Ed Gosney's Blog, page 23

Robin Turns 80, Manhunter’s on the Loose, & Nova Blasts Off!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 235, 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 235…

Cool Comics News!

Dr. Omnibus, the writer of our new Cool Collected Editions segment of the blog, is offering a chance for one of our newsletter subscribers to win all three trade paperback volumes of The Umbrella Academy (free U.S. shipping…if you are international and want to enter, you pay the shipping). So if you aren’t signed up, make sure you do it now before you miss out! Then, sometime during the week of April 20, we’ll send out a special newsletter announcement that will be your gateway to entering the contest!

Free Comic Book Day postponed! You’ve probably already heard this news, but if not, I’m sure it doesn’t surprise you. Besides our battle with this worldwide pandemic, businesses are facing difficult times, and the comic book industry, though full of heroes both real and fictional, is no exception. Some comic shops are setting up opportunities for you to purchase gift cards to help them out in the interim, along with shipping comics, or hand delivering, or offering curbside service, but the fact is that even Diamond and their workers are being affected, so new comics are on a hiatus. Some of us have lots of unread comics at home, while others out there may be digging around for something to reread. If you don’t mind digital editions, there are lots of options there, also. Are you doing anything different for entertainment in light of this unprecedented reality we’re living in? Please let us know in the Comments section below.

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Robin (your choice as to which one!) versus Mark Shaw, Manhunter! 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’re featuring another fantastic piece of art by the one and only Aaron Archer! This giant tortoise (or maybe turtle, but I’m thinking it’s a tortoise) makes me think of Terry Pratchett. What kind of stories or other images does it conjure in your mind? I really like this piece and am constantly amazed at the creativity I see from these wonderfully gifted artists. Aaron, thanks allowing Cool Comics to show off some of your super cool art! If you want to see more from Aaron, visit his website.

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 

#1195 — Robin 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1, DC, May 2020.

While Action Comics and Detective Comics each received deluxe hardback “80 years of existence” extravaganzas, now we’re seeing a spate of smaller, 100-page editions coming out as tributes to supporting characters, and even bad guys. DC recently put out big editions celebrating certain issue numbers, but since I don’t purchase many DC titles, instead of spending lots of dollars (these things aren’t cheap) on stories with ongoing continuity, I’d rather get these special editions that pay tribute to the characters with all-star creative lineups and great stories that show us the character through the years. And for the money, I feel that this Robin issue did a great job, featuring stories with Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, Stephanie Brown, and Damian Wayne. Do you have a favorite Robin? If so, it probably is dependent on when you first started reading comics, or a certain Robin matching a certain time in your life. I bought The New Teen Titans issue when Dick Grayson turned in his Robin togs and became Nightwing when it came out, and while I love and respect the character, I actually like Tim Drake better. Although, admittedly, Damian Wayne has been growing on me, and I enjoy his interactions with Jon Kent. I’ve you’re a fan of Batman’s sidekick, then you probably can’t live without this issue (and if you’re a fan of multiple covers, this one has 10 to choose from). The cover price of Robin 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1 is $9.99, while the current value is $10. The Key Collector Comics value is $10, and it was the Key of the Week last week at Gotham City Comics and Coffee in Mesa, AZ (who wouldn’t want to have some coffee with their comics!).

#1196 — The Resistance, AWA Studios (Artists, Writers & Artisans), March 2020.

Did you see this listing in Previews a couple months ago? AWA (Artists, Writers & Artisans), a new comic company that’s owned by creators, decided to do put together a shared world linked by the events in this mini-series. Probably at that time, it didn’t mean that much to anyone, with the exception that most comic readers are familiar with J. Michael Straczynski (writer) and Mike Deodato Jr. This neat little world they are playing in sees the rise of various super and strange powers in several thousand people. But how did these people suddenly get these powers? It turns out that there is a worldwide pandemic that’s very contagious, with a high mortality rate. No, AWA Studios is not banking on our current dilemma, because these comics were planned out quite a while ago. Art and scripts don’t happen overnight. But it’s kind of spooky, isn’t it? I originally didn’t intend on buying this comic, let alone granting it “Cool Comics” status. But after reading an article about The Resistance, I decided to give it a try, and I’m glad I did. Some readers may want to completely take themselves away from storylines such as this, considering what we’re all going through, but I found it fascinating because of COVID-19. The cover price of The Resistance #1 is $3.99, while the current value is $4. The Key Collector Comics value is $4, and it was last week’s the Key Collector Comics Key of the Week.

Cool Comics from the Quarter Bin

#1197 — Manhunter #1, DC, July 1988.

Some of you may remember that I’ve been listening to comic book podcasts to further my education in this wonderful hobby, and one that I recently started is called Comic Book Time Machine. The show has three hosts (Matt Anderson, Ben Avery, and Daniel Butcher), and while they podcast together, they also do solo shows so that each can spend time on comics that particularly interest them. One of the guys (Daniel) is a big Mark Shaw, Manhunter, fan, and while I personally don’t have much history with the character (although if you’ve read any of the Event Leviathan related comics, you know what Manhunter’s been up to!), it turns out that while flipping around in one of my boxes of unread comics I bought for just a quarter, that I have the first issue that Daniel covered in a podcast I recently listened to. If you click the link (just click on the word “podcast” in the last sentence), you’ll notice that he posted this way back in 2014…so I have a lot of catching up to do with Comic Book Time Machine, but I’m enjoying the process. Anyway, if you’re a fan of John Ostrander, he gets co-writing credits for the issue, which I found myself really enjoying. The cover price of Manhunter #1 is $1, while the current value is $3.

FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 47)

#1198 — Interceptor #1, Vault, May 2019.

If you’re a fan of comic book writer Donny Cates and you missed out on this Free Comic Book Day issue, you may want to search through back issues to find it, because it’s a pretty good story if you enjoy the kind of tales he tells. And while I was “iffy” on Dylan Burnett’s art when I started this, it ended up growing on me. And rather than coming out as individual issues, Interceptor came out as a trade paperback last summer. I haven’t read it, but I imagine that since this is Volume 1, there is a Volume 2 in the works, if it sold well enough (and by the way, this was published by Heavy Metal in 2016, so you may have read it then). It’s a tale somewhat in the spirit of I Am Legend, a planet of vampires and those who battle against them. The cover price of Interceptor is free, while the current value is $1.

Cool Comics Kids

#1199 — Mickey Mouse Adventures #1 , Disney Comics, June 1990.

You know what’s a good salve for living in the age of Coronavirus? Mickey Mouse Adventures. Because sometimes we need to escape the madness and tragedy for a little while. This issue is the first of a new series in which Disney started publishing comic books under their own name (instead of Dell, Gold Key, Gladstone, etc.), and I was in the right place at the right time when I found it in a quarter box. What I like even more about this issue is that the opening story is written by Michael T. Gilbert (Mr. Monster), who just happens to attend the same monthly comic book club I go to…and unfortunately it’s on a temporary hiatus because of the worldwide pandemic. This comic has three fun stories that are nice for all ages, so if you’re building a comics library suitable for kids, this is a great one to add to the collection. The cover price of Mickey Mouse Adventures #1 is $1.50, while the current values are $4 on CBR and $5 on ZKC.

Cool Comics Classics

#1200 — Nova #17, Marvel, January 1978.

Back in 1976 I bought the first issue of Nova off the wooden rack of comic books at Slicks, a little corner store in my hometown of Martins Ferry, Ohio. I bought it because on the cover, at the top, it states, “In the Marvelous Tradition of Spider-Man!” And what self-respecting teenage boy could resist? Certainly not me. But I didn’t buy another issue of Nova until years later, out of back issue bargain boxes. Not that there was anything wrong with Richard Rider (Nova’s alter ego, of course), but his comic didn’t really remind me much of Peter Parker’s adventures as Spider-Man, so I spent my pocket change on other comics. Yet now, as much out of nostalgic tendencies for both my past comic book experiences and Seventies comics in general, I’m slowly accumulating more and more issues of this short run of The Man Called Nova. Sixteen more issues (there are 25 in the series) and I’ll have them all. And when I think about it, at this point it would have been pretty easy to complete it, but because Nova isn’t one of my favorites, I keep getting other comics, too. Still, it’s a Seventies comic with ties to my past, so I want to complete this, but I’m in no great hurry, because finding them on the cheap is half the fun. If you’re a Nick Fury fan, you’ll be glad to know he’s in this issue, written by Marv Wolfman and illustrated by Carmine Infantino and Tom Palmer. The cover price of Nova #17 is 35¢, while the current value is $8.

Cool Collected Editions with Dr. Omnibus
Snowpiercer, Vol 1: The Escape (Titan Comics)

Dr. Omnibus score: 8 out of 10

A couple years ago a buddy of mine told me about a movie on Netflix called Snowpiercer. I had never heard of this comic, so I looked into it and found it was a French graphic novel from the early 1980’s called Le Transperceneige. I finally watched the film and it was awesome. Fortunately, in 2014, the comic was translated into English, so I found them last year and they have been sitting on my shelf for a few months. Now they are making a show based on the comic. It is my understanding that the show is a prequel to the comic and is set to air on TNT starting May 31. In total, the comic is collected in four volumes. Volumes 1-3 are the main story, while Volume 4 is a prequel that just released in 2019. So I plan to read all of these before the show starts up this year.

The Book Itself

Typical of European comics, this is a hardcover that has dimensions a little bigger than a standard comic. Without actually measuring, I would say it is 10 percent larger. There is no dust jacket, but it has a graphic cover with a design that matches volumes 2-4, so these look pretty great on the shelf. This volume features no extra material, just the 110-page story.

The Words

By Jacques Lob

The story starts several years after an apocalyptic event in which the world has found itself in a new, man-made ice age. In an effort to survive, a large number of people hopped on a luxury passenger train and set it in motion. The train never stops, and the people have been forced to figure out how to survive with just what is on the train. The premise sounds a bit silly, but once you get into it, you can see that much thought was put into it and it is very much a believable premise.

The main conflict in the story is one concerning classism, which is something that will likely remain topical for a very long time. But I am not going to get into all that drama. The point to me bringing that up at all is that such a divisive theme is capable of creating strong feelings in the reader. As I have said before, strong feelings are what I want in a story, and this delivers.

This story also dabbles in discussions of drugs, other political themes, and contains some nudity, so I would use discretion in sharing this with younger readers.

The Art

By Jean-Marc Rochette

This comic is presented in black and white and has a fairly simple, yet effective, style. The anatomy and perspective are great. I have grown accustomed to a more detailed style, but in a way, this simple technique lends itself well to the story – it kind of feels like someone on the train, in the lower classes, drew the book to fill their time.

One thing of note in the art department, though…the lettering was not great. At times it was difficult to identify who each word bubble belonged to. They just pointed all over the place. If not for context, it would have been very tough to sort it out. The typing itself was a bit flat as well. The use of dull, uninteresting fonts really made this look cheap and poorly done.

The Gist

While it is plain to see that the movie took inspiration from the comic, the plots were remarkably different. But that’s great. An accurate adaptation of this story would not make for a fun movie. The comic was good, but don’t go into it expecting anything too much like the film. I also heard that Volume 1 is hands down the best, so while I will 100 percent be reading through the next three volumes, I can’t say I am very excited to do so. The exception being Volume 4, aka the prequel. I expect good things out of 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!
THE LONE RANGER – ISSUE 0

Dynamite (Free Comic Book Day 2007)

By Steve “Atom” Baum

A bit of introduction. I’m Steve “Atom” Baum and I write comic reviews that nobody ever asked for. I don’t usually write reviews of comics that would be of interest to collectors for how much they are “worth.” To me, the “value” of a comic is in the enjoyment of it.

Most of the comics I review come straight from the bargain bins. The reviews I do are often the first, last, and only reviews that have been, or will be, written about the comics at hand.

If you like what you see here, then join me on a journey through the forgotten depths of those dusty longboxes full of dollar back issues in the rear of your local comic shop and visit my blog LONGBOX JUNK where you’ll discover HUNDREDS of reviews you never asked for!

And now an exclusive “Short But Sweet” Longbox Junk Review for the Cool Comics Crowd!

