Making a Splash: Thirteen from Thirteens

 Back in the Groovy Age, a comic getting a thirteenth issue was definitely not bad luck! To celebrate Friday the 13th in a most groovy way, let's plant our peepers on thirteen of Ol' Groove's fave 13th issue splashes...

Champions #13

Marvel Premiere #13

Warlock #13

Warlord #13

Kane Covers Conan!

 We need to dig on some Gil Kane Conan the Barbarian covers, Groove-ophiles! Here are a dozen of Ol' Groove's favorites. You'll note that many of them were inked by Ernie Chan, who inked the interiors (over Big John Buscema, natch) of those self-same issues. Frank Brunner, Ralph Reese, Dick Giordano, and even Kane, himself, also inked some of 'em. They are things of savage beauty! Enjoy!!

Black and White Wednesday: Marvel-ously Macabre Original Art

Original art from some of Marvel's Groovy Age mags like Tower of Shadows, Chamber of Chills, Chamber of Darkness, Journey Into Mystery, Supernatural Thrillers, Creatures on the Loose, Tomb of Dracula, Werewolf By Night, and even S.H.I.E.L.D., Thor, Champions, and...Western Gunfighters!?! Yep, Ol' Groove's gone outta the box to bring you these far-out and spooky original art pages! Enjoy, my Groovy Ghoulies!

Gene Colan and Tom Palmer

John Byrne and Bob Layton

Jack Kirby and Bill Everett

Barry Windsor-Smith and Dan Adkins

Berni Wrightson

Marie Severin and Bill Everett

Gil Kane and Tom Palmer

Mike Ploog

Rich Buckler and Frank Chiaramonte

Jim Steranko

Val Mayerik and Vince Colletta

Black and White Wednesday: "Eye of Newt, Toe of Frog" by Conway and Brunner

Happy 69th Birthday, Frank Brunner! All of Groove-dom knows that Fearless Frank is one of Ol' Groove's fave Groovy Age artists (and what a pleasure it was to get to shake his hand at the Cincy Comic Expo a couple years ago). His slick, organic style just oozes power, beauty and cosmic wonder! Always did and always will! For proof, just check out his first published Warren job from Vampirella #10 (December 1970), "Eye of Newt, Toe of Frog" written by none other than Gerry Conway!

Thanks again for all the cool comics, Mr. Brunner--and many, many more happy b-days to ya!

Groovy Christmases Past: 1980 PLUS! Groove's Christmas PRESENT(s)!

Merrrrrrrrry Christmaaaaas, Groove-ophiles! Happy Holidays, happy Monday, just happy day! It's Christmas Day, and Ol' Groove knows that most of ya wanna spend time with the family (and your new presents if you weren't too naughty this year), so I'm gonna try to keep this post kinda short. Christmas 1980. The end of the Groovy Age. Teen Groove found lots of good stuff that December, although I didn't have as much money to spend on comics as I had in the past. Wonder why? (Cough, cough--GIRLS--cough!) And, it's not a sad time, even though we were saying goodbye to our beloved Groovy Age. Why? Well, if you were like me, I didn't realize it was the end of the Groovy Age, for one thing. For another, the 1980s turned out to be pretty (dare I say it? I dare!) awesome!! Check out these classics, baby. And for the record, the last comic Teen Groove bought during the Groovy age? Spider-Woman #37!

 Another biggie on Ol' Groove's "greatest comics ever" list! Wow! Even The Shadow's creator Walter Gibson got into this one! (Oh, and this is another one I found on the way to Grandma's house! Man, I'm glad we visited her for Christmas!)

 Why didn't this mag last longer? Great sci-fi short shockers in every ish!

 The end of Roger Stern and John Byrne's magnificent run.

 Frank Miller in total control (and Bullseye's not)!

 Both Gene Colan and Howard Chaykin provide art for this ish!

Hey, War Machine fans--it's Rhodey's origin!

 Came out December 2...

 Came out December 30!

 John Byrne's last ish!

 Marv Wolfman and George Perez were making DC Marvel-ous (though Curt Swan drew this ish)!

Annnd, in case you're wondering (and even if you're not--sorry!), here's what Ol' Groove found under his tree this year...

Yep, I think I was good! When I was a kid I dreamed of my favorite comics being bound into book form. Dreams do come true! Oh, but it's not all tpbs...

Merry Christmas, Groove-ophiles! We're gonna go into "reprint" or "rerun", if you prefer, mode for the rest of the week. Hope you enjoy the upcoming Groovy Posts of Christmas Past! Happy ho, ho, ho to y'all!