Ed Gosney's Blog, page 20

As the Crow Flies, Ghostly Tales Abound at Cool Comics!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 265, 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 265…

Cool Comics News!

Last week we had two birthdays and a wedding…all of us comic book lovers! Maybe that’s part of the reason we love October so much. My birthday was on October 14 (and hey, it was a Wednesday, so of course I got new comic books), my son (also known as Ed) had his big day on October 16, and the Saturday before, October 10, my oldest daughter, who happens to love comic books too, got married to a comic book loving guy! And while our family was busy, Cool Comics continued to roll off the presses…well, I guess that’s not quite accurate, but for some of you it showed up in your emails…at the click of your mouse. Entertainment is an important element to many of us, and regardless of what’s going on in our lives, Cool Comics works hard to always be there for you, each Thursday!

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Beast Boy versus Spider-Woman! 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 comes to us from illustrator Dan Gorman, a member of the National Cartoonists Society and one of the top sketch card artists on the planet. This card, featuring Darth Vader, is one of the 50 plus sketch cards Dan created for the Topps Star Wars Masterworks 2019 Set. 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 Collection
Contemporary Cool Comics

#1341 — DC the Doomed and the Damned #1, DC, December 2020.

DC is really scratching that Halloween itch between last episode’s Legend of the Swamp Thing Halloween Spectacular #1 and this dark and chilling anthology, loaded with ten stories that might just prompt you to leave on your nightlight for the next couple weeks! Okay, the stories weren’t that scary, but they certainly provided me with some October thrills that I was more than happy to experience. Stories included a diverse cast of characters, including Madame Xanadu and Man-Bat, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman and Raven, Solomon Grundy and Ra’s Al Ghul, Superman and Swamp Thing, Orphan and Orca, Aquaman and Frankenstein, Beast Boy and Klarion, and Baytor and Darkseid. For the budget-minded collector, you may want to skip this because it isn’t cheap, but if you love Halloween specials, you may consider it worth every penny. The cover price of DC the Doomed and the Damned #1 is $9.99, while the current value is $10. The Key Collector Comics value is also $10.

Cool Comics from the Quarter Bin

#1342 — Spider-Woman #32, Marvel, November 1980.

This Cool Comics Quarter Bin find is worth all 25 pennies just for the cover. While some may find it a bit cheesy, as a fan of Universal Monsters I absolutely love the black and white photos…not to mention my love of Jack Russell, Werewolf by Night! And while the story is okay, I still feel the best part of this one is the cover. The funny thing is, when I was flipping through one of my boxes of unread comics (that I bought for just a quarter, of course) and came across this one, I don’t even remember really having noticed the cover, both when I bought it and when I catalogued it. But the moment I saw it a couple weeks ago, I knew it was perfect for this October episode of Cool Comics from the Quarter Bin! The cover price of Spider-Woman #32 is 50¢, while the current values are $8 on CBR and $6 on ZKC. The OPG value is $8.

FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 14)

#1343 — Dark One #0, Vault Comics, May 2020.

The Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) edition of Dark One #0 gives us a special peak into a new comic book world conceived and created by bestselling author Brandon Sanderson…although he didn’t write the actual preview…and from what I’ve been able to find, the graphic novel coming out next year is also NOT written by him. I’m guessing Vault Comics is hoping that having Sanderson’s name attached to the project will help sell more copies, and after all, it spawned from his mind. It’s a fun read if you like fantasy, as it takes the reader from events that happened centuries ago to present times. And it’s just spooky enough to fit in well with our other October themed four-color fun. The cover price of Dark One #0 is free, while the current value is $1.

Cool Comics Kids

#1344 — Wendy, the Good Little Witch #33, Harvey Comics, December 1965.

This Wendy, the Good Little Witch comic is perfect for the younger readers in your life who want some Halloween fun without all the frights. Though none of the stories center around late October, it still gives you the cool feelings you get in anticipation of dressing up and getting free candy. The stories include a Wendy one-pager, Wendy in Don’t Rush Me, another one-page Wendy tale, a cool comic ad for Cheerios featuring Bullwinkle, Wendy in My Son the Sorcerer, Casper the Friendly Ghost is featured in A Great Help, then a Wendy two-page prose story with a couple pieces of art, and it finishes off with The Tuff Little Ghost, Spooky, in Bewitched and Bewildered. Back in 1965, Harvey really gave you your money’s worth in these comics! Unfortunately, my issue has several pages that are loose from the staples, but considering that I found this in a quarter bin, who’s complaining? The cover price of Wendy, the Good Little Witch #33 is 12¢, while the current values are $35 on CBR and $12 on ZKC. The OPG value is $35.

Cool Comics Classics

#1345 — Ghostly Tales #119, Charlton Comics, January 1976.

Any comic from the Seventies is good in my book, and when they’re on the spooky side and it’s getting deeper into October, then I feel like I hit the jackpot! A few months back while flipping through some deeply discounted comics at my local shop, I came upon this beaten up copy of a title I wasn’t familiar with. I’ve read a few dozen Charlton Comics in my time, and most of them were military titles, to be honest. But when I saw the name Ghostly Tales on the cover, which shows us mummies on the attack…well…there was no way I was going to put this back into the box. There’s nothing overly special about it, but it does have some fun characters in the three stories, including a werewolf, and I’m a sucker for werewolves. Charlton Comics were far from popular in the Seventies, but now that I’m a lot older and a little bit wiser, and that pang of nostalgia for days-gone-by hits me where I live, I find that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with this horror anthology. The cover price of Ghostly Tales is 25¢, while the current value is $22. The OPG value is also $22.

Cool Moments in Graphic Lit with Dr. Omnibus
The Crow

If I think of the term “Halloween comic,” the first book to come to mind is The Crow. I first read this about two years ago. I had seen the movie when I was a kid/teenager and didn’t think much of it; it was fine, but not my cup of tea.

But holy cow, this comic is amazing. I had low expectations due to my opinion of the movie, but also knew that many considered it required reading, and I’ll try to read anything that falls into that category, regardless of my assumptions.

The art is pretty inconsistent; so much so that I wonder if some of this was added in or redrawn years later. Despite the inconsistencies, a lot of this book has beautiful art, and the parts that aren’t beautiful are good enough. But for me, the awesomeness that is The Crow has little to do with the art: it’s the love story and heartbreak that make it great.

Through flashbacks, we get glimpses into Eric and Shelly’s lives before the catalyzing events of this series. Seeing these sometimes-inconsequential exchanges really help drive home the love these two shared, and therefore accentuates the pain of loss and makes the reader understand the thirst for revenge.

I suppose I’ll rewatch the film and see if I feel differently about it now that I am familiar with the source material, and it’s been about 25 years. Who knows? Either way, I am now in the camp of “this is required reading” for fans of graphic novels.

Damian Starr is a long-time collector of comics who, in recent years, has converted his focus to reading—almost exclusively—trade paperbacks, hardcovers, and Omnibus editions. Additionally, he is a frequent contributor to the  MCBCFA Play Network  YouTube channel (check out his Dr. Omnibus playlists). To add one more layer to his geekery, he is an amateur comic author and co-founder of  Illuminatus Comics .

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!

Create a Gravatar!

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.

https://learnwp.ca/gravatar/

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What Happens When Dracula Meets The Swamp Thing?!!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 264, 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 264…

Cool Comics News!

Fellow four-color friends, we’re about half-way through one of our favorite months, and the chills and frights keep rocking our reading at Cool Comics! If you’re not sure what to read next, perhaps you’ll be inspired by some of the selections below.

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Swamp Thing versus Dracula! 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’s creation is simply perfect for October as it’s Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, by artist Ed Griffie. 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 Collection
Contemporary Cool Comics

#1336 — Legend of the Swamp Thing Halloween Spectacular #1, DC, December 2020.

Last year fans of the fetid Swamp Thing (maybe using fetid is unfair…I’m not really all that sure if he does smell bad, but it seems like he probably does) rejoiced with a special Walmart Halloween edition, and hallelujah if DC didn’t do it again, this time at a comic shop near you! Admittedly I’m not a Swamp Thing fanatic, but I do appreciate the character and his place in DC lore, and if Halloween specials are now a thing with…well…Swamp Thing, then I’m all for it and all in. The structure of this issue makes it a really cool comic, as we start off with a story about a young boy lost in a swamp and then meet other Swamp Thing kinds of creatures throughout history, and finally wrapping it all up on October 31, many years later, in the same setting as the first story (the same writer and artist begin and end comic: Ram V and Mike Perkins). If you love anthologies and spooky stories for cool October evenings, make sure to grab this one before it’s gone from the shelves! The cover price of Legend of the Swamp Thing Halloween Spectacular #1 is $5.99, while the current value is $6. The Key Collector Comics value is $6.

Cool Comics from the Quarter Bin

#1337 — Fright Night #18, NOW Comics, April 1990.

Okay Fright Night fans, 1985 or 2011? The 1985 version gives us Chris Sarandon as Jerry the vampire and Roddy McDowell as vampire hunter Peter Vincent. The 2011 movie features Colin Farrell as Jerry and David Tennant as Peter Vincent…along with Tony Collette and Anton Yelchin (and an appearance by Chris Sarandon). For my money, I prefer the 2011 version. However, we’re supposed to be talking comics here, so we get the 1985 version. I hadn’t realized there was a Fright Night comic book until a few months ago after some incessant digging through quarter bins at my local comic shop, and the moment I saw this one I felt like I’d struck gold, since my son and I really enjoy watching the movies together. Unfortunately, with this being issue #18, I didn’t have a good grip on the plot, but it was still some cool October fun. The cover price of Fright Night #18 is $1.75, while the current value is $3. The OPG value is also $3.

FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 13)

#1338 — The Weirn Books, JY, July 2020.

When I saw the cover of Svetlana Chmakova’s The Weirn Books and spotted the little round notice that it’s coming as “A Brand-New Middle Grade Fantasy” for the summer of COVID-19, I wasn’t too thrilled about reading it. But as I’m completely committed to bringing all the Free Comic Book Day issues to Cool Comics, I felt a commitment to include it in our schedule, and October seemed like the perfect month. Sometimes I like kid stuff, and sometimes I don’t. And I didn’t like this…I loved it! I had given an extra copy to my 17-year-old daughter and after reading it proceeded to gush to her about how much fun it is. I don’t know if she thought it was weird that her dad liked a comic aimed at junior high students, but part of the fun of comic books is to be transported back to simpler days, and this story most certainly had me feeling young again. You may still be able to find the free edition at your local comic shop, but if not, you can always purchase the full graphic novel. The cover price of The Weirn Books is free, while the current values are $0 on CBR and $1 on ZKC.

Cool Comics Kids

#1339 — Count Duckula #3, Marvel, March 1989.

Over a year ago I was fortunate to find eight issues of everyone’s favorite vampire duck comic book…at least I’m assuming he’s everyone’s favorite (if he’s not, you simply haven’t read any of his tales yet). And with just 15 total issues in the Marvel collection, I may be able to complete this series if I set my mind to it. But best of all I paid just a quarter each. This is a fun series for kids and adults alike, as the vampire duck is an avowed vegetarian and doesn’t seem to follow in the footsteps of most of the vampires we’re familiar with (such as the one in the comic below!). As kids get older, they often tend to gravitate to movies, books, and comics that produce a bit of fright, but for the little ones, Count Duckula isn’t scary at all and his adventures are a lot of fun. These make great editions to little reader libraries, especially for the month of October. The cover price of Count Duckula #3 is $1, while the current value is $4. The OPG value is also $4.

