Samurai Jack and Groo

 

This pairing comes about from a suggestion by Jeff O'Hare, a Patron of this blog.  Thanks, Jeff! though these two have quite different personalities, they share a warrior's spirit.  I think that they would actually work well together.

Spaceman Spiff meets R2D2 & C-3PO

 

How different would the Star Wars saga have played out if these two droids bumped into Spiff as they were encountering the Jawas?  Chaos would have been sure to ensue!

4 Famous Co-Stars Join The Wacky Races

 

The Wacky Races was the ultimate cartoon crossover when I was a kid.  I figured I would have some of my favorite fictional vehicles join to competition for this issue.  I'm guessing this would be a seriously fast paced tale!

Velma and Marcie in The House of Mystery

 

When Marc Tyler Nobleman, comics' historian and Patron of this blog, suggested a Velma and Marcie pairing on this blog, I knew just where I would set a tale featuring them.  Thanks for the inspiration, Marc!

Spaceman Spiff and Captain America

 Captain America is a natural born leader, but could even he be able to rein in the action-seeking mind of Calvin?  It would be an interesting meeting, to be sure.

Groo Wanders into The Lord of the Rings

 

I figure that it would only be a matter of time before Groo's travels brought him into Middle Earth. What kind of effect would his presence have on the war against the hordes of Sauron?  I'm not sure, but it would be entertaining to find out.

Groo The Wanderer and The Supreme Intelligence

 

I felt like going for a truly oddball pairing this time around, and this would be a true meeting of opposites.  It could make for quite an amusing tale, though! 

The Thing and Donald Duck

 

These are two of my all time favorite characters. they are both loveable, funny guys who sometimes let their tempers get the best of them. I can only imagine the antics they would get up to if they shared an adventure together.

Groo the Wanderer and Darth Vader

 

This battle between simpleton and Sith may seem a bit one-sided, but Groo has a way of overcoming impossible odds.  It would be a kick to watch their interaction, especially if the amazing Sergio Aragones were to illustrate it!

Groo and Asterix

 

I enjoy watching the Cartoonists Kayfabe Youtube channel where they examine comic art.  From time to time they will do Zoom interviews, and so far my favorite has been one they did with Sergio Aragones.  He tells a very inspiring story on how he crafted and shaped his career, it's a fascinating discussion and well worth seeking out.

This cover comes about as the result of a suggestion by Mike Shirley, a Patron of this Blog.  Thanks for the idea and the support, Mike!

Godzilla Vs. 4 Famous Co-Stars

When Mike Shirley, a Patron of this blog, suggested I pair Fred Flintstone up with either Groo the Wanderer or Godzilla, I figured, why not both?  Then I decided to let a couple more club-wielding heroes into the mix, making it a real party.

I am always happy to feature the artwork of Sergio Aragones, one of the greatest and funniest cartoonists ever.  I was very lucky to pick up an original Groo sketch by him many years ago: 

Wonder Woman and Captain America in: "A Mindwarp From a Monkey!"

This marks the 24th appearance of the WW/Cap team...

Well, I saw Wonder Woman 1984,   

SPOILERS FOLLOW

and like most, I was let down after the first movie was done so well.  I've read reports that Patty Jenkins got rid of her co-writer from the first movie as well as replaced the effects and stunts crews, and it showed.  The opening Amazon scene was fun and promising, but didn't really connect to the rest of the film at all.  The mall fight was not well done, the effects and acting looked like something from an 80's kid's movie, not something just set in the 80's. Still, I should have savored it, since it was the last action scene or scene with WW in costume that there would be for another hour and 10 minutes!  The movie definitely needed better editing, scenes went on too long and the sparse action was spaced too far apart.  Cheetah was wasted, her character didn't need to be there for the plot and we have seen the same origin beats before for Riddler and Electro (not that they worked in those movies either).  By the time (over 2 hours in) that she showed up in Cheetah form (we don't get to see the transformation) It feels like a movie obligation and the effects were dark, murky, and unimpressive.  Diana's golden armor was built up to be amazing and then destroyed and discarded in moments, I guess that was all just to set up the mid credits cameo.  There were parts I liked.  All the acting was fine, I can't blame the performers for the script they were given.  Yes, the learning to fly scene was lifted from Man of Steel, but I still enjoyed it.  The invisible jet visuals were cool, although the scene as a whole was silly considering Steve could somehow fly a modern jet with his WWI skills and Diana made it invisible by rubbing her hands together like Mr. Miyagi from Karate Kid.  Finally, why didn't Steve just reappear (Like the wall and other things) instead of hijacking some innocent dude's body and life?  Neither Steve nor Diana seemed overly concerned with this violation, and indeed got intimate using the unwitting "handsome man's" (he didn't even get a name) body.  Diana only undid the wish because she was losing her powers, not out of concern for her and Steve's victim.  Highly unethical to say the least and I can't believe that plot point made it into the movie. As for the wishes, did everyone on Earth really make selfish wishes?  Not one person wished for world peace or something?  All that said, I still liked it better than Birds of Prey!