–This Issue takes place between issue 6 and 7 of the regular series–

WRITTEN BY: Brett Matthews

ART BY: Sergio Cariello

COVER BY: John Cassaday

This is a Free Comic Book Day giveaway flipbook with Battlestar Galactica on the other side, so the Lone Ranger story is only 8 pages long. Before we get to it, the less said about the BSG tale the better. I don’t want to be too negative here, so I’ll just say that unless you’re already a big BSG fan, the story in this issue won’t change your mind one bit. ‘Nuff said about THAT.

The Lone Ranger, on the other hand. . .

THE COVER:

VERY Nice! A dynamic shot of the Lone Ranger leaping into action. It has great colors, great composition, and is definitely frame-worthy. It really captures the feeling of a moment frozen in time in the best way that comic art can. Just a superb cover all around!

THE STORY:

The Lone Ranger and Tonto chase two bandits. After the vigilantes take down the first, the remaining outlaw takes refuge in a local school, taking the schoolteacher and students hostage. As the Ranger reflects on what his father taught him about doing the right thing, he braves the outlaw’s trap, rescues the innocents and receives a reward for his heroism.

THE REVIEW:

This story is silent except for the Lone Ranger’s thoughts until the final page. It’s a very short and extremely simple tale, but the inner monologue running through it about the Ranger’s father teaching him as a young man how to tell right from wrong and to stand up for those in need serves as a great introduction to the character of The Lone Ranger and what makes him a hero, without rehashing his origin in the limited space. It’s really one of the best character introductions I’ve seen in comics, and perfect for a Free Comic Book Day issue aimed at new readers.

I really enjoyed the “silent storytelling” method used here, and the art definitely carries the heavy load that such a method requires. The facial expressions are very well done for such a short story that’s mostly action. My favorite moment is the look on the Ranger’s face when the schoolteacher he saves plants a big kiss on him for thanks.

Overall, a VERY well-done story in such a short space. It’s one-shot storytelling at its finest, featuring a great introduction to a classic character for new readers set on a framework of exciting western action. I couldn’t ask for anything more out of a comic book than what this little story delivers!

I can heartily recommend pulling this one out of the bargain bin if you spot it. It’s just a great look into what makes the Lone Ranger a hero and a character that has lasted through the years. Too bad the Battlestar Galactica story on the other side is pretty disappointing, but I guess nothing’s perfect, and this story more than makes up for it

So until next time, remember that comics are worth more than money!

Would you like to write a review of a comic book or graphic novel for all the Internet to see? Our Cool Comics Reader Reviews section is looking for fans just like you to submit 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/

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Revisiting the Eighties with Grimjack & The New Teen Titans!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 234, 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 234…

Cool Comics News!

Dr. Omnibus wants to offer a prize to our newsletter subscribers! One winner will receive all three trade paperback volumes of The Umbrella Academy (free U.S. shipping…if you are international and want to enter, you pay the shipping). We’ll have more information in our next episode, but if you aren’t on our mailing list, now is the time to sign up.

Tired of seeing a blank gray 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, thanks to Gravatar! Each episode will have a reminder just above the comments section, in case you decide not to create one immediately and it slips your mind. But if you want to do it now, just click the link below to get started.

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Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Cable versus Grimjack! 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. This Teen Titans SUPERFREAKS image perfectly complements our Cool Comics Classic issue this episode! 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

#1190 — Cable #1, Marvel, May 2020.

When I started reading comic books again in 1993, which I consider my third phase of comic collecting (my second phase was a brief foray in 1982), Cable hit my radar, and I wanted to learn more about this old guy who was somehow the son of Scott Summers. I started buying X-Force and any back issues of comics with Cable that I could find, including a Cable mini-series and eventually an ongoing Cable comic. I was also excited when he was in the X-Men cartoon that aired during the Nineties (I’m currently doing a rewatch of it on Disney+). And all of that came to an end in 2003 when I quit comics cold turkey. But since mid-2017, I’ve returned to buying new comics (I started this Cool Comics blog in 2015, but at that time had no intention of buying new comics), and for some reason, the powers that be at Marvel decided to have a young version of Cable kill the old version of Cable. I’ll tell you straight out that I’m not a fan of that move. What made the situation so unique was the son being older than the parents. When I found out Cable was going to have his own series again, I wasn’t too thrilled. But since I’ve been keeping up with this entire Dawn of X storyline, I had to check it out, right? When I opened this issue, I didn’t find the art to my liking…but I tried not to think about negatives. And as I read on, the art ceased being a distraction, and actually started to grow on me. And I think a big part of that is because Gerry Duggan’s wordsmithing keeps you turning pages. There’s a fun surprise element here, having to do with a sword that Cable finds. I don’t want to spoil anything, as this comic just released last week, I’m looking forward to where they are going with it. In addition, the final few pages convinced me that I made the right choice to add Cable to my pull list. The cover price of Cable #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5. The Key Collector Comics value is $5.

Cool Comics from the Quarter Bin

#1191 — Grimjack #33, First Comics, April 1987.

For the Cool Comic above, I mentioned a little about some of my comic book collecting phases, as I like to call them. But something I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned here before is that between phases 2 and 3, I bought some First Comics at a discount store. It may have been Odd Lots or Big Lots…it was a Lot of some sort! This would have been sometime between 1989 and 1992, if memory serves. And it seems to me that I bought them in prepacks. But I can’t find any evidence online that First Comics did this. Then again, maybe the store itself did this. And there’s a very real possibility that I just bought them loose, at discounted prices. Regardless, when I bought these, I had no knowledge of First Comics, but since I hadn’t bought any comic books since 1982, I thought it would be fun to try these. Some of the titles I ended up with were Badger, Grimjack, Nexus, Sable, and Whisper. Perhaps they were known by current comic fans of the time, but for someone who was no longer part of the gang, these were mysterious adventures waiting to happen, which can be fun…if you don’t get lost! Unfortunately, I sold all my issues at a garage sale a few years back, and now I hunt for them in quarter bins every once in a while. I tried to learn a little about Grimjack before reading this issue, and if you want to know more also, just click here. I wouldn’t mind adding additional issues in this series. Do you have a love for some of the characters and creators of First Comics? The creative team of this issue (and possibly all the Grimjack comics) is John Ostrander and Tom Mandrake. The cover price of Grimjack #33 is $1.25, while the current value is $3.

FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 46)

#1192 — Wolfie Monster and the Big Bad Pizza Battle , Graphix, May 2019.

I am most certainly not the demographic this Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) issue is geared towards. But as always, my aim is to cover each FCBD release here at Cool Comics, so I can’t let any of you down. Which means I read them to the very (and in some cases bitter) end. And while lots of the action going on just wasn’t my cup of tea, I tried to toss lots of decades of my life out of my mind and go back to that golden age of twelve while reading this. But I think I needed to shave off a few more years to truly appreciate it. Don’t get me wrong, I think that with the right audience, this comic would be popular, and for all I know, it is. But it wasn’t for me. What I do like about it is that I can hand this off to a kid and not worry that they’ll be reading something inappropriate. It’s just a lot of clean, goofy shenanigans involving the strange looking creatures on the cover, and pizza. Nothing out of the ordinary, right? The cover price of Wolfie Monster and the Big Bad Pizza Battle is free, while the current value is $1.

Cool Comics Kids

#1193 — Dennis the Menace Bonus Series Magazine #189 , Fawcett Publications, June 1979.

Dennis the Menace comic books were among my favorites when I was young. I didn’t care for the old black and white TV series, but I really loved the comics for some reason. They had great holiday issues back in those days, and it didn’t feel like Christmas unless I was reading either a holiday digest or regular size Christmas special. And since I’ve been building my Cool Comics Kids library, it never hit me until I found this issue a few weeks ago that for all the kid comics I’ve found in quarter bins, Dennis the Menace hasn’t been one of the titles. Why is that? Could it be that others have that same fondness for the loveable, yet troubled, Dennis, and refuse to part with his comic book adventures? Or maybe there are other Dennis fans out there who keep beating me to the bins when these classics get discounted. I may never know the answer, but I do know that when I sold thousands of comics at a garage sale years ago, I didn’t part with my Dennis the Menace comic books. The cover price of Dennis the Menace Bonus Series Magazine #189 is 40¢, while the current value is $7.

Cool Comics Classics

#1194 — The New Teen Titans #12, DC, October 1981.

I tend to talk about the past quite a bit in my Cool Comic commentaries, but I think most comic book lovers understand why. We often romanticize the comics from our childhood…or teen years…or even last year, if you recently started collecting. Sometimes the comics we bought and read in the Eighties (or whatever era you want to put here – I’ve chosen the Eighties because this book came out in 1981) are just as good when we pick them up today. And sometimes we discover that they weren’t all that great, but it doesn’t really matter, because they represent our beginnings with the hobby. If you did just start reading last year, you’ll know this feeling even better in another decade or two…or three or four! And because of this, regardless of the issue number, just seeing a copy of The New Teen Titans takes me back to Winter and Spring quarters of 1982 at The Ohio State University, where a roommate and friend of mine (also named Ed) helped boost me back into comics (I’d quit collecting in the late Seventies). Ed recommended certain titles, and The New Teen Titans was one of them. I was smart enough to follow this advice and have great memories of discovering the team, learning about their powers, and having this bond with my friend. But things going on in my life that Summer found me drifting away from comic books, and once more I quit. But I cherish those long-ago days and think of them often. And that’s where my thoughts gravitated to while reading this issue. The cover price of The New Teen Titans #12 is 60¢, while the current value is $7.

Cool Collected Editions with Dr. Omnibus
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers:  Year Two Deluxe Edition Hardcover

Dr. Omnibus score: 8 out of 10

Continuing with my Power Rangers reading, I moved on to Year Two. If you caught episode 231 of CCIMC you may remember that I rated Year One 7.5 out of 10, so I didn’t love it, but I shall proceed down this path at least through the Shattered Grid storyline, which is the third hardcover. Because I am invested, and I just have to finish what I start.

The Book Itself

This book is constructed just like year one, but the cover features the red ranger instead of Rita and the Green Ranger. It contains issues 13-24 of the main series and a pretty good assortment of short anthology type stories. One thing I really enjoyed is that a much smaller percentage of this volume was filled with the variant gallery. There is considerably more actual comic content in this volume, despite the issue count being approximately the same.

The Words

By Kyle Higgins

I can really tell that Kyle’s comfort with these characters has increased. Things feel a bit more fluid in this collection, and the story is considerably vaster as far as its depth and reach. Lots of interdimensional stuff really gives this a very strong sci-fi base. Thinking about how one could exist outside reality as we know it is always fun for me. There are even some geo-political thriller elements, which really just get started and help paint a picture for where some plotlines may lead. Just about every aspect of the writing in this volume was superior to that found in Year One.

As I mentioned, there are a pretty good handful of short stories from a large assortment of writers included in this volume. Many were great, some were not so great. I did not take these into consideration when providing my rating for this book, as I feel it would deter people from reading the main story, which is pretty good. But the ones that are good are very good, so I wouldn’t recommend skipping them altogether.

The Art

By Hendry Prasetya

I didn’t notice any marked change in the art; it was on point in Year One and that is maintained in Year 2.

The quality of art is extremely variable in the short stories. I don’t want to say any of it is bad. From a technical standpoint, I’m sure it’s fine, but a lot of it was not very eye catching or interesting. On the other hand, some of the best art in the book can also be found in these.

The Gist

With Year Two being better overall than Year One, I am considerably more excited to read the Shattered Grid Deluxe Edition Hardcover than I was to read this volume, after Year one. I see lots of opportunity with what they have set up and expect some strong dramatics. If you were on the fence after reading Year one, I encourage you to carry on. So far, things are trending in the right direction.

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!
Darth Maul

Reviewed by Steve Adams

Hey fellow comic geeks. My name is Steve Adams and I have been a member of the Cool Comics Facebook group for a short time but have been reading comics since 1979 or 1980. I have a collection of comics from the 80’s and 90’s but had to stop buying as I couldn’t afford it anymore. I see some of the current cover prices of these books now and am glad I am not trying to scrape money together each week. I do, though, like to get the collected editions from my library and read those. I was a Mighty Marvel fan growing up, and that is what I largely stick to, although I have some DC and Image in my collection as well.

