Making a Splash: R.I.P. Jesse Santos

Sad to report that Ol' Groove recently learned of Jesse Santos'  passing on April 27 at the age of 83. Santos was the artist/co-creator of Gold Key's Groovy Age hits Dagar the Invincible and Dr. Spektor, two books yers trooly totally digs. I thought admiring Santos' swingin' Dagar splash pages would make for a nice tribute, so here ya go, baby!

(Sorry I'm missing the splash for ish 14, but maybe the inclusion of Gold Key Spotlight #6's splash will make up for it?)

Bring on the Back-ups: "The Haunted Studio Mystery!" by Bridwell and Giordano

Ya know, Groove-ophiles, sometimes we wanna read comics just for fun. Not be be blown away, not to have our minds boggled, but just to get away and go to a simple place where right is right, wrong is wrong, and talented folks make feel-good comics. The best way Ol' Groove knows to accomplish this is to pick up a good ol' Groovy Age mag like Detective Comics #430 (October 1972). Backing up the usual Batman blockbuster was this Elongated Man short by E. Nelson Bridwell and Dick Giordano. "The Haunted Studio Mystery" has no intentions of pushing envelopes or re-defining how we look at comics--and that's why Ol' Groove digs it! Bet you'll dig it, too!

Black and White Wednesday: "The Messiah in the Saddle 'Resolution'" by Howard Chaykin

Check it out, Groove-ophiles! Howard Chaykin wrote and illustrated "The Messiah in the Saddle 'Resolution'" which appeared in the hard-to-find b&w Marvel Super-Action #1 (and only, October 1975). It's all Dominic Fortune, all Howard Chaykin, and all right here for you! Who loves ya, baby?

Groovy Age Gold: "Assignment: Paris" by Will Eisner

Hey, hey, hey, Groove-ophiles! Here's a beaut of a Spirit story by the master Will Eisner (with colors by Michelle Brand) from Warren's Spirit #8 (April 1975, reprinted from The Spirit Section May 23, 1948). It's always a treat when Denny Colt takes on the glamorous P'Gell, so here's "Assignment: Paris"...and you're welcome!

The Boys from Derby: "Prisoner of Evil" by Gill and Sattler

Greetings, Groove-ophiles! I got me a yen for Yang! Let's plant our peepers on "Prisoner of Evil", Joe Gill and Warren Sattler's minor masterpiece from Charlton's Yang #3 (April 1974), okay?