Cool Comics Classics

#1340 — Tomb of Dracula #25, Marvel, October 1974.

Tomb of Dracula #25 (“Night of the Blood Stalker!”) contains the origin and first appearance of Hannibal King, a character who would go on to appear ten more times in the title, and later played a large role in the Doctor Strange storyline The Montesi Formula, which in turn led to his membership as part of The Nightstalkers in which he teamed with Blade and Frank Drake. If you’re familiar with the character of Angel from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, then you know that even though he’s a vampire, he’s basically one of the good guys. But Marvel did it before Angel came around because King is a vampire, too. A vampire detective. And of course, Blade is a Dhampir…but…this issue isn’t about Blade. Unfortunately for me, I didn’t care about Marvel’s monster comics in the Seventies, but over the years I’ve picked up some back issues when I’m able to find them for decent prices. As an added note, I’ve been reading the digital edition of the series and can’t stress enough how much fun this title is! The issue I have is actually from a JC Penney offer from the Nineties, and while the value isn’t as good as the original, it’s still a great October read! The cover price of Tomb of Dracula #25 is 25¢, while the current value is $60. My 2nd Printing JC Penney copy is listed at $12 on CBR and $10 on ZKC. The OPG value is $95 for the 1st Printing and $12 for the edition I own. The Key Collector Comics value is $25 for the original edition.

Cool Moments in Graphic Lit with Dr. Omnibus
The Walking Dead (spoilers ahead)

The Walking Dead will forever hold a special place in my heart. I remember the night the first episode aired on AMC. It was Halloween, the trick-or-treaters had already stopped knocking on the door for the most part, and I was able to sit back and take it all in. I fell in love instantly. A T.V show about zombies with big budget quality special effects and makeup. Yes please!

I didn’t read an issue of the comic until six years later. So, I already had a fair amount of the show under my belt, but once I started reading it, it didn’t take too long to figure out there were some significant divergences between the two mediums. Enough so that I viewed them as practically unrelated to one another, but also familiar enough that I never felt lost as a result of the changes.

Many of the comic’s pivotal scenes were recreated in the show and some characters portrayed more accurately than others. One of the characters that I felt was most accurately portrayed on screen was Hershel. His Bible-thumping and dedication to doing what was right translated well in both mediums.

One character the show did not give justice to was The Governor. Given that the show was still newish when he first appeared, I can understand them wanting to scale back the depravity of The Governor. In the comic he was a far sicker individual than in the show. I mean, that stuff with his daughter was scaled back big time in the show. Not to mention actually being a rapist in the comic as opposed to just being a very convincing manipulator in the show.

There is no shortage of changes (Alpha, Lori, Andrea) and similarities (Negan, Glenn, Shane) to discuss, but instead of droning on about all of them, I will move on.

Many people say the quality of the comic dips considerably after issue 100 or so; I do not agree at all. I thought it was more interesting in the last 75 issues. But maybe that’s because I read issue 100 shortly after the events of that issue had been portrayed in the show; therefore, everything that followed in the comic was completely new to me and I no longer had any sense of what to expect. Regardless, I enjoyed the whole series and recommend it, even if you’ve seen all the episodes to date.

Damian Starr is a long-time collector of comics who, in recent years, has converted his focus to reading—almost exclusively—trade paperbacks, hardcovers, and Omnibus editions. Additionally, he is a frequent contributor to the  MCBCFA Play Network  YouTube channel (check out his Dr. Omnibus playlists). To add one more layer to his geekery, he is an amateur comic author and co-founder of  Illuminatus Comics .

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!

Create a Gravatar!

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.

https://learnwp.ca/gravatar/

Hits: 68

Autumn is Ablaze with Hair-Raising Horror!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 263, 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 263…

Cool Comics News!

And now a word from Dr. Omnibus!

The date is set! November 4th, The Smallest Stone will make big waves with the help of talented artists like Goz Mosis, Jon Running, and Criss Madd.

But we can’t do it without you! Please follow us on Kickstarter and you will receive notification as soon as the project launches.

In this graphic novel, we tell three stories, each derived through the type of thinking I attempt to employ in all my decisions. They paint a picture of the worst possible scenario, which is the result of a seemingly small choice; or how one may be rewarded and enrich the lives of others just by doing the right thing, despite their true motivation, and how sometimes what you feel is right can be viewed differently from another perspective.

While on his deathbed, a lonely man explores where his life went wrong.
An angry man faces the consequences of his actions.
The unexpected consequences of doing what is right.

Please click on Kickstarter and follow today so you don’t miss out!

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Captain America versus Hillbilly! 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. Chakan, the forever man, stares out at us from a mouth of horror, a perfect piece of frightening art for October! 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 Collection
Contemporary Cool Comics

#1331 — Knightglaive #1, DamageARTS XD, 2020.

In November 2019, I met Damion Kendrick at The Akron Comicon and had him sign a poster that contained a bunch of heroes from local creators, including Knightglaive, who hadn’t yet made his official comic book appearance. I gave Damion my business card and asked him to let me know when his comic was published, and he didn’t forget, contacting and then sending me this first issue, which he signed on the cover! Knightglaive is a fun, exciting concept that should interest fans of both fantasy and superheroes…with a touch of horror, because just look at the picture of the villain (Bersooz) I included here. He’s a nasty guy who makes children his victims, so as readers, we really want to see him get taken down by Knightglaive. Because this is independently published, this comic doesn’t come with a rating, but it’s more on the mature side when it comes to theme and content, so you’ll probably want to keep it out of the hands of little readers, once you get it in your hands. And how do you do that? While Damion doesn’t have a direct site just yet, you can email him at damagearts@gmail.com, find him on Facebook, or connect with him via Instagram @damagearts. Knightglaive #1 is especially enjoyable to read in October (at least it was for a monster-kid-at-heart person like me!), so if you are interested, be sure to contact Damion Kendrick soon.

Cool Comics from the Quarter Bin

#1332 — Captain America #402, Marvel, July 1992.

Because the Man-Wolf first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #124 and he’s the son of J. Jonah Jameson, I always associate him with the Spider-Man family of heroes and villains. So when I found this issue of Captain America in a quarter bin, it really got me curious. Of course, John Jameson (Man-Wolf) has a military background, and I should have realized that Steve Rogers (Captain America) knew him. Additionally, Man-Wolf appeared in several issues of the series Creatures on the Loose (and now I wish I had bought those issues as a kid), having adventures without Spider-Man. This is just part one of a six-issue storyline, and I’m hopeful that I can find more of them because it was great comic book fun and actually has more werewolves then you normally see in a non-Twilight setting (not that I’ve ever seen a Twilight movie, but I’ve heard a thing or two). The cover price of Captain America #402 is $1.25, while the current value is $3. The OPG value is also $3.

FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 12)

#1333 — Hillbilly, Albatross Funny Books, May 2020.

The lizard from the story The Lizard of Rusty Creek Cave in this Free Comic Book Day edition of Hillbilly more than qualifies the issue as an October kind of scary Cool Comic. It’s creepy and freaky and would probably give me nightmares in my younger days. And even the titular hero, the Hillbilly himself, probably gives some readers goosebumps. I’m familiar with this comic by way of Previews (the monthly catalog of upcoming comics), but this was my first time reading one of Hillbilly’s stories. Having been born in West Virginia and raised just across the river in Ohio, I’ve seen my share of people who you might consider to be hillbillies. Probably the most famous story about hillbillies is the Hatfield–McCoy feud, and my maternal grandfather, as the family legend goes, was nearly a victim. When he knocked on a door many decades ago to sell something or other (or maybe take a survey) that I no longer remember, someone inside asked who was there, and when my grandfather said Mr. McKee, well, it was at first construed as McCoy by the Hatfield living there. Which is far scarier than any of these horror themed comic books! The cover price of Hillbilly is free, while the current value is $1.

Cool Comics Kids

#1334 — Walt Disney’s Donald Duck Adventures #14 , Gladstone, August 1989.

This classic Disney Duck story originated in 1943 from the great Carl Barks and was aptly named, “The Mummy’s Ring,” and it’s so much fun that it was reprinted in 1965, then again in this Gladstone edition in 1989. When it comes to October, mummies usually aren’t as popular as vampires, werewolves, or lab-created monsters. And zombies. Zombies have been quite popular over the last couple decades or so. But when it comes to Disney, we don’t want the mummies to be too scary or even supernatural, and Barks did a great job with this little adventure that takes Donald and his nephews across the globe to the land of pharaohs…both living and dead! This edition of the story is perfect for a kids Cool Comic library, and while you may have to dig around a bit to find it (I was most fortunate to find mine in a quarter box!), it’s worth the search. The cover price of Walt Disney’s Donald Duck Adventures #14 is 95¢, while the current values are $4 on CBR and $3 on ZKC. The OPG value is $4.

Cool Comics Classics

#1335 — Secrets of Haunted House #44, DC, January 1982.

The best thing about this issue of the horror anthology Secrets of Haunted House is the devilishly delightful cover by Bernie Wrightson. Doesn’t it make you want to find out what’s happening to the man carrying the jack-o’-lantern and seemingly fighting off a demonic horde? Well, it worked for me, and I set out to buy it when I saw this image online over a year ago. Lucky for me I found it at a local comic shop for just a couple bucks…then, several months later, forgetting I actually had it stuffed away in my file cabinet of yet-to-be-explored adventures, I saw this same issue in a quarter bin and was over the moon that I’d acquired it at such a good deal…only to discover when I got it home that I already had it. So now my oldest child is in possession of my quarter bin find. The comic itself has three stories, and we don’t have to wait long to find out the mystery of the cover, because that one comes first…after, of course, a few pages of intro from our friendly horror host. Titled “The Halloween God,” there are really no surprises to it, but it’s good October fun, nonetheless. The second offering, “One Small Difference!” seems so alien compared to the first story (maybe because the story takes place on a different planet!) but shows us that greed sometimes gets you in the end. Finally, “Keeper of the Orb” is an okay story, but my least favorite of the bunch. The cover price of Secrets of Haunted House #44 is 60¢, while the current values are $16 on CBR and $10 on ZKC. The OPG value is $16.

Cool Moments in Graphic Lit with Dr. Omnibus

DCeased (spoilers)  

So, an infectious disease is introduced to the world using Cyborg as patient zero and social media as a world-wide delivery system for the virus. Pretty much if you look at a screen you become a zombie. Most of the world is infected within hours. This really would be devastating to the human race if that were to happen.

This leads to superheroes fighting zombies and turning into zombies in some cases. Combining horror and superheroes is something I can get behind.

Overall, the comic was great, good art, interesting concept. I always felt they should have explored the human aspect of this story, though. They could have filled two more issues easily just by showing a few things from the perspective of your average Joe, and thus created a deeper and richer world. But hey, at least we got the members of the Justice League squaring off with one another and playing for keeps.

The more Elseworlds stories I read, the more I love them. Tom Taylor sure can write a great story when there is no continuity to worry about.

Damian Starr is a long-time collector of comics who, in recent years, has converted his focus to reading—almost exclusively—trade paperbacks, hardcovers, and Omnibus editions. Additionally, he is a frequent contributor to the  MCBCFA Play Network  YouTube channel (check out his Dr. Omnibus playlists). To add one more layer to his geekery, he is an amateur comic author and co-founder of  Illuminatus Comics .

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.

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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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With October Cool Comics, Expect The Unexpected!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 262, 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 262…

Cool Comics News!