After watching The Mandalorian, as well as Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, I have been in Star Wars mode for a couple months now and have been filling that void with some Star Wars comics. For my first review, I will be looking at the Darth Maul series, issues 1-5, from 2017. Luke Ross and Nolan Woodard do a fantastic job of bringing Maul to menacing visual life. The art is fantastic, and you can see the hatred in Maul’s face on every page. Cullen Bunn does a good job of laying out the conflict in Maul between subservience to Darth Sidious and his desire to use his Sith training. His sole purpose: kill Jedi. He finally learns of a Padawan who has been captured, and he undertakes to “free” her for his own reasons. However, he cannot let Sidious know that he is disobeying his master by going after her.

This series obviously takes place shortly before Episode I and does a good job of exploring Maul’s motivations without giving away too much of his personal history. It retains a sense of mystery about Maul’s past, and I appreciate that. One of my biggest problems with the prequels was that they gave away too much about Vader’s past. The mystery was gone. The writer avoids this temptation here, and the story is better for it. The pacing is superb, as it does take breaks from its action-packed sequences for some exposition. I felt the resolution was realistic and believable, with some nice foreshadowing of the fall of the Jedi depicted in the prequel trilogy.

If you like the expansion of the stories into the comics and novels, and haven’t read this yet, I recommend it. It’s a quick, easy read that will appeal to fans of the best Star Wars villain not named Darth Vader.

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.

 

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Bloodshot Hits the Big Screen and Magic School is Now in Session!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 233, 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

Did you know that you can be a guest host for Cool Comics? It’s your chance to show off some of your favorite comics in your personal collection! Just pick any of your comics for inclusion (this blog is for all ages, so please keep that in mind), with a maximum of seven issues. Repeat guest hosts are permitted and encouraged. To submit your completed blog (or if you have any questions), write to edgosney62@gmail.com .

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!

If you have any comments, please scroll to the bottom of the page to where it says, “Leave a Reply.” And now, Episode 233…

Cool Comics News!

Don’t forget that now you can submit reviews and be a part of Cool Comics! And if you feel intimidated by Steve Baum’s excellent review from last episode, keep in mind that they can be as simple as the one I did for this week (see Cool Comics Reader Reviews! below). We look forward to hearing from you soon.

On another note, I decided to go with larger images for our two reviews this episode, since we have just one of each. If you want to see larger pictures here at Cool Comics, all you have to do is click on the images, then hit the back arrow to exit. But this time I made it a little easier on you with a couple covers. Let me know if I should do this more often or just use the smaller images.

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Doctor Voodoo versus Bloodshot! 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 illustrator Dan Gorman, a member of the National Cartoonists Society and one of the top sketch card artists on the planet. This card featuring Boba Fett is one of the 50 plus sketch cards Dan created for the Topps Star Wars Masterworks 2019 Set, and is very timely, considering that Marvel just released Star Wars Bounty Hunters #1 yesterday! For more about Dan and his art, please visit www.dangormanart.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

#1184 — Strange Academy #1, Marvel, May 2020.

Really? Harry Potter is yesterday’s news, right? And that’s exactly what this premise feels like, gathering all these magical teens throughout the Marvel Universe to come hone their skills. I was going to pass on this one, but my wife saw it advertised somewhere, and she recognized the name Humberto Ramos because she loved the way he drew Impulse, so she talked me into giving it a try. And after all, I’ve read some stuff by Skottie Young (Middlewest and Bully Wars, for example), and he really does a great job when it comes to writing about kids. Young and Ramos, at least from my perspective, have a hit on their hands. This was so much fun that I can hardly wait until April to read the next issue! The staff at the school is awesome, and includes Zelda Stanton, Brother (and sometimes still referred to as “Doctor”) Voodoo, Hellstrom, Nico Minoru, Scarlet Witch, Magik, Shaman, and Doctor Strange…when they aren’t out saving the world! I’m ready for the next lesson. The cover price of Strange Academy #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5. The Key Collector Comics value is $5.

#1185 — Superman: Villains #1, DC, May 2020.

In Cool Comics episode 230, I guess I kind of gushed over Superman: Heroes #1, and I was expecting to have those same kinds of warm comic book feelings over the Villains special. Not that I’m a fan of villains, mind you, but I definitely thought I’d end up liking it just as much. But I didn’t. I don’t care for some of the art in this issue, and a few of the little vignettes interspersed throughout the comic just didn’t do it for me the same way. While I sound completely negative, I’m not. There were some cool comics moments (especially the story with Mongul…and Supergirl, too!) that have me anticipating what’s going to happen next. If you’re a regular reader of Superman, you probably want to add this to your collection, but if you just occasionally read the exploits of the Man of Steel, you’re probably better off reading Superman and/or Action Comics. Although if you follow certain creators, take note of the involvement with this one, featuring the following writers: Brian Michael Bendis, Matt Fraction, and Jody Hauser, and artists: Michael Gaydos, Riley Rossmo, Scott Godlewski, Bryan Hitch, Cully Hamner, Steve Lieber, and Jim Mahfood. The cover price of Superman: Villains #1 is $5.99, while the current value is $6.

Cool Comics from the Quarter Bin

#1186 — The Flash #5, DC, March 2012.

I’ve mentioned here before that when The New 52 was ongoing, I was no longer buying new comics, and at that point in my life figured I probably never would again. But as the saying goes, never say never! Part of the fun of digging around in quarter bins is finding stuff that I missed out on during the long stretch from mid-2003 to mid-2017. One day I found several issues of The Flash and decided I’d just buy them all (remember, they cost just a quarter each!). When I collected comics from 1993 to 2003, there was a period in which I was reading the exploits of DC’s speedster monthly, and I also bought back issues when I found them cheap. But this was the Wally West Flash. I’ve never bought any Barry Allen Flash comics new off the rack. In the Nineties I found all the Crisis on Infinite Earths issues in back issue bins, and read it as soon as I completed the series, and I’ve bought back issues with Barry Allen, but that’s my experience with Barry, nothing but back issue bargains. Although, truth be told, I’ve bought a few Justice League comics (it’s been well over a year now) with Barry…but it’s not the same. I do watch The Flash TV show, but as far as comics go, it’s always been Wally for me, so it’s been fun learning more and more about the Barry Allen version. This issue takes place in the middle of some crazy stuff, so I was just a little left behind…in a cloud of dust! The cover price of The Flash #5 is $2.99, while the current value is $3.

FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 45)

#1187 — Valiant: Bloodshot FCBD Special , Valiant Entertainment, May 2019.

I’ve been saving this Free Comic Book Day issue ever since I found out that Bloodshot was heading to the big screen, and now that it opens tomorrow (that is, if you’re reading this on March 12, 2020…Thursday being the Cool Comics publication day each week), it’s high time I add it to our ongoing FCBD segment of Cool Comics. The buzz around the movie hasn’t been great, but with Bloodshot being played by Vin Diesel, it might be worth a try. But it opens on Friday the 13th…so if you’re superstitious (which I’m not), you might be thinking that the movie is cursed. I hope audiences like it for what it is. I’ve been collecting old Valiant Comics by scooping them out of quarter bins, with the majority of them coming from the original Nineties run. Valiant is the company that refuses to quit, and now that movies are coming on the scene (Harbinger is supposedly next, although it’s been sold to a different company), perhaps it will gain even more popularity. The story in this FCBD issue is pretty good. I like the art, and I would imagine that reading it would generate interest to learn more. The comic also contains a “Fallen World” prelude story and several creator interviews. The cover price of Valiant: Bloodshot FCBD Special is free, while the current value is $1.

Cool Comics Kids

#1188 — Popeye the Sailor #165 , Whitman, November 1981.

I loved Popeye cartoons when I was a kid, and I wonder if there are any young people today who have an appreciation for this sailor…or even know who he is! So yes, it was a fun trip back in time while reading this comic I found for just a quarter. This issue has two stories in it, one of which has perhaps the longest title I’ve ever seen: Thimble Theatre Presents: Popeye “A Witch in the Spinach!” or a moon maiden, a sea hag, and a sailorman! or: A Gob, A Goon, and A Ghoul! What a mouthful! If “Thimble Theatre” doesn’t sound familiar, it was lost on me, too. At least until I looked up some information on Alice the Goon (who appears in this issue) and saw mention of it there. Alice is one of the strangest, most unique characters from any era of comics and comic strips. The second story had a much shorter title, “Popeye in Paper and Paste.” I guess they decided to give us a break with that one! If Popeye has meaning to you and you want to pass on the love, perhaps Popeye comics are a good start for the young readers in your life. The cover price of Popeye the Sailor #165 is 50¢, while the current value is $18.

Cool Comics Classics

#1189 — Marvel Team-Up #64, Marvel, December 1977.

When this issue of Marvel Team-Up hit the newsstands, I decided to skip it. I’d gotten older and wiser, spending less money on comic books and paying more attention to school activities and friends. Now, looking back, I sometimes ask myself “What was I thinking?!” My favorite Spider-Man creators during the Seventies were Gerry Conway and Ross Andru, because that’s the team that gave me the stories that made Spider-Man so important to me. And since I liked him so much, it was a natural that I also bought Marvel Team-Up. It was “spectacular” that I could get even more Spider-Man each month (along with Marvel Tales too!). So now, when I find great deals on back issues of comics from the Seventies featuring Peter Parker that I missed out on, I add them to my ever-growing collection. And when I pulled this one out of my filing cabinet of unread treasures, I was both surprised and delighted to see the names Chris Claremont and John Byrne across the top of the first page (and Dave Cockrum did the cover)! If I would have bought this issue back when it was new, I wouldn’t have been as excited…instead I would have been wishing it had been Conway and Andru. But as we learn more about creators, isn’t it fun to find an issue you didn’t realize they were involved with? The story itself wasn’t all that “amazing,” but it has Iron Fist, Misty Knight, and Colleen Wing, so it’s cool enough for me. The cover price of Marvel Team-Up #64 is 35¢, while the current value is $9. The Key Collector Comics value is $10.

Cool Collected Editions with Dr. Omnibus 
Guardians of the Galaxy by Gerry Duggan Omnibus

Dr. Omnibus score: 7 out of 10

I bought this book for one reason: I wanted to read Infinity Wars and heard that Infinity Wars is a direct follow up to Duggan’s run on Guardians of the Galaxy. So here we are.

The Book Itself

This might be the smallest omnibus in my collection. If not, then it’s the second smallest. It contains 17 issues plus some material from a Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) issue. After reading it, I can hardly understand why it’s labeled as an omnibus. The Latin term “omni” means “all.” So, one would think an omnibus edition collects all of something, but this does not collect the entire story that it starts, although it does contain all the issues from the series, I think.  I really think this should have been marketed as an oversized hardcover. Anyway, the book held up well and has a pretty cool graphic cover with Star-Lord’s head on it.

The Story

By Gerry Duggan

My previous experience with the Guardians of the Galaxy is their inclusion in the MCU and Dan Abnett’s run. I very much enjoyed both of those. This is more of the same. Plucky band of space pirates go around heisting and occasionally saving the galaxy while their seemingly fragile friendships are tested by deceit amongst themselves. The book is full of humor and mixes it well with intense action and deeper relationships than is let on by the surface appearance. Every few issues or so was a flashback issue focusing on one character, and these were expertly laid into the main story so that you only gain the minimum of information you need for the plot to progress without losing the reader. These flashback issues were great. The rest of it was just alright. Perhaps my perception of the story overall will be altered by seeing its actual conclusion in the pages of Infinity Wars. You’ll see my take on that in a couple weeks.

The Art

These 17.5 issues had a pretty significant smattering of a roster. Normally this would not sit well with me. However, it was done well. The flashback issues I mentioned were drawn by different creative teams, which provide a unique look and create a clear separation between the flashbacks and the main story. None of the art is amazing, but it isn’t bad by any means. It was good enough to keep me in the story and wasn’t distracting.

