Random Reads: "When a Love Story Ends" by J. Thomas and Weiss

Greetings, Groove-ophiles! Remember those rare days when you'd be so bored you'd dig for something new to read...even if it was through your mom's stack of romance mags? (Please don't let me be the only one who ever got that desperate!) Dull and yucky (to a kid) as they were, sometimes something cool would turn up--like a story from a fave writer and/or artist. Our Love Story #29 (May 1974, reprinting stories from ish #17, March 1972) reprinted one such lucky find, "When a Love Story Ends" written by Jean (Roy's former wife) Thomas and illustrated Alan (Warlock, Shazam!) Weiss! Can you dig it?

Halloween Week! Groove's Faves: "Eye of the Beholder" by Conway, Ploog, and Chiarmonte

HowOOOOOOOOOOO's it goin', Groove-ophiles! Halloween is Friday, so this week we're gonna focus on the spooky and the supernatural--well, more than usual--this week! Let's kick things off with one of Marvel's most successful supernatural characters--Werewolf by Night! Marvel's version of "I Was a Teen-Age Werewolf" was basically created by Roy Thomas and his then-wife Jean, then handed over to writer Gerry Conway and artist Mike Ploog for more development. After a short, successful run in Marvel Spotlight issues 2-4 (November 1971-March 1972), Jack Russell (yep, that was his name) was given his own mag in June, 1972, with the writer-artist team of Conway and Ploog intact.

Ol' Groove has to say right here, that while Tomb of Dracula, Man-Thing, and Ghost Rider get most of the press (they were the faves and the longest-running of the supernatural color mags), Werewolf by Night is my personal fave of 'em all. I always dug werewolf tales, and Ploog's hip, Will Eisner-inspired art just blew me away here. Later, when Doug Moench and Don Perlin settled in as regular creators, it was a thrill ride, too. Heck, WbN ran 43 issues (through December 1976)! Somebody was diggin' it with me! How cool was WbN? Check out this titanic tale from ish #1 for a taste and see what you think!

12 Days of Christmas 2012! "Murder Stalks Ward 8!" by Thomas and Mortimer

Happy ho, ho, ho to you, Groove-ophiles! When we took a look at the Marvel-ous covers of Christmas '72 last week, the cover of Night Nurse #3 caught many of your eyes, so Ol' Santa Groove thought ya might wanna inspect the insides of that mighty mag. Without further ado, then, here's "Murder Stalks Ward 8!" by Jean Thomas and Win Mortimer!

12 Days of Christmas: "Webbing In a Winter Wonderland!" with Spidey and Ice Man

Hey, you guyyyyys! The Electric Company, the Children's Television Workshop's follow-up to the phenomenal Sesame Street was must-see TV for Young Groove. By the time Spider-Man started making appearances on the show, I was a little bit old for the EC, but had, had, had to watch Spidey "live and in person". When Marvel teamed with CTW to produce Spidey Super Stories, an easy-to-read mag aimed at younger comicbook fans, I just had to try an ish or two (though they were hard to find in Southeast Kentucky, lemme tell ya!). While the stories were a bit simple (that was the purpose, duh!), I dug the ad-less format that allowed for more than one story per ish. The extras, like one-page origins of guest-stars and villains, really turned me on. I couldn't figure out why Marvel could produce a mag with no ads while the rest of their mags were filled to the brim with 'em. Heck, I still don't know, but what's life without a few mysteries?

Anywho, for today's 12 Days of Christmas post we're focusing on Spidey Super Stories #6 (December 1974), which featured future Amazing Friend Bobby Drake, aka Ice Man (ya think this ish might've inspired that legendary cartoon?). This is a fun little ditty, perfect for the Christmas Season, written by Jean (Night Nurse/former Mrs. Roy) Thomas with art by Win Mortimer, Mike Esposito, and Tony Mortellaro (Guest-starring John Romita and Esposito on the covers). The Easy Reader says, "Can you dig it?"