Superman. Paul also states (in a comment to Win Wiacek's wonderful Now Read This! blog) that his brother, Alan Kupperberg, ghost-penciled the mini-series for the credited Chaykin (which is why I chose to post this under "Secret Origins" rather than "Makin' Chaykin"). Man, there's lots-o-stuff that goes on behind the scenes of these classic funnybooks, huh? Enuff yappin'! From April 1979, here is..."The Jor-El Story"!

Cover art by Ross Andru and Dick Giordano