Mickey Mouse and Batman

It's been fun checking out some of the classic cartoon shorts on Disney+.  They must have made an impact on me as a kid because  even though I haven't seen some of them for 45 years or longer, the memories of seeing them for the first time come flooding back when I watch them anew.

Batman last tangled with The Beagle Boys in STF #2901...

Groo the Wanderer in The House of Mystery

There are certain artists that fill out my list of superlatives for comic book artwork.  My personal favorite?  Nobody will top Jim Aparo for the memories his artwork stirs from my childhood.  Best comics artist ever?  For me, it's Joe Kubert, hands down.  Best cover artists?  Gil Kane and Nick Cardy for Marvel and DC respectively.  But the best cartoonist of all time?  Now that one I do not even have to think about - Sergio Aragones!  His signature style has kept me laughing for decades, he is truly a master of the form!

Superman Vs. Little Lulu

DC and Marvel comics made me a rabid fan of the art form, but it was comics like Little Lulu that taught me to read.  Their simple one to eight page stories with engaging artwork and fun characters were easy enough for a tyke like me to enjoy on my own.  After mastering those, it wasn't hard to graduate to Archie Comics and then the wordy prose of DC and Marvel.

This cover was inspired by a suggestion by Comics' Historian and Patron of this Blog, Marc Tyler Nobleman - Thanks, Marc!

The Hulk Vs. Groo the Wanderer

With each movie appearance, the effects to create The Hulk keep improving.  I just watched Thor: Ragnarok again, and was really impressed with the motion capture work, he looked great.  That said, while I like that Mark Ruffalo's facial expressions can be used to create a more emotive Hulk, I happen to like the design from the Edward Norton-starring Incredible Hulk a little better.  Yes, the CGI isn't nearly as polished as the new movies, but the appearance of The Hulk looked just like a Sal Buscema comic illustration to me.  Buscema art was featured on many of my favorite Hulk stories growing up, so that really worked for me and I wish they had stayed closer to that look.

Wonder Woman and Groo The Wanderer

I'd love to see Groo The Wanderer in animation some day.  I remember on TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes back in the 80's, there would be quick little animated bits featuring the artwork of Sergio Aragones  when the program was coming in and out of commercials.  His style looked perfect in motion, and it would be great to see his signature barbaric creation in cartoon form as well.

Cerebus Vs. Groo The Wanderer

Cerebus was a comic that I had always meant to get around to reading.  I liked the idea that creator Dave Sim used his hero to explore different genres of comics and that he was committed to completing at least 300 issues.  As the series went on, I read that it became more of a platform for Sim's beliefs than the ongoing adventures of the characters he created, so I lost interest in checking it out.  Is it worth seeking out the earlier issues?

This cover comes about as the result of a suggestion by Mike Shirley, a Patron of this blog - thanks, Mike!

Calvin & Hobbes Exit The House of Mystery

My father never really understood my fascination with comics growing up, but comic strips were another thing.  He enjoyed strips like For Better or For Worse, Robotman, Mother Goose and Grimm and especially Calvin and Hobbes.  It was nice to have  something that we could both enjoy despite the difference in our ages.  And hey, now that I am showing him and my Mom my favorite superhero flicks for movie nights, he's even coming around to what I loved about comic books.

Groo the Wanderer and Captain Caveman

I have to confess that Captain Caveman freaked me out a little.  I mean, what is that he is wearing?  Is he attached to his clothes or naked with a really long beard?  Either way, kind of creepy.  Oh well, it didn't seem to stop him from attraction beautiful women, so what do I know?