Okay comic lovers, it’s October, and you know what that means: the comics get a little darker, a little creepier, a little scarier…especially here at Cool Comics! We hope to entertain and thrill you over the next five weeks with a number of issues that would fit right in with any reputable library that’s housed in…The Twilight Zone.

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is She-Hulk versus The Tick! 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 we welcome back Sydney Walton and his awesome art! This cover of Antarctic Press’s Horror Comics #1 is a great way to start off October! It’s 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

#1326 — Immortal She-Hulk #1, Marvel, November 2020.

These days She-Hulk is often referred to as simply the Hulk, but for this one-shot, I think the idea is to make sure we realize it’s Jennifer Walter’s story, since Bruce Banner’s current ongoing title is Immortal Hulk. If you know nothing about Jennifer’s history and how she became the She-Hulk, this comic gives you a nice summation. And with a She-Hulk live-action series on the horizon for Disney+, you may not want to miss out on this issue, which also includes Wolverine (Logan and Jennifer have some interesting conversations about dying and coming back to life…over and over) and Thor (who now, for certain reasons, has a bit of a different take on immortality). Jennifer’s current story and condition is darker than the old days of She-Hulk, which makes this comic a nice segue into October. The cover price of Immortal She-Hulk #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5. The Key Collector Comics value is $5.

Cool Comics from the Quarter Bin

#1327 — Ghosts #104, DC, September 1981.

Whether or not you believe in ghosts, Ghosts DO exist in comic book form, as evidenced from the cover picture here (unless you think I’m using trick photography, but for a comic I fished out of a quarter bin, that’s really going to too much trouble!). But in all seriousness, ghost stories have long been part of traditional storytelling, and, with apologies to those who love a good Christmas ghost story, the darker evenings of October probably provide the best atmosphere. The subtitle for this comic tells us we can expect “New Tales of the Weird and Supernatural,” and isn’t that exactly what we want with this comic? It starts off with a host, Squire Shade, dressed in a top hat, tails, and a cape…but no head that can be seen. He introduces each of the three chillers, each written by Robert Kanigher, and if you’re like me, you get a kick out of all the different horror hosts from yesteryear’s comics. And while none of the stories really stood out for me, I enjoyed the experience of immersing myself in this early Eighties anthology. Before we go on to the next issue, if you have a particular ghost story, be it comic or prose, that you enjoy and want to recommend to the Cool Comics crowd, please tell us below in the comments section. One of my favorites, while neither a thriller nor a comic book, is the psychological story “The Jolly Corner” by Henry James. The cover price of Ghosts #104 is 50¢, while the current value is $8. The OPG value is also $8.

FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 11)

#1328 — The Tick, New England Comics, June 2020.

When October rolls around, there are usually some interesting choices in my Free Comic Book Day stack to help set the mood, and this Tick freebie does the job. The Tick has had Halloween themed comic specials in the past, and while this isn’t one of them, it is a bit of a spooky alien possession story, which is all we need for those cool October evenings of comic book reading. But that’s not all! This FCBD issue also gives us another complete story that’s quite entertaining called “Moon Marathon.” If you’re at all familiar with the Tick, then you know just how much fun you’re going to have while reading his comics. The guest stars are great, the art is entertaining, and the writing is crafty. I loved the animated Tick series back in the Nineties, but I admit I’ve never seen any of the live-action Tick shows. Are they worth watching? The cover price of The Tick is free, while the current value is $1.

Cool Comics Kids

#1329 — Wacky Witch #13 , Whitman/Gold Key, January 1974.

Most kids I’ve known (many of whom are now adults) love the pageantry of October, not only for the opportunity of getting delicious goodies to snack on, but also for the bright fall colors, the crisp, cool air that’s so different from summer, and a chance to pretend they’re someone else, be it hero or villain…or someone downright spooky! And though it’s early in the month, I’ve known some who use all thirty-one days to celebrate and enjoy the fun of the season. And maybe the best way to start off is with a cool comic! Wacky Witch isn’t exactly scary, but it is four-color anthology fun for little ones and adults alike. There are lots of October people out there who like the cute aspects of smiling jack-o’-lanterns, friendly black cats, and candy corn, rather than nightmares on whatever avenue. So, if you’re an orange and black kind of person who enjoys pumpkin-spiced everything this month, then this is the kind of witch comic for you. The cover price of Wacky Witch #13 is 20¢, while the current values are $12 on CBR and $10 on ZKC. The OPG value is $12.

Cool Comics Classics

#1330 — The Unexpected #166, DC, July 1975.

I must confess that the stories in this comic were quite…unexpected. Okay, you can stop groaning now (and hopefully you didn’t stop reading!). DC had some awesome titles back when I was a kid, but unfortunately, I wasn’t buying them at the time. So, in my quest to grab great stuff that I missed out on decades ago, anthology horror comics like this (and the Ghost title above) often get my attention when I’m scouting out back issue boxes. The cover story, “The Evil Eyes of Night,” starts us off with a creepy tale about a kid camping out in his yard and is full of surprises. Next up is “The Point of Death,” a cautionary tale that might have you reconsider your hobbies. The last story, which may keep you guessing until the end, is a nifty little look at receiving help in surprising ways and named “Spirit, Why Do You Haunt Me?” You won’t lose any sleep reading this comic…unless, of course, you have a guilty conscience. If you like spooky stuff, you may want to keep your eyes peeled for this one …the creepy cover alone makes it worth it! The cover price of The Unexpected #166 is 25¢, while the current values are $20 on CBR and $14 on ZKC. The OPG value is $20.

Cool Moments in Graphic Lit with Dr. Omnibus
Bernie Wrightson

Generally speaking, there are two kinds of art in my eyes…acceptable and unacceptable. It’s very much a pass/fail situation for me. But every now and then, I come across some art that far exceeds acceptable. This was the case in the fall of 2018 when I found a collected edition that featured the work of Bernie Wrightson. I had never heard of Wrightson when I bought this book; I just knew I wanted to read some horror comics. So, I cracked this open and the first story just blew me away. I still geek out when I see this stuff. I won’t be too wordy this week…the pictures speak for themselves.

In these earlier works, I see the use of shadows and am just astounded by the beauty.

In his later works, I see the insane attention to detail and get goosebumps.

Unfortunately, Mr. Wrightson passed away a few years ago. I would have loved to discover his work while I still had a chance to tell him how amazing I think it is. In my opinion, he is the pinnacle for which all other comic artists should be aiming. Hopefully, I find something someday that is even better. I love being wrong like that.

Damian Starr is a long-time collector of comics who, in recent years, has converted his focus to reading—almost exclusively—trade paperbacks, hardcovers, and Omnibus editions. Additionally, he is a frequent contributor to the  MCBCFA Play Network  YouTube channel (check out his Dr. Omnibus playlists). To add one more layer to his geekery, he is an amateur comic author and co-founder of  Illuminatus Comics .

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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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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Detective Comics Achieves Momentous Mark!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 261, 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 261…

Cool Comics News!

There’s no doubt that Detective Comics #1027 deserves our slot for Contemporary Cool Comics this week, but there was some notable competition, including Iron Man #1, Immortal Hulk #0, X-Men #12, Batman #99, Justice League #53, Amazing Spider-Man: The sins of Norman Osborn #1, and Thor #7. You can probably think of other worthy additions that deserve to be recognized here at Cool Comics, but, alas, our time is limited. Alternatively, if you think a comic deserves further attention, you can always submit a Cool Comics Reader Review, so please keep that in mind!

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Batman versus Venom! 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 we show off the awesomely cool art of John R. Smith, who is quite active on our Cool Comics In My Collection Facebook page. This fantastic piece feature’s Bucky, MODOK, and Captain America. If you want to see more of John’s awesome creations, be sure to visit his Facebook page at Smittys Art Stuff…especially if you want to acquire some of his wonderful 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 Collection
Contemporary Cool Comics

#1321 — Detective Comics #1027, DC, November 2020.

Throughout my on-again, off-again relationship with comics books, I’ve been just as inconsistent when it comes to Detective Comics. During Knightfall in the Nineties, I made sure to buy it so that I could follow along with the storyline, and I’ve gotten some issues here and there, including the special #1000, but for some reason it’s never been much on my radar. I suppose the Batman title just sounds more appealing, because I’ve got lots more issues of it. However, when I saw that Detective Comics #1027 would soon be out, I know I had to get it. Just think of it, Detective Comics #27 features the first appearance of Batman, and here we are, one thousand issues later! Something that important and exciting deserves to get the royal treatment, so DC gives us 144 pages for our money with this special issue that features creators such as Peter J. Tomasi, Brian Michael Bendis, Marv Wolfman, Scott Snyder, Dan Jurgens, Walter Simonson, and many more! Overall, you get a dozen stories for your money. If you like big celebrations, then don’t miss out on this one! The cover price of Detective Comics #1027 is $9.99, while the current value is $10. The Key Collector Comics value is $10.

Cool Comics from the Quarter Bin

#1322 — Doctor Tomorrow #1, Valiant Entertainment, February 2020.

I saw this rather new Valiant comic in the quarter bin a few weeks ago and couldn’t pass it up for the price. And even though I’ve been buying Valiant comics from the Nineties…mostly the original volumes…Doctor Tomorrow is a character I’m unfamiliar with. This first issue is from a mini-series that ran for five issues, and if I spot any of the others for the same price, I’ll certainly grab them. This comic also contains four preview pages from a newer X-O Manowar series, and I enjoyed it, too. Anyone out there an old school or new school fan of Valiant? I’ve read a few of the newer ones over the last couple years, and they produce a good product. If I had unlimited funds (along with unlimited time), I’d probably collect most of what they are currently putting out. But since I can’t, it’s fun to stumble across them in the discount boxes. The cover price of Doctor Tomorrow #1 is $3.99, while the current value is $4. The OPG value is also $4. The Key Collector Comics value is $4.

FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 10)

#1323 — Spider-Man/Venom #1, Marvel, May 2020.

Free Comic Book Day 2020 turned into Free Comic Book Week(s) through part of the summer, due to the ongoing pandemic, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t some great free comics to grab! This year you had to be diligent if you wanted to get them all, and what’s wrong with weekly trips to the comic shop? I’m sure most stores took precautions to keep their customers safe, and if you weren’t a regular collector, perhaps going each week to gather the freebies allowed certain titles to catch your eye, hence gaining more support for your local comic store! If you’re a fan of Marvel, this was the title to get, as it contains stories featuring Spider-Man (along with the Black Cat) and Venom and connects to their ongoing adventures. The value for this FCBD issue has gone up faster than most this year, so if you haven’t gotten this yet, it may be a little difficult to find. The cover price of Spider-Man/Venom #1 is free, while the current values are $4 on CBR and $5 on ZKC. The Key Collector Comics value is $3.

Cool Comics Kids

#1324 — Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies Comics #156 , Dell, October 1954.

