Happy 87th Birthday, Stan!

Here's wishing Smilin' Stan the swingingest birthday of all! Just for the occasion, Ol' Groove has written a special birthday ditty. Sing it to the tune of the jazzy 1967 Spidey cartoon theme and join me, won'tcha?

Stan The Man! Stan The Man!

Hero to every Marvel Fan!
Spins those words
With such glee!
Bringing joy
to fans like me!
Thanks Stan! You really are The Man!

When I feel the gloom
Your mags make my day!
Even Dr. Doom
Would have to stop and say...

Stan The Man! Stan The Man!
Slinging words like no one can!
Characters you can't ignore!
Spidey and so many more!

You gave
Heroes all those hang-ups!
Your mags are always bang-up!
Forever you're The Man!

For the proverbial icing on the cake, paste your peepers on this cataclysmic Ka-Zar masterpiece by Smiley and Big John Buscema from Astonishing Tales #9 (September 1971)!

Admiring Adams: "The Humbug Run"

Although this DC classic was released in November, 1970, Hot Wheels #6's "The Humbug Run" is definitely a cool-car-Christmas-themed comic. Buckle up and get ready for a far-out ride courtesy Len Wein, Neal Adams, and Dick Giordano, Groove-ophiles!

Christmas Wrap-Up 2009: Marvel (M)Ad-ness

Dig this assortment of ads for Merry Marvel merchandise. Did any of these groovy goodies wind up under your tree?

Santa brought Young Groove all of Stan Lee's Origins books, the 1978 Calendar, both the Spidey and Hulk Aurora Comics Scenes models, the Fun Books, Mego's Spidey action figure, and the Spidey Silly String. I still have the books and calendar, believe it or not!

12 Days of Christmas: Have Yourself a Batman Little Christmas!

Merry Christmas, Groove-ophiles! I know you're busy, and I hope you're spending some far-out quality time with loved ones, so it really makes me feel all fuzzy inside to think you'd take the time to stop by DotGK to see what Ol' Groove has under the tree for ya!

Nowadays it might be hard to believe, but during the Groovy Age Batman was one of the most Christmas-conscious superheroes around. Many a classic tale was spun around the Dark Knight's war against crime during the most wonderful time of the year, so Batman fan that I am (and I'm sure you are), I couldn't think of a better gift than to share a couple of those Yuletide yarns with ya! Whaddya say we kick things off with Denny O'Neil, Irv Novick, and Dick Giordano's "Merry Christmas" from Batman #247 (December 1972)?


Ya think the tale of Batman's New Years Eve from that self-same issue might pop up next week? Stay tuned!

But let's not get ahead of ourselves! Christmas Party 2009 kicks into high gear with Brave and the Bold #148's (December 1978) "The Night the Mob Stole X-Mas" by way-out wordsmith Bob Haney and the surprising-yet-outstanding art team of Joe Staton and Jim Aparo. It's Batman and Plastic Man vs. cigarette-bootlegging mobsters, baby! And that's the serious part!


Finally, we'll close the party out with this Robin short-short from Batman Family #4 (December 1975) by Bob Rozakis, Jose Delbo, and Vinnie Colletta. Try not to grin as you read "Robin's (Very) White Christmas". I dare ya!


Ol' Groove's gotta say it one more time: Merry Christmas, Groove-ophiles! Here's hoping you have a groovy time with friends and family, that everything you hoped for was under your tree, and, most of all, that the gift of peace and love is yours not just today but every day. After all, that is what Christmas is all about!