The Gist

 It was an enjoyable read with fun characters and good relationships but wasn’t stunning. It looked good enough. Worth a read, but only start this if you plan to also read Infinity Wars.

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!
Fire Power Advance Edition by Robert Kirkman and Chris Samnee

Reviewed by Ed Gosney

If you’re a fan of Robert Kirkman’s storytelling (The Walking Dead, Invincible, Oblivion Song) and Chris Samnee’s art (Daredevil, Black Widow), then you should most certainly consider picking up Fire Power Volume 1: Prelude, when it hits comic book stores at the end of April. A local comic shop owner loaned the Advance Edition to me, and while you may recognize many of the tropes from what you’ve read or watched in the past (there’s a funny nod to The Karate Kid movie), the creators do a masterful job in making it seem fresh, funny, and even a little bit frightening. What I didn’t see coming is contained in the final seven pages, and how that is the actual setting for the ongoing series that starts with issue 1 on Free Comic Book Day. But the week before, on April 29, you can purchase Fire Power Vol. 1: Prelude, so make sure to read it first. Yes, they are using a graphic novel to set up the series. Before I go, I want to be sure to give some praise to the colorist, Matt Wilson, who did an outstanding job in setting the mood and bringing the panels to life, making this an even greater pleasure to read. My rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

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.

Leviathan Dawn Sets the Stage and Howard the Duck Takes Wing!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 232, 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

Did you know that you can be a guest host for Cool Comics? It’s your chance to show off some of your favorite comics in your personal collection! Just pick any of your comics for inclusion (this blog is for all ages, so please keep that in mind), with a maximum of seven issues. Repeat guest hosts are permitted and encouraged. To submit your completed blog (or if you have any questions), write to edgosney62@gmail.com .

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!

If you have any comments, please scroll to the bottom of the page to where it says, “Leave a Reply.” And now, Episode 232…

Cool Comics News!

Have you read a comic recently that you’re just itching to talk about? Now you can give us your take on this cool comic right here for all the Internet to see in our new feature, Cool Comics Reader Reviews! You don’t have to be a wordsmith (don’t worry, I’ll take care of the edits), but just enthusiastic enough to send me 500 words or less of the comic book you want to talk about, along with an image of the cover. 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. One more thing: though I try to find something cool in each comic I discuss, this is a reader review, so if you are disappointed with the direction or results of a comic, you can put it in your review (you’re also welcome to establish your own rating system, such as “6 out of 10 stars”). There’s no limit to how many reviews you can send (email them to edgosney62@gmail.com), but we’ll just publish them one at a time.

Your reviews can be informal like you’re addressing some friends, or fancy, as if you’re giving a report for work or school. The choice is yours. In this episode you’ll find our first Cool Comics Reader Review below, written by the excellent creator of LONGBOX JUNK!, Steve Baum. And now that we’ve gotten started, I hope to see your reviews in my email box soon!

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Howard the Duck versus Marvin Martian! 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 welcome back the fun art of Ed Griffie, a lifelong comic book fan who started drawing Kawaii and Chibi style versions of pop culture icons and superheroes about five years ago. Ed’s creation is Superhost (Marty Sullivan), a former on-air personality in Cleveland, Ohio, who made an appearance at Akron Comicon in November. This is a great tribute to Marty, who passed away February 21, 2020, at age 87.

You can check out Ed’s 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 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

#1178 — Leviathan Dawn #1, DC, April 2020.

Last summer DC Comics brought us Event Leviathan, which saw Leviathan take out A.R.G.U.S, the D.E.O., S.H.A.D.E., Task-Force X, the League of Assassins, Kobra Kult…well, you get the picture. It’s a nasty organization that believes it’s doing the right thing (don’t they always?). But who or what is Leviathan? It seems it’s both an organization (that was originally started by Talia al Ghul) and the name of their new leader. Did you read it last summer? Are you going to, but haven’t gotten around to it yet? If you would rather be surprised, stop reading…I mean it, because I’m about to reveal that Leviathan is none other than former Manhunter, Mark Shaw! And as Leviathan Dawn shows us, things are far from over. This is the lead-in to a new mini-series called Event Leviathan: Checkmate, which starts next month. And while I really enjoyed this issue and the assorted people involved (The Hunter, The Colonel, The Arrow, The Truth…Lois Lane, The Wild Card…Talia, The King, The Question, and The Bones), I won’t be reading this next series (unless someone else wants to pay for it!). The cover price of Leviathan Dawn #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5.

#1179 — Giant-Size X-Men: Jean Grey and Emma Frost #1, Marvel, April 2020.

When it comes to comic books (what else would we be talking about here?), which do you like best, the art or the words? Maybe it’s a little of both, the perfect blend of words and art telling a story. Many people tend to have their favorites when it comes to creative teams, and some people can’t stand certain writers or artists. We like what we like. I read a lot of stuff, and I see words in comics as serving an important purpose. But sometimes part of a tale is told just through the pictures. I’m sure you’ve seen movies or TV shows in which there are scenes with no dialogue. And we see it in comics too, over a few panels. But Giant-Size X-Men: Jean Grey and Emma Frost, which is a 40-page comic, has just 4 pages with words (except for those little intro pages all the X-books use). Yep, lots and lots of silent storytelling in this one. It’s something I’m not used to or very comfortable with. In one sense it was cool, but in another, you finish and think to yourself that you paid too much for a comic that took 3 minutes to read. Maybe for some people it took 5 minutes as they contemplated the images longer than I did. So, it’s a cool comic, but still, did I pay too much for this? If you read it, what are your thoughts? The cover price of Giant-Size X-Men: Jean Grey and Emma Frost #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5.

Cool Comics from the Quarter Bin

#1180 — Howard the Duck #4, Marvel, July 1976.

When we read a Howard the Duck comic book, are we intentionally thinking about it being a social satire and keeping a watchful eye out for moments of parody, or are we simply reading it to have fun and remember that…well, it was the Seventies? Obviously we all read with different perspectives because we are unique individuals, but I think most of us can agree that Howard is just plain fun, regardless of whether we’re learning about how random life can be sometimes and that, just like the duck, each of us are “trapped in a world” we never made. Okay, enough philosophy, for Peter Parker’s sake (yes, this works here, because Spider-Man makes an appearance in Howard the Duck #1), we’re talking about a comic book that features a duck interacting with humans. The movie may have bombed, but the comic was around for several years, and Howard still pops up every now and then, even in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This issue has some fun, silly moments with a sleep walker fighting crime and referring to himself as “Winky-Man.” I don’t know about you, but whenever I hear the name Wee Willie Winkie I think about Bullwinkle. The cover price of Howard the Duck #4 is 25¢, while the current value is $14.

FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 44)

#1181 — Zagor: The Alien Saga, Epicenter Comics, May 2019.

Have you ever read any of the adventures of Zagor? I certainly hadn’t until this Free Comic Book Day issue. Thanks to Epicenter Comics, these original Italian adventures are being translated, and I for one really had fun with this exciting tale of aliens attempting to take over the planet! It reminded me a bit of Flash Gordon stories, so if you’re in that camp, hopefully you were able to find a copy of this on FCBD. And as it turns out, the company has been publishing collections for a few years now, so fans can continue to enjoy these comics that are finally being translated into English. Interestingly enough, the Wikipedia entry reveals that Zagor has a big fan base in other countries such as Coatia, Serbia, Turkey, Greece, and a few other nations. If you are the kind of reader who likes to try comics you’ve never read before, you may want to keep Zagor in mind. The cover price of Zagor: The Alien Saga is free, while the current value is $1.

Cool Comics Kids

#1182 — Looney Tunes #1 , DC, April 1994.

Back in 1994, DC launched Looney Tunes #1, and it’s still being published today, which is a testament to the lasting power of these iconic characters. Many of you probably remember—with great fondness—watching the cartoons throughout your childhood, and some of you, I’m sure, remember your favorite episodes. This comic is done anthology style, featuring several stories and different characters, along with some activity pages for kids. Many of the comics we talk about here in Cool Comics Kids are part of the Looney Tunes crowd, and now that I’ve read a number of them, I’m really glad that I’ve found so many in quarter boxes. For those of you who are looking for comics that are appropriate for younger readers, Looney Tunes probably fits the bill. As in the cartoons, there is often some violence, but nothing so bad that a modern day Fredric Wertham might come after you! The cover price of Looney Tunes #1 is $1.50, while the current values are $4 on CBR and $3 on ZKC.

Cool Comics Classics

#1183 — Hands of the Dragon #1, Atlas/Seaboard, June 1975.

A couple weeks ago I decided it was time to pull out another Atlas/Seaboard comic, the company from the mid-Seventies with big dreams that, unfortunately, didn’t survive long. I’ve seen some comic fans online talk about low distribution being a factor in their failure, but I remember seeing them on the magazine racks way back when in my hometown of Martins Ferry, Ohio. But alas, Martin Goodman, who tried to find comic book glory once more after exiting Marvel, quickly crashed and burned. Interestingly enough, this comic line seems to have a nostalgic pull on many of us. Though I never laid a quarter on the counter for any of them, today I have over half of all the issues they published and hope to someday have the complete collection. And by now you’re wondering if I actually liked Hands of the Dragon, and the answer is a resounding YES! Twin babies saved by their grandfather, one gets scarred and ends up heading down the wrong path, later to face his twin in combat, while the brother that is our hero, Dragon, has an enchanted medallion that could make all the difference. Unfortunately, there is no second issue. The cover price of Hands of the Dragon #1 is 25¢, while the current value is $20. The Key Collector Comics value is $18.

Cool Collected Editions with Dr. Omnibus
Silver Surfer: Black, Treasury Edition

Dr. Omnibus score: 9.25 out of 10

Silver Surfer: Black was kind of a big deal when it was hitting shelves. I had read God Country by Donny Cates and thought it was good, not amazing. With that knowledge and from the few images I saw here and there, I wasn’t remarkably interested. Then one day, Amazon had a sale in which I could get the treasury edition of Silver Surfer: Black for $11 ($29.99 is the cover price). At that price—and that size—I just couldn’t pass it up.

The Book Itself

The physical dimensions of the treasury edition are 8.6-by-13.2 inches. To put that in perspective, a normal comic is 6.6-by-10.1 inches. That’s approximately 30% larger. With tons of full-page panels and double page spreads, this is the perfect book for this format. It has a coated soft cover which is very smooth to the touch, and it smells fantastic.

The Story

By Donny Cates

It will be very hard to talk about the story without major spoilers, but I will do my best. In this story, Surfer finds himself inside a black hole; I haven’t read the rest of Cates cosmic stuff, but I assume how he came to be there is explained in another book. While in this black hole, Surfer visits a couple of familiar characters of major significance in the Marvel Universe and undergoes some existential time travel stuff. Just ridiculously awesome and well put together. I wish I could say more, but feel anything more could potentially spoil it completely, so I will leave it at that.

The Art

As I mentioned, the covers and few panels I saw before I bought this book didn’t blow me away. But holy cow, this is a great example of why you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. The art is over the top trippy and many times reminded me of Salvador Dali type crazy stuff. The massive trim size lends itself to several full page and 2-page spreads, which result in some truly magnificent detail. The colors are initially what turned me off, but in the end, they are one of the best parts of Silver Surfer: Black. When you combine the nature of the story with this off the beaten path coloring, it just works.

The Gist

So far, this is my favorite comic I have read this year. A small part of that may be the result of the strong negative feelings I had towards it when I read it (something I will frequently talk about is how strongly I believe that a story that invokes strong emotions, good or bad, is better than one which does not). I co-wrote a story that shares a major element of this story. While I can prove that I wrote it before reading Silver Surfer: Black, publishing it as-is has become an undesirable venture. On the other hand, maybe seeing that a big name like Donny Cates having the same idea feels a bit like a pat on the back or validation.

The stunning art in its dramatic size, coupled with a deep story that redefines an old character, is a must read for everyone. Seriously, go read this book, not digitally, not in singles. Go buy the treasury edition.

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!

First, a bit of introduction. I’m Steve “Atom” Baum and I write comic reviews that nobody ever asked for. I don’t usually write reviews of new comics or comics that would be of interest to collectors for how much they are “worth.” To me, the “value” of a comic is in the enjoyment of it.