A couple episodes ago (159, to be exact), our Cool Comics Kids selection dated back to August 1955 (which I purchased for just a quarter!), and this time we have an even older selection, from October 1954. It’s not often and not easy to find these in quarter bins, but I’m always hopeful whenever I have the chance to dig around. The other thing that helps is that the majority of back issue searchers are looking for capes, cowls, and tights titles, and while I also go for those, I’m always more than happy to add to my growing library for the younger crowd. But to be perfectly honest, I’m buying these for myself, because sometimes it’s fun to feed the kid inside. Maybe someday this part of my collection will be passed onto younger eyes, but for now, I enjoy reading them and hope that some of you do, too. Besides, Looney Tunes were a huge part of my childhood. I’ve viewed hours and hours of the classic cartoons, so why not enjoy them via comic books? This issue features the characters Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, Elmer Fudd, Mary Jane and Sniffles (first time I’ve ever seen them that I can recall), and Tweety and Sylvester. The ads are great in this old issue, and there is a full page about joining Dell’s Comic Club, in which you get a special ball point pen! Some of the pages are a bit loose and there is some tape inside that’s turned brown, but man was this ever worth my 25 cents! The cover price of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies Comics #156 is 10¢, while the current values are $80 on CBR and $75 on ZKC. The OPG value is $80.

Cool Comics Classics

#1325 — Amazing Spider-Man Annual #14, Marvel, October 1980.

I guess it’s the season for annuals at Cool Comics because last week we delivered Defenders Annual #1 in this slot. Obviously, annuals take a little longer to read, especially the older they are, as the word count was much lengthier in days past, so it’s always a bit of a commitment, considering my daily reading load (which is kind of ridiculous, but reading is my thing). But I’ve been ignoring my backlog of back issue annuals for far too long, and admittedly, I really enjoyed taking this trip back to October 1980. When this comic hit spinner racks, I was a senior at Martins Ferry High School, a small river town in Ohio. I’d quit buying comics a couple years earlier, which I now regret, but at the time, it was the right choice for me (at least that’s how we think when we’re younger, right?). Anyway, it’s always fun to see some of the stuff I missed out on, and this Amazing Spider-Man Annual, featuring creators Denny O’Neil and Frank Miller, gives us a bit of a terrifying tale with Doctor Strange, Doctor Doom, and the Dread Dormammu! The cover price of Amazing Spider-Man Annual #14 is 75¢, while the current value is $25. The OPG value is also $25.

Cool Moments in Graphic Lit with Dr. Omnibus
James Gordon – Injustice Year 2 (MAJOR SPOILERS)

This one got me in the feels. During the events of Injustice Year 2, Superman set his eyes on Gotham. Well, Jim Gordan was having none of that. But Batman was nowhere to be found, so Jim went looking for Batman, and if anyone knows where to find him, it is the infamous Oracle. But how does one find a person who only exists in whispers and by an alias? Turns out Jim is a pretty solid detective and has known all along who and where Oracle was. Fortunately, he can keep a secret with the best of ’em.

I love the revelation that he has known about Barbara’s nighttime shenanigans all along. Too bad he can only exist with this secret no longer being a secret for a short time.

So much for working together while the cat is out of the bag.

With Batman out of commission, Jim will need to figure something else out. He, along with some other members of the police force and some otherwise unpowered folk, get their hands on a drug that works much likes Bane’s Venom, except the use of this drug will accelerate the advancement of his cancer.

Jim knows what he has to do, so he uses the drug and saves the day, but ultimately it costs him what would be left of his life. This leads to an emotional exchange between Bruce, Barbara, and Jim.

Jim letting Barbara have her secret for all these years, and his self-sacrifice, just fill these issues with hard-hitting emotional moments that take this story the extra step.

Damian Starr is a long-time collector of comics who, in recent years, has converted his focus to reading—almost exclusively—trade paperbacks, hardcovers, and Omnibus editions. Additionally, he is a frequent contributor to the  MCBCFA Play Network  YouTube channel (check out his Dr. Omnibus playlists). To add one more layer to his geekery, he is an amateur comic author and co-founder of  Illuminatus Comics .

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!

Create a Gravatar!

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.

https://learnwp.ca/gravatar/

Celebrating Five Years of Cool Comics In My Collection!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 260, 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 260…

Cool Comics News!

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Can you believe that Cool Comics is now, with this very episode (yes, I’m trying to create some dramatic tension here, because this is about comic books, after all!), five years old? We’ve gone through changes and grown for the better, but our goal to entertain you and to sometimes take you back to those nostalgic feelings of yesteryear, whether you’re ten years old or hitting the century mark, remains the same. We appreciate those who have submitted art, reviews, and comics over the years; we love your comments on the blog; and most of all that you make the decision each week to spend a little time reading Cool Comics In My Collection.

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Ultraman versus Power Man! 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!

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[image error]This episode’s creation comes to us from illustrator Dan Gorman, a member of the National Cartoonists Society and one of the top sketch card artists on the planet. This card, featuring Luke Skywalker, is one of the 50 plus sketch cards Dan created for the Topps Star Wars Masterworks 2019 Set. 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 Collection
Contemporary Cool Comics

#1316 — Superman #25, DC, November 2020.

[image error]Is it mere coincidence that Superman is celebrating 25 issues of its current volume (constant comic book readers know just how much companies love to overemphasize their titles each time you can divide them by 25) while we celebrate five years of Cool Comics? Perhaps not. You see, Brian Michael Bendis, the writer of Superman, hails from Cleveland, Ohio, and the national headquarters of Cool Comics is just a short trip south from there to Copley, Ohio. Surely Bendis is more than aware of our humble existence, right? How sly of him to arrange his publishing schedule to coincide with the Cool Comics family of writers and artists! All kidding aside, it’s fun to hit this milestone hand-in-hand with the grandaddy of all superheroes. If you aren’t a regular reader of the Man of Steel, you may be surprised at some of the changes he’s had in his life since Bendis took over the writing chores. And now, in this “Extra-Sized Anniversary Issue!” he faces a new threat, SYNMAR. Want to know more? Check with your local comic shop to see if they still have the issue in stock. The cover price of Superman #25 is $5.99, while the current value is $6. The Key Collector Comics value is $4.

#1317 — The Rise of Ultraman #1, Marvel, November 2020.

[image error]What? No Cool Comics From the Quarter Bin this week? I can’t make the excuse that I’ve run out of quarter issues, because I have enough to see the blog through the next couple decades. Instead, I want to mention another Contemporary Cool Comic and still keep this list limited to five issues, because it’s easier to manage, and the numbers look good this way…sort of like what I mentioned above about companies and their anniversary issues. Anyway, my wife has great memories of watching Ultraman on TV from her childhood, but I can’t recall ever seeing a single episode, so I thought it would be neat to get something she’s familiar with and connect myself to it via my favorite entertainment field, comics! Not having a background with the show didn’t keep me from enjoying the start of this mini-series, and I’m hoping my wife will give it a read it, too, bringing back some fun memories for her. There are a few goofy “extras” inside, but the main story is intriguing and I’m looking forward to issue 2! The cover price of The Rise of Ultraman #1 is $5.99, while the current value is $6. The Key Collector Comics value is $6.

FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 9)

#1318 — Jack Kirby: The Epic Life of the King of Comics, Ten Speed Press, September 2020.

[image error]Whether or not you appreciate his art, creativity, and storytelling, there’s no getting around the fact that Jack Kirby deserves the moniker, “King of Comics.” He’s the architect and/or co-creator behind some of the most iconic characters in the four-color world of funnybooks, along with being the inspiration behind the publishing company TwoMorrows. And now Tom Scioli presents us with this Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) preview of his graphic novel that reveals the Jack Kirby story, panel by panel, which is a fitting tribute. This is very well done, and if you’re not sure if you really want this freebie as it sits on the rack amongst all the colorful offerings, I suggest you give it a try. In my younger days, I was fairly oblivious to who was writing and drawing the comic books I loved so well, but now as I consider myself a student of comic book history, I understand how important it is to learn about the men and women who have brought so much joy to our lives. Yes, Kirby’s story is a worthy edition for our Fifth Anniversary episode! Get this one while it’s still available, and perhaps, if you like it, buy the entire story in graphic novel format. The cover price of Jack Kirby: The Epic Life of the King of Comics is free, while the current value is $1. The Key Collector Comics value is $0.

Cool Comics Kids

#1319 — Uncle Scrooge #131 , Gold Key, August 1976.

[image error]No friends, it’s not “fowl” weather just because ducks were featured on the cover of last episode’s Cool Comics Kids section also…we just like ducks! While so many other bird comic characters can be somewhat annoying (Tweety, Woody Woodpecker, and the Road Runner, just to mention a few), I’ve become a big fan of the Disney ducks, along with good old Daffy of the Looney Tunes gang. And while I enjoy them, someone(s) been getting rid of their collection, because I’ve found so many of them over the last couple years in quarter boxes! So, factoring in that I have many Duck issues and I enjoy reading these comics, I felt justified in selecting this issue of Uncle Scrooge for our 5th Anniversary episode. And the fact that this issue hearkens from the Seventies—my favorite comic book era—is icing on the cake! The reality is, in 1976, I wouldn’t have given this Gold Key comic a second glance. Or any Gold Key comic, as far as that goes. But times and attitudes change, and now I enjoy selecting and reading these treasures aimed at a younger audience. If you’re building a library of comics for young readers, you can’t go wrong with Disney Ducks! The cover price of Uncle Scrooge #131 is 25¢, while the current value is $45. The OPG value is $45.

Cool Comics Classics

#1320 — Defenders Annual #1, Marvel, November 1976.

I confess that I didn’t purchase this when it came out in 1976. At that time in my comic book collecting life, I was busy buying The Amazing Spider-Man, Marvel Team-Up, Captain America, Omega the Unknown, a few Fantastic Fours, and sometimes a few Archie comics. And probably a smattering of other titles here and there. But not The Defenders. For some reason, I wasn’t interested at the time. But now…yes, now, the nostalgic pull of things I missed out on during the Seventies is strong, and I picked this one up in a shop for just half the price of the $10 sticker that’s on the bag it’s stored in. Hence, I ended up paying ten times the original price. However, many of today’s new comics are priced at $4.99, so this wasn’t a bad deal at all. Plus, the cover makes it worth every penny! The creative crew for this exciting annual combined the wondrous writing of Steve Gerber and the amazing artistry of Sal Buscema and Klaus Janson. Though I’m 44 years late in reading this awesome annual, victory has finally been achieved! The cover price of Defenders Annual #1 is 50¢, while the current values are $40 on CBR and $20 on ZKC. The OPG value is $40.

Cool Moments in Graphic Lit with Dr. Omnibus

Grief – Prayer (spoiler heavy and may not be suitable for some children) 

Grief is a pretty special comic in my opinion. It is an anthology written by Frank Gogol (Dead End Kids, No Heroine). It tells several short stories, several of which are completely heart-wrenching. Here is a bit about one of those short stories.

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As mentioned a few weeks back, I am a recovering alcoholic. I don’t mean to repeat myself and bring that up at every chance I get, but I feel its relevant in many scenarios. It plays a big part in how I perceive certain stories and is a very formative detail of my life. Other important details that impact my perception of this story: I love and collect Christmas comics and I am a parent.

In this particular story we see a young woman named Diane and her son walk into a 12 step meeting. When she speaks at the meeting, we learn that Diane was unable to provide a decent birthday for her son, due to being unemployed as a result of her criminal record, which was obtained during her days of active addiction. Not only that, but Christmas is tomorrow, and she will be unable to provide in those respects as well.

As an alcoholic I know a thing or two about how my addiction hurt those I love; as a parent I know the fear and pain that come with falling short of your own expectations of being a parent. One thing I love about this scene is that when she shares, she takes accountability for her involvement in these shortcomings. She isn’t asking for handouts or pity; she is just talking about her real-life struggles in recovery. She never mentions that these struggles have her on the verge of relapse or anything like that. But her thoughts are still relevant, because in 12 step programs, people are expected to apply the principles of the program in all of their affairs, which means sometimes something may seem “off-topic” by not relating directly to addiction, but it is in fact “on-topic” because addiction is simply a symptom of a greater problem, according to these 12 step programs, anyway.

