Decent Comics: "The Swami and...the Spectre" by Fleisher and Aparo

Dig it, Groove-ophiles! 'Tis no secret that one of Ol' Groove's all-time favorite series is Michael Fleisher (aided by Russell Carley) and Jim Aparo's Spectre from Adventure Comics. "Grim and Gritty" before it became a trend (and much more interesting than any g&g that came after), the Spirit of Vengeance laid down the law--and took out the bad-guys! Here's a classic from Adventure Comics #433 (February 1974): "The Swami and...the Spectre!"

Decent Comics: "The Man Who Stalked the Spectre" by Fleisher, Carley, and Aparo

You may have already heard, Groove-ophiles, that Michael Fleisher passed away this past February 2. Fleisher was a fave of Ol' Groove's. He was a unique voice who wrote some of my all-time favorite comics. Not just the fabulous Spectre in Adventure Comics, but he was also the longest-running Jonah Hex writer. But that's not all. Fleisher wrote many issues of Sandman, Shade, and Warlord (in the 80s), along with tons of short stories for DC's mystery mags. At Marvel, Fleisher had long runs on Ghost Rider, Spider-Woman, and Conan (in Conan the Barbarian and Savage Sword of Conan). He also wrote many horror stories for the Warren mags, and was a guiding force for some of Atlas/Seaboard's wildest concepts:  Brute, Grim Ghost, Iron Jaw, Morlock 2001, and Tarantula (in Weird Suspense). Michael Fleisher never got the accolades he deserved during his lifetime, but hopefully those of us who remember his amazing stories will pass on the love and memories to today's comicbook fans. Thanks for everything, Mr. Fleisher.

Here's one of his best Spectre stories, "The Man Who Stalked the Spectre" from Adventure Comics #435 (July 1974) with art, naturally, by Jim Aparo...

The Grooviest Covers of All Time: The Groovy Age Spectre

Hey, hey, hey, Groove-ophiles! Where can you find insanely outstanding art by comicbook giants like Carmine Infantino, Murphy Anderson, Neal Adams, Nick Cardy, Jim Aparo, and Jim Starlin? On comic covers featuring The Spectre, baby! Whether it be in his own mag, guest-starring in team-up mags like Brave and the Bold and DC Comics Presents, or headlining Adventure Comics, the Ghostly Guardian with his stark white and green costume makes for some creepy-cool comicbook covers! Here's a bunch of Ol' Groove's faves! Hope some of 'em are on your list of faves, too!

Happy Halloween 2017!

Trick or treat, Groove-ophiles! Well, actually, you don't have to go door to door--Ol' Groove's got your Halloween goodies right here! All you have to do is keep on scrollin', baby!

Let's kick things off with a short shocker from Atlas/Seaboard's Tales of Evil #2 (December 1974)! Let's tiptoe through the graveyard with Russ Jones (as Jack Younger) and Jerry Grandenetti as we go on a "Stake Out!"

Now let's lighten the mood with a sweet little tale featuring Wendy the Good Little Witch in "The Awful Ingredient" from Spooky Haunted House #2 (September 1972)...

Halloween is all about creepy things--so here's a treat from Charlton's Creepy Things #1 (April 1975)! Let's follow Tom Sutton down "The Well!"

And for our big treat of the day, how 'bout we go on an Adventure (Comics #438, December 1974) with Michael Fleischer, Ernie Chua (Chan), and Jim Aparo as..."The Spectre Haunts the Museum of Fear!"

Whew! Hope you're not too stuffed and your teeth aren't rotted from all these groovy goodies, Groove-ophiles! Happy Halloween!