Random Reads: "Lower Than an Insect"

Greetings, Groove-ophiles! Now, it doesn't get much more random than this, baby! From Sad Sack #222 (June 1971) here's "Lower Than an Insect!"

Black and White Wednesday: "Bolt" by Margopoulos and Nino

Check it out, Groove-ophiles! "Bolt" by Rich Margopoulos and Alex Nino made its debut in the first issue of Warren's Rook mag (August 1979) and looked for all the world like the start of an ongoing series. Well, as far as Ol' Groove can deduce, t'was the only appearance of Jason Bolt, and that's a shame, 'cause his was a cool concept. Now, as was the wont for Warren mags at the time, author Margopoulos loaded "Bolt" with text, and Nino was allowed to go totally bananas on the layouts with the true "wide-screen" double-page spreads (competing with Heavy Metal, y'think?), and the level of detail Nino puts into these pages is mind-boggling. It's an amazing strip to look at (design-wise, especially), but really hard to read...but Teen Groove thought it was worth the effort and enjoyed it even more than the Rook tale that fronted the mag (sorry Bill DuBay and Lee Elias)...

Happy 87th, John Romita Sr.

Happy eighty-seventh birthday, John Romita! As art director, "Ring-a-Ding" Romita was the man who made sure Marvel Comics looked, well, Marvel-ous during the Groovy Age. During the mid-to late 70s, his art was, to me, the sign of Very Special Comics. Mainly, the covers to the first three Marvel Treasury Editions (plus Marvel Special Edition #1-and-only) and the covers to Stan Lee's Origins of Marvel books. Romita's gorgeous, fluid, iconic art made even the most special collectors items even more special! Thanks, JR, Sr.!

Decent Comics: "Fight With Fire Drake" by Bridwell, Saaf, and Giordano

Greetings, Groove-ophiles! "New Look Supergirl" writer/artist/editor Mike Sekowsky's tenure ended so abruptly (according to Back Issue #84 publisher Carmine Infantino fired him and replaced him with editor Joe Orlando) that assistant editor E. Nelson Bridwell was pressed into service to write a second story to fill out the ish (Sekowsky's finale only ran 14 pages). Romance artist Art Saaf was brought in to draw the story (and he'd draw a lot more!) and Dick Giordano inked it. Bridwell immediately started making changes by getting rid of Sekowsky's exo-skeleton (used to replace the now-you-see-me-now-you-don't  powers Sekowsky had saddled the Maid of Might with) with a Kandorian bracelet and her Legion flight ring. The highlight for Young Groove was the new costume (designed by fan Margret Berg), baby! Hot pants, a bathing suit top, and go-go boots! Still looks kinda cool, dunnit? Ahem, anyway, here's "Fight With Fire Drake" from Adventure Comics #409 (June 1971)!

A couple more notes: this is the first 52 page/25 cent ish of Adventure aaaaand the (Giordano) cover spotlights the above Supergirl story, but the title on the cover goes to Sekowsky's lead-tale. Weird, huh?

Making a Splash: P. Craig Russell's War of the Worlds/Killraven

Dig it, Groove-ophiles! For Ol' Groove, one of the highest-of-the-high-points of Marvel in the Groovy Age was Don McGregor's War of the Worlds/Killraven run in Amazing Adventures. With artists like Herb Trimpe, Rich Buckler, and Gene Colan, McGregor took Roy Thomas' cool idea (H.G. Wells' Martians return to conquer Earth) and elevated it into a unique, way ahead of it's time sci-fi strip. When neo-artist P. Craig Russell joined him as artist (A. A. issues 27-32, 34-37 (layouts only on 35-36), and 39, August 1974-August 1976 ) the comic became legendary. Russell's art was as unique and cool as McGregor's writing, with both men elevating the comics medium with each passing issue. Russell is a master, there is no doubt, and even his early work showed a style that stood out from all the rest...

The Boys from Derby: "Baku the Dream Eater" by Tom Sutton

Greetings, Groove-ophiles! Well, today we're gonna take a look at Charlton Comics getting cosmic--via the genius of Tom Sutton! Yep, "Baku the Dream Eater," from Ghostly Haunts #55 (July 1977) makes no bones about its being a part of the Cthulhu Mythos, name dropping both Cthulhu and Soggoth! Dig it!

Black and White Wednesday: Alex Nino Original DC Art

The fellas from the Philippines could draw comics, Groove-ophiles! So many fine illustrators (like yesterday's Nestor Redondo, to name one) that blew us away during the Groovy Age, especially at DC. Ol' Groove's fave was (c'mon, let's say it together)...Alex Nino. Here are some a-freakin'-mazing splash pages from a variety of DC mags...

Oh, man! Tell your eyes they're welcome!