Making a Splash: 13 Splashes from Marvel Team-Up

Remember these issues of Marvel Team-Up, Groove-ophiles? A lot of far-out Groovy Age artists (besides the already spotlighted Gil Kane, Sal Buscema, and John Byrne) left their mark on Spidey and friends battles with baddies. Here are 13 (for Friday the 13th, natch) to blow your mind...

Thursday Team-up: "Suffer Not a Warlock to Live!" by Gruenwald, Bingham, and Day

Greetings, Groove-ophiles! Today's the big wrap-up of Mark Gruenwald, Jerry Bingham, and Gene Day's "Her" saga from Marvel Two-In-One issues 61-63 featuring The Thing, Starhawk, and Moondragon! Man, did Ol' Groove both love and hate this issue when it came out! My heart nearly jumped outta my chest when I saw Adam Warlock's hand popping up out of that grave on that amazing George Perez/Terry Austin cover! I was thrilled at the cosmically inspired art by Bingham and Day, and oh, how I loved how Gruenwald filled in the continuity gaps concerning Sphinxor, changes in the Soul Gem, Counter-Earth, Warlock's temporary cosmic giantism, and what the High Evolutionary had been up to while Adam was out doing all the dirty work. That's the love part. We'll explore the hate part after you read "Suffer Not a Warlock to Live!" from Marvel Two-In-One #63 (February 1980). Don't wanna spoil the story...

Are you ready for the hate part now? Okay, here goes...I really, really hoped that Warlock would be back for good--and boy, was Teen Groove bummed when he wasn't. I eventually realized what a truly classy move it was on Gruenwald's part not to revive Adam. These days of hokey, obviously temporary "deaths" makes me appreciate Gruenwald's decision even more. Was this a great three-parter or what? Love that Groovy Age!!

Thursday Team-up: "The Taking of Counter-Earth!" by Gruenwald, Bingham, and Day

Hey, hey, hey, Groove-ophiles! Last Thursday you thrilled to The Ever-Lovin' Blue-Eyed Thing teaming with Starhawk as they got caught up in the mystery of Her! Today we're digging on part two, which adds Moondragon and even The High Evolutionary to the mix! Toss in flashbacks featuring Adam Warlock and a glimpse of Thanos, and you'll understand why we heaped such praise 'pon author Mark Gruenwald and artists Jerry Bingham and Gene Day back in January 1980, when this ish of Marvel Two-In-One (#62 to be exact) first appeared! It's a mix of Marvel continuity and Marvel cosmic, baby!

Cover art by George Perez and Joe Sinnott

Oh, and if ya dig team-ups and cross-overs, wait'll tomorrow, baby! Ol' Groove is doing a special team-up/cross-over post with my pals Doug and Karen at Bronze Age Babies featuring the grooviest team-up covers evah! It's gonna be faaaaaar-out!

Thursday Team-up: "The Coming of Her!" by Gruenwald, Bingham, and Day

What it is, Groove-ophiles! Today we're gonna rap about the first part of a cool and cosmic three part epic featuring The Thing, Starhawk, Moondragon, and even (sorta) Adam Warlock! Flush with his successful hand in creating the legendary Project: Pegasus saga in issues 53-58 of Marvel Two-In-One, Mark Gruenwald set out to create another cosmic epic starring Mrs. Grimm's Blue-eyed Boy. While the Saga of Her (not bad grammar, read on!) isn't as well-remembered as P:P, it is a great three parter, loaded with cool heroes, lots of Marvel continuity from plenty of different titles being pulled together (a Gruenwald trademark), tons of great character moments, and an action packed sci-fi extravaganza, to boot! Oh, and Gruenwald was blessed to be joined by the incredible art team of Jerry Bingham and Gene Day, can you dig it? Spinning out of (of all places) Hulk Annual #6 (Summer 1977), here's "The Coming of Her!" from Marvel Two-In-One #61 (December 1979).