Ed Gosney's Blog, page 18
March 11, 2021
Tough Guy Comics: Hulk, BRZRKR, Terminator…and Mean Girls, too!
Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 285, where we look at various comic books I own (and in some cases ones that I let get away), both new and old, often with a nostalgic leaning for those feelings of yesteryear. I hope you have as much fun reading about them as I had writing about these cool comics!
For each of the comic books I include here, I list the current secondary market pricing (except for of digital issues, which don’t have collectible value). This is according to the websites ComicBookRealm.com (CBR) and Zap-Kapow Comics (ZKC), using the comic book grading scale of 9.4 (if both sites have the same price, you’ll find just one price for that issue), along with the 50th Edition of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide (OPG) using their 9.2 NM scale. Not all my comics meet that grade. Some are probably better, and some are certainly worse. But to simplify it, that’s the scale I use here. And remember, a comic book is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. And for those who enjoy the additional fun of knowing some of the more important issues in your collection, I recognize each Cool Comic that is listed in Key Collector Comics.
If you have any comments, please scroll to the bottom of the page to where it says, “Leave a Reply.” And now, Episode 285…
Cool Comics Colloquialisms!
Remember back in the old days when direct edition comics hit the scene? It seemed like that’s what everyone wanted at the time. You could tell which was which because instead of the UPC code that newsstand editions had on their covers, the direct editions featured logos or characters (such as Spider-Man) in the little rectangular box, which made them look cooler. Or at least that’s what some of us thought. And if you had doubles and wanted to get rid of some extra comics at a garage sale or show, you’d get rid of your newsstand editions if you had the same in a direct edition. And now it turns out that it was all a mistake because collectors would rather have the newsstand editions, as they are rarer. I guess this has been a thing for several years, but I was oblivious to it until I started noticing higher prices listed for newsstand editions. But I’m not going to worry about it, since I collect for the love of the stories. Of course, I’m never offended if a comic I own has a nice secondary market value (I do put those listings here each week because for some people this is very important, while for others it’s just a “nice to know” sort of thing), but it did sting a bit when I discovered that my Amazing Spider-Man #300 would be worth several hundred more dollars if I owned the newsstand edition.
By the way, Steve “Atom” Baum, a frequent Cool Comics Reader Reviews contributor, and author of the amazing blog Longbox Junk!, brought up this topic in the comments last week, and deserves a shout-out for reading my mind, as it was next on my Colloquialisms list.
Cool Comics Battle of the Week!Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is BRZRKR versus the Incredible Hulk! What do you think would happen if they faced each other in a titanic tussle, and how do you see the winner achieving victory? Let us know in the comments section below.
Cool Comics Creations!
Cool Comics once again proudly shows off the awesome art of John R. Smith! His rendition of Superman villains will have you searching through your Superman comic collection as the memories come flooding back! If you’d like to see more of John’s creations, be sure to visit his Facebook page at Smittys Art Stuff…especially if you want to acquire some of his awesome art! Additionally, his eBay page contains some cool collectibles you may want to add to your personal collection, along with some of his original creations.
You can have a piece of your art featured right here in Cool Comics Creations! Just send an electronic file in an email featuring one of your drawings, whether you’re a professional or amateur, (it can be just pencils, or inks too…or full color if you prefer) or a picture of a craft or sculpture that you’ve done, and if it’s family friendly (and not controversial…let’s try to keep this fun), you’ll be a part of an upcoming Cool Comics episode. We also want your name, an optional picture of yourself to go here, and any other background information you want to provide, such as a website or a way you can be contacted about your art (who knows, maybe someone will make you an offer for the original!). And then email it to edgosney62@gmail.com .
Cool Comics In My CollectionContemporary Cool Comics#1441 — BRZRKR #1, BOOM! Studios, February 2021.
There were a few other contenders for this spot, as last week saw the release of Infinite Frontier #0, The Swamp Thing #1, and Demon Days: X-Men #1, but the last-minute decision to purchase BRZRKR #1 ended up winning. BRZRKR hit the scene as a Kickstarter last year and raked in a gargantuan $1.4 million (that’s not a mistake…the evidence is HERE) with 14,571 backers. Why did so many people participate in the Kickstarter? Curiosity, perhaps, about this Keanu Reeves creation, not to mention that he has oodles of fans. But the commitment was a bit costly, as you had to back three volumes of graphic novels for $50 (that was the cheapest reward level). For those of us a little more-budget oriented, single issues are a great alternative, and I read that somewhere around 600,000 to 700,000 copies were ordered via Previews. It’s a mature rated title, and I didn’t order it, although, as previously mentioned, I decided to give it a try when I found copies still available. It’s an intriguing story, and I don’t want to give anything away (especially considering the surprise ending of issue one – 12 issues are scheduled), but if you don’t want to see graphic violence, stay away. Some of the cool aspects are that the title hero looks like a beefed-up Keanu, and if you’ve seen a few of his movies, you can hear his voice in your head while you’re reading it. The cover price of BRZRKR #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5. The Key Collector Comics value is $4.
#1442 — The Terminator: Secondary Objectives #1, Dark Horse Comics, July 1991.
Have you watched the TV series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, which ran for two seasons, starting in 2008? I saw season one when it came out, but circumstances prevented me from seeing the second season, so a long time ago I bought both DVDs. My wife and I watched season one a few years back, and though we really liked it, life got in the way once more of watching season two. Well, now we’re finally taking the time to enjoy it, and it’s even more fun since we got to meet one of the stars in 2018 (Summer Glau–photographic evidence included). 
The cast is great, the episodes are smart and fantastic, and it’s my favorite show/movie when it comes to the franchise. I don’t consider myself to be a huge Terminator fan, but I really like it (and let’s be honest: no one wants to live in a world with Skynet and the Terminators!), and I buy any comic books having to do with it whenever I spot them in quarter boxes. This is the only issue I have from this mini-series, and I’m hoping to find the other three at some point in my collecting life. The cover price of The Terminator: Secondary Objectives #1 is $2.50, while the current values are $4 on CBR and $3 on ZKC. The OPG value is $4.
#1443 — Mean Girls: Senior Year, Insight Comics, May 2020.
I saw the movie Mean Girls from the comfort of my home (which is how most of us see all movies these days) a long time ago, but I don’t remember anything about it. Possibly my kids wanted to see it, but maybe I did, too. At any rate, this Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) issue did nothing to jolt my mind into remembering anything about the plot or characters. And come to think about it, I read this comic last week and can’t recall much of it now. Which isn’t surprising, as I do a lot of reading and it’s hard to retain everything that I’m not overly excited about. I’m sure that part of the reason is because I’m a far cry from the intended audience of this comic book. The cover has “TEEN” written in the bottom right corner, and I’m several decades removed. Additionally, I’d say it’s more appropriate for older teens, considering some of the content, but maybe that’s just me. If you’re a fan of the movie(s), you may want to add this to your collection. The cover price of Mean Girls: Senior Year is free, while the current value is $1.
#1444 — Tom & Jerry #1, Harvey Comics, September 1991.
When searching through quarter bins, you never know what you’re going to find. This Tom & Jerry #1 issue from Harvey features art and stories by Carl Barks, with a couple characters I’m not familiar with: Barney Bear and Benny Burro. Maybe you know who they are, but I can’t recollect ever seeing or reading any stories with them before. They take up the last two stories, while the first adventure features Tom and Jerry. Though there is a long, rich history with this duo, there are probably kids today who don’t know them, and there’s nothing wrong with using this comic book as an introduction. While most people my age probably aren’t paying attention to these comics aimed towards a younger audience, I grab them whenever I find them in discount boxes because I’m really enjoying building my Cool Comics Kids library and revisiting my past. Someday, I’ll look forward to passing these on to smaller hands. The cover price of Tom & Jerry #1 is $1.25, while the current value is $3. The OPG value is also $3.
#1445 — Marvel Team-Up #54, Marvel, February 1977.
Yet another great acquisition for just a measly 25 cents! I’ve always been a big fan of Marvel Team-Up and started collecting them early in my comic book years, back in 1973, but by the time 1977 rolled around, I’d pretty much decided to spend my money elsewhere for a while. As crazy as that sounds, it’s most unfortunately true. But quarter bin diving pays dividends sometimes, and I found this one a few weeks ago. I was happy enough with it by the cover alone, because who doesn’t love a story with both Spider-Man and the Hulk? But once I found out “The Man-Brute called Woodgod” was also part of this adventure, I was assured that my quarter was well-spent! Woodgod doesn’t pop up often in the Marvel Universe (just 44 appearances, according to Comicvine), and though he’s a bizarre creature, he makes me think of my early years of collecting and it brings a smile to my face and warms my heart. This issue is written by Bill Mantlo (co-creator of Woodgod) and penciled by John Byrne and is now proudly part of my Cool Comics collection! The cover price of Marvel Team-Up #54 is 30¢, while the current value is $10. The OPG value is also $10.
Would you like to write a review of a comic book or graphic novel for all the Internet to see? Our Cool Comics Reader Reviews section is looking for fans just like you to submit your review, along with a cover image of the comic. Additionally, you may provide a picture of yourself and any other biographical information you want published in Cool Comics. Send all this to edgosney62@gmail.com . Please keep in mind that we reserve the right to decide what will and won’t go in the blog, so keep the language clean, pick out a comic that won’t cause controversy (we try to have fun here!), and start tapping away on your keyboard!
ComicBooks For Kids!
ComicBooks For Kids! (CB4K) is a charity that Cool Comics In My Collection is honored to be working with. CB4K provides comic books to kids in hospitals and cancer centers all across the United States. You can check their website and see if your local hospital is included and if not, you can work with them to get them included! If you like what you see, please help them out and follow/like their Facebook page. Their link is https://www.facebook.com/comicbooksforkids/
Now you can get Cool Comics in My Collection delivered directly to your email! Just click “Join My Newsletter” on my website (or click on the image of my No-Prize!), sign up, and that’s it. Pretty easy, right? Just be sure to follow the instructions on the confirmation email so that you start receiving my newsletter. If you don’t see it, you may want to check your Spam or Junk Mail folders.
The Cool Comics In My Collection Facebook Group is a place where you can discuss the comics you love, your favorite titles, and the characters that keep you coming back for more. Also, creators are welcome to share news about what you are working on, including Kickstarter campaigns. And don’t forget the prizes. Yes, Cool Comics gives away cool prizes. Be sure and join today!
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March 4, 2021
Conan’s Wild Kingdom & DC’s Linearverse!
Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 284, where we look at various comic books I own (and in some cases ones that I let get away), both new and old, often with a nostalgic leaning for those feelings of yesteryear. I hope you have as much fun reading about them as I had writing about these cool comics!
For each of the comic books I include here, I list the current secondary market pricing (except for of digital issues, which don’t have collectible value). This is according to the websites ComicBookRealm.com (CBR) and Zap-Kapow Comics (ZKC), using the comic book grading scale of 9.4 (if both sites have the same price, you’ll find just one price for that issue), along with the 50th Edition of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide (OPG) using their 9.2 NM scale. Not all my comics meet that grade. Some are probably better, and some are certainly worse. But to simplify it, that’s the scale I use here. And remember, a comic book is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. And for those who enjoy the additional fun of knowing some of the more important issues in your collection, I recognize each Cool Comic that is listed in Key Collector Comics.
If you have any comments, please scroll to the bottom of the page to where it says, “Leave a Reply.” And now, Episode 284…
Cool Comics Colloquialisms!“Wait a darn minute! Now just where in the world did Cool Comics News disappear to?”
Perhaps the thought crossed your mind (then again, maybe it didn’t), but this most certainly calls for an explanation. I love having news to announce here, such as the launch of a Kickstarter, a start-up comic company, or an announcement from a creator who wants the Cool Comics Crowd to be in the know. But what ends up under the banner often isn’t really news, just some comic book comments from the guy typing this. So, when we have real news to tell you, we’ll use that headline. When it’s just me sharing my thoughts, well, the above is the headline I’m gonna use.
And now back to our first entry under the banner of Cool Comics Colloquialisms!
The landscape of today’s comic book world is vastly different from the one I remember during my on-again off-again collecting years of 1973 to 2003. You see, I started buying comics as a young lad in 1973, quit for a while, picked it back up again in college, stopped once more, bought a few issues here and there in the Eighties, then rejoined the four-color world for a decade of delight. And in all that time, at least from what I knew (and I probably don’t know much, but let’s try to ignore that, if you will be so kind), no one wanted reprints. Yet now, some reprints are valued as much as the first printing—and in some cases—go for even more dollars. Case in point (for those of you who want evidence!) is Star Wars: The High Republic #1. For some reason, it seems that this series caught collectors by surprise, because after it quickly sold out at your local comic shop, the demand for it grew stronger. Key Collector Comics has the high value of the first printing listed as $15, while the second printing is listed at $18. I got my hands on the third printing, and while I like the cover better, it’s currently listed at just $5. And a fourth printing is on the way (because it’s Star Wars…and…this is the way). Granted, the values are dissimilar at Comic Book Realm, where the first printing is $20, the second listed at $10, and the third for a measly $4. Still, from my remembrances of comic collecting past, additional printings weren’t much in demand, and that’s just one example of how different today’s comic book world is.
Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Richie Rich versus Reggie Mantle! What do you think would happen if they faced each other in a titanic tussle, and how do you see the winner achieving victory? Let us know in the comments section below.
Cool Comics Creations!
[image error]This episode’s awesome creation features sketch cards from a Star Trek trading card series, courtesy of illustrator Dan Gorman, a member of the National Cartoonists Society and one of the top sketch card artists on the planet. For more about Dan and his art, please visit www.dangormanart.com. Additionally, Dan is the artist of the Cool Comics logo!
You can have a piece of your art featured right here in Cool Comics Creations! Just send an electronic file in an email featuring one of your drawings, whether you’re a professional or amateur, (it can be just pencils, or inks too…or full color if you prefer) or a picture of a craft or sculpture that you’ve done, and if it’s family friendly (and not controversial…let’s try to keep this fun), you’ll be a part of an upcoming Cool Comics episode. We also want your name, an optional picture of yourself to go here, and any other background information you want to provide, such as a website or a way you can be contacted about your art (who knows, maybe someone will make you an offer for the original!). And then email it to edgosney62@gmail.com .
Cool Comics In My CollectionContemporary Cool Comics#1436 — Generations Forged #1, DC, April 2021.
Containing over a couple dozen characters from the DCU, Generations Forged is, for now, the culmination of the Linearverse story that started in Detective Comics #1027 (Generations Fractured), which then led to Generations Shattered #1. Most DC Comics fans are familiar with the BIG changes the company has put our heroes through, from Crisis to New 52 to Rebirth…and other storylines too numerous to get into here. Once again, this changes everything, because in the Linearverse, the aging process slows down, and everything that’s ever happened really did happen (but not really, since these are comic books…not that you didn’t already know that), which fixes all continuity messes. I guess. I’m not using any exclamation marks here, which I’m often inclined to do, because all the history behind this tells me it may not last. While that sounds rather snide and not in the traditional spirit of Cool Comics, that’s not at all my intention. I’m simply pointing out that when it comes to four-color fun, change isn’t permanent, and permanency in stories often isn’t…and I’m okay with all that, as long as the stories are fun and entertaining. Was this story fun and entertaining? For me it was. I liked the meshing of all these characters from disparate timelines and watching them work through their…crisis (was there really any other word I could have more appropriately used?). Besides a huge cast of characters, this issue is brought to us by some awesome creators (you can see their names on the cover…click on it if the image is too small for you to see properly), and I appreciate their creative talents! The cover price of Generations Forged #1 is $9.99, while the current value is $10. The Key Collector Comics value is also $10.
#1437 — Conan the Barbarian #95, Marvel/Whitman, February 1979.
Remember the old TV show Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom with Marlin Perkins? If you don’t, then you’re certainly younger than me, because it seems that everyone from my era has seen at least a few episodes. I remember watching it weekly and being glued to the set with the thrill and excitement of the adventures Marlin and Jim would find themselves in each week. Well, this issue of Conan the Barbarian brought that to mind, as we see not only the dinosaur creature on the cover, but also baboons, hyenas, a leopard, and a lion. And I bet Marlin and Jim are glad they never faced these wild beasts the way Conan does in this issue! Written by Roy Thomas, with John Buscema and Ernie Chan handling the art chores, this is a fun adventure, especially if you just pick up the occasional Conan. And believe me, when I find this savage Cimmerian’s adventures in a quarter bin, I always feel like I hit the jackpot! The cover price of Conan the Barbarian #95 is 35¢, while the current values are $6 on CBR and $5 on ZKC. The OPG value is $6.
#1438 — Lady Mechanika, Benitez Productions, May 2020.
Lady Mechanika is yet another reason to appreciate Free Comic Book Day (FCBD)! While I have yet to purchase any comics featuring this mysterious mechanical marvel, each year I look forward to reading more adventures with this Steampunk hero. The universe Joe Benitez created is really interesting, and each year the FCBD issue gives us snippets of adventures from various collections. Perhaps someday I’ll have to delve a little more into this world, because I always enjoy these free issues. Benitez wears several hats when it comes to Lady Mechanika, as he’s creator, writer, and artist. If you like the Steampunk genre, this is a comic series you’ll want to check out, if you haven’t already. The cover price of Lady Mechanika is free, while the current value is $1.
#1439 — Richie Rich Diamonds #14, Harvey Comics, October 1974.
Richie Rich wasn’t on my radar in the Seventies. I knew a girl a few years older who had some Richie Rich and other Harvey Comics, and I can remember seeing her with them on a little table in her back yard one summer day, but I could have cared less. Now if she’d had Spider-Man, Hulk, or Captain America comics, I would have sat down with her and read a few. But not Richie Rich. Yet it’s funny that I still have that memory of childhood and this kiddie comic world that’s just as different as one with Superman and a guy who dresses up like a bat. And perhaps that’s part of the reason why I’m always happy to find Harvey Comics in quarter boxes, because they take me back to a time and place where I didn’t have bills to pay and all the other responsibilities that come with being an adult. And don’t get me wrong, being an adult has lots of perks (like being about to afford my comic book habit), but that time of childhood innocence when we didn’t have to hold down a job, and comic books, Wacky Packages, and nickel and dime candy were a big part of our lives, is something most of us like to think back on every now and then…especially when your daily mail is nothing but bills! If you see this comic at a good price, get it for the memories. The cover price of Richie Rich Diamonds #14 is 25¢, while the current value is $12. The OPG value is also $12.
#1440 — Reggie #18, Archie, November 1965.
Sometimes I find it hard to believe what I dig out of quarter bins, but yes, it’s not impossible to get comics from the Sixties. Granted, the condition is wanting, but I wasn’t even in the market for this old issue of Reggie, so stumbling upon it for a mere 25¢ makes fiscal sense to comic collectors like me who are happy to experience all sorts of comics from various epochs. Yes, there are a couple loose pages, and the spine is worn, but this is a piece of Archie Comics history I couldn’t live without when I came across it. While I can’t say I’m a fan of Reggie Mantle (and really, does anybody like him very much?), he’s a part of the Archieverse, and we get several stories in this issue that feature other characters from the Riverdale gang. All that, plus the ads from 1965 are a blast to check out while reading this found treasure. The cover price of Reggie #18 is 12¢, while the current values are $75 on CBR and $25 on ZKC. The OPG value is $80.
Would you like to write a review of a comic book or graphic novel for all the Internet to see? Our Cool Comics Reader Reviews section is looking for fans just like you to submit your review, along with a cover image of the comic. Additionally, you may provide a picture of yourself and any other biographical information you want published in Cool Comics. Send all this to edgosney62@gmail.com . Please keep in mind that we reserve the right to decide what will and won’t go in the blog, so keep the language clean, pick out a comic that won’t cause controversy (we try to have fun here!), and start tapping away on your keyboard!
ComicBooks For Kids!ComicBooks For Kids! (CB4K) is a charity that Cool Comics In My Collection is honored to be working with. CB4K provides comic books to kids in hospitals and cancer centers all across the United States. You can check their website and see if your local hospital is included and if not, you can work with them to get them included! If you like what you see, please help them out and follow/like their Facebook page. Their link is https://www.facebook.com/comicbooksforkids/
Now you can get Cool Comics in My Collection delivered directly to your email! Just click “Join My Newsletter” on my website (or click on the image of my No-Prize!), sign up, and that’s it. Pretty easy, right? Just be sure to follow the instructions on the confirmation email so that you start receiving my newsletter. If you don’t see it, you may want to check your Spam or Junk Mail folders.
The Cool Comics In My Collection Facebook Group is a place where you can discuss the comics you love, your favorite titles, and the characters that keep you coming back for more. Also, creators are welcome to share news about what you are working on, including Kickstarter campaigns. And don’t forget the prizes. Yes, Cool Comics gives away cool prizes. Be sure and join today!
Tired of seeing a blank image when you leave comments? Now you can have a picture or logo show up here at Cool Comics and other WordPress sites, absolutely free! Just click the link below to get started.
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February 25, 2021
Marvel’s Voices: Legacy Anthology Great Way to Finish February!
Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 283, where we look at various comic books I own (and in some cases ones that I let get away), both new and old, often with a nostalgic leaning for those feelings of yesteryear. I hope you have as much fun reading about them as I had writing about these cool comics!
For each of the comic books I include here, I list the current secondary market pricing (except for of digital issues, which don’t have collectible value). This is according to the websites ComicBookRealm.com (CBR) and Zap-Kapow Comics (ZKC), using the comic book grading scale of 9.4 (if both sites have the same price, you’ll find just one price for that issue), along with the 50th Edition of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide (OPG) using their 9.2 NM scale. Not all my comics meet that grade. Some are probably better, and some are certainly worse. But to simplify it, that’s the scale I use here. And remember, a comic book is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. And for those who enjoy the additional fun of knowing some of the more important issues in your collection, I recognize each Cool Comic that is listed in Key Collector Comics.
If you have any comments, please scroll to the bottom of the page to where it says, “Leave a Reply.” And now, Episode 283…
Cool Comics News!We’ve nearly reached the end of the month, which means that Previews is out, and it’s time to start selecting your comics for the month of May! It’s always fun to flip through the catalogs (both the regular Previews and Marvel’s own version of it) …or click, as is the case with DC Connect. And while I’m all for advancing technology, the electronic version of DC just isn’t as much fun as having a physical copy to read over. Do you have a preference of hard copy or digital?
Cool Comics Battle of the Week!Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Kobra versus Blade! What do you think would happen if they faced each other in a titanic tussle, and how do you see the winner achieving victory? Let us know in the comments section below.
Cool Comics Creations!
Ed Griffie has the coolest art, and here he shows us the power of Ororo Munroe—Storm—she who controls the winds, lightning, and more! Ed is a lifelong comic book fan who started drawing Kawaii and Chibi style versions of pop culture icons and superheroes about five years ago. Through Facebook, his work came to the attention of Daniel Hare, the owner of vintage toy and comic bookstore The Toys Time Forgot, who offered him a guest spot at Free Comic Book Day. Since then, Ed has been a regular at local conventions and comic bookstores, where he offers bookmarks, coloring pages, trading cards, and color prints featuring his unique artwork. You can check out his full catalog of work at toonist27.deviantart.com or contact him at edgriffiejr@gmail.com to commission an original piece of your very own.
You can have a piece of your art featured right here in Cool Comics Creations! Just send an electronic file in an email featuring one of your drawings, whether you’re a professional or amateur, (it can be just pencils, or inks too…or full color if you prefer) or a picture of a craft or sculpture that you’ve done, and if it’s family friendly (and not controversial…let’s try to keep this fun), you’ll be a part of an upcoming Cool Comics episode. We also want your name, an optional picture of yourself to go here, and any other background information you want to provide, such as a website or a way you can be contacted about your art (who knows, maybe someone will make you an offer for the original!). And then email it to edgosney62@gmail.com .
Cool Comics In My CollectionContemporary Cool Comics#1431 — Marvel’s Voices: Legacy #1, Marvel, April 2021.
As constant Cool Comics readers know, I’m a fan of the anthology format, and Marvel’s Voices is a great way to get bite-sized stories that are deep and rich with meaning. The cover states at the top left “Celebrating Black History Month With A Star-Studded Lineup!” and they back this up by giving us stories from creators such as John Ridley, Nnedi Okorafor, Saint Bodhi, and more, along with characters like Miles Morales, Blade, Storm, and others. With Black History Month nearly over, I was able to just squeeze this one in to meet our rigid publishing schedule (well, I do allow myself some flexibility, but this is about comic books, so we like to be a bit melodramatic at times). I’m a big fan of themes, whether we’re talking holidays or month-long celebrations (we also featured Punchline the criminal clown from Hero Tomorrow Comics and Marvel’s Black Panther in episodes this month), so I was glad that this comic arrived before the last Thursday of the month! I really enjoyed the stories and look forward to more editions of Marvel’s Voices. The cover price of Marvel’s Voices: Legacy #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5. The Key Collector Comics value is $5.
#1432 — Kobra #4, DC, September 1976.
I have a big stockpile of quarter comics that I can use for this category of Cool Comics, and many that I found are several years old now (searching through quarter bins is an addiction and I’m not sure if I want whatever cure may be out there!), but when deciding what to include here each week, the date of acquisition doesn’t play a roll. Why did I say all that? Because I bought this issue just a few short weeks ago, and while I didn’t feel in any hurry to read it, something tugged at me to pull it out of one of my many storage boxes of unread adventures and give it a try. I’d never heard of this short-lived series (it lasted only 7 issues, and I was able to get issues 4 and 5 the same day), and though my first impression was that I wouldn’t care much for it, I was completely bamboozled by this comic book and absolutely had a great time reading it. I really like the connection between Kobra and his twin, and that they can feel each other’s pain. Though quite different, this reminded me of the connection between James-Michael Starling and Omega the Unknown, over at Marvel. Perhaps you’ve read this issue, or the entire series, and could care less, but something about it really resonated with me, and I’m keeping my eye out for the remaining five issues! The cover price of Kobra #4 is 30¢, while the current values are $10 on CBR and $6 on ZKC. The OPG value is $10.
#1433 — Lumberjanes: Farewell to Summer #1, BOOM! Box, May 2020.
