Black and White Wednesday: "Plague of Jewels" by Bruce Jones

Greetings, Groove-ophiles! Here's an early Bruce Jones masterpiece from Skywald's Psycho #3 (cover-dated September 1971). You can't always get what you want, a wise rocker once said, but you can get more than you bargained for, too! Just ask Gary and Wayne as they find the..."Plague of Jewels"!

Black and White Wednesday: "Country Pie" by Jones, Infantino, and Wrightson

Here's an awesome assemblage of titanic talent, Groove-ophiles! "Country Pie" from Creepy #113 (September 1979) was written by Bruce Jones with art by Carmine Infantino and Bernie Wrightson! Wouldn't ya just love a slice?

Random Reads: "The Rivals" by Channing and Jones

Greetings, Groove-ophiles! It's been a while since we dug on some scary scans from Red Circle Sorcery, so let's dive into Sorcery #7 (May 1974)! "The Rivals" was written by Marvin Channing with art by Bruce Jones. Now Jones is best known as a writer, but dang! the man could draw with the best of 'em. Check it out!

Groovy Christmases Past! Black and White Wednesday: "Clarice" by Jones and Wrightson

Season's Greetings, Groove-ophiles! The Groovy Christmas' Past memories keep on truckin' with one of those fabled scary ghost stories of Christmases long, long ago. What better source for such a tale than Warren's Creepy magazine (#77, Christmas 1975), and what better creative duo to supply it than writer Bruce Jones and artist Berni Wrightson? That chill you're about to experience isn't Old Man Winter. It's..."Clarice"!

Black and White Wednesday: "The Laughing Man" by Jones and Wrightson

Greetings, my Groovy Ghoulies! Y'know, it doesn't get much better than "The Laughing Man" from Creepy #95 (cover-dated February 1978). The terror-tale is written by Bruce Jones, who proved time and again that he was a master of the short horror story. Few could infuse a short shocker with such depth and, yes, depravity. Artist Bernie Wrightson is an acknowledged master of horror comics. His style--especially in black and white--still sets the standard for creature comics. And here they are, together, treating us to a certified classic.

12 Days of Christmas 2010! Black and White Wednesday: A Very Creepy Christmas

Season's Greetings, Groove-ophiles! Scary stories are a fun Christmas tradition (and anyone who disagrees go sit in a corner and read the Dickens out of A Christmas Carol!) that the folks at Warren Magazines did more than their fair share to keep alive during the Groovy Age. For proof, look no further than Creepy #86 (December 1976). T'was a lovely Christmas-themed issue filled with, not only spooky spine-tinglers with a Yuletide edge, but heart-tuggers that rank with the best (or worst depending on your leanings) country Christmas songs (and topped with a far-out Ken Kelly cover). Two stories are particular stand-outs in that outstanding ish for a couple of reasons: the writing talents of Bruce Jones and Gerry Boudreau paired with the art of Al Williamson and Carmine Infantino (inked by John Severin, no less!) and the use of various shades of red to add to the mood. Are you ready for "Mother Knows Best"?


...Then how 'bout "Bloodstone Christmas"?



Yeah, Ol' Santa Groove thought you'd dig those!

Countdown to Halloween 2010! Bruce Jones' " A Rottin' Deal"

Bruce Jones was one'a those guys who really "got" the EC style and was able to update it to the sensibilities of his Groovy Age audience without sacrificing any of that classic style. Is it any wonder he was in such high demand by the b&w publishers of the day? His work appeared almost like clockwork in Warren's and Marvel's black and whites. Jones also contributed quite often to Skywald's horror-mood mags, though he'd have to use pseudonyms like "Philip Roland" to keep from getting axed by James Warren for "working for the enemy". Here's a really far-out and frightening example of Jones' handiwork from Nightmare #3 (cover-dated April 1971) called "A Rottin' Deal"!