Ed Gosney's Blog, page 33

Avengers #1, Harbinger Wars 2, and DC Nation is Just 25 Cents!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 137, where we take a look at 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.

For each of the comic books I include in this blog (except for digital issues), I list the current secondary market value. This is according to the listings at the website www.comicbookrealm.com. They list out the near mint prices, which are on the comic book grading scale of 9.4. If you go to the website to look up any in your collection, you can click on the price and see the value at different grades. Not all of my comics are 9.4. Some are probably better, and some are worse. But to simplify it, that’s the grading price I use here. And remember, a comic book is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

Have you considered being a guest host for Cool Comics? You can do a theme or 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. Send your completed blog to edgosney62@gmail.com.

If you have any questions or comments, please scroll to the bottom of the page to where it says, “Leave a reply.” I hope you enjoy seeing these as much as I do writing about them. And now, Episode 137…

Cool Comics News!

Way back in the Nineties, when I started reading new comics again after a decade away, I started picking up the occasional comic book magazine so that I could keep up with what was going on. Wizard was very popular at the time, along with the short-lived Hero Illustrated (which was the place I first read about a new TV show that would be starting up, called The X-Files). These magazines—and others like them—had articles about artists, writers, and things happening in the world of comics, along with price guides. Sometimes I would find magazines that stepped back in time and talked about the good old days of comics, and special collections and creators from the past. And now that I’m buying new comics again, I get Previews each month. I see cool magazines being offered like Back Issue! and Alter Ego, and fall in love with the nostalgic covers. I’ve never been sure if I’d really read these if I ever bought a copy, since I already read lots of comics, magazines, and books, but I recently found out, as last Thursday, just a couple days before Free Comic Book Day (did you go? Did you get some fun stuff? Tell us in the comments section below!), I stopped in my local comic shop and found a box full of discounted Alter Ego magazines, along with some other fun and interesting comic magazines. The shop owner made me a deal, and now I’m having to pry myself away from the earliest issue of Alter Ego in my collection, issue 19, from way back in 2002. If you have an interest in or appreciation of Golden and Silver Age comics and creators, Alter Ego is the magazine for you. I can’t say enough good things about it as I’m working my way through this first issue, which has two beautiful covers, as the magazine, at least in this earlier one, flips upside-down for the second half. Very cool.

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Wonder Woman versus Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers)! 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 in My Collection

#644 — Avengers #1, Marvel Comics, July 2018.

I wasn’t overly excited to see that Marvel decided to have a “fresh start.” Seriously, they just ran their Legacy thing in the fall, and now this? Renumbering and all that? And yet Avengers #1 is a great read. Marvel didn’t change the past, have a crisis, or do any sort of Heroes Reborn or Rebirth thing. Instead, they mixed up some of the creative teams and started with number one issues (and underneath the “1” is the Legacy numbering…LGY#691 for this issue, for those who like that sort of thing). Undoubtedly this will help sales by providing clean jumping on points for people who see the movie and want more, or collectors who haven’t read Marvel in a while and decide to give it another try. But why do this now? Um, Bendis left, so that is part of it, but comic sales aren’t what they use to be. Anyway, back in the fall, did you read that Marvel Legacy one-shot? Yeah, that one with the heroes from a million years ago. It was different, that’s for sure, and at the time, I didn’t much care for the concept. But they’re back, and now I’m smitten. That’s right, the first few pages show us the earliest heroes of Earth (and Asgard), and they really are pretty cool. I hope they continue doing this each issue. As for the main story, it ties in to something that happened long ago, and I’m eagerly looking forward to issue #2. In other words, Avengers #1 rates extremely high on my Cool Meter, so try to get a copy if you still can. The cover price for Avengers #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5.

#645 — Harbinger Wars 2: Prelude #1, Valiant Entertainment, May 2018.

At the end of January, in Episode 122, two of my Cool Comics were Valiant Entertainment titles, Harbinger and Harbinger Renegade. One I found in a discount box, and the other was in my legendary long box. I ended up really loving those two comics, so when I saw in Previews a couple months ago that a Harbinger Wars 2 mini-series would be starting, I couldn’t add it to my pull list fast enough! Granted, I don’t know much about this series or the characters in this Prelude issue, but I wanted to make sure that any fans don’t miss out if they didn’t know about Harbinger Wars 2 (I guess if this is news to you, you aren’t a Psiot). I’m looking forward to issue 1, releasing at the end of May, and hoping we get to see Peter Stanchek and his nemesis, Toyo Harada. If you are a Harbinger fan, let me know in the comments section below! The cover price of Harbinger Wars 2: Prelude #1 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

#646 — DC Nation #0, DC Comics, July 2018.

