STEVE DITKO ENCOUNTERS THE MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS !!!

Back in the days, there was an wildly popular kids TV show called Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Marvel Comics. published a 7 issue comic book series based on the series. Steve Ditko drew two solid 10-page stories for them, among the last half-dozen or so stories he did for Marvel.

The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers members consisted of White Ranger (Tommy), Pink Ranger (Kat), Red Ranger (Rocky), Yellow Ranger (Aisha), Blue Ranger (Billy), and the Black Ranger (Adam.) They are six teenagers who use martial arts and the guidance of their mentor, Zordon, to defend the town of Angel Grove from persistent attacks by Lord Zed and other interdimensional villains.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #2
"A Simple Misunderstanding"
Bulk and Skull have joined the junior police to try and meet babes but the plan backfires when they try to trick Zedd's goons into making them look like heroes and the Power Rangers have to intervene.
Written by Frank Lovece.
Inks by Jim Amash & Pond Scum (Scott Elmer.)
Ron Lim & Mark McKenna cover. 
 

As I look back on this, I do like the photo cover! They usually grab me!

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #4
"Revenge Of The Nerd" 
Lord Zedd gives an acne plagued teenager the power to battle the Power Rangers.
Written by Tom Daning.
Inks by Tom Palmer.
Photo cover.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #4 Ninja Rangers/VR Troopers
"Ghost of a Chance" 
VR Troopers flip book.
Written by  Frank Strom.
Inked by Jim Amash.

FYI: VR Troopers, also based on another Saban hit television show, are three teenagers that move from the virtual reality dimension discovered by Tyler Steel and transform into Virtual Reality Troopers in the real world. Aided by Professor Horatio Hart, whose essence is inside the computer mainframe, the teenagers, Ryan, J.B., and Kaitlin, battle the underlings of the evil Grimlord.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #5 Ninja Rangers/VR Troopers
"The Boy Trooper"
VR Troopers flip book. 
Written by Frank Strom.
Inks by Tom Christopher. 

With the first series, Ron (Silver Surfer, X-Men 2099) handled most of the artistic chores. Fabian (Nomad) Nicieza was the lead writer. 

Same cover used for Hamilton's #1 & Graphic Album, by Bret Blevins & Terry Austin!

Interestinglty enough, Gray (Red Circle Sorcery) Morrow did artwork for the Mighty Morphin Power Ragers Graphic Album #1, reprinting the story from Hamilton Comics Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #1. You've got to keep your eye out for some of the work Morrow, Wood & Ditko drew. 

A bit goofy, but love the Ditko emotion that still comes through.

Nicola Cuti & Gray Morrow, what more can you ask for?

Live Large My Friends!

Thank You!

EERIE - JIM STARLIN'S ORIGIN OF DARKLON !!!

It's been way too long since I've brought up creator/writer/artist Jim Starlin. Here's Darklon the Mystic,an oldie but goodie from the cosmic genius. Starlin was going through some heavy stuff during his post-Warlock days, so Darklon seemed to be a way for him to work through it.

Starlin did some marvelous splash pages!

Eerie #79 
"The Price"
Plagued by assassins allegedly hired by his father, Darklon is compelled to return to Nebularia. Despite the fact that it has been many years since he has seen the floating city of Nebulor, the sight of it rekindles painful memories. He reflects on the mutual hatred between his father and himself after his mother died. He also recalls how Blacklore became a substitute son for the Kavar until Blacklore plotted the overthrow of Darkhold. Darkhold how he fled to make a deal with the Nameless One to acquired the power he needed to defeat his enemies.
Reprinted in Eerie #137.
Pacific Comics collected the Eerie stories (#76, #79, #80, #84 & #100) in a single, fine looking comic.  
 

Many adjectives could be used to describe this wild two-parter from Warren's Eerie #79. Sinister, sadistic, and stunning being a choice few. This is Starlin at his most savage, "The Price" is not recommended for the faint of heart!

There was nothing like the Frazetta covers for the Warren magazines!

Starlin dug this gruesome sacrifice-to-power origin so much that he'd use a similar bloody path for Vanth Dreadstar's pal Syzygy Darklok in his 1981 graphic novel titled, not surprisingly, The Price. 

The Rook was another terrific Warren character. Paul Gulacy did a Rook cover that turned me onto the character!

Always loved the Collector's Classics Warren came out with, especially the covers!

Live Large My Friends!

Thank You! 

Pacific Comics Darklon the Mystic #1 was my first exposure to Jim Starklin's great character!

 

WHERE THERE IS A WILL - GREEN LANTERN BY STEVE DITKO !!!

You just never know where Steve Ditko will show up, kind of like Wally Wood. Ditko drew Hal Jordan, as Green Lantern, in Action Comics Weekly #642. Cover by Ross (Metal Men) Andru & Eric (Age of Bronze) Shanower. Other artists include Curt (Superman) Swan, Carmine (Flash) Infantino, Jim (Nightshade) Aparo & Jim (Amazing Spider-Man) Mooney.

Action Comics Weekly #642
"Where There is a Will..Chapter II - The Decline"
Deciding to fight the bad guys instead of dealing with his personal problems, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan)  investigates reports of someone stealing fissionable nuclear material. For some reason, his ring is acting erratically. After Green Lantern breaks into a military compound, he is fatally shot by the Major and left for dead. He then sends out green energy - to find a successor.
Written by awesome Elliot S. (Superman) Maggin with art by Steve (Stalker, Creeper) Ditko (pages 5-12) & terrific Art Thibert inks.

By the way, famed Green Lantern artist Gil Kane illustrates the first chapter. Although not shown, Boston Brand (Deadman) is also considered for the role of Green Lantern in this chapter as well!

One of my favorite DC characters - Deadman!

 

Live Large My Friends!

Thank You!

Action Comics Weekly #642 splash page by superstar Gil Kane!

Steve Ditko pin-up of Superman! Cool!

IMAGINE GENE DAY'S NEED FOR -- SPEED !!!

Here's a little treat by the late, great Gene Day, published in Star*Reach's Imagine #2. Perhaps Harlan Ellison inspired? Not something you'll come across, since it unfortunately has not been reprinted. I'd love to see that, since he did a lot of short stories like this for a few independent publishers.  

This issue featured a gorgeous P. Craig (Killraven) Russell cover also used on the back cover with no text. Other artists featured were Trina (Legend of Wonder Woman) Robbins, Michael T. (Mr. Monster) Gilbert and Mike (Linda Loveless) Vosberg.

Well, do you feel the need for..."Speed"?

Funny panel from Marvel Two-in-One #62, script by Mark (The Avengers) Gruenwald, pencils by Jerry (Batman) Bingham, inks by Gene Day

Gene Day did a couple of stories in Gasm #1, #2 & #3! Great magazine I rarely see!

Only issue of Heavy Metal Gene Day worked on!

Live Large My Friends!

Thank You! 

Gene Day did Bran Mak Morn in a few issues of Savage Sword of Conan! Bob Larkin cover.

An obscure magazine. Space Wars, published some Gene Day gems in at least two issues!

Another independent printing Gene Day stories!