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In the end, the members (or a member) of the 12 step group dropped off some gifts for the boy, and Diane was able to provide a Christmas like what her son was expecting.

My perception of a Higher-Power, which I choose to call God, speaks to me through other people. God also does for me what I cannot do for myself. Both of these themes are expressed in this story. The generous members of the group heard the opportunity when Diane spoke, to help someone, God showed them how they could exercise His will, and they carried it out, thus doing for Diane what she could not do for herself. While I certainly wouldn’t share something like what Diane shared with the expectation of people coming to my aid in that regard, it certainly wouldn’t surprise me if the members of a certain 12 step program did come to my aid if my situation were similar.

There are many other great stories in this anthology, some relating to addiction, some tackle other issues, and most are very moving stories. Don’t be surprised if I feature a different story from this book in the future. I need to go hug my kids now.

Damian Starr is a long-time collector of comics who, in recent years, has converted his focus to reading—almost exclusively—trade paperbacks, hardcovers, and Omnibus editions. Additionally, he is a frequent contributor to the  MCBCFA Play Network  YouTube channel (check out his Dr. Omnibus playlists). To add one more layer to his geekery, he is an amateur comic author and co-founder of  Illuminatus Comics .

Cool Comics Reader Reviews!

[image error]Hello, Steve Adams here again. It’s been a little while since my last review, but I think this book is worth it. After finishing the original Darth Vader run from Marvel, I went back to my superhero roots with the latest Fantastic Four title. However, this book crept into my memory, and I got the collected version from the library to read again.

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Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars, a mouthful of a title, began publishing in 1984, and ran for 12 issues. It was a true landmark in that it was the first true crossover encompassing the entire Marvel universe, and 12 issues was a long run for a miniseries. It starred the Fantastic Four, minus a pregnant Invisible Girl, The Avengers, The X-Men, Hulk, Spider-Man, and Magneto against some of Marvel’s toughest and most dangerous villains, led by Doctor Doom. Essentially, they were all transported across space by the omnipotent Beyonder, and set against each other in all-out war to the death. The legendary Jim Shooter wrote it and did a masterful job. The series was really just a mass marketing ploy to sell action figures. Honestly, Shooter could have just mailed it in and written a pedestrian story that quickly became a footnote. Instead, he [image error]changed the Marvel Universe forever. How? Let me count the ways. First, the black costume for Spider-Man would eventually become Venom, who is still one their most popular characters 36 years later. Magneto began his journey towards heroism here, amid much mistrust from the other heroes. The Thing left the FF, and actually stayed on Battleworld in his solo book for almost three years, which put She-Hulk into a very prominent role as his replacement. Spider-Woman, introduced in #7, would join the West Coast Avengers, which started shortly after the War concluded, and the heroes returned. Other nice touches included Wolverine, of all people, giving a very thoughtful and impassioned speech on mutant rights against those of “normal” humans. There were a number of great character moments for every hero involved, and even a few of the villains. There is some comedy involved as well, most notably the way in which Ben Grimm (not the Thing) and Hawkeye managed to subdue The Lizard and Klaw. Galactus was given the spotlight early, and his nature and role in Marvel was examined very closely. In a war, deaths are expected, and that happens here, although none of the deaths were permanent. Captain America alone died three times in the final issue!

[image error]As Marvel’s first major crossover, there were some negatives that would be smoothed out in future stories. First, as the series ran for 12 months, the rest of the Marvel Universe ran as scheduled. As a result, the black costume made its first appearance in Amazing Spider Man #252, just a couple weeks after issue 1 hit the shelves. Readers had to wait seven more months, however, to see it in Secret Wars. With all the heroes returning to their titles before issue 2 released, none of the deaths in MSHSW could be presented with any real sense of peril or finality. While the lingo is very dated, the story itself does hold up very well. However, the Human Torch comes off very badly, seeming to be an irredeemable chauvinist. If you have not read this before, I strongly suggest you do so. It really is an incredible story, even if it is a bit heavy on repeated exposition. For their first mega-event, Marvel hit an absolute home run.

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!

Create a Gravatar!

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.

https://learnwp.ca/gravatar/

Thor Teams with the Eternals in Classic Bronze Age Style!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 259, 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). 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 259…

Cool Comics News!

In my never-ending quest to accumulate as much comic book knowledge as possible, I was excited to purchase the 50th Anniversary Edition of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide. I’ve owned a couple editions in my comic collecting past, but it’s been several decades since I’ve actually bought one, and because this one is special, and I may not be around for a 75th edition, I’m excited to add it to my collection. I plan on reading all the articles and many of the thousands of comic book entries in this massive tome that’s nearly 1,200 pages long. I’m sure there are going to be plenty of evenings in which I get completely immersed in this beautiful book, and while the print is small and eyestrain is part of the price I’ll pay for it, it’s probably not as bad as looking at my phone for the same length of time. And because I just love using books like this, I’m going to include Overstreet’s Near Mint (9.2 grade) pricing for my Cool Comics that are included in the volume…probably until the 51st edition is published. Obviously, newer comics are out, but for issues that are listed, I’ll be tossing in yet another secondary market price for you to consider (and although we tend to focus on the fun here at Cool Comics, knowing the value can be part of the fun, too). So, when you see “The OPG value is $…” that’s what we’re referencing.

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Aquaman versus Thor! 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’s creation is Power Pencil, by artist Ed Griffie. 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 Collection
Contemporary Cool Comics

#1311 — Empyre #6, Marvel, November 2020.

Empyre, Marvel’s big Spring/Summer event, was upended by COVID-19…as was just about everything else. Because of this, several of the associated mini-series that were to be a part of the storyline ended up on the cutting room floor. And while I feel sorry for the creators, my wallet is all the happier for it. Still, there were a good number of Empyre stories to be had, some that were a part of regular, ongoing series, and some that were just one issue, or stretched to four. Last year I was excited for War of the Realms and ended it up liking it better than Empyre. Did the pandemic have anything to do with it? I don’t think so. Empyre had its moments, and I really liked Captain America’s mini-series, but all-in-all, I didn’t enjoy it as much as War of the Realms…or even the few stories I read from Absolute Carnage, a series that I liked better than I thought I would. Still, it’s fun to read these big storylines. This issue brings the “regular” Empyre series to a close, but there are still a few related issues coming down the road, including the intriguing The Immortal She-Hulk one-shot on September 23. The cover price of Empyre #6 is $5.99, while the current value is $6. The Key Collector Comics value is $6.

Cool Comics from the Quarter Bin

#1312 — Adventure Comics #446, DC, August 1976.

A couple years ago I learned more about Aquaman than I could ever have imagined, thanks to Back Issue magazine #108. I read Aquaman comics for a while in the Peter David era, when the King of the Sea lost his hand and ended up with a harpoon as a substitute, but that’s about it, aside from his appearances in Justice League when I’d sporadically read it in the Seventies and Nineties. But after poring over the magazine and learning so much more about Arthur Curry, I’ve developed more of an interest in the character. When there was a sale on the DC Rebirth collections in comiXology, I made sure to get some of the Aquaman collections, and when I dig around in quarter bins, I keep an eye out for his comics. Back Issue taught me about Aquaman’s history in Adventure Comics, and one day while flipping through deeply discounted treasures, I hit the jackpot and found several issues starring the man from Atlantis (no Patrick Duffy, not you!). For those who love to see mention of the creators from days past, this issue’s plot is by Paul Levitz, script by Martin Pasko, and art by Jim Aparo. But that’s not all, folks, because “Beware the Creeper, Mind Over Murder,” fills out the rest of the issue. Again, Martin Pasko handles the writing, while Ric Estrada and Joe Staton take care of the art. The cover price of Adventure Comics #446 is 30¢, while the current value is $10. The OPG value is $10.

FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 8)

#1313 — Batman: Overdrive/Batman Tales: Once Upon a Crime #1, DC, July 2020.

This digest-sized Free Comic Book Day issue from DC contains more than meets the eye. Yes, it has two covers (both pictured here); you flip it over and read from the other end of where you started. And while it makes it seem that it’s an all Batman issue, each side contains two completely unrelated previews of other stories. If you look closer, you can see them in the little circles at the bottom of each cover (if you’re having a tough time, just click on the images and they will enlarge). For me, I enjoyed the Batman stories the most, but this is a good way to show off the other two stories, which are: My Video Game Ate My Homework and Primer. All four tales are introductions to longer graphic novels that are family friendly, as they’re aimed towards a younger audience, but hey, they’re fun comics, so anyone can enjoy them. The cover price of Batman: Overdrive/Batman Tales: Once Upon a Crime #1 is free, while the current value is $1.

Cool Comics Kids

#1314 — Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories #179 , Dell, August 1955.

Whenever I find comic books that are a good fit for Cool Comics Kids while searching through quarter bins, I pull them out and stick them in a pile without really paying much attention to them until I return home. And with this Golden Age beauty, I feel like I really hit the jackpot. Yes, the condition is rough, and yes, a few pages in the middle are missing (one story ends without the final panels, and one begins partway through the story), but for just a quarter, the experience of reading and owning this issue is worth it to me. So, is this section of Cool Comics really about building a library of comics for kids, or about chasing our dreams of yesteryear? I’d say a little of both. This issue features stories with Donald Duck and his nephews, the Li’l Bad Wolf, Mickey and Pluto, Donald and Daisy, Mickey and Goofy, and a few more short Donald Duck stories. All that fun for just 25 cents. The cover price of Walt Disney Comics and Stories #179 is 10¢, while the current values are $125 on CBR and $95 on ZKC. The OPG value is $125.

Cool Comics Classics

#1315 — Thor #287, DC, September 1979.

I decided I was in the mood to read some Thor a couple weeks ago, so I pulled out the oldest one I hadn’t read yet, and as it turns out, it contains a bonus by including the Eternals (you can see Ikaris looking as if he’s down for the count at the bottom right on the cover!). If you aren’t familiar with this superteam created by Jack Kirby, click here and read all about them…then come back, please! With an Eternals movie due at theaters in February, it’s kind of cool to have stumbled upon this issue as a bit of a prelude. But the star of this title is Thor, and if you’re a fan of the famed Asgardian, you’ll certainly appreciate this action-packed issue, brought to us by writer Roy Thomas, and artists Keith Pollard and Chic Stone. When I read comics that have letter pages, I always look to see if I recognize any names, and this issue just happens to have a letter from Kurt Busiek with a Syracuse, NY, address, and since Kurt graduated from Syracuse University a few years after this letter, I’m pretty sure it’s the same Kurt Busiek who’s brought us some great comic book stories over the years. The cover price of Thor #287 is 40¢, while the current values are $8 on CBR and $5 on ZKC. The OPG value is $8.

Cool Moments in Graphic Lit with Dr. Omnibus
Swamp Thing #43 (spoiler heavy!)

I mentioned this issue back in early July, regarding some of its imagery. Here is a more in-depth look at what I was alluding to.

Issue 43 opens on a hippie who also is a drug dealer, it seems. He is out on a walk and finds some yams, which had grown from the body of Swamp Thing. He takes them home. Throughout the issue he is approached in his home by a couple who find themselves desiring some drugs, but our drug-dealing hippie doesn’t have what they are looking for. He ends up providing these folks with some Swamp Thing yams.

