Today in Comics History, February 2, Groundhog Day: It's Grover Groundhog Day!

It's come to my attention (I heard it on the grapevine) that some of you folks are not familiar with the fine Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer comic books DC used to put out in the 1950s and '60s, and that's a shame, because they are really fun comics about the (non-Rankin Bass) adventures of that titular young elk with the crimson proboscis, and (my point, and I do have one) his best pal Grover Groundhog.


from "The King That Outlawed Christmas" in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Annual #4 (DC, December 1953), script by Sy Reit (?), pencils and inks by Rube Grossman
Grover's become quite a icon here 'round these parts, and for several years he was the official mascot on Groundhog Day for Comics Oughta Be Fun! If you've missed the previous posts in this series, never fear! Altho' I haven't any groundhog content for 2022, there's still plenty of old, meaty, groundhoggy posts to get yourselves aquainted with this fuzzy little fellow full of love and, if that old rhyme is correct, wood. Click on any (or all!) of the banners below to get all the posts from that year's aptly-titled Grover Groundhog Day!





And there was one entry for 2018.

So remember, kids: even when there's six more weeks of winter, there's still always time for Grover Groundhog!

Grover Groundhog Day 2018: And Now for Something Completely Different

Well, ol' Grover Groundhog didn't see his shadow this morning, because he didn't even appear, and that's because I've momentarily misplaced my Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer comics, which is a hard thing to do when they're treasury-sized. Anyway, Grover himself would like to apologize for the inconvenience, so instead he's sending his cross-company cousin from the MGM Cinematic Universe to make an appearance this year. Say hello to the nice people, Mr. Ground Hog!


from the Barney Bear story "Polar Pest" in MGM's Tom & Jerry Winter Fun #5 (Dell, December 1956), creators unknown
Grover himself once again offers his sincere condolences and says look out for him in 2019, if he's not too busy partying with Angel Love again.

Today in Comics History, December 25, 1975, Christmas: After three long years, Rudolph and Grover are finally released from their hellish prison

from Limited Collectors' Edition #C-20 [Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer] (Christmas 1972), script and pencils by Sheldon Mayer, inks by Tenny Henson

A Month of... Board Games! Day 29: Pardon me, groundhog, is this the Fun-Land Choo-Choo?

It's not a holiday season of board game givin' excitement unless you invite Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer! And his shifty sidekick pal, Grover Groundhog, the star of Comics Oughta Be Fun's annual Groundhog Day!


"Take a Railroad Trip to Fun-Land!" from Limited Collectors' Edition #C-42 (February-March 1976), script and pencils by Sheldon Mayer, inks by Tenny Henson

Grover Groundhog Day IV: Hour 24

Now's the time to say goodbye
Until next February
G-R-O (Oh, we love him!)
V-E-R (Our hearts are with him!)
G-R-O-U-N-D!
(H-O-G.)


from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer #2 (DC, December 1951), pencils and inks by Rube Grossman

Grover Groundhog Day IV: Hour 23: Grover Groundhog/Angel Love Team-Up

And now the moment you've been waiting for: this year's Grover Groundhog/Angel Love Team-Up!


from All-New Collectors' Edition #C-60 [Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer] (DC, 1978), script and pencils by Sheldon Mayer, inks by Tenny Henson, colors by Adrienne Roy,
and from Angel Love #1 (DC, August 1986); script and pencils by Barbara Slate, inks by John William Lopez, colors by Bob LeRose, letters by Bill Yoshida

Grover Groundhog Day IV: Hour 22

from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer #2 (DC, December 1951), pencils and inks by Rube Grossman

Grover Groundhog Day IV: Hour 21

from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer #2 (DC, December 1951), pencils and inks by Rube Grossman

Grover Groundhog Day IV: Hour 20

activity page from All-New Collectors' Edition #C-60 [Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer] (DC, 1978), script and pencils by Sheldon Mayer, inks by Tenny Henson, colors by Adrienne Roy

Grover Groundhog Day IV: Hour 19

from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer #10 (DC, December 1959), pencils and inks by Rube Grossman (?)

Grover Groundhog Day IV: Hour 18

from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer #6 (DC, December 1955); script, pencils and inks by Martin Naydel

Grover Groundhog Day IV: Hour 17

from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer #3 (DC, December 1952); script, pencils, and inks by Martin Naydel

Grover Groundhog Day IV: Hour 16

from All-New Collectors' Edition #C-60 [Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer] (DC, 1978), script and pencils by Sheldon Mayer, inks by Tenny Henson, colors by Adrienne Roy

Grover Groundhog Day IV: Hour 15

from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer #6 (DC, December 1955); script, pencils and inks by Martin Naydel

Grover Groundhog Day IV: Hour 14

from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer #3 (DC, December 1952); script, pencils, and inks by Martin Naydel

Grover Groundhog Day IV: Hour 13

from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer #2 (DC, December 1951), pencils and inks by Rube Grossman

Grover Groundhog Day IV: Hour 12

activity page from All-New Collectors' Edition #C-60 [Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer] (DC, 1978), script and pencils by Sheldon Mayer, inks by Tenny Henson, colors by Adrienne Roy

Grover Groundhog Day IV: Hour 11

from All-New Collectors' Edition #C-60 [Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer] (DC, 1978), script and pencils by Sheldon Mayer, inks by Tenny Henson, colors by Adrienne Roy

Grover Groundhog Day IV: Hour 10

from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer #12 (DC, December 1961), script by Bob Oksner, pencils and inks by Rube Grossman (?)

Grover Groundhog Day IV: Hour 9

from All-New Collectors' Edition #C-60 [Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer] (DC, 1978), script and pencils by Sheldon Mayer, inks by Tenny Henson, colors by Adrienne Roy