Countdown to Halloween 2010! Haunting Art from the Marvel Bullpen

Greetings, Ghoul-ophiles! Way back in 2008, during Ol' Groove's first time participating in the Countdown to Halloween, I did a short piece on Marvel's digest prose mag, Haunt of Horror. I'm not gonna repeat what I said there 'cause you can read it here, but I've been dying to post some awesome art that I couldn't post back then ('cause I didn't have scans yet, natch). Instead of firing all of my guns at once, I thought I'd share the sensational spot illos from legends like Gene Colan, Frank Brunner, Barry (Windsor-) Smith, John Romita Sr., and the rest of the gang from HOH #1 (March 1973). Oh, and of course we're taking another look at that far-out and fearsome Gray Morrow cover. Dig it, baby!


Next year, Ol' Groove's gonna lay the art from HOH #2 on ya. How's that for something to look forward to?

Countdown to Halloween 2010! Grooviest Covers of All Time: Creepy Colan Covers

HowwwOOOOOOOOOO's it goin', Groove-ophiles! Let's plant our peepers on a pile of creepy covers created by Marvel's Dean of Dread, Gene Colan! Most are inked by Terrifying Tom Palmer and come from mags like Dr. Strange and Tomb of Dracula, but there might just be a surprise or two in the mix, as well! 'Tis a baker's dozen of Colan's beastly best, baby--and it's all for you!

Countdown to Halloween 2010! O'Neil and Palmer Adapt Poe' s "The Tell-Tale Heart"

What's happening, my Groovy Ghoulies? Comix and classic literature! Usually they mix like candy corn and mayo, but sometimes they go together like caramel and apples!Like, f'rinstance, this most excellent adaptation of Edgar Allen Poe's classic "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Denny O'Neil and Tom Palmer. This trick-or-treat was published in Chamber of Darkness #3 (November 1969). Dig it!

Countdown to Halloween 2010! Black and White Wednesday: "Revenge of the Unliving" by Fox and Bernet

Salutations, my supernatural stalwarts! Today's fans know the legendary Jordi Bernet as the go-to artist on DC's incredible Jonah Hex mag. Thing is, Jordi's a master of most every genre, a multi-award-winning artist both in his native Europe and the U.S. Now, Ol' Groove's not sure, but I think this Gardner Fox-authored fear-fest from Marvel's Vampire Tales #1 (May 1973) just might be Jordi's U.S. debut. I can't find anything to back this up, but I can't find anything to disprove it (yet), either. Any Bernet experts out there who can help Ol' Groove out? Inquiring minds want to know! Meantime, dig this masterpiece of mood--" Revenge of the Unliving!"

Countdown to Halloween 2010! Conan's Creature Features Part 1

Robert E. Howard's Conan the Barbarian is rightly heralded as the inspiration for most of what is great about the sword and sorcery genre. What we must remember, especially as we Countdown to Halloween, is that the "sorcery" part of that equation is made up of a never-ending array of nightmarish nemeses. To drive that all-important point (for this post, at least) home, here is a heaping helping of Ol' Groove's fave freaks from the Roy Thomas/Barry (Windsor-) Smith era of Marvel's Conan the Barbarian. Look ye upon yon demonic denizens and despair, Groove-ophiles!