If you participated in this year’s Free Comic Book Day and wondered why DC had just one offering, and it was a reprint to boot, maybe you forgave them when considering this quarter comic that came out on Wednesday last week. That’s right, just 25¢, right there on the cover, like so many of us grew up with. And if that’s too steep for your budget, you can get it free on comiXology for your digital collection. DC Nation #0 gives us three stories to prepare us for a few things coming down the road. There is a Batman wedding preview story that features the Joker, Brian Michael Bendis gives us a glimpse of his version of Superman, leading into The Man of Steel weekly 6 issue series that starts May 30, and we also get a prelude for the Justice League series No Justice. If you didn’t grab this off the shelf last week, perhaps you’ve found a quarter in some lonely parking lot, waiting to be exchanged for some four-color fun. The cover price of DC Nation #0 is 25¢, while the current value is 25¢.

#647 — Hunt For Wolverine: Weapon Lost #1, Marvel Comics, July 2018.

I should be embarrassed about this comic, because just last week in Episode 136 I said I would not be getting any of the Hunt For Wolverine mini-series (although I did admit that a couple of them intrigued me, due to the characters included, and Daredevil was one I mentioned). So why are you finding this here in Cool Comics? Because it got put in my pull box by accident…but are there really any accidents? I wasn’t disappointed with the art or writing (and I like Charles Soule’s writing), which made the experience even more painful because now I’ll have to get issues 2 through 4. And my guess is that Wolverine won’t be found in any of the four separate mini-series, but it’s really about the journey, right? The cover price of Hunt For Wolverine: Weapon Lost #1 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

Cool Comics Done Dirt Cheap

#648 — Wrath of the Eternal Warrior #2, Valiant Entertainment, December 2015.

I’m giving Valiant Entertainment extra love this week here at Cool Comics, as I decided to pull this one from my legendary long box and give it a read. The fact that Harbinger Wars 2 has started (see Cool Comic #646 above) certainly helped influence my decision, but it wasn’t the only reason I decided to read this one. So why? Because like many of you, most of my comic book past is littered with many Marvel and DC titles, and sometimes we like to delve into something a little different. When I entered my third phase of comic book collecting (1993-2003), I experimented with lots of different titles and companies. I had a nice collection of Valiant back issues, as they were pretty easy to find in discount boxes, but I sold them—unread—at a garage sale a few years ago. Now I kind of regret it, as I’ve discovered just how much fun the Valiant universe is. As for this issue, I really didn’t know much of what was going on, since I don’t have a reading history with the Eternal Warrior, but I had fun with it anyway. The cover price of Wrath of the Eternal Warrior #2 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 1)

#649 — Avengers/Captain America #1, Marvel Comics, May 2018.

This is it, fearless friends, the first Free Comic Book Day the Cool Comics Way selection! So, while I’ll maintain my regular Cool Comic numbering here, I’m going to sequentially number the week of each FCBD comic. And Cool Comics isn’t missing a beat, or an issue, because we’ll be bringing you all 50 offerings from this year, plus two bonuses, to give you a full year of coverage (and if we have any guest hosts this year, Cool Comics will double down the following week so that we stay on schedule). Sometimes the FCBD issues are reprints or have nothing to do with the ongoing stories, but for Marvel fans, you’ll want to get your hands on this issue, especially with the launch of Avengers #1 (see #644 above). If the direction writer Jason Aaron is taking this team is intriguing you, don’t miss this one (don’t worry, no spoilers here!). I wasn’t as enthusiastic about the second half of this freebie, which is the Captain America story, but the Avengers section gives you every reason to try to find a copy, if you still can. The cover price of FCBD: Avengers/Captain America #1 is Free, while the current value is $0 (it will be interesting as the year goes on to see if any of these freebies start to gain value).

Cool Comics Classics

#650 — Star Brand #1, Marvel Comics, October 1986.

While Star Brand could end up being my most controversial Cool Comics Classic since the category began, there’s no denying its place in comic book history. Under the direction of editor-in-chief Jim Shooter, Marvel introduced comic readers to the New Universe with eight titles that were not part of the world of Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, and all your other favorite heroes. It lasted until 1989. Yet the characters and concepts refused to stay dead, and Marvel creators worked them into the world you know so well. (for more details on the New Universe, its resurrection, and controversies surrounding it, you can just Google it…but you might want to start here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Universe). I’ve run across people who admit that the New Universe is their guilty pleasure, and you know what? That’s cool, because this great hobby of comic books is big enough to allow for variety, and we like what we like, right? Star Brand and his New Universe buddies came out at a time I was pretty far removed from comic books, so when I got back into reading and buying them, I would occasionally pick up a title or two when I saw them in discount boxes. But much like my Valiant comics, I sold them without having read them (yes, at my infamous garage sale). I got this copy at my local comic shop for just a quarter, and that’s hard to beat. After reading it, I don’t feel like I need to rush out and find more New Universe issues, but if I stumble upon some good deals, it might be fun to take another look. If you’re a fan and this brought back some fun memories, please tell us in the comment section below. The cover price of Star Brand #1 is 75¢, while the current value is $3.