I’ve now read two issues of Lumberjanes, both being Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) editions, and it’s doubtful that I’ll ever read another. The regular series ended its six-year run in December, and with that, they probably won’t put out another FCBD issue…unless, of course, they want to promote collected editions. Obviously Lumberjanes had a pretty good following to last as long as it did, but this comic really wasn’t meant for me, as it features girls during summer camp. I don’t mind reading titles that are so different from my usual genres (superheroes with the occasional science fiction series), but I don’t go out of my way to buy them. And that’s the beauty of FCBD – you can discover comics you’d never consider and perhaps end up enjoying them, and if not, you can always pass them off to someone else you know who just might. And since they’re free, you’ve got nothing to lose. Additionally, if you are a fan, I’ve seen online that a series is being developed for HBO Max. The cover price of Lumberjanes: Farewell to Summer #1 is free, while the current value is $1.
#1434 — Mickey Mouse #1, IDW, June 2015.
This first issue of Mickey Mouse from IDW has 32 pages and contains a fun adventure that runs the majority of the issue, followed by three shorter tales. This was part of a sealed package of 10 comics for $5.99 that I bought at an Ollie’s Bargain Outlet. I grabbed three of these deals, all containing comics just perfect for Cool Comics Kids, and it’s been fun exploring them. I like the solid, thicker pages used by IDW that ideally seem to be better for little readers (and even big readers like me!). IDW also does a really nice job with their coloring, which I think gives them a more attractive look that all Disney fans would appreciate. For those who’ve been collecting Disney comics regardless of the company publishing them (and there have been quite a few), IDW gives us the legacy numbering (310) on the cover next to the #1. Story 1, The Lost Explorers’ Trail, is a fun adventure, the kind we typically find in Mickey Mouse comics, and I think most little ones will enjoy reading it. If you can find some of these IDW Mickey Mouse comics, I strongly recommend you add them to your Cool Comics Kids library. The cover price of Mickey Mouse #1 is $3.99, while the current value is $4. The OPG value is also $4.
#1435 — The Avengers #186, Marvel, August 1979.
Around the same time that I found the Kobra issues (see #1432 above), I was able to snag this old Avengers comic from a quarter box. During the Seventies, I bought an occasional issue of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes (along with Marvel Triple Action, which contained reprints of earlier stories), but during my “on and off again” periods of collecting, I’ve never been the biggest fan of the comic, and ended up selling most of my collection at a garage sale. And now, as the days, weeks, and, most unfortunately, years, seem to fly by, I’ve become more nostalgic and when I see older Avengers comics in quarter boxes, it’s an easy decision to make the purchase. Nothing about this issue struck me that it was important when I put it in my pile of issues to buy, but not long after I came into possession of it, I noticed that it’s become a much-coveted comic, due to what’s happening on the WandaVision streaming series. The story takes place in Wundagore and sheds light on the origins of the Scarlet Witch and her brother Quicksilver, and contains the first appearance of Chthon and Magda, who is implied to be the wife of Magneto and mother of the twins. And though it’s pretty cool that I found this for just a quarter, the condition of the comic is nothing to write home about…but then again, reader copies help many of us add to our collections with some awesome issues. The cover price of The Avengers #186 is 40¢, while the current values are $12 on CBR and $50 on ZKC. The OPG value is $12. The Key Collector Comics value is $65.
Would you like to write a review of a comic book or graphic novel for all the Internet to see? Our Cool Comics Reader Reviews section is looking for fans just like you to submit your review, along with a cover image of the comic. Additionally, you may provide a picture of yourself and any other biographical information you want published in Cool Comics. Send all this to edgosney62@gmail.com . Please keep in mind that we reserve the right to decide what will and won’t go in the blog, so keep the language clean, pick out a comic that won’t cause controversy (we try to have fun here!), and start tapping away on your keyboard!
ComicBooks For Kids!ComicBooks For Kids! (CB4K) is a charity that Cool Comics In My Collection is honored to be working with. CB4K provides comic books to kids in hospitals and cancer centers all across the United States. You can check their website and see if your local hospital is included and if not, you can work with them to get them included! If you like what you see, please help them out and follow/like their Facebook page. Their link is https://www.facebook.com/comicbooksforkids/
Now you can get Cool Comics in My Collection delivered directly to your email! Just click “Join My Newsletter” on my website (or click on the image of my No-Prize!), sign up, and that’s it. Pretty easy, right? Just be sure to follow the instructions on the confirmation email so that you start receiving my newsletter. If you don’t see it, you may want to check your Spam or Junk Mail folders.
The Cool Comics In My Collection Facebook Group is a place where you can discuss the comics you love, your favorite titles, and the characters that keep you coming back for more. Also, creators are welcome to share news about what you are working on, including Kickstarter campaigns. And don’t forget the prizes. Yes, Cool Comics gives away cool prizes. Be sure and join today!
Tired of seeing a blank image when you leave comments? Now you can have a picture or logo show up here at Cool Comics and other WordPress sites, absolutely free! Just click the link below to get started.
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February 18, 2021
Will Wakanda Fall, Whence Comes Knull?
Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 282, where we look at various comic books I own (and in some cases ones that I let get away), both new and old, often with a nostalgic leaning for those feelings of yesteryear. I hope you have as much fun reading about them as I had writing about these cool comics!
For each of the comic books I include here, I list the current secondary market pricing (except for of digital issues, which don’t have collectible value). This is according to the websites ComicBookRealm.com (CBR) and Zap-Kapow Comics (ZKC), using the comic book grading scale of 9.4 (if both sites have the same price, you’ll find just one price for that issue), along with the 50th Edition of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide (OPG) using their 9.2 NM scale. Not all my comics meet that grade. Some are probably better, and some are certainly worse. But to simplify it, that’s the scale I use here. And remember, a comic book is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. And for those who enjoy the additional fun of knowing some of the more important issues in your collection, I recognize each Cool Comic that is listed in Key Collector Comics.
If you have any comments, please scroll to the bottom of the page to where it says, “Leave a Reply.” And now, Episode 282…
Cool Comics News!
If you like to read digital comics and wonder what else is out there besides the usual suspects (Marvel, DC, comiXology, and Archie digital platforms), why not give River Comics a try? They have a wide variety of titles, providing comics in both English and Hindi (make sure you select the correct language!). You can click HERE and explore the site to see if this subscription service is something you’d be interested in, and if so, you simply download the app from your usual app store to get started.
Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Black Panther versus Adam Strange! What do you think would happen if they faced each other in a titanic tussle, and how do you see the winner achieving victory? Let us know in the comments section below.
Cool Comics Creations!
This episode’s creation comes to us from Robert A. Kraus (aka RAK), creator of Chakan and many other fantastic works of art, along with cool games he’s developed. In this image, Chakan, the forever man, appears ready to take on the world! To learn more about RAK, be sure to visit his website at http://www.rakgraphics.com/.
You can have a piece of your art featured right here in Cool Comics Creations! Just send an electronic file in an email featuring one of your drawings, whether you’re a professional or amateur, (it can be just pencils, or inks too…or full color if you prefer) or a picture of a craft or sculpture that you’ve done, and as long as it’s family friendly (and not controversial…let’s try to keep this fun), you’ll be a part of an upcoming Cool Comics episode. We also want your name, an optional picture of yourself to go here, and any other background information you want to provide, such as a website or a way you can be contacted about your art (who knows, maybe someone will make you an offer for the original!). And then email it to edgosney62@gmail.com .
Cool Comics In My CollectionContemporary Cool Comics#1426 — King in Black: Black Panther #1, Marvel, April 2021.
Why do some shared universe titles include what’s happening in big story arcs, while others have “special” number one issues? For example, this issue, King in Black: Black Panther #1, is an “aside” from the regular, ongoing Black Panther comic (which will soon be ending its run), while the newest issue of Fantastic Four is part of its regular run yet is tied into the King in Black storyline. Obviously, these are editorial decisions (and perhaps the creative teams also get to chime in…often these specials are not the same people who give us the ongoing stories), but the larger Marvel Universe is more fractured than meets the eye. In The Amazing Spider-Man, you’d think the Knull takeover of Earth wasn’t part of the 616 stuff (I’m not a big fan of all these “Earth” numbers that Marvel and DC use, but there’s nothing I can do about it!), and meanwhile, the Avengers are battling for the Phoenix force, yet several of the same characters have been “Venomized (it’s as good a word as any to describe it, I guess). And this is just a sampling that not everything is as tied in as fans may wish it were. While this may come across as a vent, I consider these to be mere observations. Some readers could care less about symbiotes, so they don’t want to have to read extra titles to keep up. If you do happen to enjoy it, or are a fan of the Black Panther, make sure to get this Black Panther tie-in, because it’s lots of fun (and fright!) to see how Wakanda is battling the forces of Knull. The cover price of King in Black: Black Panther #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5.
#1427 — Strange Adventures #1, DC, May 2009.
Some people don’t know much about history (hmmm, reminds me of a song), and when it comes to Adam Strange, I know next to nothing. I’ve read some of his comics here and there, and he pops up as a guest every now and then in comics I’m reading, whether they’re new or old, but I guess I haven’t read enough of him for much to stick. When I think of him, Marvel’s Peter Quill (Star-Lord) sometimes comes to mind. I guess in my limited exposure I associate some similarities. I understand that there are probably huge differences between the two, but my mind works differently than yours…and yours…and probably all of you reading this. Still, it’s fun to get comics like this one out of quarter bins and learn a little more about some of these classic heroes from yesteryear (Adam Strange made his debut in Showcase #17, dated November 1958, so he’s a little before my time), and it’s a double bonus when it’s written by Jim Starlin, who is so adept with cosmic tales. Are you an Adam Strange reader? Let us know some of his best adventures to read in the comments section below, if you want to help further our comic book educations! The cover price of Strange Adventures #1 is $3.99, while the current value is $4. The OPG value is $4.
#1428 — Stepping Stones/Max & the Midknights, RH Graphics, July 2020.
Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) always gives us things we’d never buy for ourselves, and that’s part of the charm. And while you may or may not have gotten this issue that’s aimed towards a younger crowd, Cool Comics makes sure to give them all a read to let you know if you want to make sure to find one that you may have passed on. This issue from RH Graphics (an imprint of Penguin Random House) contains two stories, as you can see from the cover. Stepping Stones focuses on a couple girls from different families and backgrounds, and conflict is certainly one of the major themes here, along with a dose of jealousy. This story will probably resonate with some young readers and may even help them cope with issues in their lives. Max & the Midknights is rather short and a typical adventure that young boys may enjoy. While longtime superhero readers may not give this a glance, it could be a nice issue to pass on to younger eyes. The cover price of Stepping Stones/Max & the Midnights is free, while the current value is $1.
#1429 — Little Lulu #223, Gold Key, Jan 1975.
Someone named Ann Marie (click on the cover if you can’t see the name and look at the very top) no longer owns this issue of Little Lulu, but I was lucky enough to find it in a quarter bin. I was actively buying and reading comic books when this one came out in 1975, but no way would I have bought Little Lulu at that time. As a matter of fact, I rarely gave notice to any issues at my favorite mom and pop shop that had Gold Key on the cover. But we tend to learn from our mistakes as we get older, and when I find comics like this one in quarter bins, I can’t resist! This issue features three stories with Little Lulu and some of her pals, and also includes a fourth about Witch Hazel and the Little Scarecrow Boy. The anthology format is perfect for young readers who may not be ready to consume an entire comic in one sitting. I’m not sure how easy it is for you to find Little Lulu comics where you shop for younger adventurers, but if you want to introduce her to the little ones in your life, you can always purchase some over the internet. As usual, the ads in this mid-Seventies comic are just as fun as the stories. The cover price of Little Lulu #223 is 25¢, while the current values are $12 on CBR and $10 on ZKC. The OPG value is $12.
#1430 — World of Wheels #26, Charlton Comics, June 1969.
To be honest, the only reason I bought this comic is because it’s old. I was at a comic shop that was having a sale on back issues and snagged about 50 older issues of a variety of titles for $1 each, and since the place was crowded (this was well before COVID-19) I really couldn’t take my time if I wanted to land some cool stuff. So, I looked for the oldest comics I could find, grabbed them out of the bins, and found out later, when I got home, exactly what I had. This one’s been sitting in my file cabinet of unexplored adventures for about two-and-a-half years now, and I decided the time was right to give it a read. I had no idea what to expect and figured I wouldn’t enjoy it much, but I ended up pleasantly surprised. Granted, this title isn’t for everyone, and some of the stories inside were a little strange, but I enjoy exploring these lost worlds of four-color entertainment and wouldn’t hesitate to buy more World of Wheels issues if I found them at the right price. If you’re a fan of cars and motorcycles, you may want to search these out for your collection. The cover price of World of Wheels #26 is 12¢, while the current values are $28 on CBR and $8 on ZKC. The OPG value is $28.
I’m Steven “Atom” Baum and I write comic reviews that nobody ever asked for! I find the “value” of comics in the enjoyment of them, rather than how much they are “worth” to collectors.
If you like what you see here, then join me on a journey through the forgotten depths of those boxes full of back issues in your local comic shop and visit my blog LONGBOX JUNK , where you’ll discover HUNDREDS of reviews you never even knew you wanted to read!
