Groove's Faves: Adventure Comics #425

What's happening, Groove-ophiles? Or you might be asking that very question, yourself. Where's today's "Black and White Wednesday"? Well, it's being pre-empted today in order to bring you the debut post of another of Ol' Groove's "sorta series'", "Groove's Faves!" Why start "Groove's Faves" today instead of tomorrow? 'Cause today's my birthday (nanananana)! Gonna have a good time (nananana)! Not only that, but today's post is post #400. Wotta wunnerful coinkeedeenk!

Ahem. I've mentioned my great love of comics like Thrilling Mystery Stories #'s 1-2, Chamber of Chills #2, and a few others. Well, Adventure Comics #425 (September 1972) is another example of comicbook nirvana that belongs in that illustrious group of pulp-n-ink masterpieces. Why? I thought you'd never ask...

First up, Adventure #425 is the first issue of editor Joe Orlando's post-Supergirl experimental phase. That in itself makes it kinda special. Next, the ish features interior art by a trio of absolute masters of comicbook art, Alex Toth, Gil Kane, and Alex Nino topped with a cover by the incomparable Michael Kaluta (who's birthday was yesterday, by the by). Plus, this issue features the debut story of one of Ol' Grooves favorite "forgotten heroes", Captain Fear (created by Robert Kanigher and featuring pirates, baby!). Dunno who did the "Prior Warning" short, but it's still pretty cool despite the stale Hitler appearance. Still having doubts? Okay, but when you finish reading the pages to follow, I get to say, "I told ya so!"

I told ya so! Pax! (Hey, where's my cake?)

Holiday Tales: "A Different Kind of Christmas Story"

Fans of DC's Golden and Silver Ages can tell you that DC produced quite a few unique books during their heyday. One of those featured a Revolutionary War hero (kind of modeled after Daniel Boone) called Tomahawk. The character Tomahawk (Tom Hawk) made his debut in Star Spangled Comics #69 (cover dated June, 1947), where the strip ran until issue #130 (cover dated July, 1952). Tomahawk also appeared in World's Finest Comics from issue 33 (cover dated March, 1948) through #101 (cover dated May, 1959). Tomahawk's own comic ran 140 issues, from 1950-1972. Cool and creative concepts tended to have a long life back in the "good old days". Toward the end of Tomahawk's run, the mag was re-titled Son of Tomahawk. Our hero was allowed to grow old and retire, letting his son, Hawk (Hawk Hawk?), take over the adventuring (something that pretty much only happened in Imaginary Stories, over on the superhero side of DC). Written by Bob Kanigher, drawn by Frank Thorne, and edited by Joe Kubert (who provided the awesome covers), Son of Tomahawk, featured some really cool stories in the early 70s. Here's one of my favorites, from Son of Tomahawk #138 (October/November, 1971), "Christmas"!