Never Miss an Episode of Cool Comics!

Now you can get Cool Comics in My Collection delivered directly to your email! Just click on “Join My Newsletter” on my website, sign up, and that’s it. Pretty easy, right?

The post Avengers #1, Harbinger Wars 2, and DC Nation is Just 25 Cents! appeared first on EdGosney.

Batman ’67, Wolverine’s Body is Missing, & Free Comic Book Day Draws Near!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 136, where we take a look at 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.

For each of the comic books I include in this blog (except for digital issues), I list the current secondary market value. This is according to the listings at the website www.comicbookrealm.com. They list out the near mint prices, which are on the comic book grading scale of 9.4. If you go to the website to look up any in your collection, you can click on the price and see the value at different grades. Not all of my comics are 9.4. Some are probably better, and some are worse. But to simplify it, that’s the grading price I use here. And remember, a comic book is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

Have you considered being a guest host for Cool Comics? You can do a theme or 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. Send your completed blog to edgosney62@gmail.com.

If you have any questions or comments, please scroll to the bottom of the page to where it says, “Leave a reply.” I hope you enjoy seeing these as much as I do writing about them. And now, Episode 136…

Cool Comics News!

This coming Saturday, May 5, will be the 17th Annual celebration of Free Comic Book Day (FCBD), which is always the first Saturday in May. If you’re a comic book reader, whether serious or casual, this is an event you don’t want to miss, in which you can get free comic books…and that’s always a good thing! FCBD gives you an opportunity to try titles and companies you’ve never experienced before, so don’t forget! Probably every comic book shop in the nation (and even internationally) will be participating in the event, along with some bookstores, and even libraries sometimes carry free comic books for this day. So what comic books are available? There will be 50 different titles this year. Most stores will limit you on how many you can actually get, but if you have several comic shops in your area, why not visit several and get all the titles you want? And while you’re there, I suggest looking around to see what else the store is carrying, because I believe in supporting your local comic book shop. Click the FCBD logo here, watch the video at their website to get excited for this Saturday, then scroll down the page and check out the video that shows all 50 of the comics you could potentially get this Saturday. And starting next week, Cool Comics will be featuring a new section, FCBD the Cool Comics Way. Each week I’ll read one of the 50 titles from my stack of free comics and give you my impressions of it in that weird way I always do.

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Wolverine versus Batman! 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 in My Collection

#640 — Hunt For Wolverine #1, Marvel Comics, April 2018.

They killed Wolverine? I remember making a comment about this before, back in the early fall when I started reading new comic books again, and there was a sneaky appearance by Logan in Marvel Legacy. Then they started putting Wolverine at the end of a few more comics over the last couple months, all culminating in this special one-shot Hunt For Wolverine comic that finally…well, what does it finally tell us that we don’t already know? Oh yeah, it leads to four mini-series of four issues each, which makes 16 issues, sort of like the recent Avengers weekly ongoing story. Honestly, a couple of these “Hunt For Wolverine” mini-series have some characters I really like (Spider-Man, Daredevil, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, for example), but sometimes you just have to draw the line and spend your money on something else (like coffee and cheese, for example). Perhaps I’ll read the digital versions via comiXology someday, which works well enough for me. But I’m not disappointed that I bought and read this issue, because it helped fill in some gaps. By the way, as an Ohio State Buckeye grad, there are lots of potential jokes here, but I don’t want to alienate my Michigan readers. The cover price of Hunt For Wolverine #1 is $5.99, while the current value is $6.

#641 — The Last Fantastic Four Story #1, Marvel Comics, October 2007.

I recently picked this up at my local comic shop from a quarter box. And I can see you now, steam coming out of your ears, because you haven’t been able to find a comic shop that still has quarter boxes. Anyway, I went on a Saturday when everyone else in my household had somewhere else to go, and I didn’t have plans. And there they were, five long boxes, stuffed with comics for just a quarter each, and another long box that had 50 cent and dollar comics. You can’t expect to find specific things when you search through about a thousand comics, but you can usually find fun things you want to read. Yes, I got myself a nice pile, but I also included comics for each of my three kids, which made it an especially rewarding trip. Anyway, the cover to this one intrigued me, and I figured the Fantastic Four would face a nemesis that had them fighting tooth and nail to survive, or perhaps an apocalyptic scenario in which some sort of weapon has destroyed most of the earth, but the Four were all turned into zombies…or maybe they go into space in a rocket, get hurled into the future, and land on the Planet of the…okay, maybe my expectations, along with my imagination, got the best of me. Written by Stan Lee and drawn by John Romita, Jr., this comic was worth every penny (which just added up to 25 pennies, plus tax!), but it wasn’t quite what I’d hoped for. Still, what a deal! The cover price of The Last Fantastic Four Story #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5.