And now an exclusive “Short-But-Sweet” Longbox Junk Comic Review for the Cool Comics Crowd!
STAR WARS: AGE OF REBELLIONDARTH VADERMarvel (2019)
“TO THE LETTER”
SCRIPT: Grek Pak
PENCILS: Ramon Bachs
COVER: Terry Dodson
THE COVER
Terry Dodson is one of my favorite artists, and he doesn’t disappoint here! A menacing, full-figure portrait of the iconic Star Wars villain everyone loves to hate. It’s simple, but that’s what makes it great. Let’s get inside!
THE STORY
After Darth Vader disobeys an order to retreat instead of pressing an attack on a Rebel stronghold, The Emperor places him at the disposal of an overbearing Sector Governor with the command to follow orders to the letter until he learns his lesson.
The Governor immediately begins to abuse his power over the Emperor’s Enforcer, sending him on increasingly dangerous missions to pacify the Sector and bring him personal power. Vader obeys without question, seething with anger, but holding it in.
Finally, the Governor enters a sector that has been restricted under Imperial Order and commands Vader to destroy the most powerful enemy he can find in the sector. Vader leaves, but quickly turns back and kills the horrified Governor, following his orders to the letter.
The Emperor is pleased that his apprentice has both learned how to obey commands and at the same time rid the Empire of a weak and corrupt officer.
The End.
THE REVIEW
I really enjoyed this one-shot tale of Darth Vader’s early days as the Emperor’s Dark Enforcer! Vader doesn’t get many chances to show WHY he’s so feared in the movies, so seeing him in action is a treat for a big Star Wars fan such as myself.
The story is well-written, and the ending was both satisfying and clever. You KNOW Vader is going to turn it around somehow, but HOW (using the Governor’s own words against him) is teased out until the very end.
As far as the art goes. . .it’s good, but not great. It tells the story, but it’s sometimes rough and sketchy, looking a little rushed in a few places. It’s not BAD, but the art definitely could have used a bit of polish here and there.
CONCLUSION
If you’re a Star Wars comics fan, then this Darth Vader one-shot is a must-read! It tells a chilling and well-written tale of Darth Vader’s early days, showing the Sith Lord in brutal action and providing a clever and satisfying ending. The art is a bit rough here and there, but not bad enough for me to recommend passing this great little story up. Age of Rebellion: Darth Vader is a certified nugget of Longbox Junk gold!
Until next time, remember that comics are worth more than money!
Would you like to write a review of a comic book or graphic novel for all the Internet to see? Our Cool Comics Reader Reviews section is looking for fans just like you to submit your review, along with a cover image of the comic. Additionally, you may provide a picture of yourself and any other biographical information you want published in Cool Comics. Send all this to edgosney62@gmail.com . Please keep in mind that we reserve the right to decide what will and won’t go in the blog, so keep the language clean, pick out a comic that won’t cause controversy (we try to have fun here!), and start tapping away on your keyboard!
ComicBooks For Kids!ComicBooks For Kids! (CB4K) is a charity that Cool Comics In My Collection is honored to be working with. CB4K provides comic books to kids in hospitals and cancer centers all across the United States. You can check their website and see if your local hospital is included and if not, you can work with them to get them included! If you like what you see, please help them out and follow/like their Facebook page. Their link is https://www.facebook.com/comicbooksforkids/
Now you can get Cool Comics in My Collection delivered directly to your email! Just click “Join My Newsletter” on my website (or click on the image of my No-Prize!), sign up, and that’s it. Pretty easy, right? Just be sure to follow the instructions on the confirmation email so that you start receiving my newsletter. If you don’t see it, you may want to check your Spam or Junk Mail folders.
The Cool Comics In My Collection Facebook Group is a place where you can discuss the comics you love, your favorite titles, and the characters that keep you coming back for more. Also, creators are welcome to share news about what you are working on, including Kickstarter campaigns. And don’t forget the prizes. Yes, Cool Comics gives away cool prizes. Be sure and join today!
Tired of seeing a blank image when you leave comments? Now you can have a picture or logo show up here at Cool Comics and other WordPress sites, absolutely free! Just click the link below to get started.
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February 11, 2021
Punchline Delivers a Knockout Story!
Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 281, where we look at various comic books I own (and in some cases ones that I let get away), both new and old, often with a nostalgic leaning for those feelings of yesteryear. I hope you have as much fun reading about them as I had writing about these cool comics!
For each of the comic books I include here, I list the current secondary market pricing (except for of digital issues, which don’t have collectible value). This is according to the websites ComicBookRealm.com (CBR) and Zap-Kapow Comics (ZKC), using the comic book grading scale of 9.4 (if both sites have the same price, you’ll find just one price for that issue), along with the 50th Edition of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide (OPG) using their 9.2 NM scale. Not all my comics meet that grade. Some are probably better, and some are certainly worse. But to simplify it, that’s the scale I use here. And remember, a comic book is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. And for those who enjoy the additional fun of knowing some of the more important issues in your collection, I recognize each Cool Comic that is listed in Key Collector Comics.
If you have any comments, please scroll to the bottom of the page to where it says, “Leave a Reply.” And now, Episode 281…
Cool Comics News!
You demanded it, and we made it happen (well, no one really demanded it, but it sounds good anyway)! Cool Comics Face Masks (for both adults and children) are now available at my merchandise store. These days, face masks are no longer accessories, as they’ve become a mandatory part of our shopping ensemble…along with just about everywhere else we visit. And now you can go about your daily business in style with a Cool Comics In My Collection Face Mask with our official logo. You’ll certainly be the envy of everyone in your LCS when you walk in to pick up your weekly pulls and the usual gang hanging around the shop sees you. By the way, I’ve lowered prices on all items in the store, so my loss in profit is your gain!
Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Punchline versus Ryu! What do you think would happen if they faced each other in a titanic tussle, and how do you see the winner achieving victory? Let us know in the comments section below.
Cool Comics Creations!
This week our Cool Comics Creation comes to you from Sydney Walton! This tribute cover featuring late guitarist Eddie Van Halen is from a one-shot in The Sandman Universe! The art is all hand-painted with acrylic paints. Syd said he’s been painting covers for a few years now and likes to think that he was one of the first to do so. Syd is always taking commissions, so don’t hesitate to contact him for a cool cover or other fantastic creations. You can find him on Facebook at Syd’s Altruistic Art, or contact him via email at swaltoniii@aol.com.
You can have a piece of your art featured right here in Cool Comics Creations! Just send an electronic file in an email featuring one of your drawings, whether you’re a professional or amateur, (it can be just pencils, or inks too…or full color if you prefer) or a picture of a craft or sculpture that you’ve done, and as long as it’s family friendly (and not controversial…let’s try to keep this fun), you’ll be a part of an upcoming Cool Comics episode. We also want your name, an optional picture of yourself to go here, and any other background information you want to provide, such as a website or a way you can be contacted about your art (who knows, maybe someone will make you an offer for the original!). And then email it to edgosney62@gmail.com .
Cool Comics In My CollectionContemporary Cool Comics#1421 — Punchline and the Vaude-Villains #1, Hero Tomorrow Comics, 2020.
Though we’re a little behind in featuring this chaotic, crazy Kickstarter from writer and creator Ted Sikora, that doesn’t mean we don’t care…indeed, we love it so much that we feel it’s fitting that it made the official ranks of Cool Comics for our Valentine’s Day episode! When it comes to the characters populating Hero Tomorrow Comics, this issue runs the gamut, with appearances from so many familiar faces such as Tap Dance Killer, Apama, Regina (see our last episode for more on Regina and the Bloom Kickstarter!), Hawk, and of course, the star of the title, Punchline! This issue is a lot of fun, and I really like Donny Hadiwidjaja’s art, along with Ted’s great use of colors. And once the story comes to a close, readers are in for a treat with all the cool background stuff provided in this issue. Hero Tomorrow Comics continues to build out a universe worthy of the medium. Punchline and the Vaude-Villains #1 is available at Hero Tomorrow Comics for $7.99.
#1422 — Marvel Romance Redux: I Should Have Been A Blonde! #1, Marvel, July 2006.
Each year, Cool Comics pays tribute to love and romance with our episode that comes out just before (or on) February 14 (also known as Valentine’s Day, a day you want to make sure you don’t forget if you have someone special in your life), and we’ve been known to call this out in our episode titles. However, this year, Cool Comics has done no such thing, since our 2020 Valentine’s Day special was our lowest-ranking episode of the year (measured by website hits…with just 87 as of this writing; and to contrast that, we have one episode from July 2020 with over 1,100 hits). Granted, 2020 had plenty of problems, and I guess that no one was in the mood for comic book romance during the pandemic. Aside from all that, I’m still going with another one of these funny Romance Redux comics I salvaged from a quarter bin. These stories contain the art from comics of the past (you can see the original credits at the start of each tale), while modern scripters like Peter David rewrote them to fit a more twisted, romantic notion that is diabolically entertaining. The cover price of Marvel Romance Redux: I Should Have Been A Blonde! is $2.99, while the current value is $3. The OPG value is also $3.
#1423 — Street Fighter #100, UDON Entertainment, May 2020.
My knowledge of Street Fighter is zilch. This is the third Free Comic Book Day issue I’ve read from the franchise, but considering I’ve read them about a year apart, and I haven’t learned anything about the world or characters at any other time, it’s pretty understandable. For this week’s Cool Comics Battle, I actually used one of the characters from this comic, but I have no idea if Ryu has a fan following or not. I’m sure Street Fighter is a lot more enjoyable when you know the characters, motivations, enemies, and maybe even learned some of this from the arcade game…or games (or home game version…I don’t even know if this is available for today’s gaming systems). But if you like action, this story has plenty of that. The cover price of Street Fighter #100 is free, while the current value is $1.
#1424 — O’Malley and the Alley Cats #2, Gold Key, July 1971.
I saw Disney’s The Aristocats at a theater during its original run. Yup, I’m kind of old. Disney movies were different in those days, but there was still magic, and young me liked Thomas O’Malley the Alley Cat. One of the things I liked was his voice, and as it turns out (and this will come as no surprise to many, and some of you who didn’t already know might start shaking your heads in recognition), the same voice-actor, , was the voice of Little John in Robin Hood and Baloo in The Jungle Book. When I hear him in any of these three movies, it takes me back to my childhood. So, of course when I saw this comic in a quarter box, I couldn’t ignore it. There is a tear nearly two inches long at the bottom of my issue that involves every page, and some nasty chipping also, but hey, it was only a quarter, and the memories it brought back while reading it had me quickly forgetting that this comic is 50 years old and rather beaten up. Instead, I was a kid sitting in a movie theater in Wheeling, West Virginia, absorbed by what I was watching on the big screen. It’s a worthy edition to my Cool Comics Kids Library. The cover price of O’Malley and the Alley Cats #2 is 15¢, while the current values are $16 on CBR and $8 on ZKC. The OPG value is $16.
#1425 — Superman #276, DC, June 1974.
When you’re doing comic book research, don’t let the covers fool you! Though this 1974 issue of Superman looks like he’s about to go toe-to-toe with Shazam (aka Captain Marvel), upon closer inspection you’ll notice that there’s no thunderbolt on the uniform of the muscular guy on the right–and that’s because he’s really Captain Thunder, from an alternate version of Earth. And when he’s not all beefy, he’s a young boy named Wille Fawcett. The setting for this story takes place a couple of years before the Man of Steel and Shazam meet. And when they finally did get together, it was in the pages of Justice League of America #137, which has a cover date of December 1976. Still, if you look up the first issue of Shazam, published by DC in 1973, you’ll find Superman on the cover. Which could confuse anyone if you’re relying on covers to give you the inside scoop. Like you, I’m glad we finally got all that straightened out! Oh, and by the way, this little adventure with Superman and Captain Thunder (who is the bad guy for the issue…even though he’s not really a bad guy…you need to read it if you want more info) is a fun trip back to my childhood, and you might experience the same sentiments if you happen to read it today. The cover price of Superman #276 is 20¢, while the current value is $24. The OPG value is also $24. The Key Collector Comics value is $18.
Would you like to write a review of a comic book or graphic novel for all the Internet to see? Our Cool Comics Reader Reviews section is looking for fans just like you to submit your review, along with a cover image of the comic. Additionally, you may provide a picture of yourself and any other biographical information you want published in Cool Comics. Send all this to edgosney62@gmail.com . Please keep in mind that we reserve the right to decide what will and won’t go in the blog, so keep the language clean, pick out a comic that won’t cause controversy (we try to have fun here!), and start tapping away on your keyboard!
ComicBooks For Kids!ComicBooks For Kids! (CB4K) is a charity that Cool Comics In My Collection is honored to be working with. CB4K provides comic books to kids in hospitals and cancer centers all across the United States. You can check their website and see if your local hospital is included and if not, you can work with them to get them included! If you like what you see, please help them out and follow/like their Facebook page. Their link is https://www.facebook.com/comicbooksforkids/
Now you can get Cool Comics in My Collection delivered directly to your email! Just click “Join My Newsletter” on my website (or click on the image of my No-Prize!), sign up, and that’s it. Pretty easy, right? Just be sure to follow the instructions on the confirmation email so that you start receiving my newsletter. If you don’t see it, you may want to check your Spam or Junk Mail folders.
