"I am Groot!"..."I am Groot?"..."I am Groot,"

In case yez hasn't all seen the movie-fun-ride-of-the-summer yet, the 10th Marvel Studios release titled "The Guardians of the Galaxy", then quit reading this blog and run out and see it!!!

Back?  OK.  Wasn't that BITCHIN'!?!?!?!?  YEAH!  I thought so too.

Marvel put faith in and had respect for it's audience, and gave director James Gunn room to move and give us a movie with characters that no one but the hardest core of comics fans was familiar with (and a team whose roster has changed multiple times over it's decades long run as a 4th or 5th tier set of characters) and sucked us all in!

The characters in this incarnation of the team are culled from all manner of corners of the Marvel comics universe and it's interesting for the new-comers as well as we olden timers  to revisit where they originally appeared.

Here's the first appearance of Groot, the character who give us a great deal of the heart and soul of the movie.  Groot actually pre-dates the Marvel Age of super heroes a bit, premiering in "Tales to Astonish" #1 cover dated November 1960, during Marvel's (then called Atlas Comics) "Monster Era".  When most of their line consisted of horror and sci-fi stuff and for a couple of years was overwhelmed with giant-monsters-from-outer-space stuff.

Enough of me yapping, here's the first appearance of Groot, by Stan (he may actually have been involved in the writing in these days and not just taking a paycheck) Lee, Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers. 

"I Challenged...GROOT!

Dig in, y'all!

Just like we all thought, "Twas TERMITES killed the beast!" to paraphrase.

IMPORTANT NOTE!  Marvel has also taken great strides with this film (whether at behest of Disney or a more dynamic management team within...I'm unclear) and are giving unprecedented (by them surely) credit to the creators of the characters which are proving to be such cash cows to them all.  Most notably negotiating with Bill Mantlo, the creator of breakaway character "Rocket Raccoon".  Mr. Mantlo suffered great injury (including brain damage) in a hit and run accident in the 90's, and has required 24/7 medical care since.  It's been announced by his brother/guardian that the folks at Marvel are coming to a financial arrangement in the form of a pay-out to Bill.  Applause for this breakthrough is allowed...now!

Talk to you soon.

Atlas "2-Gun Western" - Tuesday is new/old comic book day!

Getcher dimes and head on down to the drug store, it's comic book day, kids!!!

Yup, there was a time (just before my time) when for a pocket full of dimes, you could hit the newsstand and buy up ALL kinds of four color goodness!!  For $3 you could pick up 30, count 'em 30 comics (I came along just at the end of the 12 cent era and through the all too brief 15 cent era :-[ )of every description!!  Super-hero, western, romance, horror, mystery, science fiction, funny animal...you name it!!!

That of course wasn't feasible in the economy of the depression and war years, but by the mid 50's on through the late 60's, SOME kids allowance surely amounted to that!

And oooooooooooooooooooooh the treasure you could find in almost ANY genre!!  Case in point, this little gem from Atlas comics in 1956...issue 4? of "2-Gun Western"!

Don't run a-skeered from a little ol' western comic, kiddoes...thar's GOLD in them thar hills!

Even in the days afore the Mighty Marvel banner, Stan Lee was billing himself as the sole writer...and I suppose as always, in the Marvel Manner, he was.  A glorious cover by now forgotten Joe Maneely and a very spry and emotive 1st story drawn by another relatively forgotten but very, very admirable Chuck Miller prod that thin dime outen your hand...

...and then the real fun begins.  Short little 3, 4 and 5 page parables set in the old west and graced with the creative hands of some of comic-doms soon to be giants.

A stalwart of the Mighty Marvel Bullpen, Joltin' Joe Sinnott!!!  p.s. Joe's still around and hard at work at his drawing board.  You can even "like" him and watch weekly videos he makes with his granddaughter here!

You'll be glad you did.

A glorious western turn from my new favorite from my reviews of "Mad:  THE COMIC BOOK!"  John Severin!

Pre-Spider-Man and Doctor Strange...the legendary...the giant amongst men...Steve Ditko.

And a real turn from what I think is his best era, the recently departed "illustrator" Gene Colon!

Some real pre-Marvel Marvelousness that had to be seen to be believed.  

And it didn't even cost you the $3 you would have spent on a new comic.

Tuesdays are awesome!

Talk to you soon!

Avengers! Assemble!! - Imperious Rex!!!

Captain America Cometh!!

Here with the fourth issue of Marvel Comics' "The Avengers" from 1963, ol' Stars an' Stripes finally joins the ranks alongside Iron Man, Thor, Giant Man and The Wasp, replacing the unpredictable Hulk, to take on The Sub-Mariner.

Stan Lee and Jack Kirby were truly creating a new mythology, month by month.

Meanwhile, here in the present humdrum ordinary world of ours, I'm taking the day off of work to go check out that new "Avengers" movie that is surely to become the sleeper hit of the year (why oh, why won't they advertise the darn thing?).

Spread the word kiddies, The Marvel Age of Comics is still happenin'!

EXCELSIOR!

Talk to you soon!