Cool Comics Done Dirt Cheap

#642 — House of Secrets #6, DC Comics/Vertigo, March 1997.

When DC’s Vertigo imprint put out the first issue of volume two of House of Secrets in October 1996, I bought it, mostly because it made me think back to buying older copies of the original series from a used book store in Wheeling, West Virginia, in the early Seventies. The owner didn’t get new comics, but he had used comics on sale for just a dime each. A good many of the DC comics I bought from him were horror or weird anthology titles such as House of Secrets. I can’t remember the story from that first issue from 1996, but having just read #6 (pulled out of my legendary long box), maybe there’s a reason I didn’t buy any more of them back in the Nineties. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that the story was poorly written, or the art was indecipherable; instead, it was emotionally draining. It features a guy at his first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, and he tells the group that if he didn’t go to it, there would be consequences from his wife. Later, we learn why he drinks, and maybe we feel he’s even somewhat justified in this decision. I can’t pretend to know what it’s like for someone going through these experiences we see in House of Secrets, but it certainly pushed my empathy button. The cover price of House of Secrets #6 is $2.50, while the current value is $3.

Cool Comics Classics

#643 — Batman #195, DC Comics, September 1967.

I absolutely love digging through back issue boxes to find older, affordable comic books. Of course, the further in time you go back, especially if it’s a popular character or title, the more money you usually have to shell out to get your hands on these goodies. At the same time, our dollars are helping our favorite local comic shops stay in business, giving us a place to find back issues and getting in new stuff that comes out each week to satisfy our comic book cravings. Batman is the first superhero I can remember becoming obsessed with, and it was all because of the Sixties TV show. I loved it so much that my parents got me a toy Batmobile that I could ride around on, along with a Batman utility belt I proudly strapped around my waist. I remember that the Batmobile was tough on shoes if you continually scooted yourself around the block on it, which I did. Anyway, I recently decided I needed to find an old issue of Batman, preferably one from the period when I first came to love the Bat. I’m not overly picky when it comes to buying older comics. There are many collectors who are willing and able to purchase pristine issues at top dollar. As for me, I figure the less I spend, the more I can get. For example, this issue of Batman #195 was selling at my LCS for $6. A sticker on the protective bag it was placed in told me it had a subscription crease, and I could see that the bottom right corner of the cover was a little torn and raggedy. No big deal, as I could still read it and enjoy the fact that I now owned this Batman comic from 1967. Okay, I admit that I would rather have it at a high grade, but sometimes we must make compromises, and it’s just fun to have this piece of history. And this issue had an extra bonus inside, as one of the fan letters was written by Tony Isabella, the guy who later created Black Lightning (with artist Trevor Von Eeden) for DC Comics. I’ve met Tony at a couple different comic cons, so I got a big kick out of seeing his letter, which is pictured here for your reading pleasure (click the letter for a much larger image). The cover price of Batman #195 is 12¢, while the current value is $170.

Recently Read Digital Comics

A few months ago, this giant Zatanna collection, with much of it written by Paul Dini, was on sale at a price I couldn’t refuse (I can’t recall what I paid, but somewhere under $10…it’s normally $29.99 on comiXology). At 438 pages, it contains Zatanna 1-16, the entire series that ran from 2010-2011, along with Zatanna: Everyday Magic, a one-shot Vertigo comic from 2003 that now sells for $40. I hadn’t read many comics at all with this backwards speaking spellcaster, and I was probably more familiar with her from the Young Justice cartoon of a few years back. I liked most of the stories, but the backward spells tend to get annoying if you actually try to read them (yes, for those of you who have never read a comic with Zatanna, they do put in the words spelled backwards, which is how she is able to perform her brand of magic). I’m not sure who wins in a fight between her and the Potter, kid, but it would be fun to watch.

Never Miss an Episode of Cool Comics!

Now you can get Cool Comics in My Collection delivered directly to your email! Just click on “Join My Newsletter” on my website, sign up, and that’s it. Pretty easy, right?

Hero Tomorrow Comics are Cool Comics!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 135, where we take a look at 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.