The Cool Comics In My Collection Facebook Group is a place where you can discuss the comics you love, your favorite titles, and the characters that keep you coming back for more. Also, creators are welcome to share news about what you are working on, including Kickstarter campaigns. And don’t forget the prizes. Yes, Cool Comics gives away cool prizes. Be sure and join today!
Tired of seeing a blank image when you leave comments? Now you can have a picture or logo show up here at Cool Comics and other WordPress sites, absolutely free! Just click the link below to get started.
Hits: 51
February 4, 2021
Back to the Eighties with the Launch of Alpha Flight!
Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 280, where we look at various comic books I own (and in some cases ones that I let get away), both new and old, often with a nostalgic leaning for those feelings of yesteryear. I hope you have as much fun reading about them as I had writing about these cool comics!
For each of the comic books I include here, I list the current secondary market pricing (except for of digital issues, which don’t have collectible value). This is according to the websites ComicBookRealm.com (CBR) and Zap-Kapow Comics (ZKC), using the comic book grading scale of 9.4 (if both sites have the same price, you’ll find just one price for that issue), along with the 50th Edition of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide (OPG) using their 9.2 NM scale. Not all my comics meet that grade. Some are probably better, and some are certainly worse. But to simplify it, that’s the scale I use here. And remember, a comic book is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. And for those who enjoy the additional fun of knowing some of the more important issues in your collection, I recognize each Cool Comic that is listed in Key Collector Comics.
If you have any comments, please scroll to the bottom of the page to where it says, “Leave a Reply.” And now, Episode 280…
Cool Comics News!
This week saw the Kickstarter launch of Bloom #1, part of Ted Sikora’s Hero Tomorrow Comics Universe. And it certainly didn’t take long to get fully funded, which is great news for the creative team, and also great news for fans. Readers of Apama the Undiscovered Animal won’t soon forget the mysterious Regina (aka Bloom), introduced in issue #5, so click the link, watch the intro video, then scroll down the page to see all the reward levels offered, such as variant covers (along with the ability to get multiple variant covers), trade paperbacks of other Hero Tomorrow Comics, T-shirts, graded issues, and more. Additionally, you can read several preview pages, and after looking over the beautiful art, you’ll find it hard to resist Bloom and find yourself making the difficult decision of deciding which reward to back! With just 24 days left in the campaign, why wait any longer?
Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Jughead Jones versus Naruto! What do you think would happen if they faced each other in a titanic tussle, and how do you see the winner achieving victory? Let us know in the comments section below.
Cool Comics Creations!
Cool Comics once again proudly shows off the awesome art of John R. Smith! His rendition of archenemies of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will have you breaking out your old action figures and pulling VHS copies of the cartoon out of that old cardboard box in your storage closet! If you’d like to see more of John’s creations, be sure to visit his Facebook page at Smittys Art Stuff…especially if you want to acquire some of his awesome art! Additionally, his eBay page contains some cool collectibles you may want to add to your personal collection, along with some of his original creations.
You can have a piece of your art featured right here in Cool Comics Creations! Just send an electronic file in an email featuring one of your drawings, whether you’re a professional or amateur, (it can be just pencils, or inks too…or full color if you prefer) or a picture of a craft or sculpture that you’ve done, and as long as it’s family friendly (and not controversial…let’s try to keep this fun), you’ll be a part of an upcoming Cool Comics episode. We also want your name, an optional picture of yourself to go here, and any other background information you want to provide, such as a website or a way you can be contacted about your art (who knows, maybe someone will make you an offer for the original!). And then email it to edgosney62@gmail.com .
Cool Comics In My CollectionContemporary Cool Comics#1416 — South Side Serpents #1, Archie, March 2021.
This special from Archie Comics is aimed towards fans of the Riverdale TV show, and if you’ve watched the live-action, quirky drama long enough, you’ll probably appreciate the story more than those who know Jughead as Archie’s buddy whose main goal in life is to eat hamburgers at Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe. Though the indicia indicates the title is just “South Side Serpents,” I appreciate the “Riverdale Presents” at the top of the cover, telling readers that yes, this is more relatable to fans of the show, along with the nostalgic factor DC and Marvel aficionados feel when they see Presents in the title. Please keep in mind that this one-shot is rated Mature, though it read more like a Teen+ title to me. And, for those who like to know such things, this is “Cover B,” which I thought looked a little cooler. The cover price of South Side Serpents #1 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.
#1417 — Thrillkiller #2, DC, February 1997.
One fine day when I was pulling cool comics out of a quarter bin, I had the misfortune to find just the second issue of this three-part Elseworlds story. Perhaps I could find issues 1 and 3 if I but flipped through some regular back issue boxes, but often I just don’t take the time. Besides, part of the thrill of finding Thrillkiller #2 is getting it for just a quarter! Although when you start reading in the middle of a story…well…that can be rough. Still, it’s Robin and Batgirl, right? Well, maybe wrong in this case, because, after all, this is an Elseworlds adventure. Written by Howard Chaykin, with the always awesome art of Dan Brereton, this alternate action-adventure (which is on the mature side) is a tale that modern fans and readers may want to add to their collection. The cover price of Thrillkiller #2 is $2.50, while the current values are $3 on CBR and $4 on ZKC. The OPG value is $3.
#1418 — Naruto/Samurai 8, Viz Media, September 2020.
I know pretty much next to nothing when it comes to Manga…except that I’ve learned to read from back to front, and right to left. When it comes to these Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) issues that are outside of my comfort zone, I applaud the companies that give us a directional reading guide, and Viz Media is one of them, making my life just a bit easier. Besides, once you start reading from the wrong end, it should become apparent that something is…wrong…but if you aren’t used to these comics and characters, you might just think it’s because of that when you can’t follow the story. If you’re familiar with Naruto, you probably made sure to get this FCBD issue when it came out, and it also contains a bonus story, introducing Samurai 8, which, as it states on the cover, gives readers “SAMURAI ACTION FROM THE CREATOR OF NARUTO!” If you missed it, happy hunting. The cover price of Naruto/Samurai 8 is free, while the current value is $1.
#1419 — Tweety and Sylvester #89, Gold Key, January 1979.
As constant Cool Comics readers know, phase one of my comic book collecting days ended sometime in 1978, with phase two lasting about nine months in 1982. And when I find issues that fall in between these years, I always enjoy getting a taste of what I missed throughout that time. Yet I was never buying Tweety and Sylvester in the past, so they’re all new to me. What makes this issue special is the ads. I love seeing the old advertisements in comics and magazines, and this issue is no exception! There are ads for: Hostess Twinkies (with Thor!); Fun Factory Super Gifts & Gimmicks (a full page of stuff a kid would be interested in); Grit (yes, I was a Grit delivery boy!); Slim Jim meat snacks; T-Shirts with photos of the coolest stars, like Shaun Cassidy and Parker Stevenson; Spider-Man T-Shirts; and, well, you get the idea! If you’re building a Cool Comics Kids library, this issue contains four complete stories, along with these wonderful old ads. I found my messy, well-loved copy in a quarter bin. The cover price of Tweety and Sylvester #89 is 35¢, while the current values are $8 on CBR and $5 on ZKC. The OPG value is $8.
#1420 — Alpha Flight #1, Marvel, August 1983.
Alpha Flight #1 hit the stands a little less than a year after I’d given up comics for the second time (I’m still trying to figure out why I turned my back on them!), but when I returned to the hobby once more (phase 3…my collecting is sort of like movie sequels) in 1993, I started buying the title, especially after seeing them on the animated X-Men cartoon I watched each Saturday morning. I can’t say I was a super fan, but I did have an appreciation for this team of heroes from Canada. On a few occasions I’d grab some of their back issues in discount boxes, but years later, I had a massive garage sale, and Sasquatch and friends didn’t make the cut. Now, because of the nostalgia bug, I sometimes buy copies that I find in quarter bins, and I have added several dozen to my collection. Lucky for me I was able to snag this first issue for just 25 cents! Written and illustrated by John Byrne, this often-underappreciated series has some fine moments. The cover price of Alpha Flight #1 is $1, while the current values are $20 on CBR and $15 on ZKC. The OPG value is $16. The Key Collector Comics value is $10.
Would you like to write a review of a comic book or graphic novel for all the Internet to see? Our Cool Comics Reader Reviews section is looking for fans just like you to submit your review, along with a cover image of the comic. Additionally, you may provide a picture of yourself and any other biographical information you want published in Cool Comics. Send all this to edgosney62@gmail.com . Please keep in mind that we reserve the right to decide what will and won’t go in the blog, so keep the language clean, pick out a comic that won’t cause controversy (we try to have fun here!), and start tapping away on your keyboard!
ComicBooks For Kids!ComicBooks For Kids! (CB4K) is a charity that Cool Comics In My Collection is honored to be working with. CB4K provides comic books to kids in hospitals and cancer centers all across the United States. You can check their website and see if your local hospital is included and if not, you can work with them to get them included! If you like what you see, please help them out and follow/like their Facebook page. Their link is https://www.facebook.com/comicbooksforkids/
Now you can get Cool Comics in My Collection delivered directly to your email! Just click “Join My Newsletter” on my website (or click on the image of my No-Prize!), sign up, and that’s it. Pretty easy, right? Just be sure to follow the instructions on the confirmation email so that you start receiving my newsletter. If you don’t see it, you may want to check your Spam or Junk Mail folders.
The Cool Comics In My Collection Facebook Group is a place where you can discuss the comics you love, your favorite titles, and the characters that keep you coming back for more. Also, creators are welcome to share news about what you are working on, including Kickstarter campaigns. And don’t forget the prizes. Yes, Cool Comics gives away cool prizes. Be sure and join today!
Tired of seeing a blank image when you leave comments? Now you can have a picture or logo show up here at Cool Comics and other WordPress sites, absolutely free! Just click the link below to get started.
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January 28, 2021
From Knull to The Walking Dead to Donuts, Great Stuff Awaits!
Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 279, where we look at various comic books I own (and in some cases ones that I let get away), both new and old, often with a nostalgic leaning for those feelings of yesteryear. I hope you have as much fun reading about them as I had writing about these cool comics!
For each of the comic books I include here, I list the current secondary market pricing (except for of digital issues, which don’t have collectible value). This is according to the websites ComicBookRealm.com (CBR) and Zap-Kapow Comics (ZKC), using the comic book grading scale of 9.4 (if both sites have the same price, you’ll find just one price for that issue), along with the 50th Edition of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide (OPG) using their 9.2 NM scale. Not all my comics meet that grade. Some are probably better, and some are certainly worse. But to simplify it, that’s the scale I use here. And remember, a comic book is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. And for those who enjoy the additional fun of knowing some of the more important issues in your collection, I recognize each Cool Comic that is listed in Key Collector Comics.
If you have any comments, please scroll to the bottom of the page to where it says, “Leave a Reply.” And now, Episode 279…
Cool Comics News!
Most comic book fans miss being able to go to conventions (although there have been a few smaller ones…still nothing is the same as it was, but we remain ever hopeful!), which provide opportunities to meet artists and writers, whether they be world famous, locally famous, or up-and-coming. But conventions also give us the chance to discover new stories, or stories that are new to us. Yet with these opportunities put on hold, there are other cool ways to discover great talent and exciting stories without leaving your house, and one of those venues is Kickstarter. Last April, I was fortunate to get an early look at a Kickstarter that began a new 12-part series titled Driver.Eight, and I’m happy to report that Gerald J. Jones and the rest of the creative crew now have Driver.Eight Episode 2 available as a Kickstarter! When I saw it become available, I backed it, and a few days later Gerald contacted me and sent me an early electronic copy. If you read Episode 1, you won’t want to miss what comes next in this near-future science fiction adventure. But even better, if you did miss out on the first issue, it’s not too late, as you can back a category named “The Catch Up!” which contains both issues one and two. There are several different levels available, from just digital to t-shirts to variant covers, and more. Click the link and check it out today while the campaign is still active!
Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Popeye versus The Flash! What do you think would happen if they faced each other in a titanic tussle, and how do you see the winner achieving victory? Let us know in the comments section below.
Cool Comics Creations!
[image error]This episode’s creation features sketch cards from The Walking Dead trading card series, courtesy of illustrator Dan Gorman, a member of the National Cartoonists Society and one of the top sketch card artists on the planet. For more about Dan and his art, please visit www.dangormanart.com. It’s fitting that Dan is our Creator for this Special Anniversary edition of Cool Comics, as he is the artist of the Cool Comics logo!
You can have a piece of your art featured right here in Cool Comics Creations! Just send an electronic file in an email featuring one of your drawings, whether you’re a professional or amateur, (it can be just pencils, or inks too…or full color if you prefer) or a picture of a craft or sculpture that you’ve done, and as long as it’s family friendly (and not controversial…let’s try to keep this fun), you’ll be a part of an upcoming Cool Comics episode. We also want your name, an optional picture of yourself to go here, and any other background information you want to provide, such as a website or a way you can be contacted about your art (who knows, maybe someone will make you an offer for the original!). And then email it to edgosney62@gmail.com .
