Making a Splash: John Byrnes Up Marvel Team-Up

Greetings, Groove-ophiles! Ol' Groove is in the mood for some cool team-ups and some John Byrne art! Sound good to you? Yeah, that's what I thought! From October 1976 to December 1978 (issues 53-79), Byrne was the main artist on Marvel Team-Up. Most issues were scripted by Chris Claremont, but the first few were scripted by Byrne's former Champions partner Bill Mantlo. Dig it! The Hulk! Woodgod! Adam Warlock! Yellowjacket and The Wasp! Human Torch! Ms. Marvel! Iron Fist! Captain Britain! Tigra! Man-Thing! Havoc! Thor! Power Man! Red Sonja! Ahhhhh, the Groovy Age!

Thursday Terrors: "Power Times Four!" by Isabella and Mayerik

Dig it, Groove-ophiles! Another new department: Thursday Terrors! This brand new but already moldy and mysterious department is kicking off with The Living Mummy in "Power Times Four!" from Supernatural Thrillers #8 (May 1974)! With this issue, writer Tony (the Tiger) Isabella was manning the typewriter, and did he ever come up with a doozy of a tale! Not only is it filled with action, intrigue, and moment after moment of macabre mysticism, but buried within it is the origin of a future Marvel villain--who would exist in the past! Can you catch the clues without reading Ol' Groove's end-notes, baby? Oh, and take your time--Val Mayerik's art is stunning, amazing, far-out, and kozmik! His pencils and inks were killer here, weren't they?

Didja catch the homage to the Golden Age Blue Beetle, Dan Garrett? A few years later, September, 1976, to be exact, writer/editor Rascally Roy Thomas would snatch up the origin of the scarlet scarab as the focal point of the origin of the villainous Scarlet Scarab in Invaders # 23! Did he and Tony plan that character/connection out way back in early 1974? Or is that just another example of the Rascally One's mutant ret-conning abilities? You out there, Tony? Can you give us the real skinny on The Scarlet Scarab's Living Mummy connection? (If there really is one?)

Black and White Wednesday: "Solitude!" by Goodwin and Salvador

Dig it, Groove-ophiles! Artful Archie Goodwin wasn't just one of the best editors of all time, but one of the best writers, as well. Just take, for example, this terror-tale (masterfully illustrated by Martin Salvador) from Creepy #66 (cover-dated November 1974). You may want to find a crowd of friends after you read..."Solitude!"

Groove's Faves: "Keep It Under Your Hat" by Doyle, Lucey, and Stone

Dig it, Groove-ophiles! It's been way too long since we got some yuks and chuckles from Archie and the Gang! Here's a good'un from Archie #228 (May, 1973) by Frank Doyle, Harry Lucey, and Chic Stone: "Keep It Under Your Hat"!