For each of the comic books I include in this blog (except for digital issues), I list the current secondary market value. This is according to the listings at the website www.comicbookrealm.com. They list out the near mint prices, which are on the comic book grading scale of 9.4. If you go to the website to look up any in your collection, you can click on the price and see the value at different grades. Not all of my comics are 9.4. Some are probably better, and some are worse. But to simplify it, that’s the grading price I use here. And remember, a comic book is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

Have you considered being a guest host for Cool Comics? You can do a theme or 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. Send your completed blog to edgosney62@gmail.com.

If you have any questions or comments, please scroll to the bottom of the page to where it says, “Leave a reply.” I hope you enjoy seeing these as much as I do writing about them. And now, Episode 135…

Cool Comics News!

Each comic this week is a number 1. Everything has a beginning, and for the five cool comics below, these are the issues that got them started. A couple are new, a couple launched during DC’s Rebirth in 2016, and a classic Marvel anthology from the Eighties. Have you read any of them? Tell us your thoughts on any of these issues in the comments section below.

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Superwoman versus New Super-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 in My Collection

#635 — Apama The Undiscovered Animal #1, Hero Tomorrow Comics, April 2018.

Last summer I met one of the two writers of Apama, Ted Sikora, at NEO Comic Con, and after listening to him talk about the character, I decided to buy a copy of the first volume of 5 issues. The trade is very nicely put together, the stories were original and entertaining, and I was quickly hooked. The origin of Apama is fascinating (I’m not talking about the origin in the comic book…although it also is fascinating…I’m talking about the origin of the idea to do a comic book, and how the character existed first), springing from Ted and his writing partner’s (Milo Miller) Indie Flick Hero Tomorrow. And a plus for me is that the comic takes place in Cleveland, Ohio, and the surrounding area, and I used to work in downtown Cleveland, and still live in the Akron, Ohio, area. But beyond that, Apama is a comic that gives you that Seventies Marvel feeling, and it’s just plain entertaining. Hero Tomorrow Comics has now released issue one as a single, and while it’s rare that I read a comic book a second time, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this and experience the fun all over again. If you missed out on this last week, my recommendation is to find a copy before they’re gone. The cover price of Apama The Undiscovered Animal #1 is $3.99, while the current price is $4.

#636 — Tap Dance Killer #1, Hero Tomorrow Comics, April 2018.

The second volume of Apama The Undiscovered Animal contains our first look at Nikki St Clair, aka Tap Dance Killer, and it’s certainly different from most villain origin stories you’ll ever read. Obviously, her appearance was quite popular, and now Ted Sikora is writing a solo series featuring Nikki, with pencils by Nikolaus Harrison. This one starts out fast and wild, with Nikki escaping prison and going back to the gang of bad guys she once knew as theater friends. But after she and her friends are given a drink by someone who wasn’t who she claimed to be, they turn into criminals. There’s an interesting background as to how the idea for all this came to Ted Sikora, which you can read about in the comic. The production quality is really nice, the colors look good, and the art and writing are fantastic. I like what I’m seeing out of Hero Tomorrow Comics and hoping they continue well into the future. The cover price of Tap Dance Killer #1 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

#637 — Superwoman #1, DC Comics, October 2016.

When DC launched Rebirth, I wasn’t buying new comics. I had a bunch of back issues in my collection that I hadn’t read, and I was enjoying the opportunity to finally get to them. But one day, when I was in a Walmart, I saw some DC 3-Packs on sale for just $5, and I decided to buy all eight that they offered. The majority of them contained Rebirth comics with slightly varied covers, and that was my introduction to Rebirth. DC and Walmart combined on two more sets of eight variations of the 3-Packs after that, so I got to sample a variety of titles and characters (many of the other comics in the 3-Packs were New 52 issues, of which I hadn’t read any up to that point). I liked nearly all the Rebirth comics I read, but the issues were sporadic, and sometimes you’d end up reading issue #9, without having read or knowing what came in the previous 8 comics (although the covers all have #1 on them…an obvious marketing ploy). As longtime readers know, I enjoy the convenience of digital comics, and the value in buying collections, so I’ve been able to read the first six or twelve issues a variety of titles. But a few weeks ago, while flipping through a 50 cent box of comics at my local comic book shop, I found a couple number 1 rebirth issues I hadn’t read, and who doesn’t like a bargain? So, was Superwoman #1 something I’d get more issues of or buy a digital collection? Probably not, unless the price was really cheap. It wasn’t bad, but I didn’t like it nearly as much as the other number 1 (New Super-Man) I was able to get that same day for 50 cents. The cover price of Superwoman #1 is $2.99, while the current value is $3.

#638 — New Super-Man #1, DC Comics, September 2016.