Cool Comics In My CollectionContemporary Cool Comics#1411 — King in Black #3, Marvel, March 2021.
So how are things going with the King in Black event at Marvel? Not so good from a hero perspective, but very entertaining for fandom. Well, at least that’s my opinion on it. I haven’t read all the crossovers and specials, but I’ve sampled a few, and I like what I’ve read so far. We first dipped our Cool Comics toes into this series in early December, and with this extra exciting cover of Thor battling Knull, there was no way we could let the week go by and not feature this one! And after three issues in, it still looks dreadful for the good guys. Donnie Cates (writer) and Ryan Stegman (penciller) have been dishing out a lot of punishment to characters both good and bad, but at this point, readers must be wondering how in the world any sense of normality will ever return to the Marvel Universe (then again, what’s normal when you have a world full of superheroes and supervillains?). Some collectors don’t like crossovers, but there’s no denying that when done well, the reading experience is deeply rewarding. The cover price of King in Black #3 is $4.99, while the current value is $5. The Key Collector Comics value is also $5.
#1412 — The Wedding of Popeye and Olive #1, Ocean Comics, 1999.
This special wedding edition of Popeye and Olive Oil is full of the fun and history of the sailor man himself, from goons to the wiffle hen! Popeye cartoons were often aired and often repeated during my childhood, and to me they were a constant source of entertainment. Though this version of the brawny spinach eater has a much shaggier head of hair, if you’ve got a history of reading or watching any of his adventures, this comic is one you may want to add to your collection. Lucky for me I just so happened to find it in a quarter bin! But that’s not all, folks. Notice the signature just below Olive’s name on the cover? Yes indeed, it appears to have been autographed by the writer himself, Peter David (yes, THAT Peter David). I looked up some of David’s signatures online, and this looks like it’s the real deal. I’d never heard of the company before (Ocean Comics), but I’m glad they decided to publish this fun wedding issue. The cover price of The Wedding of Popeye and Olive #1 is $2.75, while the current value is $3.
#1413 — Donut the Destroyer, Graphix, August 2020.
Are donuts evil? In Donut the Destroyer, a Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) issue from Graphix (an imprint of Scholastic), Donut is frantically trying to make it on time to her first day of Hero School. Her parents aren’t happy about this, to say the least. Oh, not the part about her being late, but rather that she wants to be heroic, and they wonder where they went wrong. It must be tough growing up in a supervillain household, but Donut is trying to change the course of her destiny. So back to my original question: are donuts evil? They taste delicious and look pretty on the outside, but once you pop them in your mouth, your body is flooded with sugar, carbohydrates, and things most of us can’t even pronounce! Plus, they can be downright addictive. As for Donut the Destroyer, can she truly change her ways? Like a variety box of Tim Horton’s Timbits, this FCBD issue gives us a sampling of what the graphic novel has in store for readers. The cover price of Donut the Destroyer is free, while the current value is $1.
#1414 — Ghostbusters: Crossing Over #2, IDW, April 2018.
I’m not a buyer or reader of Ghostbusters comic books. And to be honest, I’m not a superfan of the movies, and I’ve never watched the cartoon. However, I do admit that at one time I owned some Ghostbuster action figures that I found on clearance many moons ago (my wife and I sold them on eBay some years later). So why this comic book? It was included in a collection of comics I bought at my local Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, and I had no idea this was in the package when I purchased it. There were ten comics in a bag for $5.99, and I liked what I saw in front and in back…so the eight issues in between were mysteries. I remember how much my nephew Jack loved Ghostbusters when he was little, so I thought this would be a good edition for my Cool Comics Kids library collection. Because when we put together comics for the young ones in our lives, the intention should be to get stories that will be appealing to them, rather than us. If we end up liking them too, then that’s like adding sprinkles to your donut (see #1413 above…we have a possible team-up issue for the future!). And you know what? It’s a decent enough story to be cool, as characters from the movies, cartoons, and comics all meet. The cover price of Ghostbusters: Crossing Over #2 is $3.99, while the current value is $4. The OPG value is also $4.
#1415 — The Flash #260, DC, April 1978.
Each time I dig through discount boxes, I keep an eye out for comic books from the Seventies. It’s not that the stories and art are necessarily better than any other period in comic book history, but it was during this time that I first started buying them from a little corner mom and pop shop in the small town where I grew up. There, I bought Marvel Comics on a near exclusive basis; I just tended to like their stories better. But the drug store where my father worked often got in the fabulous “100-Pages for only 60¢” DC titles, and a quaint used bookstore across the river in West Virginia sold previously owned comics for just a dime each. And this is how I came to like The Flash (aside from Super Friends, of course!). I don’t often search for specific back issues, but when I come across older Flash comics, the temptation is usually too great to leave them behind. This issue (written by Cary Bates and penciled by Irv Novick) perfectly captures the type of story you could expect from the Seventies and made me feel like a kid again. And often, at least for me, that’s the goal. The cover price of The Flash #260 is 35¢, while the current values are $12 on CBR and $10 on ZKC. The OPG value is $12.
I’m Steven “Atom” Baum and I write comic reviews that nobody ever asked for! I find the “value” of comics in the enjoyment of them, rather than how much they are “worth” to collectors.
If you like what you see here, then join me on a journey through the forgotten depths of those boxes full of dollar back issues in your local comic shop and visit my blog LONGBOX JUNK , where you’ll discover HUNDREDS of reviews you never even knew you wanted to read!
And now an exclusive “Short-But-Sweet” Longbox Junk Comic Review for the Cool Comics Crowd!
JUSTICE MACHINE #1COMICO (1987)
“HEROES AND VILLAINS”
SCRIPT: Tony Isabella with Mike Gustovich (co-plotter)
PENCILS: Mike Gustovich
COVER: Mike Gustovich
THE COVER
A nicely done fold out promising plenty of robot-punchin’ action inside! It’s clean, it’s crisp, it’s got great color. This is just a really solid sci-fi cover that caught my eye and convinced me to rescue this comic from the bargain bin. Let’s get inside!
THE STORY
Our story begins with the Justice Machine. . .a government-sponsored team of heroes working under the command of Chief Prosecutor Zarren. They are on their home planet of Georwell confronting a rebel terrorist called Maxinor and his son at a hidden base outside the capital city.
During a pitched battle against Maxinor’s robotic defenders, his son is gravely wounded by a member of Justice Machine. Maxinor retreats by using a dimensional transporter after vowing vengeance.
Later, the Justice Machine make their report to Prosecutor Zarren at the Citadel of Justice. The heroes are informed that Maxinor has been traced to the Planet Earth, and that their next mission will be to follow and capture him.
As the dimensional transporter (called a dimension lock) is readied, the team go their separate ways to prepare for the dangerous mission on another world. We see them in their private moments among friends and family before they once again gather and are teleported to Earth.
The dimension lock teleports the heroes directly to Maxinor’s exact location, but he was prepared for them and takes down most of the Justice Machine with various traps and devices meant to counteract their individual powers.
Eventually, Maxinor is forced to surrender the fight when a member of Justice Machine threatens to kill his unconscious son. But when the heroes try to contact Zarren to bring their prisoner back to Georwell, they learn that they have been declared traitors by the Security Department and that Prosecutor Zarren has issued a “Terminate on sight” order for all six members of Justice Machine!
To be continued. . .
THE REVIEW
Although most of this first issue is taken up by introductions to the various characters in the Justice Machine team and their abilities, I REALLY liked the combination of science fiction and superhero elements driving the narrative. Tony Isabella mixes the two genres together in just the right proportions to give this story an unexpected and very enjoyable flair that will appeal to fans of action-packed superhero comics AND fans of more thoughtful science fiction.
The cliffhanger at the end of the issue with the team betrayed by their own government came at me from out of nowhere, taking me as much by surprise as the characters in the story themselves! It’s a pretty bold direction to go when the readers have JUST been introduced to the team as beloved heroes, only for them to be thrown under the bus by their own leaders for the flimsiest of reasons (their dystopian government suspects the team MIGHT be harboring thoughts against the regime).
The art on this comic perfectly complements the hybrid superhero/sci fi story. It’s crisp, it’s clean, it’s colorful. From page one to page done, every panel is a feast for the eyes if you’re a fan of good, classic comic art. It’s the kind of art that helps tell the story instead of trying to overpower it. In Tony Isabella’s introduction at the front of the comic, he says he took on this series because he wanted to work with Mike Gustovich. All in all, I’d say that it was a good call, because the two of them make a great creative team!
CONCLUSION
I have a bit of a selfish reason for choosing this comic to review. When I saw that one of my favorite writers, Mr. Tony Isabella, drops in on Cool Comics from time to time, I decided that eventually I was going to review one of his comics here to thank him for all the great entertainment he’s given me over the years.
I WAS going to do Black Lightning #1. . .Isabella’s most famous creation, of course. But then I decided instead to showcase some of his lesser-known work for Cool Comics readers who might not know him for anything other than Black Lightning. Hopefully, spotlighting Justice Machine will lead some comic fans toward something a little more out of the way, in the grand Longbox Junk tradition.
But putting that aside and honestly looking at this comic just for what it is, readers will find a great combination of the science fiction and superhero genres that introduces interesting characters living in a shiny high-tech world that’s rotten at the core. This is just the beginning of a great story, and it keeps getting better from here.
This series has never been collected, but I’ve found individual issues in bargain/back issue bins without much difficulty once I started looking for them, so keep your eye out if you’re looking for some solid sci-fi / superhero action.
Until next time, remember that comics are worth more than money!
Would you like to write a review of a comic book or graphic novel for all the Internet to see? Our Cool Comics Reader Reviews section is looking for fans just like you to submit your review, along with a cover image of the comic. Additionally, you may provide a picture of yourself and any other biographical information you want published in Cool Comics. Send all this to edgosney62@gmail.com . Please keep in mind that we reserve the right to decide what will and won’t go in the blog, so keep the language clean, pick out a comic that won’t cause controversy (we try to have fun here!), and start tapping away on your keyboard!
ComicBooks For Kids!ComicBooks For Kids! (CB4K) is a charity that Cool Comics In My Collection is honored to be working with. CB4K provides comic books to kids in hospitals and cancer centers all across the United States. You can check their website and see if your local hospital is included and if not, you can work with them to get them included! If you like what you see, please help them out and follow/like their Facebook page. Their link is https://www.facebook.com/comicbooksforkids/
Now you can get Cool Comics in My Collection delivered directly to your email! Just click “Join My Newsletter” on my website (or click on the image of my No-Prize!), sign up, and that’s it. Pretty easy, right? Just be sure to follow the instructions on the confirmation email so that you start receiving my newsletter. If you don’t see it, you may want to check your Spam or Junk Mail folders.
The Cool Comics In My Collection Facebook Group is a place where you can discuss the comics you love, your favorite titles, and the characters that keep you coming back for more. Also, creators are welcome to share news about what you are working on, including Kickstarter campaigns. And don’t forget the prizes. Yes, Cool Comics gives away cool prizes. Be sure and join today!
Tired of seeing a blank image when you leave comments? Now you can have a picture or logo show up here at Cool Comics and other WordPress sites, absolutely free! Just click the link below to get started.
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January 21, 2021
While Two Captains Battle for Supremacy, Phoenix Rises!
Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 278, where we look at various comic books I own (and in some cases ones that I let get away), both new and old, often with a nostalgic leaning for those feelings of yesteryear. I hope you have as much fun reading about them as I had writing about these cool comics!
For each of the comic books I include here, I list the current secondary market pricing (except for of digital issues, which don’t have collectible value). This is according to the websites ComicBookRealm.com (CBR) and Zap-Kapow Comics (ZKC), using the comic book grading scale of 9.4 (if both sites have the same price, you’ll find just one price for that issue), along with the 50th Edition of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide (OPG) using their 9.2 NM scale. Not all my comics meet that grade. Some are probably better, and some are certainly worse. But to simplify it, that’s the scale I use here. And remember, a comic book is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. And for those who enjoy the additional fun of knowing some of the more important issues in your collection, I recognize each Cool Comic that is listed in Key Collector Comics.
If you have any comments, please scroll to the bottom of the page to where it says, “Leave a Reply.” And now, Episode 278…
Cool Comics News!This month and next, Future State is a big deal for DC, so we’re covering it again this week in our Contemporary Cool Comics segment, but don’t despair, Marvel fans, as we take another look at King in Black in our next thrilling episode!
Cool Comics Battle of the Week!Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Captain America versus Captain Canuck! What do you think would happen if they faced each other in a titanic tussle, and how do you see the winner achieving victory? Let us know in the comments section below.
Cool Comics Creations!
Ed Griffie’s art is some of the coolest stuff around, and being that I’m a big fan of Firestorm, Cool Comics is excited to show off this awesome image! Ed is a lifelong comic book fan who started drawing Kawaii and Chibi style versions of pop culture icons and superheroes about five years ago. Through Facebook, his work came to the attention of Daniel Hare, the owner of vintage toy and comic bookstore The Toys Time Forgot, who offered him a guest spot at Free Comic Book Day. Since then, Ed has been a regular at local conventions and comic bookstores, where he offers bookmarks, coloring pages, trading cards, and color prints featuring his unique artwork. You can check out his full catalog of work at toonist27.deviantart.com or contact him at edgriffiejr@gmail.com to commission an original piece of your very own.