Most of the comics I review come straight from the bargain bins. The reviews I do are usually the first, last, and only reviews that have been, or will be, written about the comics at hand.

If you like what you see here, then join me on a journey through the forgotten depths of those dusty longboxes of dollar back issues in the rear of your local comic shop and visit my blog LONGBOX JUNK where you’ll discover HUNDREDS of reviews you never asked for!

And now an exclusive “Short, But Sweet” Longbox Junk Retro Review for the Cool Comics Crowd!

KORAK, SON OF TARZAN #39, GOLD KEY (1970)

“KORAK: THE JEWELS OF KARKAN” and “MABU, JUNGLE BOY: FASTER THAN CAMELS” 

WRITTEN BY: Gaylord Dubois

ART BY: Dan Spiegle

COVER BY: George Wilson

THE COVER:

Arachnophobes steer clear! In my opinion, Gold Key had some of the best comic covers to ever hit the stands, and this one is no exception. Another eye-catching cover by the prolific George Wilson.

THE STORY:

Two stories in this issue. . .

In the first, Korak finds himself in the hidden kingdom of Karkan saving a native girl and two European explorers from a mysterious cult intent on sacrificing their three prisoners to the gigantic spiders they worship as Gods!

In the second story, after Mabu rescues a young boy from dying of thirst in the desert, they must flee for their lives from a large band of raiders pursuing them on camels. They are saved by a flash flood and learn that water is faster than camels.

THE REVIEW: 

Of the two stories, I liked the first one a lot more. It has hidden temples, giant spiders, a damsel (actually, two damsels) in distress, a brave hero, and is just a great little action story! Nothing deep or too thoughtful here, just classic jungle adventure of the sort that never really gets old and is still very readable even in a fifty-year-old comic.

The only thing I can find wrong with this story is the same thing I ALWAYS find wrong about Gold Key Comics. . .the interior art is pretty bland and workmanlike compared to their reliably great covers. No matter HOW good the story is in a Gold Key Comic, the art is almost always disappointing.

The second story was extremely light and seems more like filler than anything else. It’s not BAD, it’s just sort of. . .there. I would have preferred the first story to be expanded a little more, but that’s not how they did things back then. With two main stories, a one pager, and two text pieces in this issue, Gold Key wanted to make SURE you got your fifteen cents worth.

CONCLUSION:

There it is. Probably the only review of Korak, Son of Tarzan #39 that will ever be written, AND done as an exclusive for the Cool Comics Crowd. No need to thank me. . .it’s what I do!

Overall, I really enjoyed this comic. It has a great signature Gold Key painted cover and a surprisingly good action-packed main story that’s just classic Jungle-Tastic FUN! The rest of the comic is pretty light, but not bad at all.

Except for the cover, the art is pretty disappointing, but if you read a lot of Gold Key Comics this shouldn’t come as a surprise. If you don’t like spiders, you might want to skip this one, but otherwise this is a nice little piece of Longbox Junk.

So until next time, remember that comics are worth more than money!

Would you like to write a review of a comic book or graphic novel for all the Internet to see? Our Cool Comics Reader Reviews section is looking for fans just like you to submit 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.

Is Wolverine Still the Best at What He Does?

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 231, 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

Did you know that you can be a guest host for Cool Comics? It’s your chance to show off some of your favorite comics in your personal collection! Just pick any of your comics for inclusion (this blog is for all ages, so please keep that in mind), with a maximum of seven issues. Repeat guest hosts are permitted and encouraged. To submit your completed blog (or if you have any questions), write to edgosney62@gmail.com .

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!

If you have any comments, please scroll to the bottom of the page to where it says, “Leave a Reply.” And now, Episode 231…

Cool Comics News!

Cool Collected Editions with Dr. Omnibus, by Damian Starr!

Cool Comics is excited to announce that Damian Star (aka Dr. Omnibus) is now part of the Cool Comics Crew and will be providing awesome reviews of collected editions each episode (or until he needs a vacation!). Damian is a talented writer and YouTuber, and you can find out more about him in his dedicated section below, so keep on reading!

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Wolverine versus Wonder 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!

This episode we’re featuring another fantastic piece of art by the one and only Aaron Archer! This is a black and white version of a Chakan cover illustration he did featuring the forever man versus Rat…whose full name is Ratakilla. Aaron has done the artwork for several Chakan graphic novellas and really captures the essence of these exciting tales!

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

#1172 — Wolverine #1, Marvel, April 2020.

Who is the most popular mutant at Marvel? If the first issue of this new Wolverine series is any indication, based on page count and price, I’d say we have a winner…although Deadpool may not agree. And while your favorite member of the X-Men is perhaps completely the opposite of Logan (or is it James Howlett?), there is no doubt that Wolverine is a huge fan favorite. When Jonathan Hickman’s Dawn of X launched, I’m sure many of you saw this solo series coming a mile away (by the way, it’s the 7th volume of Wolverine if anyone’s trying to keep count). Personally, I’m kind of hit and miss with Wolverine. Sometimes I like what’s going on with him, and other times he’s just too nasty and grouchy for me. But he’s always interesting. This first issue brings us two stories, “The Flower Cartel,” written by Benjamin Percy and penciled by Adam Kubert, and “Catacombs,” also written by Percy, with art by Viktor Bogdanovic. I enjoyed both stories, and I’m looking forward to their continuations…perhaps especially because of the reveal towards the end of “Catacombs.” The cover price of Wolverine #1 is $7.99, while the current value is $8. The Key Collector Comics value is $5.

#1173 — Archie Meets the B-52s One-Shot, Archie, April 2020.

From Rock Lobster to Planet Caire to Love Shack, the B-52s generated fun hits that weren’t the typical stuff you’d hear on Top 40 radio, so maybe that’s why this pairing with Archie seems so offbeat…yet attractive at the same time. Archie Comics has a history of showing us America’s favorite teen in ways we’d never conceived of decades ago, and while now we are used to Riverdale being infested with zombies, vampires, and werewolves, it’s fun to look at the classic Archie Comics version with some fun thrown in. And the B-52s are fun, in my opinion, and maybe you think so, too. I’ve never been much of a concert goer, and as a matter of fact, I never went to one until my college years. My first concert was (drumroll please)…the B-52s at Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio! Some college buddies and I went and had a great time (except they didn’t care to see the opening act, Marshall Crenshaw, and I did…that’s another story for another day). Anyway, The Archies have broken up their band, and the B-52s are looking for a local group to play with them. The story is a lot of fun, and I recommend it to all Archie fans. The cover price of Archie Meets the B-52s is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

Cool Comics from the Quarter Bin

#1174 — The Comet #1, Impact Comics, July 1991.

The most recent Back Issue magazine (#118) had an article about Impact Comics, so it’s no surprise that when I went searching through my boxes of comics I acquired from the quarter bin that I decided to revisit this short-lived DC Imprint. This line came out just a couple years before I re-entered the world of four-color entertainment, so the fun part is that they’re like new to me. I never owned any until last year, when I found some cool first issues and decided that I should add them to my collection. While it’s usually preferable to read longer story arcs, Cool Comics sees the value in giving single issues a try. And if we like them enough, they get added to the list of “must find” titles. This fabulous first issue of The Comet features art by Tom Lyle and is scripted by Mark Waid. Now that I’ve read this comic and The Black Hood #1, it sort of makes me sad that the Impact line didn’t make a big enough impact with the reading public. The cover price of The Comet #1 is $1, while the current value is $4.

FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 43)

#1175 — Kodansha Comics Free Comic Book Day 2019, Kodansha Comics, May 2019.

As far as comic books go, I’m guessing that I’ve read less manga than any other type of comic…and that includes romance comics (which can actually be pretty entertaining). I’ve never bought any manga for myself, and all that I own came from Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) over the last couple years (I get every FCBD issue and put each in the blog). But that’s not to say they aren’t popular and have large readerships. They just aren’t my style. But some stories have proven more intriguing to me than others, and I don’t dislike the experience…as long as I keep track of what panel I’m supposed to go to next while I’m reading the book (from my perspective) back to front. This issue has three stories: Cardcaptor Sakura Collector’s Edition; Witch Hat Atelier; and Magus of the Library, and for the most part, these were fun reads. One of the positives about this comic is it’s safe for All Ages, so you can give it a look and then pass it on to the little ones. The cover price of Kodansha Comics Free Comic Book Day 2019 is free, while the current value is $1.

Cool Comics Kids

#1176 — Donald Duck #115 , Gold Key, September 1967.

Cool Comics Kids keeps me young at heart. While many serious students of heroes and foes battling in capes and tights may turn up their noses at the thought of actually purchasing and reading “kiddie comics,” I say don’t knock it until you’ve tried it! Many comic book readers today got their start because someone gave them a comic book when they were young. And if they started out with Donald Duck, there’s a good chance they moved on to Superman and Spider-Man, and perhaps from there to Lobo and the Punisher. But sometimes it’s nice to just enjoy the entertainment these more innocent comics give us. Okay, maybe I didn’t convince you to start reading the kinds of stuff you’d rather not bother with, but I’m certainly having fun with them. This decades old Donald Duck that I fished out of a quarter bin (you read that correctly, I found this for just 25 cents…okay, so the eyes have been altered by pens, and a former owner’s name is written at the top…but it was a great price!) contains three complete stories and a handful of fun activity pages for kids. The cover price of Donald Duck #115 is 12¢, while the current value is $48.

Cool Comics Classics

#1177 — Adventure Comics #460, DC, December 1978.

I don’t have many of the DC “Dollar Comics,” since I was mostly a Marvel buyer back in the Seventies, but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate them today. And I especially appreciate this one since I found it in a quarter box. It always makes you feel good when you get a comic for less than cover price, right? This cool anthology features stories showcasing Wonder Woman, The Flash, Deadman, Green Arrow, Aquaman, and The New Gods, which is great if you like a little variety and want to learn more of the history of any of these characters. And you know what else makes this a winner? In the top left corner, we are told that there are “68 PAGES/NO ADS.” Yes indeed, this issue gives us lots of story (although I always enjoy gazing at the ads when I’m reading older comic books…I bet you do, too). The cover price of Adventure Comics #460 is $1, while the current values are $26 on CBR and $24 on ZKC.

Cool Collected Editions with Dr. Omnibus
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Year One Deluxe Edition Hardcover
Go go expanded universe

Dr. Omnibus score: 7.5 out of 10

For the past couple years, I have heard a lot of hype about the Power Rangers comic series. I was never a fan of the shows myself. But I did watch some of the first season of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers when it came out in the early-mid 90’s. More recently my son has taken an interest, so I saw bits and pieces of various other Power Rangers series. Those assorted bits managed to show me that the story of the Power Rangers has been taken considerably deeper than the original series took it. So, when it was announced that the wildly expensive hardcover collections were getting a limited reprint for Local Comic Shop Day 2019, I immediately contacted my not exactly local LCS to see about getting a copy. They came through as they always do. So I dove in.

The Book Itself

 The deluxe edition hardcover from BOOM! Studios seems to be a bit larger than a normal omnibus from Marvel or DC, but still a hair smaller than an absolute edition. So it’s a good trim size. It has a beautiful graphic cover and no dust jacket. The spine design is phenomenal. It matches year 2 and Shattered grid perfectly (more on those in a future post). The book contains issues 1-12 of the titular series, as well as a few short stories, which enhance that story. In the back of the book there is a cover gallery that is extensive; its honestly about 25-33% of the book.

The Words

by Kyle Higgins

The story picks up approximately after episode 21 of season 1 of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (Green with Evil part IV). Had I known this beforehand I might have watched the last few episodes of the show. But fortunately, I caught some of those episodes when my son watched them a year ago or so, so I felt I had enough knowledge to continue. I really don’t have a ton to say about the story. Kyle did a great job of making the insanely annoying characters from the show far more palatable and interesting. He deepened the relationships between the characters and even managed to make Bulk and Skull interesting. Every single character was improved upon versus the show. Rita, Goldar, Billy, and Trini benefited the most from these improvements, in my opinion.

