Making a Splash: Shanna the She-Devil

Check it out, Groove-ophiles! In 1972, new Marvel publisher Stan Lee came up with three titles that he hoped would lure in female readers: Claws of the Cat, Night Nurse, and Shanna the She-Devil. He thought it would be cool to have ladies write (and in the case of The Cat, draw) these new mags. T'was up to newly-minted editor-in-chief Roy Thomas to hire the creators and help in their development. For jungle queen Shanna, Roy hired Carole Seuling (ex of direct sales pioneer Phil Seuling) to write, George Tuska to pencil, and Vinnie Colletta to ink the first issue. Steve Gerber was tasked with beefing up the dialogue for the first couple issues, and wound up writing the rest of the series (and even using Shanna in some of the Daredevil issues he wrote), but he claimed no part in creating Shanna. With the second issue, Ross Andru took over as penciler, with Colletta remaining on the inks. Pretty sweet art team, don'tcha think? Okay, okay, Groove-ophies! Don't get your vines in an uproar! Here are the sensations splashes from Shanna the She Devil issues 1-5 (August 1972-May 1973). Look out, Tarzan!

The Boys from Derby: "Lost In the Land of the Lost!" by Gill and Boyette

Hey, hey, hey, Groove-ophiles! Here's a slight, but fun, Phantom adventure that really doesn't star The Ghost Who Walks, but features his lady-love Diana Palmer and his ward, Rex! Ol' Groove really digs Boyette's Sunday Funnies style spread on pages two and three--and do you think anyone at NBC was reading this comic and got inspired to create a certain semi-legendary Saturday morning live-action show? Hmmmmm? From The Phantom #52 (August 1972) here are Joe Gill and Pat Boyette with..."Lost In the Land of the Lost!"

Black and White Wednesday: "Dark Island of Doom" by Conway and Gan

Hey, hey, hey! Here's one for all you Ka-Zar fans! And all'a you Steve Gan fans, too! We're heading to the Savage Land courtesy a titanic tale by Gerry Conway called "Dark Island of Doom"! It first appeared (with a far-out Mike Kaluta cover) in Savage Tales #9 (January 1975), and here it is, Groove-ophile!

Yeah, the hand of art director John Romita did, indeed, move 'pon the art in this ish--including on Kaluta's cover!

Amazed by Aparo: "The Phantom of Shang-Ri-La" by Wood and Aparo

Dig it, Groove-ophiles! Jim Aparo's debut on Charlton's The Phantom! Written by Dick Wood, here's "The Phantom of Shang-Ri-La" from The Phantom #31 (January 1969)...