Decent Comics: "Sing a Song of Sorcery!" by O'Neil and Wrightson

Dig it, Groove-ophiles! What better story to prepare us for Halloween than one with a title like "Sing a Song of Sorcery!" by Denny O'Neil and Berni Wrightson? Nightmaster's second appearance (in Showcase #83, April 1969) is loaded with mood, thanks in no small part to young Wrightson's magnificently macabre art). Author O'Neil provides him with plenty of creepy castles, evil warlock troops, flying ships, night time scenes, animated armor, and a sultry siren! It's all topped off with a fun Joe Kubert cover, too. This is a comic just made for reading under the covers with your flashlight...

Is this your copy, Rhodey?

And just for the fun of it, here's the editorial page from this issue featuring autobiographies of O'Neil and Wrightson!

Funny Stuff: "The Unseen Invader!"

Get ready for a giggle, Groove-ophiles! Here's an episode of Ol' Groove's personal favorite Harvey Comics character, Stumbo the Giant, from the back pages of Hot Stuff #155 (April 1980). "The Unseen Invader" was probably illustrated, and maybe written, by Stumbo's creator Warren Kremer, but we don't know for sure because, like the invader, Harvey Comics' credits are mostly unseen, as well. But hey, we've got a storybook giant vs. a U.F.O., so what's not to love?

Black and White Wednesday: "Bolt" by Margopoulos and Nino

Check it out, Groove-ophiles! "Bolt" by Rich Margopoulos and Alex Nino made its debut in the first issue of Warren's Rook mag (August 1979) and looked for all the world like the start of an ongoing series. Well, as far as Ol' Groove can deduce, t'was the only appearance of Jason Bolt, and that's a shame, 'cause his was a cool concept. Now, as was the wont for Warren mags at the time, author Margopoulos loaded "Bolt" with text, and Nino was allowed to go totally bananas on the layouts with the true "wide-screen" double-page spreads (competing with Heavy Metal, y'think?), and the level of detail Nino puts into these pages is mind-boggling. It's an amazing strip to look at (design-wise, especially), but really hard to read...but Teen Groove thought it was worth the effort and enjoyed it even more than the Rook tale that fronted the mag (sorry Bill DuBay and Lee Elias)...

Black and White Wednesday: "The Quest" by Margopoulos and Stone

Hey, hey, hey, Groove-ophiles! In Skywald's Psycho #2 (cover-dated March 1971), writer Rich Margopoulos and artist Chic Stone gave us a twisted twist on the "planetary romance" genre of heroes like John Carter and Esau Cairn. See for yourself as you join..."The Quest!"

Black and White Wednesday: "Coggin's Army" by McKenzie and Salvador

Hey, hey, hey, Groove-ophiles! Here's an early Roger McKenzie mini-masterpiece from Creepy #89 (April 1977) drawn by Martin Salvador, "Coggin's Army"! Ol' Groove really digs this kinda-sorta One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest-by-way-of-The Twilight Zone psychological thriller--hope you do, too!

Oh, and if you dig Rog as much as I do (and why wouldn't ya?), get your paws on his latest comic if you haven't already done so! Roger McKenzie's Total Frenzy is far-freakin' out, baby!