The Art

Hendry Prasetya on pencils and Matt Herms on colors (primarily)

The art in this series is pretty awesome; this is helped by interesting character designs that translate better to drawing, opposed to big clunky costumes. I imagine it was also a very difficult series to pencil, given the very geometric nature of Zords. There is very little room for error in the symmetry department when drawing machines/vehicles. Obviously, the costumes of the rangers themselves bring an interesting balance for the colorist. Aside from that, the use of color has so much potential in a series like this, lots of energy blasts and teleportation, which need rendering.

Cover Gallery

At first, I was put off by how much of the book was just cover images, but there is a ton of great art back there and is worth checking out. There are no cover images throughout the main story part of the book, just some pages that state what issue you are starting and who is credited for that issue.

The Gist

If you enjoyed Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (TV series), you will likely enjoy this series. The story is by no means mind-blowing, but it is a great expansion of the universe. It is deeper than the show and devoid of horrid acting.

The art is terrific and worth checking out.

I would not pay over cover price for this book, though. In the recent past it has sold for several hundred dollars on eBay. The LCSD edition helped regulate that a bit, but it is still commonplace for people to pay out of the nose for this thing. The series is collected in trade paperback and will likely cost less than half what you would pay for the over-priced hardcovers.

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 .

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.

Great Quarter Bin Grabs with Mr. Monster & a Seventies Iron Man!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 230, 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

Did you know that you can be a guest host for Cool Comics? It’s your chance to show off some of your favorite comics in your personal collection! Just pick any of your comics for inclusion (this blog is for all ages, so please keep that in mind), with a maximum of seven issues. Repeat guest hosts are permitted and encouraged. To submit your completed blog (or if you have any questions), write to edgosney62@gmail.com .

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!

If you have any comments, please scroll to the bottom of the page to where it says, “Leave a Reply.” And now, Episode 230…

Cool Comics News!

Comic book fans and lovers of fandom magazines from days gone by, I have some exciting Collectorzine news straight from the publisher!

“We finished the first 28-page issue of our new fanzine. And we’re already working on our second (due out in June).

  “Issues will be available in comic shops in Northeast Ohio, and through RAK Graphics at conventions throughout the year. You can also order directly from us at Collectorzine@gmail.com . Each issue costs $3 plus shipping.

  “Please note: We are in the final stages of our marketing campaign for the first issue of our quarterly fanzine. If you’re a dealer in the Northeast Ohio area and you’re just learning about us, we just haven’t contacted you yet. Please feel free to contact us at Collectorzine@gmail.com . Otherwise, you’ll be hearing from us in the next few weeks!”

Friends, this fanzine has it all, including a new Chakan story, an interview with writer Mike W. Barr, collecting tips, thrilling fiction, and even exclusive Cool Comics. Don’t miss this exciting first issue, available now for pre-order and in Northeast Ohio comic shops the last week of March!

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Superman versus Iron 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!

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. This X-Men SUPERFREAKS image is awesome! 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

#1167 — Superman: Heroes #1, DC, April 2020.

If you haven’t heard the news by now, you must have been stuck on a deserted island: Clark Kent (mild-mannered reporter of your favorite rag, The Daily Planet) is Superman. Yes, you read that correctly, Kent, former Smallville farm boy, is the Man of Steel! Actually, Cool Comics broke the news back in December (in all honesty, we weren’t the first to discuss this important announcement, but we took off the glasses and cape in a pretty timely fashion), but now, in Superman: Heroes #1, we get a look at how some of the other DC heroes reacted to his colossal announcement. This larger-than-usual comic needed three writers and five artists to show us the responses, both positive and negative, that Superman’s revelation had on his (and yes, I have to say it!) Super Friends! This is a fun one to read if you don’t mind forking over a couple extra dollars. The cover price of Superman: Heroes #1 is $5.99, while the current value is $6.

Cool Comics from the Quarter Bin

#1168 — Mr. Monster, Dark Horse Comics, February 1988.

A couple weeks ago, while digging through one of my boxes filled with comics that I picked up for just a quarter each, I was flabbergasted to discover that I had a copy of Mr. Monster #1 (basically, I’d just forgotten I had this, but why not use a great word like flabbergasted when opportunity presents itself?)! It’s not from the original run, but I was still excited, because the creator (he’s also the artist and writer), Michael T. Gilbert, is now attending the same monthly comic book gathering that I go to. Which certainly gives a lot more meaning to this comic for me. Maybe you’re familiar with Mr. Monster, but this was my first time reading any comics with him, and I had a blast digesting this issue in all its black and white glory! The cover price of Mr. Monster #1 is $1.75, while the current value is $3.

FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 42)

#1169 — Starburns Presents #2 , SBI Press, May 2019.

This is the second annual Starburns Presents Free Comic Book Day offering, and if you’re a fan of crazy anthologies, both issues might just be your cup of tea. This one starts off with Nasquatch, a play on both NASCAR and those big, hairy guys who tend to hide in the woods. And if you noticed the cover (just don’t be disappointed that Sasquatch is not in the wrestling story), yes, it does have a wrestling tale for fans of Boston Crabs and Figure Four Leg-Locks. This free anthology comes with six tales that continue in digital versions at comiXology, so if you find something you like, you can read more. Just be aware that this comic is rated M for Mature, as it contains some language you probably don’t want your kids to see. The cover price of Starburns Presents #2 is free, while the current value is $1.

Cool Comics Kids

#1170 — Richie Rich #182 , Harvey Comics, September 1979.

I’m not sure if many children today are familiar with “The Poor Little Rich Boy,” but when I was young, lots of kids collected these Harvey Comics while dreaming of what it must be like to have this kind of wealth. Not only could you enjoy Richie Rich in comic books, but in the Eighties, there was a cartoon, and later a movie (and other TV shows and movies that can be found on IMDB). My memories come from the comic books of the Seventies. I didn’t buy many myself, but other kids did, and I remember seeing them at the little shop on the corner where I spent my quarters on superheroes (mostly). These days, I tend towards the nostalgic, and when I can find them in quarter bins, I scoop them up. This issue, from 1979, has an exciting—yet disturbing—adventure with Richie Rich and Little Dot, as Richie’s father sends them off alone in a boat that gets blown up! The kids start to abandon ship when they are warned over the radio by some nefarious baddies, and spot a torpedo heading for the boat just as they try to get in the life raft…and they are hurled into the water by the explosion. Crazy stuff. But it was the Seventies, right? These stories are fun and don’t pull punches, so just make sure your kids can handle the zaniness of this kid with deep pockets! The cover price of Richie Rich #182 is 40¢, while the current values are $8 on CBR and $5 on ZKC.

Cool Comics Classics

#1171 — Iron Man #85, Marvel, April 1976.

I enjoy comic books from various decades, but my sweet spot is the Seventies…especially the years of my first phase of comic book collecting, from 1973 to 1978. So obviously, this Iron Man issue from 1976 has more sentimental value to me than an Iron Man issue from any other time period. And I’m betting that most of you reading this probably know just what I mean. Of course, your preferred decade or favorite time period of comic books is perhaps earlier or later than the mid-70’s, but if you’re a collector, I’m pretty sure you get it. In all honesty I wasn’t much of an Iron Man purchaser back then. While Tony Stark had some cool adventures, I seemed to prefer him in team books, rather than as a solo hero. Today though, I do like finding these Bronze Age exploits of Iron Man, and I was fortunate enough to spot this older one in a quarter bin. And how can you not buy it when it’s that cheap? This is a fun story featuring Happy Hogan as a “Living Bomb,” and as if that isn’t enough to start your jet boots firing, Iron Man gets new armor! You might just want to keep your eye out for this one, if it’s not already stored away in one of your white boxes. The cover price of Iron Man #85 is 25¢, while the current value is $18. The Key Collector Comics value is $5.

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.

Valentine’s Day Romance, Cool Comics Style!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 229, 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!

A Cool Comics mouse pad for Valentine’s Day makes a great romantic gift for the discerning comic book lover.

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

Did you know that you can be a guest host for Cool Comics? It’s your chance to show off some of your favorite comics in your personal collection! Just pick any of your comics for inclusion (this blog is for all ages, so please keep that in mind), with a maximum of seven issues. Repeat guest hosts are permitted and encouraged. To submit your completed blog (or if you have any questions), write to edgosney62@gmail.com .

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!

If you have any comments, please scroll to the bottom of the page to where it says, “Leave a Reply.” And now, Episode 229…

Cool Comics News!

This week Cool Comics In My Collection treats you to a variety of comics for lovers…and lovers of comics! On the eve of Valentine’s Day, we bring you an assortment of romance, comedy, love in space, and even love of pets. While I tried to bring some fun comics your way for the holiday, I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least mention DC’s Crimes of Passion, an 80-page giant that brings the season to some of your favorite characters. Packed with 10 love stories, this special came out last week for $9.99, and you may still be able to snag a copy if you don’t wait too long. It might just make the perfect gift for someone sweet in your life!

 

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Betty versus Veronica! 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 illustrator Dan Gorman, a member of the National Cartoonists Society and one of the top sketch card artists on the planet (and he’s also the creator of the Cool Comics logo!). This card featuring Yoda is one of the 50 plus sketch cards Dan created for the Topps Star Wars Masterworks 2019 Set!

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…and even colored if you want) 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

#1162 — Star Trek: Year Five: Valentine’s Day Special, IDW, February 2020.

If three years of the original Star Trek wasn’t enough to satisfy you (and I’m guessing it wasn’t), don’t despair, because IDW put out their own version of Season Four back in 2007. But wasn’t it supposed to be a five-year mission? Again, IDW did right by Trekkies and Trekkers and 2019 saw the launch of Season Five. Now that’s what I call romance (and Star Trek has plenty of romance)! But they did us all one better by putting out a Valentine’s Day Special that, while it may sound kind of corny, is actually a really good story (although there are some adult themes…nothing too bad…but keep it out of the hands of the little ones in your life). Yet perhaps the best thing about this comic is the double-page spread Valentine Card at the end of the story (I think it’s my favorite of all time and makes this comic worth every penny!). The cover price of Star Trek: Year Five: Valentine’s Day Special is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

Cool Comics from the Quarter Bin

#1163 — Marvel Romance Redux: But I Thought He Loved Me!, Marvel, April 2006.

What day is it tomorrow? Oh yeah, Valentine’s Day, which means it’s time to buy your special someone some romance comics, right? But make sure you know that person well if you get this one, because they may not be amused by this modern day, irreverent look at young love comics from yesteryear. I stumbled upon three different Marvel Romance Redux issues in a quarter bin several months back and immediately knew that I had some great material for the next three Valentine’s Cool Comics episodes, for the incredibly low price of just 75 pennies (plus tax, of course). As a comic book fan, commentator, and student of the history behind the hobby, I’m not one to poke fun at any comic book genre. People like what they like. Yet people often tease and make jokes about both romance novels and comic books, and this issue certainly takes that approach. The stories in this comic are based on published tales from the past, and the comic even tells us the creators of the original stories they use. If you’re a fan of Romance Comics, perhaps they will offend you, but if you have even the slightest bit of humor in your bones, I think you’d get a kick out of these retold tales. Probably my favorite in this issue is one in which the male of a dating couple is a big comic book collector. Some of the lines are classics, such as the girl thinking to herself at the movie theater, “This is the fourth time seeing Elektra…what does she have that I don’t?” and when they are dancing, he compliments her by saying, “You’re as graceful as Dazzler in roller skates.” Face it Tiger, I hit the jackpot with this comic! The cover price of Marvel Romance Redux: But I Thought He Loved Me! #1 is $2.99, while the current value is $3.

FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 41)

#1164 — Riverdale , Archie, May 2019.

As my remaining unread Free Comic Book Day issues are dwindling (see above? This is #41 for the 2019 batch!), it wasn’t easy to find one that fit with the holiday spirit of Valentine’s Day, but I think that the quirky soap opera style that Riverdale gives viewers each week works well enough. Did you happen to grab this issue last May? There really isn’t much story here, not even half of the comic book pages make up the issue, as most of it consists of ads for other Archieverse items. But it’s a FCBD issue, so no complaints, right? Riverdale fans and completists probably want to make sure they have this one in their collections, regardless of the aforementioned ads. And keep in mind that this isn’t simply a comic version of any of the television episodes: all the issues in the Riverdale ongoing comic series are “Untold Comic Stories From the Hit TV Series on The CW.” So fans, if you didn’t realize this, take note! The cover price of Riverdale is free, while the current value is $1.