I took a liking to New Super-Man almost immediately. Even though Kenan, who becomes the New-Superman, starts off as a punk. The kind of punk so many of us have been terrorized by at one time or another. And yet he rises to the occasion. This comic takes place in China, which is far from the typical setting of super heroic adventures. You’re more likely to find comics that take place in outer space than in China. And maybe that’s why I enjoyed it so much. It was different and refreshing…yet the truth of the matter is, Gene Luen Yang, the writer, did a great job making me care about this kid. Would I read more issues of this one? You bet, and last Saturday I spent some time going through discount boxes at the comic book shop I regularly haunt, and found issues 2, 3, and 4 for just 50 cents each. Bingo! A few issues back, this comic was renamed New Super-Man & The Justice League of China. And while it’s not a part of my monthly comic book reading, I’ll be on the lookout for more bargain back issues of it. The cover price of New Super-Man #1 is $2.99, while the current value is $3.

Cool Comics Classics

#639 — Marvel Comics Presents #1, Marvel Comics, September 1988.

When I started regularly buying comic books in the early Nineties after an 11-year draught, I picked up a couple issues of Marvel Comics Presents in discount boxes, and a couple new issues. The problem was, this comic title is an anthology that contains multiple stories of a few pages each, with some stories lasting longer than others, but once one story is finished, another would take its place. Probably the best way to read it was to start from the beginning, but I had many other comic titles I was reading at the time and didn’t bother making room for this one. Yet when I saw this first issue in a quarter box, a wave of nostalgia washed over me, and I nabbed it. And I’m really glad I did. While these comics aren’t worth much today, they have some interesting tales and big-time creators working within the pages. The four stories in this issue are: Wolverine (writer – Chris Claremont; penciler – John Buscema); Man-Thing (writer – Doug Moench; penciler Tom Grindberg); Master of Kung Fu (writer – Steve Gerber; penciler – Tom Sutton); and Silver Surfer (writer and penciler – Al Milgrom). Good stuff. I certainly wouldn’t mind reading more. The cover price of Marvel Comics Presents #1 is $1.25, while the current value is $5.

Never Miss an Episode of Cool Comics!

Now you can get Cool Comics in My Collection delivered directly to your email! Just click on “Join My Newsletter” on my website, sign up, and that’s it. Pretty easy, right?

Cool Comics Celebrates Superman!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 134, where we take a look at 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.

For each of the comic books I include in this blog (except for digital issues), I list the current secondary market value. This is according to the listings at the website www.comicbookrealm.com. They list out the near mint prices, which are on the comic book grading scale of 9.4. If you go to the website to look up any in your collection, you can click on the price and see the value at different grades. Not all of my comics are 9.4. Some are probably better, and some are worse. But to simplify it, that’s the grading price I use here. And remember, a comic book is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

Have you considered being a guest host for Cool Comics? You can do a theme or 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. Send your completed blog to edgosney62@gmail.com.

If you have any questions or comments, please scroll to the bottom of the page to where it says, “Leave a reply.” I hope you enjoy seeing these as much as I do writing about them. And now, Episode 134…

Cool Comics News!

Last week I decided to purchase the beautiful hardcover book pictured here, Action Comics: 80 Years of Superman ($29.99), a tribute to one of the most recognized fictional characters of all-time, and created by Cleveland’s own Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster (I’m from Ohio, so I had to mention this!). And yesterday, April 18, 2018, issue number 1000 of Action Comics was released. The first issue of Action Comics has a cover date of June 1938. And suddenly Superman has been with us for eighty years. It sort of boggles the mind, doesn’t it? The hero who started it all is still going strong today. We’ve seen countless comic books, cartoons, TV shows, and movies. Not to mention cups, glasses, action figures, coloring books…well, you get the idea. My father told me years ago that he once owned that first issue (and told me the crazy way he lost it…his entire comic collection from the late Thirties and early Forties were sent to a cousin in the Navy, who took them out to sea so he and his buddies would have something fun to read…and the ship was sunk in battle…but the good news is that my father’s cousin survived), and we bonded over Superman and other comic books, most especially during his later years in life. And that makes the Man of Steel even more special to me.

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Superman versus the Fantastic Four! 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 in My Collection

#631 — Action Comics #1000, DC Comics, June 2018.

One thousand issues. Let that sink in for a moment. That’s a big number, and in the world of comic books, the biggest. Good old Clark Kent deserves it the recognition, doesn’t he? Superman is much more than a comic book superhero. He’s an ideal, a way of life, someone who seeks “truth, justice, and the American way.” With all this in mind, DC wanted to make Action Comics #1000 special, and this 80-page comic is packed with artists, writers, and a variety of stories that pay tribute to the Man of Steel. Oh, and there were a large variety of variant covers, too, if you like collecting them. I’ve already seen some people on social media talking about how underwhelmed they are with this issue, but I have no problems with it. And without giving too much away, the last story, written by Brian Michael Bendis who will soon be taking over the writing chores of Superman stories at DC, gave us a nice look at what will be coming next. If you enjoy comics and have an appreciation for the history of the genre and especially for Superman, be sure to get yourself a copy of this issue. The cover price of Action Comics #1000 is $7.99, while the current value is $8.

