Groove's Faves: "One Hour to Kill!" by Oleck and Robbins

Dig it, Groove-ophiles! A Twilight Zone-style war shocker by master storytellers Jack Oleck (writer) and Frank Robbins (artist) from Weird War Tales #21 (October 1973). It's an action-packed thriller that lets Robbins cut loose with some far-out action sequences, and man, does Oleck give this one a twist--it's the plot to kill Da Vinci! No jive!

Black and White Wednesday: "Unreal!" by Alex Toth

Hey, hey, hey, Groove-ophiles! No big intro needed here! It's a master of every aspect of comicbook creation showing us all how a black and white shocker should look and read like. From Creepy #78 (February 1976), here's Alex Toth and a story that is just..."Unreal!"

Tuesday Team-up: "Who Knows What Evil--?" by O'Neil, Novick, and Giordano

Dig it, Groove-ophiles! When DC had the rights to The Shadow, they did the smartest, coolest thing they could have possibly done: they had him meet up with The Batman. Not only did that allow for a dream of a team-up, but it allowed for DC to acknowledge The Shadow's role in inspiring the creation of The Batman! And O'Neil and company didn't cheat with time travel or any such nonsense, Lamont Cranston is alive and well (but mostly retired) in 1973! How cool is that, baby? Besides making a fanboy's dream come true, writer Denny O'Neil and artists Irv Novick and Dick Giordano put together a hum-dinger of a comic, snuggled under one of the grooviest Michael Kaluta covers of all time (and dig the original artwork for that cover, too!)! From Batman #253 (August 1973), here's "Who Knows What Evil--?"!

Oh, yeah, The Batman and The Shadow met again in Batman #259! Anyone interested in seeing The Shadow's return to Gotham? And a big-ol "ThaaAAannnnnnnnQ!" to Sphinx Magoo for giving Ol' Groove the idea for this pulsating post!

Our Pal Sal: "As I Lay Dying!" by Mantlo and S. Buscema

Greetings, Groove-ophiles! Now, how many cool comics have you ever read that start out with the unconscious hero being repaired on a lube rack, and ended with same hero and friends battling evil plants? Only Bill Mantlo and Our Pal Sal Buscema could bring us "As I Lay Dying!" from ROM, Spaceknight #7 (March 1980)! And dig that Michael Golden cover!

Hey, did'ja know today is Our Pal Sal's 79th birthday? Well, it is! Happy Birthday, Sal!!!