The Boys from Derby: "Journey to Lost Orlaak" by Tom Sutton

Dig it, Groove-ophiles! Whether you love to be scared or think love is scary, Charlton had a comic sure to tickle the fancy of either type fan: Haunted Love! Lots of cool stories ran in those mags, stories like "Journey to Lost Orlaak" written and illustrated by the crazy-talented Tom Sutton (who also painted that far-out cover) for ish #11 (June 1975). Fine story and fine art for the final ish of the series, huh?

Yeah, THIS cover got past the Comics Code! Can ya hear Don Ho singing "Tiny Bubbles"?

Black and White Wednesday: "A Poison of the Blood" by Conway, Colan, and Palmer

Hooooooow's it shakin', Groove-ophiles! Today we're gonna haunt the city streets of the 1970s with The Prince of Darkness, himself! No, baby, Ol' Groove's not rappin' 'bout Love at First Bite(sheesh!)! Talkin' 'bout Marvel's Dracula Lives! #1 (February 1973)! Here's a classic shocker by the terrifying team of Gerry Conway, Gene Colan, and Tom Palmer..."A Poison of the Blood!"

Decent Comics: "The Conqueror Worms!" by Wein and Redondo

Check it out, Groove-ophiles! A lot of fans think that DC's original Swamp Thing run ended with ish #10. Why? Because the first ten issues by co-creators Len Wein and Berni Wrightson have been lauded (rightfully so) and reprinted so many times. It's doubtless one of the crown jewels of the Groovy Age, but Swampy's story did not end with "The Man Who Would Not Die!" Nossireebob! Writer Wein stayed on until issue #13, working with the great Nestor Redondo, and as far as yerz trooley knows the only time those mags have been reprinted was in 2009's Roots of the Swamp Thing tpb. Writer David (Claw, Iron Man) Michelinie joined Redondo for issues 14-18,  to be replaced in the writer's chair by Gerry Conway for two issues (19-20). Michelinie came back to write issues 21-22, then Conway came back with #23, plotted the final ish, #24, which was scripted by David Anthony Kraft and illustrated by Ernie Chau (Chan) and Fred Carillo. Now, naturally, the post-Wein/Wrightson issues don't have the stature of the first ten issues, but they do have a certain charm (especially the Wein and Michelinie authored stories), and Redondo's art, while lacking the unique and quirky character of Wrightson's style, was lush and classical--very different, but a nearly perfect fit in its own right. Oh, and Swamp Thing did run for a respectable 24 issues before being cancelled with the May 1976 issue, so somebody thought DC was doing something right. But hey, you don't have'ta take Ol' Groove's word for it...

Cover art by Luis Dominguez

Marvel-ous Mondays: "Three Ghosts Too Many" by Zeigler and Spiegle

Greetings, Groove-ophiles! In 1977, Marvel Comics, the House of Ideas, was fast becoming the House of Licenses! Besides Robert E. Howard, Star Wars, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Godzilla, Shogun Warriors, KISS, etc., etc., they also nabbed the rights to publish comics based on Hanna-Barbera's catalog of cartoon characters! Coolest part of that deal? We got a Scooby-Doo comic with art by Dan Spiegle! "Three Ghosts Too Many," written by Bill Zeigler, is awfully close to seeing a SD cartoon on paper. Grab a Scooby Snack and trip on back to July 1977, baby!