Cool Comics Kids

#1165 — Scamp #26 , Gold Key, November 1975.

I searched through my box of unread kids’ comics, and this is the most romantic one I could find to fit the Valentine’s Day theme of this episode. Last year for Cool Comics Kids I went with an old issue of Little Archie that I’d bought back in the Seventies, but this year I was bound and determined that I could find something good enough in my unread box. And Lady and the Tramp is romantic, right? If you don’t agree, just think (or watch…click the link) about that spaghetti scene from the movie and see if you don’t change your mind! Why, if that romantic dinner moment hadn’t happened, there might not even be a Scamp comic to read. But seriously, do kids want to read romance? Maybe a little, if it’s done in the right way. But no need to worry about romance in this issue, as we get several stories featuring the little Disney dog and all the trouble he so often gets into. Kids should have a fun time reading this one. The cover price of Scamp #26 is 25¢, while the current values are $7 on CBR and $5 on ZKC.

Cool Comics Classics

#1166 — Romantic Love #11, Super Comics, January 1963.

And now, with Cool Comics Classics, we finally get a “real” Romance Comic. This issue of Romantic Love from 1963 is, I believe, a reprint, but I can’t remember when or where I saw this information, and I’m not spending any more time searching on my laptop (bright computer screens are a bit of a nuisance to me these days, as I suffered a mild concussion almost three weeks ago, and I’m still feeling some of the affects!). The first story witnesses love blossom faster than Hallmark Channel on a Saturday night when a couple of students end up as guinea pigs in “The Experimental Kiss.” What’s really amazing is how quickly these lovebirds start calling each other “darling” and other sweet names. “Buy Me That Man!” teaches readers that real love sometimes means respecting each other’s principles, and in “Dr. Anthony King, Hollywood Psychiatrist,” we discover that when you get sand kicked in your face at the beach (this didn’t happen in the story, but it might as well have…just like that old comic book add about gaining muscle and toughness!), sometimes your dad is to blame…and if you can get him to admit it, you might just win your girl back! All in all, these were fun stories, even for a grizzled old Army veteran like me. The cover price of Romantic Love #11 is 12¢, while the current value is $18.

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.

Cool Comics Brings Green Lantern and Green Arrow Together Again!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 228, 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

Did you know that you can be a guest host for Cool Comics? It’s your chance to show off some of your favorite comics in your personal collection! Just pick any of your comics for inclusion (this blog is for all ages, so please keep that in mind), with a maximum of seven issues. Repeat guest hosts are permitted and encouraged. To submit your completed blog (or if you have any questions), write to edgosney62@gmail.com .

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!

If you have any comments, please scroll to the bottom of the page to where it says, “Leave a Reply.” And now, Episode 228…

Cool Comics News!

Are you a reader of comic book magazines? Not black and white comics, but publications that give fans the inside scoop on their favorite characters, interviews with creators, and sometimes price guides. I remember when I started my third phase of collecting in 1993 and was excited to discover Wizard, then Hero Illustrated, and a few more I tried out. Today, I read Back Issue magazine and sometimes Alter Ego. I also tend to buy back issues of…well…Back Issue when I find them at decent prices. Do you have a favorite comic book magazine, past or present?

This episode we bring both Green Lantern and Green Arrow to Cool Comics! Okay, maybe not in the way that you were thinking, but sometimes we just need to lighten up the mood, right?

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is The Tick versus The 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 Ed Griffie, 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 book store 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 book stores, 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! For details about submitting, see Cool Comics News! in episode 224.

Cool Comics In My Collection
Contemporary Cool Comics

#1157 — Weapon Plus: World War IV #1, Marvel, March 2020.

I remember some of the reactions a few months back when this comic was solicited; people were upset that Ted Sallis, the Man-Thing, was depicted this way. And out of my own curiosity and taking into consideration that I’ve been buying the Weapon Plus comics, I made sure to get this issue. At the time I decided to put it on my Previews order, I didn’t think about whether or not it would be included in Cool Comics, but a couple weeks ago when I gazed into my crystal ball to see what would be coming out that I could use for Contemporary Cool Comics, I decided to pencil it in…hoping that it wouldn’t really offend anyone. When I sat down to read it last week, it made me a little nervous when I saw the words “PARENTAL ADVISORY” on the cover. I guess when you take a look at the cover and see the weapon this guy is wielding, it’s no wonder they issued a warning! Yes, there is some violence, but I don’t think it’s anything “Wertham Worthy,” so to speak (well, maybe there is, depending on how you view things…so keep it away from the kiddos!). And for those of you who are concerned about poor Ted, rest assured, because this isn’t what you think (I’m trying to avoid spoilers). Personally, I found this to be a fascinating story and wonder if we’ll be seeing more in the near future. This issue also contains another tale, Activate: Project Brute Force. Some of you may be familiar with the original mini-series from 1990. If you are a fan, check this out. The cover price of Weapon Plus: World War IV #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5. The Key Collector Comics value is $5 and is listed as the Key of the week.

Cool Comics from the Quarter Bin

#1158 — Shogun Warriors #2, Marvel, March 1979.

Shogun Warriors, anyone? The toys came out when I was at an age of looking more towards accumulating records and cassette tapes, and I had stopped my comic book buying in 1978 so that I could afford to buy the music, along with trips to Dairy Queen with my buddies. Admittedly, I’m not a big fan of giant robots, but at the same time, I got a “big” kick out of reading this Bronze Age beauty. Shogun Warriors #2—and I think for most, if not all, of the short-lived comic series—is written by Doug Moench, while Herb Trimpe did the pencils. Perhaps the best part of this purchase is the fact that I grabbed it out of the quarter bin (which has grown tremendously at Kenmore Komics & Games…go check them out if you can!), paying less than the original cost. And who doesn’t like a bargain? Were you, or are you, a fan? The cover price of Shogun Warriors #2 is 35¢, while the current values are $10 on CBR and $5 on ZKC.

FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 40)

#1159 — The Tick , New England Comics Press, June 2019.

Back in 1994, when I was just about a year into my third phase of comic book collecting, The Tick became a Saturday morning cartoon. Comics from the Nineties may get much maligned, but there were some really cool cartoons in those days. I knew absolutely nothing about the character, but my wife (who was expecting our first child at this time) and I had a blast with this irreverent look at superheroes. Yet as much as I liked the cartoon, it didn’t move me to buy many issues. I have a Tick: Big Halloween Special in my collection, but aside from that, Free Comic Book Day titles are the only other ones I own. I guess in my comic book world, a little Tick goes a long way. I really like them while reading the stories, but it turns out to be enough for the time being. Some of you probably know just what I mean. The cover price of The Tick is free, while the current value is $1.

Cool Comics Kids

#1160 — Mickey Mouse #207 , Whitman, August 1980.

Many of the Western Publishing comics that came under the Gold Key banner have the Whitman logo instead, as they typically were reprints. But this issue is strictly Whitman. Why? If Western is the publisher, why did some end up switching names like that? Obviously, I don’t know all the particulars, but I do know many of the Whitman comics came polybagged with three assorted issues, and often they have higher values because of lower print runs. And I think this issue is one of those. The story itself is a fun adventure called “The Lost Mine of Misery Mountains,” in which we witness Goofy sell off his house when he finds three quarters of a map that he’s sure will lead him to untold wealth. It was originally published in 1956 and is a lot of fun for fans of the Mouse. The next story in this issue is “Run-Around Rock-Hounds,” which dates from 1957. If you’re building a kids comic library, you can’t go wrong with Mickey Mouse, so regardless of what the values on these may be in today’s market, don’t give up hope of discovering your own comic book riches in quarter bins, which is where I fished this one from. The cover price of Mickey Mouse #207 is 40¢, while the current value is $85.

Cool Comics Classics

#1161 — Green Lantern #68, DC, April 1969.

Some readers may remember that many moons ago, I told you about a local comic shop in Akron, Ohio, that had an amazing dollar sale, and you guessed it, that’s how much I paid for this copy of Green Lantern #68. When you can find classics like this for a dollar, it’s a no-brainer to make the purchase, right? But I must confess that my relationship with Hal Jordan has never been on the best of terms. The most consecutive issues I’ve bought of Green Lantern came in the Nineties, when Hal went off the deep end and killed a bunch of people. And from that storyline we got Kyle Rayner, a Green Lantern I liked. John Stewart is okay, but I haven’t read many stories with him, so I don’t have a good feel for the character. Then we’ve got Guy Gardner, who I like better as Warrior, and Alan Scott from the Golden Age. Not to mention the Green Lantern Corps and all those alien Green Lanterns. The history is vast, no doubt. I think one of the things I like the most about this issue is its age. I really enjoy getting opportunities to read through these older comics, and that experience was more than worth my dollar. The cover price of Green Lantern #68 is 12¢, while the current values are $100 on CBR and $45 on ZKC.

Recently Read Digital Comics

Star Wars: Darth Vader #1 just came out yesterday, and yes, now that I’m back to reading Star Wars comics I made sure to pick it up at the local comic shop. And over the weekend I finished the digital edition Star Wars: Darth Vader Vol. 1: Vader, which collects issues 1-6. I guess my life is going to the dark side! As I mentioned in a previous episode, I didn’t buy any of the first series of Star Wars comics that Marvel issued once they regained the license. Lucky me, though, in discovering that Amazon Prime Reading has lots of digital collections of Star Wars…and not just the newer series that started in 2015, but lots and lots of old stuff, too. If you’re a fan and a Prime member, and you’ve been itching to try out digital comics, times couldn’t be better for you! Packed with 142 electronic pages of story, this series is set just after Star Wars: A New Hope. There are some fun reveals and new characters to discover, such as Doctor Aphra (who gets her own series…and some of her collections are on Amazon Prime, too!). I know it’s going to take me a while to get many of these read with all my other reading, but it’s always nice to having something fun waiting in the wings.

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.

Guardians Start Over, Tarzan Swings by, & Remembering Jerry Lewis!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 227, 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

Did you know that you can be a guest host for Cool Comics? It’s your chance to show off some of your favorite comics in your personal collection! Just pick any of your comics for inclusion (this blog is for all ages, so please keep that in mind), with a maximum of seven issues. Repeat guest hosts are permitted and encouraged. To submit your completed blog (or if you have any questions), write to edgosney62@gmail.com .

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!

If you have any comments, please scroll to the bottom of the page to where it says, “Leave a Reply.” And now, Episode 227…

Cool Comics News!

Besides the typical comic shop talk, do you ever get a chance to sit around with other fans of our cool hobby and have opportunities to talk about your favorite creators, characters, or comic company? I’m fortunate to live in an area that has both awesome creators and great fans, and once a month several of us meet up in a library branch. It’s a lot of fun to sit around and talk with like-minded people. If you have a comic book club in your area but haven’t attended, I strongly suggest giving it a try.

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Sad Sack versus Jerry Lewis! 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, Cool Comics Creations brings you a really cool illustration by Aaron Archer that feels a bit mystical, bringing to mind both Michael Moorcock’s Elric and the mythological Green Man. I really like it! Aaron’s website tells us he is a veteran toy designer, independent comic artist, and concept designer, and if you like Transformers, make sure to visit Aaron’s site, as he’s designed hundreds of the toys. Cool Comics wants to give a big thanks to Aaron for allowing us to show off his creation!

You can have a piece of your art featured right here in Cool Comics Creations! For details about submitting, see Cool Comics News! in episode 224.

Cool Comics In My Collection
Contemporary Cool Comics

#1152 — Guardians of the Galaxy #1, Marvel, March 2020.