One of the people who comes calling is not the nicest of people. He is in a state of mind that perhaps isn’t the best place to start his experience with these yams. Ultimately, the shortcomings in his personality, combined with the effects of the yams, leads to a not-so-pleasant “trip,” which results in his untimely passing by means of a motor vehicle accident.

On the flipside, we have a caller who is seeking drugs for their medicinal reasons. His wife, Sandy, is dying of cancer and is in pain. He hopes to procure something to help with that pain. He ends up leaving with some yams and provides them to his hurting wife. Upon eating the yam, Sandy becomes one with the universe, so to speak. She finds peace like none she had ever known, and ultimately dies happy while experiencing the effects of the yam. The yam did not kill her, but she lost her battle with cancer while “tripping.”

What really stands out about this issue is the art used to depict Sandy’s experience. It is just remarkably stunning and adds just as much, if not more, to the story as her dialogue. It’s just beautiful.

I would like to state that I am in no way condoning the use of illegal or untested drugs.

Damian Starr is a long-time collector of comics who, in recent years, has converted his focus to reading—almost exclusively—trade paperbacks, hardcovers, and Omnibus editions. Additionally, he is a frequent contributor to the  MCBCFA Play Network  YouTube channel (check out his Dr. Omnibus playlists). To add one more layer to his geekery, he is an amateur comic author and co-founder of  Illuminatus Comics .

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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Take Your Kid to Work Day Debuts & Ms. Mystic Memories

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 258, 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). 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 258…

Cool Comics News!

This week Cool Comics looks at a new comic book that came to us via Kickstarter, written by our own Dr. Omnibus! So make sure to check out Take Your Kid to Work Day #1 below. If you’ve had a crowdfunded comic book—past, present, or future—feel free to tell us about it in the comments section below and include links if applicable. The Cool Comics crowd loves to show its support to the creators of our favorite hobby!

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Invincible versus Green Lantern! 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. Chakan, the forever man, gazes at us imploringly, telling us to not forget that in the future there will be a Chakan Kickstarter with levels of pledges that will blow our minds! Stay tuned to future episodes of Cool Comics for more news on the upcoming Kickstarter. 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 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

#1306 — Take Your Kid to Work Day #1, Illuminatus Comics, Summer 2020.

Many moons before Dr. Omnibus became part of Cool Comics, I didn’t know much about his alter ego, Damian Starr. He was just a guy in some comic groups I belonged to, and he’d joined our Cool Comics Facebook group, also. I believe it was there that I first saw a posting for the Take Your Kid to Work Day Kickstarter. Over the past couple years, I’ve become a fan of the form, and especially like to support them if I have a connection to any of the creators. And for this one, not only was I Facebook friends with the writer (Damian Starr), but also with one of the variant cover artists, Cary Vallery, an extremely talented artist (be sure to check out his Kidferlife Collectibles page). Cary’s cover (pictured here…and if you click on it you can see the signatures and cover numbering on this Amazing Spider-Man #300 homage) was limited to just 30 copies, and I knew I wanted to get it as soon as I saw it. If you’re wondering if the story is any good, I certainly think so. Starr and artist Peter Goffstein give us a poignant, compelling story not only about a kid from a broken home, but also explore science gone wrong in ways that have me chomping at the bit to read Chapter 2! I’m guessing that the good people at Illuminatus Comics still have some copies available if you’re interested in giving this great story a try. The cover price of Take Your Kid to Work Day Chapter 1 is $4 for digital, $7 for a paper copy, and $20 for the variant cover I purchased.

Cool Comics from the Quarter Bin

#1307 — Ms. Mystic #1, Pacific Comics, October 1982.

More than likely if you’re a Neal Adams fan you’re familiar with this comic, and you probably own a copy. When this hit the shops July 1, 1982, I had no idea who he was, and I certainly didn’t know anything about Pacific Comics. As a matter of fact, I used to own a different copy than this one that I rescued from a quarter bin, but my memory can’t dig deep enough to come up with how it ended up in my collection. Yes, I was actively buying and reading comics when it hit the shelves, but during the summer away from Ohio State, a friend of mine (also named Ed, and probably one of the nicest guys I was fortunate enough to meet at OSU) was picking up comics for me at his shop in Toledo, OH, while I spent a couple months going through Officer Candidate School in Quantico, VA, with the U.S. Marine Corps. Because of an unfortunate injury I was discharged (honorably), but ten years later, at age 29, I became a soldier with the U.S. Army. While some athletes have played two sports professionally, and some comic writers have been blessed with so much talent that they’ve worked with several of the biggest comic companies, my claim to fame is having two honorable discharges. OK, back to the comic book! I think I ended up selling it at a giant garage sale several years ago, and when I saw it for just a quarter, I couldn’t resist grabbing another slice of nostalgia to share with all of you. The cover price of Ms. Mystic #1 is $1, while the current values are $5 on CBR and $4 on ZKC.

FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 7)

#1308 — Invincible #1, Image, May 2020.

When Invincible #1 came out, I didn’t buy it (and now it’s worth about $350-$550). I was starting to realize I had too many comics and I needed to get my finances in order. And even if I had bought the first few issues, I probably would have ended up selling them at my infamous comic book garage sale that I mentioned in #1307 above. Since I’ve gotten back to comics, I’ve heard really good things about it, and people recommend that I give it a read. And now, thanks to Free Comic Book Day (FCBD), I finally got my first introduction via this reprint of the first issue. So, did I like it? Yes, and I’ll read more, someday. Robert Kirkman never seems to disappoint me. I collect both Oblivion Song and his new Fire Power series, and I realized before I even picked this up that it would be entertaining. It brought to mind a short story I wrote for an anthology a few years back, but I don’t know how close it really comes since this was just the beginning of a series that ran for 144 issues. And by the way, you may already know this, but if not, Invincible is slated to be an animated series on Prime Video. The cover price of Invincible (FCBD edition 2020) is free, while the current value is $1.

Cool Comics Kids

#1309 — Beetle Bailey #114 , Charlton Comics, January 1976.

Though Beetle Bailey seems to poke fun of the Army and Army life, as an Army veteran I take it all in stride, especially since creator Mort Walker served during World War II. When I was a kid and read the Sunday Funnies section of our local paper, the Beetle Bailey strip happened to be mandatory reading for me. But as far as comic books go, Beetle falls way short in number of individual issues published when compared to some of the other characters we’ve featured here in Cool Comics Kids. Which I suppose is reflected in only having found three in quarter bins over the last few years. Another thing about Beetle Bailey is that you could question whether a military comic belongs in this category for kids, but believe me, this is a far cry from the adventures of Sgt. Rock and Sgt. Fury. Basically, these are slices of life of goofy things that take place on an Army Post. I like the memory paths I go down when I read stuff like this, and you just might, also. And Mark (see name at the top of cover picture), wherever you are today, thanks for giving me the opportunity to buy your beat-up old copy of this comic for the same price you paid! The cover price of Beetle Bailey #114 is 25¢, while the current value is $10.

Cool Comics Classics

#1310 — Justice League of America #167, DC, June 1979.

The original Justice League of America series lasted 261 issues, from October 1960 to April 1987. And out of 261 issues, I own just 15. At one point I had 11 more in my collection, but, yes, I sold them at a garage sale. I’m not crying over those comics that are no longer part of my stash, because I’ve never been a big Justice League reader, but the point is that there are many more issues out there, somewhere, that I can still read for the very first time. I found this one in a quarter bin. As a matter of fact, I’ve found a number of issues from this series for just 25 cents, which is, at least for this issue, less than cover price! When I read these, I think back to being a kid in the Seventies and reading the “100-Pages for 60 cents” issues of the Justice League of America, which were the only ones I bought back then. I have memories of sitting at the kitchen table in the evening, eating a bowl of cereal while everyone else is watching TV, and getting lost in the adventures. The writer of this issue is Gerry Conway, while Dick Dillin and Frank McLaughlin are credited with the art. The cover price of Justice League of America #167 is 40¢, while the current value is $30. The Key Collector Comics value is $20.

Cool Moments in Graphic Lit with Dr. Omnibus

Last year I read the Knightfall trilogy in its entirety. For the most part that was a lackluster experience. The biggest exception to that was the first issue of the 1,900-page saga. Batman: Vengeance of Bane is the first issue of the first volume of the three thick trade paperback set. It tells the origin story of Bane; his origin is dark and beautifully told.

Bane’s father, Edmund Dorrance, was a rebel in a Latin country (Cuba, if memory serves me), but he managed to evade the local authorities. In his absence it was decided that his child would have to serve out punishment for his crimes against the state. This resulted in Bane being ripped away from his mother and placed into prison to serve a life sentence for a crime he did not commit. Did I mention that he was a baby at the time?

So, Bane literally grows up inside the walls of a prison, as a prisoner. This is not a white-collar prison where he got to experience anything even remotely like a normal life. This is a maximum-security facility for the worst of the worst. Having none of the distractions that a normal youth would have, he was able to dedicate his existence to learning how to survive in a harsh environment and bettering himself mentally and physically.

Through the years, Bane also found himself tormented at night, in his dreams, by a bat.

As Bane grew into a man, he found himself to be king of the castle in the prison in which he had spent his entire life thus far. That is, until the government decided to rid themselves of the problem that Bane had become. He was “selected” to participate in the medical testing of a drug called Venom. Being part of this test was akin to being executed, as no one had survived the tests before. Being made of sterner stuff than most, Bane did in fact survive, and the Venom granted him an even greater enhancement to his already above average strength.

Using his superior intellect and enhanced strength, Bane was able to escape the prison and set his eyes on Gotham, where he would go on to challenge the personification of his dreamtime tormentor, Batman.

Watching the life of a young boy growing up in prison was simply amazing. This origin story left me with a newfound respect for Bane, who I had previously thought just to be a strong guy, but he is an extremely layered and deep character. Unfortunately, the rest of the Knightfall trilogy was for the most part horrible, although it did have Tim Drake, the best main continuity Robin. It also featured a smorgasbord of appearances from other members of Batman’s rogues gallery. Overall, I would say you can skip the breaking of the bat storyline, but Batman: Vengeance of Bane is a must-read issue.

Damian Starr is a long-time collector of comics who, in recent years, has converted his focus to reading—almost exclusively—trade paperbacks, hardcovers, and Omnibus editions. Additionally, he is a frequent contributor to the  MCBCFA Play Network  YouTube channel (check out his Dr. Omnibus playlists). To add one more layer to his geekery, he is an amateur comic author and co-founder of  Illuminatus Comics .

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 reviews of 500 words or less (introductions about yourself don’t go against the word count), along with a cover image of the comic, 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!

Create a Gravatar!

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.

https://learnwp.ca/gravatar/

Cool Comics Packs Plenty of Punch with Black Lightning & Maestro!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 257, 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). 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 257…

Cool Comics News!

Did you get the new Previews yesterday (if you aren’t familiar with it, click the title in bold)? Each month, most comic shops have this giant catalog available so that fans like us can find cool stuff we want to order (some shops offer it free if you have comics pulled for you on a regular basis). It helps the shops, and it helps us in our collecting. I always tell my wife the day before it comes out that “tomorrow is a comic book holiday,” and she knows exactly what I’m talking about. After I finish up preparing Cool Comics for its Thursday morning launch, I spend the rest of that evening going over Previews, page by page, and jotting down comics I want to put on my list. There is a separate, smaller catalog for Marvel, and for DC, it’s now entirely digital…which is limiting for some readers. Regardless, it’s always fun to look it over and discover new worlds of imagination.

