In 1968, a banner year for comics all around, Jaunty Jim Steranko was as good as it ever got! Joe Bloke shares the now-classic “WHATEVER HAPPENED TO SCORPIO?, an epic yet self-contained issue of Marvel’s NICK FURY, AGENT OF S.H.I.E.L.D. that features what may well be the most stylish and psychedelic cinematography ever seen on a four color page. Imagine discovering this at age nine! We had no freaking idea what to make of this but the S.H.I.E.L.D books became a major tradable commodity in my neck of the woods.

http://grantbridgestreet.blogspot.com/2009/11/whatever-happened-to-scorpio.html

One of the most popular heroes South of the Border has long ben El Santo, the wrestling superstar who fought monsters, aliens and gangsters in a bizarre series of movies from the 1950′s to the 1970′s. Here’s a comic book outing of El Santo (although supposedly NOT the real one) in an unusual photo-illustrated, Spanish language vampire tale from 1977.

http://magiccarpetburn.blogspot.com/2009/11/jose-g-cruz-presentar-santo-el.html

THE TIME BULLET has an interesting historical piece on Sheldon Mayer’s beloved SUGAR & SPIKE as well as on the late writer/artist/editor’s often overlooked importance to the comic book industry in general. Then, even better, we’re treated to a vintage SUGAR & SPIKE vignette.

http://thetimebullet.blogspot.com/2009/11/sheldon-mayers-sugar-and-spike.html

There’s a nice selection of FRITZI RITZ covers on view at JON’S RANDOM ACTS OF GEEKERY today, FRITZI RITZ was, of course, the hot Aunt of Ernie Bushmiller’s NANCY who also cameos here.

http://waffyjon.blogspot.com/2009/11/by-10s-fritzi-ritz.html