You can have a piece of your art featured right here in Cool Comics Creations! Just send an electronic file in an email featuring one of your drawings, whether you’re a professional or amateur, (it can be just pencils, or inks too…or full color if you prefer) or a picture of a craft or sculpture that you’ve done, and as long as it’s family friendly (and not controversial…let’s try to keep this fun), you’ll be a part of an upcoming Cool Comics episode. We also want your name, an optional picture of yourself to go here, and any other background information you want to provide, such as a website or a way you can be contacted about your art (who knows, maybe someone will make you an offer for the original!). And then email it to edgosney62@gmail.com .
Cool Comics In My CollectionContemporary Cool Comics#1406 — Future State: Dark Detective #1, DC, March 2021.
What? Another Future State comic? Yes…for the second week in a row, our Contemporary Cool Comic is showcasing DC’s newest initiative, because…it’s too big to ignore. This week, besides this Dark Detective issue, DC also released the following Future State titles: Green Lantern; Justice League; Kara Zor-El, Superwoman; Robin Eternal; Superman/Wonder Woman; and Teen Titans. Several of the titles have higher page counts than typical weekly comics, and therefore a higher price point. But for the extra buck (or two or three), they do pack plenty of story between the covers. To be honest, I think my favorite title this past week was Green Lantern, which isn’t a comic I’m currently buying, but this special was worth it. However, Dark Detective has a wider appeal for most fans (because…Batman), whether serious or casual. Included is a backup story featuring Grifter, and it turns out I liked it better than I thought I would. The cover price of Future State: Dark Detective #1 is $5.99, while the current value is $6. The Key Collector Comics value is also $6.
#1407 — Captain America #290, Marvel, February 1984.
Captain America was a part of my childhood, as I’d race home after school to watch reruns of the old Marvel cartoons from the Sixties, with Cap’s show being one of my favorites. The neighborhood gang would often act out superhero battles based on these cartoons, and I usually wanted to be Captain America. And when I finally started buying comic books, my love for the character continued to grow. I don’t often find Captain America comics in quarter boxes, and especially ones from periods in which I wasn’t reading the title, so I was more than happy to find this issue from 1984. This issue features the first appearance of Mother Superior, daughter of the Red Skull. J.M. DeMatteis did the writing (I was fortunate to meet him and get his signature on my Cool Comic bag at Cincinnati Comic Expo in 2018), while Ron Frenz did the penciling. The cover price of Captain America #290 is 60¢, while the current values are $6 on CBR and $8 on ZKC. The OPG value is $10. The Key Collector Comics value is $5.
#1408 — Canuck Beyond and Captain Battle, Chapterhouse, May 2020.
Is it just coincidence that this episode we have both Captain America and Captain Canuck? I like to think there’s more to it than meets the eye, and of course I had fun pitting the two against each other in our Cool Comics Battle of the Week! We really have Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) to thank for it, though. If it weren’t for FCBD, I’d have never even read any Captain Canuck comics…and as it is, I’ve only read the one from FCBD 2019 and this one. So, my question is, just how popular is Captain Canuck in Canada? In the United States, Captain America is extremely well known, especially considering all the blockbuster movies he’s been featured in, along with hitting the comic scene way back in 1941. But Captain Canuck was born in 1975, so he’s no spring chicken! The other guy in the issue, Captain Battle, is no one I’m familiar with at all, but after a little research, it seems he was a Golden Age hero and now Chapterhouse is giving him a chance to breathe on the page once again. The cover price of Canuck Beyond and Captain Battle is free, while the current value is $1.
#1409 — The Flintstones #1, Harvey Comics, September 1992.
The Flintstones (a modern, stone-age family) have appeared in Cool Comics just twice now. The first time was in episode 25, which was so long ago, some might call it…here it comes…the stone age (okay, I can hear the groans from here…sorry). By the way, if you click the link and visit Cool Comics in March of 2016, you’ll notice that the value of that issue is $28. And now it’s listed at $42. Woo-hoo! Also, if you loved Saturday morning cartoons from way back when, you might get a kick looking at the other comics I featured that week. But now we’re on to a more modern look at Fred and his family and friends, with this first issue from Harvey, under their banner of Harvey Classics. I love the idea that the company published such kid-friendly comics; however, this title and others barely made it three years. The good news is that many comic shops will put titles like this in their discount bins, which is perfect for building up your Cool Comics Kids library. The cover price of The Flintstones #1 is $1.25, while the current value is $4. The OPG value is also $4.
#1410 — Phoenix #1, Atlas/Seaboard, January 1975.
For some reason, the cover of Phoenix #1 didn’t have me anxiously awaiting the story inside. As I make my way through the Atlas/Seaboard comics I’ve been accumulating (there really aren’t many, and I hope to someday have them all…although I doubt if I’ll ever get my hands on the four Vicki issues – I don’t want to pay a high price for comics I’m not really interested in), I haven’t felt much compulsion to read this one for some reason. But (it seems like there’s always a “but”), it turned out to be much more fun than I anticipated and now I can proudly state that I’m a Phoenix fan! From the harrowing, wild beginning to the discovery that we’re not alone in the universe, this fun science fiction story might make an interesting move or ongoing series…in the right hands. The cool part is that this is a real possibility since the movie rights have been acquired. The writing for this comic was done by Jeff Rovin, while Sal Amendola handled the art. All I can hope for now is that the other three issues are just as entertaining to my 12-year-old mind. The cover price of Phoenix #1 is 25¢, while the current values are $20 on CBR and $10 on ZKC. The OPG value is $22. The Key Collector Comics value is $10.
Would you like to write a review of a comic book or graphic novel for all the Internet to see? Our Cool Comics Reader Reviews section is looking for fans just like you to submit your review, along with a cover image of the comic. Additionally, you may provide a picture of yourself and any other biographical information you want published in Cool Comics. Send all this to edgosney62@gmail.com . Please keep in mind that we reserve the right to decide what will and won’t go in the blog, so keep the language clean, pick out a comic that won’t cause controversy (we try to have fun here!), and start tapping away on your keyboard!
ComicBooks For Kids!ComicBooks For Kids! (CB4K) is a charity that Cool Comics In My Collection is honored to be working with. CB4K provides comic books to kids in hospitals and cancer centers all across the United States. You can check their website and see if your local hospital is included and if not, you can work with them to get them included! If you like what you see, please help them out and follow/like their Facebook page. Their link is https://www.facebook.com/comicbooksforkids/
Now you can get Cool Comics in My Collection delivered directly to your email! Just click “Join My Newsletter” on my website (or click on the image of my No-Prize!), sign up, and that’s it. Pretty easy, right? Just be sure to follow the instructions on the confirmation email so that you start receiving my newsletter. If you don’t see it, you may want to check your Spam or Junk Mail folders.
The Cool Comics In My Collection Facebook Group is a place where you can discuss the comics you love, your favorite titles, and the characters that keep you coming back for more. Also, creators are welcome to share news about what you are working on, including Kickstarter campaigns. And don’t forget the prizes. Yes, Cool Comics gives away cool prizes. Be sure and join today!
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January 14, 2021
What Happens if The Thing Fights Swamp Thing?!!!
Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 277, where we look at various comic books I own (and in some cases ones that I let get away), both new and old, often with a nostalgic leaning for those feelings of yesteryear. I hope you have as much fun reading about them as I had writing about these cool comics!
For each of the comic books I include here, I list the current secondary market pricing (except for of digital issues, which don’t have collectible value). This is according to the websites ComicBookRealm.com (CBR) and Zap-Kapow Comics (ZKC), using the comic book grading scale of 9.4 (if both sites have the same price, you’ll find just one price for that issue), along with the 50th Edition of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide (OPG) using their 9.2 NM scale. Not all my comics meet that grade. Some are probably better, and some are certainly worse. But to simplify it, that’s the scale I use here. And remember, a comic book is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. And for those who enjoy the additional fun of knowing some of the more important issues in your collection, I recognize each Cool Comic that is listed in Key Collector Comics.
If you have any comments, please scroll to the bottom of the page to where it says, “Leave a Reply.” And now, Episode 277…
Cool Comics News!We’re a couple weeks into 2021, and while the world around us may seem a bit crazy at times, the various universes of comic books still provide a great way to escape for a few hours each week. The hot series right now seems to be Future State from DC, and Marvel is still pouring it on with the King in Black. By the way, if you have anything you’d like to contribute to our Cool Comics News, such as an upcoming Kickstarter, etc., please let me know.
Cool Comics Battle of the Week!Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Swamp Thing versus The Thing! What do you think would happen if they faced each other in a titanic tussle, and how do you see the winner achieving victory? Let us know in the comments section below.
Cool Comics Creations!
This episode’s creation comes to us from Robert A. Kraus (aka RAK), creator of Chakan and many other fantastic works of art, along with all the cool games he’s developed. This RAKified version of Captain Marvel, one of my favorite heroes from decades gone by, is pretty terrific! To learn more about RAK, be sure to visit his website at http://www.rakgraphics.com/.
You can have a piece of your art featured right here in Cool Comics Creations! Just send an electronic file in an email featuring one of your drawings, whether you’re a professional or amateur, (it can be just pencils, or inks too…or full color if you prefer) or a picture of a craft or sculpture that you’ve done, and as long as it’s family friendly (and not controversial…let’s try to keep this fun), you’ll be a part of an upcoming Cool Comics episode. We also want your name, an optional picture of yourself to go here, and any other background information you want to provide, such as a website or a way you can be contacted about your art (who knows, maybe someone will make you an offer for the original!). And then email it to edgosney62@gmail.com .
Cool Comics In My CollectionContemporary Cool Comics#1401 — Future State: Swamp Thing #1, DC, March 2021.
When it comes to revamping a comic book universe, DC leads the way. Whether it’s because of sales figures, the complexity of juggling too many Earths, or some sort of crisis (or New 52, Rebirth, Death Metal…well, you get what I’m saying), change happens. And now we get, for just two months (plus one issue that comes out at the end of March), Future State. I wasn’t sure what I thought of the idea, but after reading the first wave this week, I must admit that I enjoyed most of them (the other Future State titles this week include The Flash, Harley Quinn, The Next Batman, Superman of Metropolis, and Wonder Woman). So out of all these titles, why did I choose Swamp Thing for the Contemporary Cool Comic this episode? It’s dark, moody, and mysterious, and it’s also somewhat reminiscent of the novel City by Clifford D. Simak, a futuristic novel in which dogs are the dominant species (I’m going to make a brief confession that I have yet to read City; however, I own a copy and know what it’s about). Ram V is the writer and Mike Perkins the penciler, and this was my favorite comic of the week. The cover price of Future State: Swamp Thing #1 is $3.99, while the current value is $4. The Key Collector Comics value is also $4.
#1402 — Rocket Raccoon #1, Marvel, September 2014.
I’d estimate that 95 percent of the time when I’m digging through quarter boxes, I’m searching for comics that were published before 1990…the older the better. No doubt it’s a result of my age. For many of us, after we reach a certain point in our lives, we find ourselves looking backward more often than forward. Some go as far as saying that comics were far better when they were a kid, and in their minds, this is probably true. Don’t let it upset you and don’t get in an argument with them, because that’s what makes them happy. Just choose what makes you happy and let them enjoy their comic books in their way. Now, if only everything else were this easy to resolve! What does all this have to do with Rocket Raccoon? Wait, you’re smart (I knew it all along…smart people always read Cool Comics In My Collection!) and you just figured it out! This issue is from 2014, and yet I bought it fresh out of the quarter bin (along with several other issues from this series). I missed out on a lot after I quit comics halfway through 2003 and came back to new issues in the fall of 2017, and sometimes I find myself plunking down quarters to quell my curiosity. The cover price of Rocket Raccoon #1 is $3.99, while the current values are $5 on CBR and $4 on ZKC. The OPG value is $5.
#1403 — My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, IDW, May 2020.
I know next to nothing about My Little Pony. I’ve seen and heard the commercials in the past, and they probably had or have a cartoon (I’m not going to search IMDB or Google it, but I’m surmising the existence of such…if I’m wrong, you can let me know…or perhaps you don’t even care enough to let me know), and that the toys once, or still do, hang on hooks or take up shelf space at your local store where you shop for toys. There are fans of this franchise that number in the…thousands—or perhaps millions—but I can’t be counted as one of them. Yet because of my commitment to bring the readers of Cool Comics In My Collection a look at every Free Comic Book Day issue each year (and yes, we’re still on the 2020 batch), I read this for each and every one of you. All kidding aside, I’m sure there are plenty of fans of this title, from the very young to, perhaps, the very old. Because, like the title tells us, Friendship is Magic. And we all need friends, don’t we? The cover price of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is free, while the current value is $1.
#1404 — Donald Duck #146, Whitman/Gold Key, November 1972.