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Maestro versus Youngblood, Black Lightning, and even Yosemite Sam! 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 we welcome back Melissa Gosney, our very first guest artist for Cool Comics Creations, which debuted in episode 225. This time around, Melissa shows off some of her sketching and coloring skills with these little birds on a fence. Since I’m a big fan of Edgar Allan Poe, maybe we can convince Melissa to draw a raven that Cool Comics can feature in October!

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 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

#1301 — Maestro #1, Marvel, October 2020.

After I started collecting comics again in 1993 (for new readers, I hadn’t been buying regularly since 1982 at this point, but once my dad got me a copy of Superman #75—you know, the death issue—I was back in the game), I found myself curious about what I’d missed out on, and started perusing back issue boxes…especially the sales boxes that contained issues that were really cheap. And lo and behold, I found parts one and two of Hulk: Future Imperfect for just 50 cents each. I knew nothing about them at the time, but they looked cool, so I bought them. Now, 28 years later, original writer Peter David is giving us the origin of “The Hulk’s Greatest Foe – Himself,” as the cover so boldly tells us! This is a five-part series, so if you want me to tell you if the wait was worth it, I can only base it off issue 1. But so far so good, frantic ones! The cover price of Maestro #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5. The Key Collector Comics value is $5.

Cool Comics from the Quarter Bin

#1302 — Youngblood #1, Image, April 1992.

When I started buying comics again in 1993, and learned a little about Image Comics, I decided to also search out back issues of their titles so that I could further immerse myself in all the goings on of contemporary comics. And I ended up finding lots of issues for under a dollar. Eventually, I stopped buying comic books in 2003 and decided I had too many white storage boxes, so I had a huge garage sale and sold a big portion of my collection, including all my Image titles. And yes, you get it, I’ve returned once again (in 2017) and now do a lot of hunting in quarter bins. Youngblood #1 was the first title published by Image Comics, and now I have two copies of it, each costing just a quarter. If I wanted to frame the issue, this would work well because it comes with a cover on the front and back…or maybe it just has two fronts…along with two separate stories. This time around, I seemed to have a better feel for Rob Liefeld’s story. Part of which is probably the nostalgic factor of dipping back in the Nineties, which was a fun time for me as I was in the Army and my wife and I started adding kids to our family. I may never buy another issue from this series, but for just a quarter (well, two of them), I got to reflect on a piece of my past. The cover price of Youngblood #1 is $2.50, while the current value is $5. The Key Collector Comics value is $4.

FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 6)

#1303 — Dark Ark: Instinct, AfterShock Comics, May 2020.

I think just about everyone who reads this will have some knowledge about Noah, his ark, and the flood, but just in case you don’t, you can read about it here. What? Back already? You people are fast readers! So now that you have some background, imagine what things might have been like on an ark full of monsters, like vampires, strange half-human/half-spider creatures, and other odd beings that will most certainly shiver your timbers. That’s the premise of this Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) issue from AfterShock Comics. This scary voyage was imagined by writer Cullen Bunn, with art by Antonio Fuso. If you like it, you can collect more in individual issues or trades. Next up in this FCBD issue is a special preview for Sympathy For No Devils, by Brandon Thomas and Lee Ferguson. It’s also on the ghoulish side and a good pairing with the Dark Ark story. Watch for this one in your comic shops at the end of October. The cover price of Dark Ark: Instinct is free, while the current value is $1.

Cool Comics Kids

#1304 — Yosemite Sam #41 , Gold Key, December 1976.

This issue of Yosemite Sam gives us four stories that were all rather enjoyable, even if you’re far removed from your Saturday morning cartoon days. Other Looney Tunes castmates who join in on the fun and hijinks with Sam include Daffy Duck in “Tugged Out,” Bugs Bunny and Porky Pig in “That’s Tough!” and Daffy again in both “Goof on the Roof” and “Lighthouse Blues.” Even if you don’t care much for the stories, the ads are always a blast to see, and the inside back cover is a full-page spread showing off the Mission Control Center for The Six Million Dollar Man. But that’s not all! If you send in 50 cents, you can become a member of The Six Million Dollar Man Bionic Action Club. How in the world did I miss out on this when I was a kid? But my favorite ad page in this issue shows off several Handy Andy Tool Sets, one of which I’m fairly sure I had as a boy. Ahh, the memories! The cover price of Yosemite Sam #41 is 30¢, while the current values are $12 on CBR and $6 on ZKC.

Cool Comics Classics

#1305 — Black Lightning #10, DC, August 1978.

In an issue called “The Other Black Lightning,” the Trickster makes a daring escape from an airplane and ends up at a circus, so if you’re a fan of the greatest show on earth, step right up, get your tickets, and enjoy the feats! Jefferson Pierce (Black Lightning) is surprised to learn that Black Lightning will be appearing at the local circus, so obviously he wants to find out who has stolen his superhero identity, and why. Of course, things get a little crazy once the show starts and the Trickster makes an appearance. And if you’re a fan of elephants you won’t want to miss out on this issue, either. This is a fun little moment in comics that had me thinking back to being young and walking to the circus with my neighborhood pals. The cover price of Black Lightning #10 is 35¢, while the current values are $8 on CBR and $10 on ZKC.

Cool Moments in Graphic Lit with Dr. Omnibus
Demon In A Bottle

I have never been shy about sharing the fact that I am a recovering alcoholic. I have been fortunate enough to celebrate 8+ years of continuous sobriety. To celebrate my 5th year sober, I decided to buy myself something of a gift to mark the occasion, a copy of Iron man 128; I also had that comic signed by Bob Layton and graded…it’s low grade, but I wanted it preserved because it is important to me.

In the issues leading up to Iron Man 128, we can see Tony Stark’s life becoming rather unmanageable. There are several scenes in which Tony is shown to be turning to the bottle as a form of escapism, and some erratic behavior, which is implied to be the result of his alcoholism, but he doesn’t realize it at the time. This was very much the issue in my story as well. I knew I drank abnormally but did not recognize it as a problem until it started impacting my relationships.

Later in the story, Tony lashes out at Jarvis, who in turn resigns. This is a great inclusion in the story. For many alcoholics, it isn’t until we are notified by our loved ones how objectionable our behavior is to them, that we begin to realize how objectionable our behavior is to ourselves. Those of us who are lucky enough come to this realization before it’s too late, and start taking measures to reverse the harms we have done. It is also worthy to mention that Jarvis’ letter of resignation is actually the letter of resignation written by Dave Cockrum, but each instance of “Marvel” was replaced with “The Avengers.”

From there, things take a bit of a disappointing turn. Tony is confronted by Beth, who tells him about her experience with an active addict and thinks that Tony may be going down that same path. Based on this conversation, Tony decides to quit drinking, and just like that, things go back to normal for him. Very little was shown of his struggle to actually quit; in that regard it was a bit hard to swallow. But all in all, I love that alcoholism was addressed in such a popular comic series and think that Tony’s alcoholism is more impressively addressed down the road, like in the Fear Itself storyline.

Damian Starr is a long-time collector of comics who, in recent years, has converted his focus to reading—almost exclusively—trade paperbacks, hardcovers, and Omnibus editions. Additionally, he is a frequent contributor to the  MCBCFA Play Network  YouTube channel (check out his Dr. Omnibus playlists). To add one more layer to his geekery, he is an amateur comic author and co-founder of  Illuminatus Comics .

Cool Comics Reader Reviews!
Cult of Dracula (Second Sight Publishing)

By Chase Harrison

Evil never dies. It’s only passed down from generation to generation and reshaped a little along the way. That is the core premise of Cult of Dracula by Rich Davis. It is explored to its fullest, with a light touch, trusting the reader to understand and imagine where they are, where they’ve been, and where they are most terrified to go. Cult of Dracula drops the characters from the famed Bram Stoker novel into the meat grinder of a Jonestown-like compound. This cult is fronted by the maniacally mysterious R.M. Renfield, but something far more ancient and far more evil lurks in the darkness.

The plot shifts between two stories along two timelines. The book opens with the arrival of Special Agent Malcolm Bram as he investigates a tragedy dubbed “The Cult of Dracula Mass Suicides.” These opening panels are smooth, near silent, and serve as a wonderful overture, along with sickening landmines of grotesque detail to fill each of the earlier moments, peppered in like bloody chum in the water by artist Henry Martinez. Readers soon join journalists Mina Murray and Abraham Van Helsing, three days earlier, as they work to expose the cult’s true nature. The bulk of the quippy dialogue flows naturally in these flashback segments. This allows the weight of silence to be fleet in the pensive Agent Bram as he cases the scene of the crime. Davis’ words pair beautifully with Martinez’s art. The transitions are not always clear, nor are they easy to follow. This fosters a sense of disorientation and confusion for the readers, who never quite know where or when they are. It makes for real edge-of-your-seat storytelling. Each time period is well balanced, with both given the needed time to breathe and develop. The use of foreshadowing is strong, as the readers will only be able to assume the wicked fates that await each character…a smart, well-used trick that will keep the readers pining for the next issue.

The synergy on display between Martinez’s art and Trevor Richardson’s colors is incredible. The splash page that reveals cult leader Renfield is especially exquisite. It balances the gravitas the character brings to the story yet also perfectly depicts the weightlessness Renfield carries himself with. All before mentioning the easily overlooked but must be noted work that Richardson has added to the skylines of the panels. Outside the compound, Richardson’s use of rich bold reds resembles the color of fresh, flowing blood. It creates a foreboding atmosphere very well.

Each character is given a cool modern…re-Vamp (pun fully intended) that more than seamlessly moves them to the story’s present-day setting. From a unique take on the Count to a Final Girl-styled Mina Murray all the way to the aforementioned Manson infused Renfield, every character from the novel is more than accounted for. Though this reframing to the time period does serves some characters better than others.

Jonathan Harker is a character who has usually suffered from some unremarkable outings on screen. I’m looking at you, Keanu Reeves. Unfortunately, even here it’s a trope the character can’t quite get away from. The role can’t shake this bland sense of just being there to move things along. Though that’s an issue I’m sure further issues will resolve.

A scene where Harker is introduced to the inhabitants of the cult starts out with real power and zest, as Renfield preaches and Lucy gazes on in an allured wonder. The class system on the cult is really put on display in a solid manner, which is a theme the comic book itself really pushes hard, the battles of classes.

It’s when the scene shifts to be between Harker and a trust-fund-baby Arthur Holmwood that the plot’s pace has the breaks slammed on it. A mix of whiny, unclear motives for Arthur, and the placeholder muttering of Harker, muddies the waters for only the hottest of seconds. The issue smartly cuts back to the mystery that drives Agent Bram’s hunt, planting more seeds to germinate in future issues.

The issue’s final moment will certainly stay with readers long after the book itself has been filed away within their own collections. As it returns to the menacing blood, guts, and gore of the comic’s opening, presented in a near splash page is an image that can only be described as well…Blood Orgy is the terminology I would use.

As an avid lover of all things Horror and comic books, I can attest that the first issue of “Cult of Dracula” is a brutal and blood graphic series. Fanatics of the Horror genre will devour this title, chomping at the bit, wondering just where it will go next. The true sign of any engaging work, really. The story merges the unpolished over-the-top gore of grindhouse cinema, anchored through the lens of atmospheric gothic literature. Davis understands the tug of war between modern and classic Horror, knowing when to show his hand or when to bait the hook.

