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

Making a Splash: Black Panther in Jungle Action, Part Two

Dig it, Groove-ophiles! Last week we looked at Rich Buckler and company going into Jungle Action with the Black Panther, so this week we're following up with the incredible art of Billy Graham as he (along with top-notch inkers Klaus Janson, Craig Russell, Pablo marcos, Dan Green, and Bob McLeod) joins author Don McGregor on a trek through the wilds of Wakanda (JA issues 10-22, April 1974-April 1976). Wanna join 'em? Ol' Groove knew you would...

Making a Splash: Black Panther in Jungle Action, Part One

Dig it, Groove-ophiles! One of Ol' Groove's all-time favorite series is Black Panther from Jungle Action. I dug T'Challa in FF and the Avengers, but man, under the authorship of Don McGregor and artists Rich Buckler and Billy Graham, the King of the Wakanda became one of the most unique, thought-provoking comics in, like, ever, man! While McGregor took the Panther (and comics) in directions we'd rarely, if ever, seen before, the art, baby, kept us salivating for more. Buckler inked by a young Klaus Janson was a-freakin'-mazing! That dyn-o-mite duo supplied the art for Jungle Action issues 6-8 (June-October 1973), the Janson got to ink Gil Kane in ish #9 (February 1974). Buckler came back to help Billy Graham out of a deadline crunch (but didn't do the splash) for JA #22 (April 1976), then laid out the majority of JA #24 (the final ish, August 1976) for another astounding newcomer, Keith Pollard. Seems like Buckler did a lot more than those issues, but I s'pose that's because he made such a huge artistic impact on the series by setting the feel and tone. And of course, knocking each page waaay outta the park!

Next Friday: Billy Graham's JA/Black Panther!

Random Reads: "The Claws of Lionfang" by Englehart and Graham

Greetings, Groove-ophiles! A short while back on the DotGK Facebook Fan Page (What? You haven't joined yet? For SHAME!), we had a discussion about our fave Groovy Age writers. A name that popped up on most everyone's list was Steve Englehart. Stainless Steve ranks high because of his stellar runs on Avengers, Batman (in Detective), and  Captain America, not to mention his awesome takes on Captain Marvel, the Defenders, JLA, and so many others. But even a writer as far-out as Mr. E can have an off day. "Claws of Lionfang" from Hero for Hire #13 (July 1973) is what I'd consider an off day for the Stainless One. There are some great pieces of dialogue (check out Cage's funkified badness in panel 1, page 2, f'rinstance), some nice twists on the Spider-Man school of soul-searching (dig that last page), but the villain of the story, Lionfang, is soooooo silly. His powers are silly, his motivation is silly...let's face it, besides his name, he's just plain silly. His costume is kinda funky mixing cool with silly in a creative way. That is thanks to artist Billy Graham who saves the day with his stunning storytelling and luscious inks. No matter how lame the story gets, Graham's art keeps you hangin' on.