Is everyone switching creators now? First, we talked here about Thor’s new team, then Batman’s, and now Guardians of the Galaxy is starting all over again with a #1 issue, featuring words by Al Ewing and pencils by Juan Cabal. The last volume (which ran 12 issues) started off fun, with interesting members like Beta Ray Bill and the Cosmic Ghost Rider, but I wasn’t a big fan of the direction it went in. With this fresh start, we’ll see if Al Ewing can bring some of his Immortal Hulk magic to the Guardians. This was a fun first issue, with a bit of a surprise revealed at the end, so I’m looking forward to issue 2. Hopefully this time around I’ll like the storyline better. The cover price of Guardians of the Galaxy #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5. The Key Collector Comics value is $4.

Cool Comics from the Quarter Bin

#1153 — Batman/Tarzan: Claws of the Cat-Woman #1, Dark Horse Comics/DC, September 1999.

I’ve always appreciated team-ups, and while group team-ups can be fun, often there are so many characters that some of my favorites don’t seem to get enough attention. And that’s why crossovers like this are so cool, because we get heavy doses of both Batman and Tarzan. I picked this one up a few weeks ago in a quarter bin, and if issues 2, 3, or 4 had been there, I would have provided them a new home, also. But alas, all I could find was this fabulous first issue that features writing by Ron Marz and art by Igor Kordey. I’ve never had many Tarzan comics, and the ones I owned in a past life ended up on garage sale tables several years ago. But I have great memories of watching Tarzan Action Theater on weekend afternoons with my father. And because of this, the Lord of the Jungle will always hold a special place in my heart. The cover price of Batman/Tarzan: Claws of the Cat-Woman #1 is $2.95, while the current value is $3.

FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 39)

#1154 — Punchline , Antarctic Press, May 2019.

While some people don’t much care for Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) and feel it hasn’t helped the industry (which may be true, but I don’t really know), I have a great time exploring companies, comics, and creators that are new to me every year when these come out the first Saturday of May. Sure, the event also includes characters and companies that have been around for decades, but out of the dozens of comics released, I always discover fun stories that are new to me, or at least ones I’m not familiar with. Such as Punchline, from Antarctic Press. I know the company, but Punchline, which started as an ongoing in 2018, is a series I’d never heard of, or at least remembered from seeing in Previews. It’s a fun story that tells us about an older hero who passes her powers on to teenager, then helps guide her in using these powers. I can’t speak for issues that came after this (the FCBD issue is a reprint of #1), but I thought this was an entertaining story. I’d certainly read more. The cover price of Punchline is free, while the current value is $1.

Cool Comics Kids

#1155 — Sad Sack #235 , Harvey Comics, November 1973.

It would be easy enough to feel a little miffed about goofy military comics and strips, such as the one we have here (Sad Sack), and Beetle Bailey (there are probably others, but you get the point, right?), since I’m a U.S. Army veteran, but I do have a sense of humor. Plus, I witnessed stuff while serving that…well…I’ll just leave it at that. But I have the utmost respect for those who serve and appreciate the opportunities and first-hand experiences that were part of my life back in the Nineties. And we all like to laugh. At least I hope we all like to laugh from time to time. I found this Harvey Comics funny book in a quarter bin and thought it would make a nice addition to our growing ideas of what fits well in a comic library aimed at kids. I don’t think early readers would like it, but I’m betting there is a sophisticated audience of young ones out there who are too old for The Muppet Babies but too young for Mad Magazine. The true test, though, is to read it for yourself and see if it’s a good fit for your little readers. The cover price of Sad Sack #235 is 20¢, while the current value is $10.

Cool Comics Classics

#1156 — The Adventures of Jerry Lewis #105, DC, April 1968.

I vividly remember watching Jerry Lewis movies from the late Sixties to the mid-Seventies. It seems like there was one on television every weekend. And suddenly, with the exception of the telethon, you didn’t see much of Lewis anymore. Everyone has their favorite, and I have a few I really like. Yet the older we get, many of them cease to be funny at all, but I like to live in a world in which he still brings me joy. And I especially like some of his movies with Dean Martin, who was born just up the river from where I grew up. When I found out there were comic books with Jerry and Dean, and then just Jerry, I knew I had to add some to my collection. While I’d love to have all of them, I picked up three at Kenmore Komics & Games one Saturday afternoon many months ago. This is the second one I’ve featured here, the first being in episode 189. What’s kind of special about this one is that Superman is featured in it, and it makes for a great step back in time to when Jerry was the King of Comedy. You certainly don’t read these comics expecting a serious story, but if you have fond memories of Jerry Lewis, some of these comics may become part of your collection, too. The cover price of The Adventures of Jerry Lewis #105 is 12¢, while the current values are $110 on CBR and $105 on ZKC.

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.

Treasure Hunting for Cool Comics in the Quarter Bins!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 226, 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

Did you know that you can be a guest host for Cool Comics? It’s your chance to show off some of your favorite comics in your personal collection! Just pick any of your comics for inclusion (this blog is for all ages, so please keep that in mind), with a maximum of seven issues. Repeat guest hosts are permitted and encouraged. To submit your completed blog (or if you have any questions), write to edgosney62@gmail.com .

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!

If you have any comments, please scroll to the bottom of the page to where it says, “Leave a Reply.” And now, Episode 226…

Cool Comics News!

As we’re starting to pick up steam in 2020 and nearing the end of January, what are some of the upcoming comics and stories you’re looking forward to? X-Men titles seem to keep growing, DC is still going strong with DCeased, and Valiant is expanding. What makes you want to go visit your local comic shop?

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Doom Patrol versus The Incredibles! 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, Cool Comics Creations is featuring an incredibly stunning, fun, and fascinating piece of art by Robert A. Kraus, aka RAK, the creator of Chakan the forever man (make sure to click on the picture so you can get a closer view of this great scene). When talking about his inspiration for this drawing, RAK said:

“When I started out, no one knew what to think of what I was trying to do. Retailers, fans, and distributors took a while to get used to small press and indie publishers back in the day! Sometimes it felt like the world was against me, but I was never going to give up. I kept on creating, and ended up having a fun and exciting career, of which I am extremely grateful. This piece is my character Chakan taking on and defeating all my competitors, lol! Enjoy this blast from the past illustration!”

To see more of RAK’s creations, click on RAK and enjoy!

You can have a piece of your art featured right here in Cool Comics Creations! For details about submitting, see Cool Comics News! in episode 224.

Cool Comics In My Collection
Contemporary Cool Comics

#1147 — Venom #22, Marvel, March 2020.

More often than not, comic books falling under this Contemporary Cool Comics section are about a week old, but every so often I pull one out that may date as far back as the year 2000, or, as in this case, just a couple weeks ago. Some weeks I don’t want to do anything from the previous week because the only comics I bought are titles I’ve talked about recently, and sometimes they just don’t grab me. And yet there are those weeks when my new comic purchases have lots of good stuff that never make it into Cool Comics, which was the case with this Venom issue. So here it is, better late than never, I guess. To be honest, I’ve never been much of a Venom fan, back from the very beginning of the character. I bought the first several mini-series, though, and try as I might, I couldn’t get myself to care that much. So why did I buy this issue? Because after reading the Absolute Carnage limited series, I found myself liking what they’ve done with Eddie Brock. And to be honest, I also bought Venom #21, the start of the Venom Island storyline. Will I buy issue 23? I’m not sure yet, but I did enjoy these two issues, which is saying a lot, considering my previous thoughts on this poor symbiote. The cover price of Venom #22 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

Cool Comics from the Quarter Bin

#1148 — Doom Patrol #1, DC, October 1987.

Nearly a year ago, in Cool Comics episode #179, I included Doom Patrol #1 as part of the “Cool Comics Done Dirt Cheap” segment (which has officially been retired…at least for now). But that was the Tangent Comics version. This is the regular DC Doom Patrol, the revived version from 1987. I have no history with this team, I still haven’t watched the series on DC Universe, and I haven’t read any of the older Doom Patrol comics. Yet when I saw this issue snuggly tucked in a quarter bin at Kenmore Komics & Games, I knew it was a perfect fit for Cool Comics from the Quarter Bin! Written by Paul Kupperberg, with pencils by Steve Lightle, this is a great story that shows a bit about what happened to the team in the past, and how it’s being rebuilt for the present. If you’ve been watching the show and are a fan, I suggest you try to find this fabulous first issue, and if you haven’t been watching the show (like me), I feel like every penny I spent on this comic book was worth it. The cover price of Doom Patrol #1 is 75¢, while the current value is $6.

FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 38)

#1149 — Minecraft & Incredibles 2 , Dark Horse Comics, May 2019.

Does Minecraft still hold the popularity it did a few years ago? I don’t hear as much about it now, but that doesn’t mean anything since I don’t seek out news on this once-and-maybe-still popular game. I’ve never played it, but my son used to be into it and would show me some of the things he’d built and some of his in-game interactions. So how do you make a Minecraft comic book interesting? Admittedly, I’m a bit impressed by the cleverness of the cautionary tale that’s offered in this Free Comic Book Day issue. But if Minecraft isn’t your thing, maybe you’ll like the second story in this comic, featuring the Incredibles 2. I saw the first move, but the sequel is still a mystery to me, so I don’t know if anything in this story relates to the movie. It was a fun little tale in the traditional superhero family mode. If you’re a fan, you probably want to get this issue. The cover price of Minecraft & Incredibles 2 is free, while the current value is $1.

Cool Comics Kids

#1150 — Tom and Jerry #279 , Gold Key, February 1974.

I remember watching a lot of Tom and Jerry cartoons while growing up, and though it was never one of my favorites, it wasn’t half-bad. And reading the comic book adventures makes me feel young again, so it’s a win whenever I’m able to find copies in the quarter bin. I don’t know about the comic shops you frequent, but my local shop always has lots of deeply discounted four-color fun that often date back decades. Granted, the condition isn’t always stellar, but to be able to buy a 46-year-old comic for just 25 cents is the next best thing to actually being in the Seventies in front of a rack of comics that state on the cover, “Still only 25¢.” So if you’re gathering comic book goodies for the little ones in your lives, you don’t have to spend a fortune on the new stuff that is often priced at $4 or $5 an issue when you can find plenty of treasures in quarter boxes…or even dollar boxes, if your store doesn’t go that low. This issue contains five complete stories, so it won’t tax the attention spans of kids who won’t sit still for long. Then again, they may enjoy the stories so much that they demand more! The cover price of Tom and Jerry #279 is 20¢, while the current value is $14.

Cool Comics Classics

#1151 — Strange Tales #186, Marvel, July 1976.

There are quite a few issues of Strange Tales that are out of my price range (although sometimes I’m fortunate enough to find some low-grade copies that are cool enough for me!), but I grabbed this one on the cheap…and I found out why when I opened it up to discover that it actually contains two previously published Doctor Strange stories from issues 136 and 137 in a tale called, “What Lurks Beneath the Mask?” But since each of those two comics are listed at $140 each, I’m good with my cheaply purchased reprint. And doubly happy that it was written by Stan Lee and illustrated by Steve Ditko. This is a win as far as I’m concerned. While some comic readers aren’t fans of the verbosity of these older stories, it’s never bothered me, because I grew up reading Seventies comics. And while they aren’t quite as word centric as the comics from the Sixties and all that came before that era, they are a bit different from what modern-day readers are used to. Just be prepared to spend a little more time with these classics. The cover price of Strange Tales #186 is 25¢, while the current value is $12.

Recently Read Digital Comics

Life’s kept me busy in various ways, so I haven’t been reading as many digital comics as I had been, but some of the blame comes from my choices to read collections that have hundreds of pages, and they can take a while to finish. Speaking of which, I recently finished Batman: A Celebration of 75 Years, which weighs in at 424 pages and contains 23 great Batman stories! For me, it was worth every penny (okay, confession time: it’s available on comiXology right now for $22.99, while the regular price is $29.99…but I bought it on Amazon in December of 2018 for the ridiculously low price of $4.99), and being that the 424 pages were digital, it was no effort to read whenever and wherever I wanted to. This is the second DC celebration book I’ve read, and I really like the way they are put together, with little intros to new sections as we move forward through time. Some people may not care for the verbosity of the earlier issues in these collections, but I love the experience of getting to read some comics that my dad may have read.

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.