Steve Ditko's The Creeper--Covers and Splashes from the Groovy Age

As we are still recovering from the news of Steve Ditko's passing, why don't we remember his legacy by enjoying the covers and splashes featuring one of his most memorable and enduring creations, The Creeper. Ol' Groove thinks Jack Ryder's eccentric super-heroic other self might've been one of Ditko's favorite characters, since, in a rare move, Mr. Ditko returned to The Creeper not once, but twice (1975 in 1st Issue Special and 1977 in World's Finest Comics). And since the covers and splashes Ditko provided for The Creeper were so gorgeous, Ol' Groove couldn't bear to split them up, so here they are in all their glory (including the Creeper cover and splash intended for a 1978 issue of Showcase, courtesy Cancelled Comics Cavalcade #2).

Beware The Creeper #6

Layouts by Carmine Infantino, Pencils by Ditko, Inks by Al Milgrom

World's Finest #249

World's Finest #250

World's Finest #251

World's Finest #252

World's Finest #253

World's Finest #254

World's Finest #255

From Cancelled Comics Cavalcade #2

From Cancelled Comics Cavalcade #2

Groove's Faves: "Children of Doom" by O'Neil and Boyette

Greetings, Groove-ophiles! Today we're going to take a look back at Denny O'Neil (writing as Sergius O'Shaugnessy) and Pat Boyette's Children of Doom. Charlton's publishers and editory Dick Giordano must have had a lot of faith in O'Neil and Boyette's dark futuristic fable as evidenced not only by the "A Charlton Classic" blurb on the splash page, but by the fact that they allowed our creative team to experiment with black and white art in a color comic. Today we're not phased by artistic experimentation, but in 1967 Charlton's powers-that-were took a huge risk. While sales might not have set the world on fire, Charlton Premiere #2 (cover-dated November 1967) is well-remembered and highly regarded by fans of classic comics. If you've never seen it, you're probably about to become a fan, too!