Random Reads: "Fifty Million Tons of Soul!" by Haney, Oksner, and Smith

Dig it, Groove-ophiles, even in the waning days of the Groovy Age, DC was still producing some sentimental, slice of life comics the likes of which were getting more and more rare. One little sorta-series that kept tugging at the heart strings ran in the back of the Dollar Comics issues of Detective Comics: Tales of Gotham City. It's long been said that Gotham City itself is as much a character as Batman, Commissioner Gordon, or the Joker, and this series that appeared under editor Paul Levitz' reign made a believer out of Teen Groove. A fave in that series was but the Bob trio--Haney, Oksner, and Smith: "Fifty Million Tons of Soul!" If someone pitched a story like this these days, editors more than likely would show that writer the door, but back in April 1980, some of us adored these tales of seemingly random folk who's lives would be entwined, changed, or touched by something simple. Even something as simple as a bridge.

Decent Comics: "Assault of the Rock of Eternity!" by Bridwell, Newton, and Smith

Hey, hey, hey, Groove-ophiles! We're here with the grand finale to E. Nelson Bridwell and Don Newton's SHAZAM/Monster Society of Evil saga from World's Finest #267 (November 1980)! All the Marvels (including the Lieutenants!) vs. all the bad guys for all the marbles! Inker Bob Smith joins in on "Assault of the Rock of Eternity!"

By the by, Don Newton would have been 83 this past Sunday. Here's to his memory and his immense talent!

Making a Splash: Joe Staton and Bob Smith's Plastic Man

Hey, hey, hey, Groove-ophiles! Ya know, when the final Dollar Comics issue of Adventure Comics (#466) hit the stands, Teen Groove was rather bummed. No more cool stories featuring JSA, Aquaman, or Deadman. But it was kinda hard to stay bummed when a month later, standard-sized ish 467 came out (in October 1979) with a cool new Starman (by Paul Levitz, Steve Ditko, and Romeo Tanghal) series...splitting the book with the return of Plastic Man, written for two issues by Len Wein, who was followed by writer Martin Pasko. The stories were different and fun, but the big (and Ol' Groove means big) attraction for the Plas series was the art by penciler Joe Staton and finisher Bob Smith. If ever an artist was born to follow in the footsteps of Jack Cole, t'was Joe Staton. After all, wasn't part (the best part many might say) of Joe and Nick Cuti's E-Man inspired by Cole's Plas? And just how perfect for Plas was the art team of Staton and Smith? Just take a look for yourself, baby...

Making a Splash: Michael Golden Goes Bats, Man!

Hey, hey, hey, Groove-ophiles! Michael Golden's Batman was way beyond awesome, and it's a shame he didn't draw more of the Darknight Detective's adventures. We can give thanks, though, for those he did illustrate (and, yeah, you lucky Groove-ophile, you, they're all here on the Diversions--check 'em out!). Here are the splashes from those gorgeous-o-yet-all-too-rare masterworks...

Batman #295

Batman Family #18

Batman Family #19

Batman Family #20

Batman #303

DC Special Series #15

If You Blinked, You Missed: The Teen Titans Revival

Dig it, Groove-ophiles! In 1976 (August, to be exact) DC brought back the Teen Titans after a four year hiatus. Bob Rozakis was the writer of this revival (Paul Levitz assisted on the first ish), and his idea was to expand the "Junior Justice League" into a larger, more varied team of young heroes. He messed around with non-powered  Mal Duncan, trying to find him a super-identity; added new (and old) team-members like Lilith, Beast Boy, Hawk and Dove, Golden Eagle, Harlequin, Bumblebee, and the original Batgirl. He tried to add some "Marvel-style" characterization and sub-plots, but the mag never set the world on fire (having a different artist almost every ish didn't help), ending with ish 53 (November 1978). It did point the way to what the TT's could be, but it would take three more years and the team of Marv Wolfman and George Perez to make that happen. Meantime, here's the comeback ish, #44, with art by Pablo Marcos and Bob Smith..."The Man Who Toppled the Titans"!