#632 — Captain America #700, Marvel Comics, June 2018.

In many ways, Captain America is the “Superman” of Marvel Comics. If you’ve read enough of both, you know exactly what I’m saying. But, some may scream, Superman is an alien, Captain America is not; Superman can fly, Cap cannot; Superman is much stronger, and Captain America often relies on his shield. Superman got his powers when he was a baby, and Captain America was the result of the Super Soldier Serum. I know all these things. But it’s the idealism behind the hero, what actually makes him tick. Superman is an alien, but he’s a great patriot, just like Steve Rogers, who put his life on the line to serve his country. Most people know that Superman’s been around for a long, long time (1938), but the casual fan may not realize that Captain America came just three years later, in 1941. To be honest, I wasn’t a big fan of the story that’s been going on in the last few issues of Captain America, but it seemingly wrapped up with this issue, in typical Cap fashion. Regardless of the story, when Cap is done right, you’ll care, and perhaps even shed a tear when you see the lengths he’s willing to go to when battling the forces of evil. By the way, if you read this issue, there are some touching fan letters in the back you won’t want to miss. The cover price of Captain America #700 is $5.99, while the current value is $6.

Cool Comics Done Dirt Cheap

#633 — Superman: The Man of Steel #66, DC Comics, April 1997.

Newer comic book readers who haven’t yet taken that foray into the past may not be familiar with this particular Superman title, but it was around for most of my third phase of comic book collecting (which ran from 1993-2003, and Superman: The Man of Steel published from 1991 to 2003), so it’s like visiting an old, familiar friend. Not many of the issues from this title have gone up much in monetary value, but the fact that they can be found on the cheap isn’t a bad thing for fans. By the way, this issue, from my legendary longbox, was written by Louise Simonson and drawn by Jon Bogdanove, so it reads well and looks good (at least for me…and remember, art is subjective, so if you disagree, I understand). I have a lot of comics left in this box, but wanted to read and write about something a little more special, since we’re celebrating the one thousandth issue of Action Comics this week, so that’s why I’m giving you a double dose of Superman. One thousand issues of anything is a huge achievement. And just to compare it with this title, there were only 134 issues. Which is still longer than many comics last. The cover price of Superman: The Man of Steel #66 is $1.95, while the current value is $3.

Cool Comics Classics

#634 — Fantastic Four #156, Marvel Comics, March 1975.

Whenever you can get a classic comic for a quarter, it’s a great day, isn’t it? This Fantastic Four issue from the mid-Seventies, complete with Doctor Doom on the cover (and the Silver Surfer is in this one too!), made my day complete several weeks ago when I fished it out of a discount box for just 25 cents. This story takes place during a time in which the Invisible Girl (or was she the Invisible Woman in 1975?) was replaced by Medusa from the Inhumans, in case you wondered while gazing at this action-packed cover by Rich F. Buckler. Though the Age of Marvel started with the Fantastic Four back in 1961, I rarely bought the title during my halcyon days of being a comic reading kid. Yet now I appreciate this team of heroes more than ever before. They represent Marvel history, and I’m looking forward to the promised relaunch of their title in August. The cover price of Fantastic Four #156 is 25¢, while the current value is $40.

Recently Read Digital Comics

This is a big week for Action Comics, Superman, and DC Comics in general, so I made sure to read a Superman digital comic this week. Superman Adventures #1, written by Paul Dini, with pencils by Rick Burchett, takes us back to the early days of Clark Kent working at the Daily Planet, and Superman is still a bit of an unknown hero in Metropolis. And while most see him as a hero, Lex Luthor chooses to be his enemy. If you’re a fan of comics and animation, you’re more than likely familiar with Dini and his body of work, including Superman: The Animated Series cartoon, which ran from 1996 to 2000, of which this comic series is a companion. This first issue is free on comiXology, and I recommend it.

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Super Friends and a Bowl of Quisp or Quake!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 133, where we take a look at 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.

For each of the comic books I include in this blog (except for digital issues), I list the current secondary market value. This is according to the listings at the website www.comicbookrealm.com. They list out the near mint prices, which are on the comic book grading scale of 9.4. If you go to the website to look up any in your collection, you can click on the price and see the value at different grades. Not all of my comics are 9.4. Some are probably better, and some are worse. But to simplify it, that’s the grading price I use here. And remember, a comic book is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

Have you considered being a guest host for Cool Comics? You can do a theme or 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. Send your completed blog to edgosney62@gmail.com.

