Making A Splash: DC Comics December, 1979

2008 has nearly come and gone. It's time to look back and reflect. That applies to the Diversions, too! Between now and New Year's Day, Ol' Groove is gonna be looking at various endings that occurred during the Groovy Age. Today, whadd'ya say we take a look at the final crop of 1970s DC comics?

Before I go, I have to wish Smilin' Stan Lee a happy day-late birthday! You might be 86, Stan, but you'll never be 86'd! You are still, and will always be, The Man! Here are a couple super-groovy Stan portraits from FOOM Magazine to help celebrate.

Making A Splash: DC Comics, December, 1973

Believe it or not, there was a time when you could pick up a comicbook and tell what company published it. Not based on the character, logo, or indicia, but based on the style of art and writing. Just check out these DC Comics splash pages from December, 1973. There's no way you could mistake these for Marvels, baby! (And no, that is not a put down!)

Can you dig it? Adams, Aparo, Alcala, Cockrum, Kirby, Kubert, Novick, Nino, Swan, Wrightson, and so many other Groovy Age Greats, just sitting there on the spinner-rack waiting for us to plunk down two thin dimes... Ol' Groove ain't jivin' when he says the 70s were far-out, baby!

Making a Splash! Marvel Comics, November, 1974

Most comics-centric sites and blogs post covers. We all love covers. Covers are what sold us on many books back in the Groovy Age. But, you know Ol' Groove likes to be different (I have no choice!), so I got to thinking about...splash pages! Real splash pages. The first page of the comic that tried almost as hard as the cover to nab your interest. Ya know, sometimes splash pages helped sell comics, too. Many was the time we'd trade for coverless comics. There were even times (Shhh! No tattling!) when we'd find coverless comics wrapped in cellophane three for a quarter. So for today's Thanksgiving Treat, I'll be tossing up a splash page salad made of the coolest of the cool from Marvel Comics, 34 years ago this very month (don't let that "February" in the indicia fool ya, Groove-ophile, these babies came out in time for Turkey Day, 1974).



Hope ya didn't get too full! I've got more Thanksgiving goodies coming your way tomorrow! Pax!