The Diversions Turns 10 "Best of" Birthday Bash! Tigerman and Lawrence of Arabia from Thrilling Adventure Stories #1

Happy anniversary, Groove-ophiles! This coming Saturday Marks 10 years since the Diversions hit the interwebs, so Ol' Groove thought we'd celebrate by looking back at some his favorite, but least viewed, posts from our first fateful year! We'll be back new and live next Monday with a special anniversary post. Until then, enjoy these "reprints" and rap with us about 'em!

Atlas/Seaboard's Thrilling Adventure Stories made its debut in November, 1974. To make this an extra-special Thanksgiving treat, I thought I'd share not one, but two far-out features from that magnificent mag's pulse-pounding pages. See who loves ya, baby? First up is "Tigerman and the Flesh Peddlers" by John Albano and Ernie Colon!

Now dig into "Lawrence of Arabia" by Jeff Rovin and Frank Thorne!

Secret Origins: Tiger-Man

Greetings, Groove-ophiles! Y'know, I was under the impression that writer John Albano co-created Tiger-Man with artist Ernie Colon, but I've been re-reading and researching Atlas/Seaboard's semi-Wolverine and now I'm not so sure. Albano wrote the Tiger-Man "prequel" found in Thrilling Adventure Stories #1, but Gabe Levy actually wrote the origin story (also illustrated by definite co-creator Colon) in today's Tiger-Man #1 (January 1975). To further muddy the waters, according to his interview in Comic Book Artist #16, editor Jeff Rovin mentions in passing that "Tiger-Man came about because (DC editor) Joe Orlando had sent Ernie Colon up to see us, and Ernie and I hit it off right away, just started playing around with ideas, and..." So, Ol' Groove's scratchin' his hoary head. Mebbe Messrs. Rovin or Colon will read this post and set us straight on the creation of one of "Vengeance, Inc.'s" best characters. Until then, here's the story of how Dr. Lancaster Hill became the deadly Tiger-Man!


Thanks to Fett for the sweet scans!

Diggin Ditko: Tiger-Man #3

You asked for it, you got it, Groove-ophiles! Here's the third and final issue of Atlas/Seaboard's Tiger-Man (June 1975). Written by Gerry Conway, inked by Al Milgrom, and powerfully penciled by Steve Ditko, here's "Hell Is Spelled...Hypnos!"