Groovy Posts of Christmas Past: Presents and the Comicbook Ads That Made Me Want 'Em

Happy Holidays, Groove-ophiles! For the rest of the week we're gonna be showcasing Posts of Christmas Past--in other words, re-runs or reprints of some of Ol' Groove's fave posts from Decembers other than this one. ;D Hope you enjoy 'em!

This one's from December 18, 2010!

Ho, ho, ho-wzit goin, Groove-ophiles! Ol' Groove spends a lot of time yakkin' about the covers, and splashes, and stories, and art in our beloved Groovy Age comics, but I don't seem to spend enough time on the ads. The ads were as much a part of the fun (sometimes more) of the comix experience as any of the rest of the aforementioned items. Heck, I remember buying a few comics just for certain ads! Crazy, huh? Crazy like a fox, baby, 'cause when you handled those ads the right way, you could lay some heavy hints on your parents for Christmas goodies! For example...

How 'bout you, Groove-ophile? Did you find any of these awesome items under your tree?

See ya Monday in 2018 for our first new post of the New Year!

The Grooviest Covers of All Time: Toys in Comicland

Dig it, Groove-ophiles! Back in the Groovy Age, if you couldn't find the toy you still had a very good shot of picking up the comicbook adaptation! Did any of the toys that inspired these comics wind up under your tree? Captain Action--the Batman costume, tons of Hot Wheels, and some of the Microbots were snatched out from under mine!

Making a Splash: Hot Wheels!

Let it be known, Groove-ophiles, that there was a time when comics actually had a competitor for my fanatical obsessions--Mattel's Hot Wheels. Li'l Groove was in the first grade, and digging comics a lot, but man, Hot Wheels were cool, too (sorry Matchbox fans), and my friends and I could collect, trade, and play with 'em. I had a white windbreaker covered with Hot Wheels decals that I proudly wore to school, and then--BAM!--I discovered that DC comics was producing a comicbook version (which tied into the TV cartoon version, which I also dug mucho--at least until the FTC had it taken off the air!)...and the die was cast, my fate was set, and all that other stuff that means I was hooked big-time! And when your favorite toy has a comicbook filled with art by masters like Alex Toth and Neal Adams...well, let's just say Ol' Groove still gets a kick out of the short-lived series (six issues from January-November 1970) based on my first favorite line of toys! Enjoy these splashes, baby!

Hot Wheels #1

Hot Wheels #2

Hot Wheels #3

Hot Wheels #4

Hot Wheels #6

(Don't worry all you completests--we'll dig on Ric Estrada's back-up features later, man!)

Those Groovy Saturday Mornings: Hot Wheels #4 by Wein and Toth

Time to "toon" into some more far-out Saturday morning memories, Groove-ophiles! "Eye of the Storm!" from Hot Wheels #4 (July 1970) is another example of the kinda mags--and cartoons--Li'l Groove dug. I remember buying this one right off the rack at King Kwik, reading it, riding my bike (which was covered in Hot Wheels decals, natch) for hours, then reading it again when I hit the sack. I no longer have my bike, but I still have this classic by Len Wein and Alex Toth on my bookshelf!

Admiring Adams: "The Humbug Run"

Although this DC classic was released in November, 1970, Hot Wheels #6's "The Humbug Run" is definitely a cool-car-Christmas-themed comic. Buckle up and get ready for a far-out ride courtesy Len Wein, Neal Adams, and Dick Giordano, Groove-ophiles!