Why, oh why, didn’t I buy and read Donald Duck in the Seventies? These comics are lots of fun, even from an adult perspective. I guess it’s because most of my available money ended up being spent on superhero comics books, baseball and football cards, and trips to Dairy Queen with my friends (there was one just a block down from where I grew up). Along with an occasional Aurora monster model. Plus, most of the gang in my neighborhood felt that these were kid comics, and we were much more sophisticated, instead following the adventures of The Incredible Hulk, Spider-Man, Captain America, and sometimes even some DC comics. I found this one in a quarter bin and decided to make it part of my collection, and I don’t regret it for an instant. Inside we get two Donald Duck stories, along with a Chip ‘N’ Dale adventure. One of the Duck stories I enjoyed has Uncle Scrooge McDuck giving Donald a million dollars, just to teach him a lesson. Has that ever happened to you? Yeah, me neither. The ads are always great in these older comics, and this issue includes a fun one for Easy-Bake Oven. The cover price of Donald Duck #146 is 15¢, while the current value is $26. The OPG value is also $26.
#1405 — Fantastic Four #97, Marvel, April 1970.
A few weeks ago, I was a bit surprised to find Fantastic Four #97 in a quarter bin! These early issues (I understand that at this point the series is nearly nine years old but considering this one came out 51 years ago makes it an early issue!) are coveted by many collectors, and while the condition is lacking (click on the image to get a better view…torn cover, worn spine, etc.), the fun inside isn’t. The Monster from the Lost Lagoon! is written by Stan Lee, with art by Jack Kirby. And who is that baby on the cover? None other than Franklin Richards. This is my earliest issue with Franklin, and the first time I’ve seen him still in diapers. The ads inside are a lot of fun to gloss over (including one on the inside cover about gaining weight…nowadays everyone wants to lose a few pounds, but in 1970 times were different), and there is a double page spread of fan mail, which is often a great way to understand readers from decades gone by. The cover price of Fantastic Four #97 is 15¢, while the current value is $95. The OPG value is also $95.
Would you like to write a review of a comic book or graphic novel for all the Internet to see? Our Cool Comics Reader Reviews section is looking for fans just like you to submit your review, along with a cover image of the comic. Additionally, you may provide a picture of yourself and any other biographical information you want published in Cool Comics. Send all this to edgosney62@gmail.com . Please keep in mind that we reserve the right to decide what will and won’t go in the blog, so keep the language clean, pick out a comic that won’t cause controversy (we try to have fun here!), and start tapping away on your keyboard!
ComicBooks For Kids!ComicBooks For Kids! (CB4K) is a charity that Cool Comics In My Collection is honored to be working with. CB4K provides comic books to kids in hospitals and cancer centers all across the United States. You can check their website and see if your local hospital is included and if not, you can work with them to get them included! If you like what you see, please help them out and follow/like their Facebook page. Their link is https://www.facebook.com/comicbooksforkids/
Now you can get Cool Comics in My Collection delivered directly to your email! Just click “Join My Newsletter” on my website (or click on the image of my No-Prize!), sign up, and that’s it. Pretty easy, right? Just be sure to follow the instructions on the confirmation email so that you start receiving my newsletter. If you don’t see it, you may want to check your Spam or Junk Mail folders.
The Cool Comics In My Collection Facebook Group is a place where you can discuss the comics you love, your favorite titles, and the characters that keep you coming back for more. Also, creators are welcome to share news about what you are working on, including Kickstarter campaigns. And don’t forget the prizes. Yes, Cool Comics gives away cool prizes. Be sure and join today!
Tired of seeing a blank image when you leave comments? Now you can have a picture or logo show up here at Cool Comics and other WordPress sites, absolutely free! Just click the link below to get started.
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January 7, 2021
The Battle for the Phoenix Force Begins!
Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 276, where we look at various comic books I own (and in some cases ones that I let get away), both new and old, often with a nostalgic leaning for those feelings of yesteryear. I hope you have as much fun reading about them as I had writing about these cool comics!
For each of the comic books I include here, I list the current secondary market pricing (except for of digital issues, which don’t have collectible value). This is according to the websites ComicBookRealm.com (CBR) and Zap-Kapow Comics (ZKC), using the comic book grading scale of 9.4 (if both sites have the same price, you’ll find just one price for that issue), along with the 50th Edition of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide (OPG) using their 9.2 NM scale. Not all my comics meet that grade. Some are probably better, and some are certainly worse. But to simplify it, that’s the scale I use here. And remember, a comic book is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. And for those who enjoy the additional fun of knowing some of the more important issues in your collection, I recognize each Cool Comic that is listed in Key Collector Comics.
If you have any comments, please scroll to the bottom of the page to where it says, “Leave a Reply.” And now, Episode 276…
Cool Comics News!
Cool Comics In My Collection welcomes you to 2021! It seems like everybody has a story of woe to tell when it comes to 2020, but hopefully that’s all behind us now. Also, if you missed our year-ending episode, Doctor Omnibus decided to take an early retirement, but he may pop up with some awesome reviews as a free agent from time to time, so stayed tuned on that front.
Many people make resolutions when it comes to a new year, so if any of your goals include getting your art or writing in front of the public, don’t forget that you can always hone your skills right here at Cool Comics with our Cool Comics Creations and Cool Comics Readers Reviews segments (see both below for how to submit). Pros and amateurs alike are more than welcome to become part of the Cool Comics family!
Cool Comics Battle of the Week!
Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is She-Hulk versus Superboy! What do you think would happen if they faced each other in a titanic tussle, and how do you see the winner achieving victory? Let us know in the comments section below.
Cool Comics Creations!
This week our Cool Comics Creation comes to you from Sydney Walton! This cover of Nightstalkers #10 featuring Blade—who’s currently on the Avengers roster—looks incredibly cool! The art is all hand-painted with acrylic paints. Syd said he’s been painting covers for a few years now and likes to think that he was one of the first to do so. Syd is always taking commissions, so don’t hesitate to contact him for a cool cover or other fantastic creations. You can find him on Facebook at Syd’s Altruistic Art, or contact him via email at swaltoniii@aol.com.
You can have a piece of your art featured right here in Cool Comics Creations! Just send an electronic file in an email featuring one of your drawings, whether you’re a professional or amateur, (it can be just pencils, or inks too…or full color if you prefer) or a picture of a craft or sculpture that you’ve done, and as long as it’s family friendly (and not controversial…let’s try to keep this fun), you’ll be a part of an upcoming Cool Comics episode. We also want your name, an optional picture of yourself to go here, and any other background information you want to provide, such as a website or a way you can be contacted about your art (who knows, maybe someone will make you an offer for the original!). And then email it to edgosney62@gmail.com .
Cool Comics In My Collection
Contemporary Cool Comics
#1396 — Avengers #40, Marvel, February 2021.
There were lots of good choices for Contemporary Cool Comics this week, including the conclusion to DC’s Endless Winter, King in Black: Iron Man/Doom, and The Amazing Spider-Man #55, which quickly became a hot comic. But I ultimately decided to go with this issue of Avengers because the Phoenix is sort of a big deal, and creators Jason Aaron and Javier Garrón had me fully entrenched in the story from start to finish. The opening scene with Captain American and Doctor Doom, both aflame with the Phoenix force, duking it out in the Savage Land, is a feast for the eyes. This current Avengers run has been fun from the start. If you haven’t tried the series in a while and can still find this one, I highly recommend it! The cover price of Avengers #40 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.
Cool Comics from the Quarter Bin
#1397 — The New Adventures of Superboy #40, DC, April 1983.
Are you a quarter bin diver? Do you even have a comic shop in your area that features such inexpensive treasures? I think most shops have a dollar bin, at the very least. I’m truly fortunate to live in an area where I can get comic books at garage sale prices. Anyway, whether you get your cheap comics for 25 cents or a dollar, condition is not often on your side…otherwise they’d be in the regular back issue boxes. So, with that in mind, don’t bother looking if you want your entire collection to be close to pristine (which leaves more for me!). But if you want to read discounted comics for the fun of it, or to fill in a few gaps for your collection, it’s a great way to accomplish both. Plus, you can usually find some older comics if you want to sample the kinds of stories previous eras had to tell. Like this Superboy comic from 1983. Maybe it never even crossed your mind to buy an issue, but quarter bins give you the chance to try different things, and sometimes, before you know it, you find yourself digging through regular back issue boxes, looking to complete your collection after finding several issues in the quarter box and deciding that these comics found a place in your heart. This issue was written by Paul Kupperberg, with pencils by Kurt Schaffenberger. The cover price of The New Adventures of Superboy #40 is 60¢, while the current value is $3. The OPG value is also $3.
FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 25)
#1398 — The Boys #1, Dynamite, July 2020.
I haven’t watched the show on Prime, and after reading this Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) edition of The Boys, I don’t intend to. Last week I started this issue late one night, and after a few pages I had to put it down…it’s rated mature, and they weren’t kidding around. At that point I didn’t think I’d finish reading it and would simply pick another comic from my FCBD box. But the next day, I decided that I’d forge ahead, because each of the last several years I’ve promised to cover all the FCBD issues here on the blog, regardless of whether I enjoy the comic or not. I don’t care for the language nor the topics of some of the language, the level of violence is extreme, and the adult situations made this an uncomfortable read. In other words, this comic book isn’t for me. I’m not using this space to judge anyone, so don’t get me wrong. If you enjoy The Boys comic book or TV show, that’s certainly your prerogative. I’m sure in the past I’ve read novels that contain some of the same types of issues that bother me here. But it just seems so shocking and graphic (I guess that’s an appropriate word choice) when I see these things in a comic book. For an alternate view of The Boys (especially if you’re a fan), be sure not to miss Tony Isabella’s Bloggy Thing from January 5. Tony does an outstanding job of reviewing FCBD issues, so make sure you check it out! The cover price of The Boys is free, while the current value is $1. The Key Collector Comics value is $3.
Cool Comics Kids
#1399 — Transformers #5, IDW Publishing, May 2019.
A few months back, I took a trip to the local Ollie’s Bargain Outlet and purchased a few sets of bagged comics. If my remembrance of comics past is accurate, there were ten comics per bag, and they retailed for something like $5.99. And that’s where I got this issue of Transformers. I won’t claim to be a Transformers fan, but I’ve seen a couple of the movies and once owned a few of the original toys, still in their boxes, and sold them on eBay for a nice profit. And I must give the nod to my mother, who bought a bunch of these toys one year when they were discounted, saving them in her attic for years, then giving some to me, as she knew I was trying to make a few extra dollars. This franchise is deeply loved by many, but I was no longer interested in toys when it hit the market, and the same goes for the cartoon and original comic book series (although I’ve picked up a couple of the older comics in quarter boxes). As far as adding this to a library of comics for kids goes, this will be more appreciated by young readers who are a little older and perhaps no longer interested in Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny. From what I could understand of the story, it was entertaining. Additionally, if you know this comic series, you may have noticed that I have a variant cover. Ollie’s has a few surprises in those bagged comics. The cover price of Transformers #5 is $3.99, while the current value is $4. The OPG value is also $4.
Cool Comics Classics
#1400 — Fightin’ Marines #79, Charlton Comics, May 1968.
I have strong nostalgic feelings for this title, as I remember my mother getting me a few issues of Charlton Comics in the Seventies at a local drug store where my father worked as a pharmacist. I believe they were bagged in three packs, and the only titles I can remember were Fightin’ Marines and The Phantom. Alas, I have them no longer, but I’ve added some Charlton titles to my collection over the last few years and stumbled upon this one in a quarter bin! The stories are a bit formulaic (as so many are when it comes to military comics from that era), but as both a veteran and someone who appreciates history, I enjoyed reading the three short tales this issue contains. As an aside, don’t expect political correctness in this 1968 comic book that puts characters smack dab in battle zones. The cover price of Fightin’ Marines #79 is 12¢, while the current value is $28. The OPG value is also $28.
Cool Comics Reader Reviews!
Would you like to write a review of a comic book or graphic novel for all the Internet to see? Our Cool Comics Reader Reviews section is looking for fans just like you to submit your review, along with a cover image of the comic. Additionally, you may provide a picture of yourself and any other biographical information you want published in Cool Comics. Send all this to edgosney62@gmail.com . Please keep in mind that we reserve the right to decide what will and won’t go in the blog, so keep the language clean, pick out a comic that won’t cause controversy (we try to have fun here!), and start tapping away on your keyboard!
ComicBooks For Kids!
ComicBooks For Kids! (CB4K) is a charity that Cool Comics In My Collection is honored to be working with. CB4K provides comic books to kids in hospitals and cancer centers all across the United States. You can check their website and see if your local hospital is included and if not, you can work with them to get them included! If you like what you see, please help them out and follow/like their Facebook page. Their link is https://www.facebook.com/comicbooksforkids/
Never Miss an Episode of Cool Comics!
Now you can get Cool Comics in My Collection delivered directly to your email! Just click “Join My Newsletter” on my website (or click on the image of my No-Prize!), sign up, and that’s it. Pretty easy, right? Just be sure to follow the instructions on the confirmation email so that you start receiving my newsletter. If you don’t see it, you may want to check your Spam or Junk Mail folders.
Join our Facebook Group!
The Cool Comics In My Collection Facebook Group is a place where you can discuss the comics you love, your favorite titles, and the characters that keep you coming back for more. Also, creators are welcome to share news about what you are working on, including Kickstarter campaigns. And don’t forget the prizes. Yes, Cool Comics gives away cool prizes. Be sure and join today!
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