Heading into the Halloween Horrors season, readers looking for a fun and freaky fright need to keep their eyes peeled and their blood chilled for “Cult of Dracula.” Sink your teeth into it, before it sinks its teeth into you!

My rating: 9/10

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 reviews of 500 words or less (introductions about yourself don’t go against the word count), along with a cover image of the comic, 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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Cool Comics Wants to Know if The Truth Is Out There!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 256, 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). 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 256…

Cool Comics News!

In our last episode, we featured a fantastic personal comic book story from Mark Weiss, and he’s back again to tell us about a very cool opportunity! Take it away, Mark!

As highlighted in Bleeding Cool: https://bleedingcool.com/comics/frank-frazettas-cover-art-for-comicbooks-for-kids/.

ComicBooks For Kids! has created coloring books using both established comic book creators and new talent, as well as including biographies for the artists featured within, a first for coloring books. Titled Legends Vol 1 AND Legends Vol 2, these high-quality volumes include previously published art and new art, or unseen-until-now art, from the likes of John Bolton, Gary Gianni, Aaron Lopresti, Art Baltazar, Val Mayerik, Steve Rude, Shawn McManus, Stan Sakai, William Stout, Dan Parent, Rich Tommaso, the late Mike Wieringo, Topper Helmers,  Jerry Bingham and more. A total of 34 artists donated their time and talents toward the first volume.   

Volume 2 artists in no particular order include Frank Frazetta, Will Eisner, Hal Foster, Kevin Eastman, Jeff Smith, Mike Kaluta, Mike Grell, Dave Stevens, Jim Steranko, Neal Adams, Tim Seeley, Stan Sakai, Art Baltazar, Bill Reinhold, Shawn McManus, Aaron LoPresti, Michael Ploog, and Topper Helmers for  a total of 38 different artists. 

All artists personally donated their art toward this project. One hundred percent of the proceeds are used to purchase more coloring books, which are then shipped out to the over 160 hospitals in every state of the U.S. supported by CB4K. Volume 1 comes with a puppy cover and a limited edition by Topper Helmers. Volume 2 has a connecting puppy cover to the first volume and a limited edition of 75 copies by Will Eisner, using art donated from the family of Will Eisner.

A special edition of 75 copies of Volume 2 is also available with Frank Frazetta art on the cover.

These can be purchased from CB4K’s eBay site at https://www.ebay.com/usr/comicbooksforkids.

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is The Flash 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!

Sydney Walton recently became aware of our humble little Cool Comics blog and shared this “Incredible” piece he just completed, featuring the Hulk! It’s based on the XM Studios statue and 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 (although this is his first wrap-around cover in forever!). 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 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

#1296 — The Flash #759, DC, October 2020.

Who is your Flash? I’ve probably read more issues featuring Wally West in the latter part of the 90’s to the early 2000’s than I have with Barry Allen. That’s the only time in my comic book collecting history that I was consistently buying Flash each month, and of course Barry succumbed during the infamous Crisis on Infinite Earths storyline (except that he’s back, which is pretty common when it comes to comics). However, this is the fourth consecutive Flash issue I’ve bought during the year of COVID-19 2020, and I’m enjoying what I’m reading enough to keep it going. Unfortunately, Joshua Williamson, the writer, is wrapping up his run (of course, I must use “run” when talking about the Flash!), with this issue suitably entitled Finish Line, Part One. With all this said, I do remember when I was a wee lad and could find back issues for just a dime apiece at a neat little used bookstore in Wheeling, West Virginia, where I happened to purchase some older Flash comics from the Sixties, which did star Barry Allen. Alas, I sold them when I was in college. Yet even more troublesome is the fact that Barry’s currently possessed by Eobard Thawne, and that’s all I’m going to tell you about this exciting story! The cover price of The Flash #759 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

Cool Comics from the Quarter Bin

#1297 — The Incredible Hulk #192, DC, October 1975.

Anytime I can find Seventies comic goodness while quarter bin diving, it’s a good day. However, the condition of this issue of The Incredible Hulk is nothing to write home about, and yet, it cost just a quarter, and came out less than a year after one of the most famous of all issues of this series. But no, Wolverine doesn’t show up in this one. So, who does show up? Seems like “The Lurker Beneath Loch Fear!” could be Nessie’s cousin…if you’re wont to believe such things exist. I’m not saying they do, and I’m not saying they don’t, but just the possibilities of such cryptids keep things interesting, don’t they? Regardless, the Hulk exists, at least between the pages of fun presented to us from Len Wein, Herb Trimpe, and Joe Staton. The current Immortal Hulk series is one of the best you can read today, but nothing satisfies like going back to my childhood with a comic like this one. The cover price of The Incredible Hulk #192 is 25¢, while the current value is $20.

FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 5)

#1298 — Archie Blue Ribbon Presents, Archie, May 2020.

Now that we have a few weeks of “Free Comic Book Day” under our belts and stuffed in our white cardboard boxes, difficult and tactical decisions need to be made as to which issue should be in the blog each week. Seriously. I have a few issues left from the first couple week, so you’d think I’d serve them up here sooner rather than later, but sometimes it depends on what comic book companies I’m currently featuring in the blog each week. On top of all that, I don’t know how FCBD is going to take place next year, so I can’t say that we’ll get to each 2020 free offering before the 2021 issues come out. So I’m going to read the ones I’m most interested in first, and if there are a few episodes remaining in which to squeeze in some of the FCBD issues I’m not as enthused about, well, then they’ll get their turn here. For this week, I had no problem pulling Archie out of the box, because I’ve been a fan since way back in the Seventies. Though I’m not a constant reader today, I still feel the nostalgic pull of those teens from Riverdale. This issue contains two stories, the first being “Betty and Veronica: The Bond of Friendship,” followed by “Riverdale: The Ties That Bind.” The B&V story has art that matches what you see on the cover here, and I’m sure it’s appealing to the younger set. The story continues in a graphic novel, which is advertised on a full page at the end of the tale. The Riverdale story will be familiar in both the art and the telling for anyone who’s a fan of the comic book series that acts as a supplement to the TV show. Though the two stories are quite different, I enjoyed both. The cover price of Archie Blue Ribbon Presents is free, while the current value is $1.

Cool Comics Kids

#1299 — Richie Rich #27 , Harvey Comics, October 1994.

We at Cool Comics certainly hope you enjoyed our last episode, which featured Mark Weiss of ComicBooks For Kids! For those who may not know, Mark’s charitable organization is the inspiration behind our Cool Comics Kids category. Not only do these kiddie comics keep us feeling young, but many of these issues are a blast to read, such as this one featuring everyone’s favorite wealthy youngster, Richie Rich. This issue contains six fun stories, and besides a lot Richie himself, you’ll also get to see Peewee, Irona (The Riches’ Robot Maid), and Little Audrey. A couple of my favorite stories are “Shoe Biz,” in which Richie’s dog Dollar needs shoes because the pavement is so hot, and “Jog-Along,” a story that pits Richie versus the family butler, Cadbury, as they go for a run. Wondering if I found this in a quarter bin? Of course I did! The cover price of Richie Rich #27 is $1.50, while the current value is $3.

Cool Comics Classics

#1300 — UFO Flying Saucers #4, Gold Key, November 1974.

If you’re old enough to remember the UFO craze in the Sixties and Seventies…and even dating further back (although I wasn’t around then), then you’re probably relieved with all the news stories about investigations of UFO sightings by military personal, and other Project Bluebook kinds of things. Do you remember watching Chariots of the Gods? And now it seems that everything is going to come out in the open, because the truth is out there…or is it? Whether you’ve seen actual spaceships from another star system or just a wayward weather balloon, you can either grow frustrated about the entire thing, or just have some fun with it. And I think fun is the way to go, so I was quite happy to find this issue in my unread filing cabinet of wonder. The stories in this comic purport to be true, which makes it that much more interesting. The comic launches with The Mississippi Mystery, travels back through time in From Out of the Past, heads to that state up north (you guessed it, I’m an Ohio State grad!) for a tale aptly named Marsh Gas in Michigan (please take no offense, as I’m just having a little fun here…I have some GREAT friends from Michigan), soars to UFO Case Book, beams over to The Night Visitors, and ends with Incident in Vietnam. And while that may seem like a lot of stories for one comic book, I even skipped over a few. Lots of one- and two-page stories pack this issue. Gold Key produced 13 comics under this title, then renamed it UFO & Outer Space, continuing the numbering from 14 until it ended with number 25. Although I have two issues, and #13 was in Cool Comics a while back, I need to find more of these! The cover price of UFO Flying Saucers #4 is 25¢, while the current values are $35 on CBR and $22 on ZKC.

Cool Moments in Graphic Lit with Dr. Omnibus

I have decided to switch up the content of my weekly contributions. Instead of reviews of collected editions, I will be sharing my favorite moments in graphic literature. Sometimes it might be about an entire arc of a story, it could be about a panel, it could be about a relationship between two characters spanning 50 years of comics. The only certainty will be that these are some of my favorite moments in comic history, and these articles will frequently include major spoilers. I will do my best to warn you of spoilers at the top of the article.

Kraven’s Last Hunt

For the first go at this new approach, I present Kraven’s Last Hunt.

Before a week ago, I was pretty sure the whole of my experience with Kraven was related to his participation in the Sinister Six and his role in the 90’s Spider-Man cartoon. Having had so little experience with the character, I didn’t really know what to expect from this story, but I was aware of the fact that it has long been a well-regarded run. Despite knowing it was well regarded, I managed to not know how it ends.

So, how did this six-issue story arc become one of my favorite moments in comics history? One of the big things that makes this different from most comics is that all six issues are nearly silent. They include very little spoken dialogue and lots of internal monologue. Don’t get me wrong, there is dialogue, but I would say the six issues combined have about as much dialogue as two normal issues from the era. This reduction in dialogue and increase of internal reflection leads to a greatly enhanced sense of what these characters are feeling. This deeper look into the minds of the characters results in a much more immersive experience.

This one is a bit zany, but another highlight was the script and lettering for Vermin. I was instantly able to place a voice to this character. Not only was I able to “create” this voice in my head, but I can identify it as well. He sounds just like Gollum from The Lord of the Rings. This may seem like a small thing, but by having been able to create this voice without an extraordinary amount of mental effort, I was able to remain in the moment more completely than If I had to decide how this guy sounds.

Heavy spoilers below!!!

Lastly, this is dark, and I love dark. Kraven is a really cool character with a deep history. This history adds a depth to his emotions. Because of his rich history and depth, just when you think you have him figured out, he goes and celebrates his victory over Spider-Man by putting a rifle in his mouth and blowing his own brains out. Why would he do this? Because his family has a history of mental illness, coupled with the fact that there is no longer anything left for him in this world. He satisfied his life’s goal. Why bother going on after that just to constantly find life has nothing more to offer? Watching Kraven’s descent was nothing short of awesome, and I was proud of Marvel for the way the suicide was depicted. It was direct, no doubt about it. But they achieved that without showing too much gray matter on the walls and insane amounts blood everywhere.

Damian Starr is a long-time collector of comics who, in recent years, has converted his focus to reading—almost exclusively—trade paperbacks, hardcovers, and Omnibus editions. Additionally, he is a frequent contributor to the  MCBCFA Play Network  YouTube channel (check out his Dr. Omnibus playlists). To add one more layer to his geekery, he is an amateur comic author and co-founder of  Illuminatus Comics .

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 reviews of 500 words or less (introductions about yourself don’t go against the word count), along with a cover image of the comic, 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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