"Our Pal" Sal: "Kill! Cried the Raven!" by Thomas, Buscema, and Esposito

Dig it, Groove-ophiles! Here's another example of early Sal Buscema from Sub-Mariner #26 (March 1970)! Of course, he has a cool story to illustrate as writer Roy Thomas brings back Timely's winged warrior Red Raven! Roy's love for Golden Age characters knows no bounds--but he doesn't hesitate to put those old characters through the ringer when a good story calls for it! Oh, and while the credits say "Joe Guadioso", the inks are by Mike Esposito, who was moonlighting from DC with Marvel. Are you ready to dive (ouch) into..."Kill! Cried the Raven!"? Here we go!

Is it just me, or does this page look like Ross Andru's handiwork?

Black and White Wednesday: "The Forever Phial" by Thomas and Conrad

Happy birthday to Groove, happy birthday to Groove, happy bir--oh, what's up, Groove-ophiles! Yeah, today's Ol' Groove's twenty-third twenty-ninth birthday (remember, in the Groovy Age they told us not to trust anyone over 30--and you know you can trust Ol' Groove)! So, since it's m'b-day, then I get to share one of my all-time faves! And since it's Black and White Wednesday, how 'bout this masterpiece by Roy Thomas and Tim Conrad from Savage Sword of Conan #8 (which came out the month Young Groove turned twelve)! "The Forever Phial" is a a tale of Young Conan (how fitting!) written by Roy, himself, with the singularly spectacular art by young Tim Conrad whose Barry (Windsor-) Smith meets the Golden Age meets Mike Kaluta style always turned me on, baby! Hey, we even get a little red in this b&w tale--it's just that special!

Titanic Tuesdays: "Daddy's Little Crimefighter!" by Rozakis, Delbo and Colletta

Hey, hey, hey, Groove-ophiles! We're back with another Teen Titans episode, this one featuring the secret of "The Joker's Daughter", the introduction of Bumblebee, and Aqualad at death's door! Not a bad deal for thirty-five cents, huh? Whaddya say we trip on back to March 1977 with Bob Rozakis, Jose Delbo, and Vinnie Colletta for Teen Titans #48 and "Daddy's Little Girl Crimefighter!"

Cover art by Rich Buckler and Jack Abel

MOKF Monday: "Death-Hand and the Sun of Mordillo" by Moench, Gulacy, and Adkins

This is it, Groove-ophiles! The conclusion of the Shang-Chi/Mordillo throwdown if finally here--and is it ever a shocker! From the expert hands of Doug Moench, Paul Gulacy, and Dan Adkins, here's "Death-Hand and the Sun of Mordillo" from Master of Kung Fu #35 (September 1975)!