If you have any questions or comments, please scroll to the bottom of the page to where it says, “Leave a reply.” I hope you enjoy seeing these as much as I do writing about them. And now, Episode 133…

Cool Comics News!

I’ve been watching a lot of the old TV series Monk on Amazon Prime these days. That’s right, I’m talking about Adrian Monk here at Cool Comics. And you know why? He’s a superhero, of sorts. That’s right, he’s one of the greatest fictional detectives of all time, and despite his quirkiness, even Batman would probably like to work with Monk, when needed. So why does this old TV show come to mind? Because this week we feature the 600th issue of Daredevil, and Leland “Owl” Owlsley is in it, and the police chief in Monk is named Leland Stottlemeyer. And because they are the only two Lelands I can think of, my brain tied them together. Funny where our minds go sometimes, isn’t it?

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Daredevil versus Batman (Affleck vs. Affleck battles are permitted)! 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 in My Collection

#627 — Daredevil #600, Marvel Comics, May 2018.

Daredevil first appeared in Daredevil #1, April 1964, and he’s still going strong 54 years and 600 issues later. It’s quite an achievement when you stop and think about it. He doesn’t have the appeal or longevity of DC’s big three (Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman), nor the name and spandex recognition of Captain American and Spider-Man from his own world in Marvel Comics, yet Matt Murdock, blind attorney with a dash of super powers, has been around for a long time. And yes, though many more people know him from the Netflix series, he also had a major motion picture a while back, although may fans choose not to talk about it (and notice how I have Daredevil vs. Batman for the Cool Comics Battle of the Week, and Ben Affleck has played them both? But I’ll venture to say that most fans prefer Charlie Cox from the Netflix series). A lot has changed since I read Frank Miller’s take on Ol’ Hornhead several decades ago, and I’ve been more of a casual reader ever since. Yet now that I’m reading new comics again, Charles Soule’s writing has sucked me in and made me excited about the Man Without Fear once more. If you were ever a fan, you may want to get a copy of this 600th issue, which also features a number of other Marvel heroes. The cover price of Daredevil #600 is $5.99, while the current value is $6.

#628 — Xerxes: The Fall of the House of Darius and the Rise of Alexander #1 (Ashcan edition), Dark Horse Comics, February 2018.

Confession time. I’ve never read Frank Miller’s 300 (double confession time: I’ve never seen the movie 300). There, are you happy that I’ve come clean? Really, what business do I have reading this sequel when I have no connection to the original? Well, my nice local comic shop owner happened to slip this Preview Edition into my comic book purchase bag, so that’s my story. And I really liked what I read. The art matched the mood of the abbreviated story, and the telling of the tale didn’t leave me feeling that I had to read 300 first. There is a level of violence in the art that may upset some readers (I imagine 300 was the same), but this isn’t a typical capes and spandex (why does that word keep coming up this week?) kind of story. The first issue (remember, this is just an Ashcan) came out last week, and while I was very tempted to get it, I’m on a budget. I’ll probably look to get the entire collection once the series is over, either in digital or a trade edition. And this time around I’ll get and read 300 first. The cover price of Xerxes: The Fall of the House of Darius and the Rise of Alexander Ashcan edition is free, while the current value is $5.

Cool Comics Done Dirt Cheap

#629 — Solar, Man of the Atom: Hell on Earth #2, Acclaim Comics, January 1998.

This week I pulled a Valiant…okay, Acclaim…comic out of my legendary longbox (is it really legendary? I bought it for $20, and it had 419 comic books in it…legendary enough for me!). As time goes on, I keep becoming more and more interested in these characters published under the Valiant umbrella (Solar was first published by Gold Key Comics in 1962). Unfortunately, this is issue #2 of a four-issue mini-series, but it’s packed with other characters in the Acclaim-Valiant stable (for a short while, Acclaim had ownership…comic book history is chalk full of strange and sometimes wonderful, sometimes disastrous, business dealings). Guests include Ivar, the eternal Timewalker; his brother Gilad, the Eternal Warrior; Magnus Robot Fighter; Turok, who’s appeared in comics from Dell, Gold Key, Dark Horse Comics, and Dynamite Comics; Woody, from Quantum and Woody; and even Quantum and Woody’s pet, Vincent Van Goat. I still have much to learn about this universe, and I’m still grieving the fact that I sold all my old Valiant Comics (123 unread issues…it hurts) at a big garage sale several years ago. The cover price of Solar, Man of the Atom: Hell on Earth #2 is $2.50, while the current value is $5.

Cool Comics Classics

#630 — Super Friends #40, DC Comics, January 1981.

Everyone who grew up on Seventies cartoons is familiar with that great opening theme from Super Friends, not to mention the magnificent narration by the late Ted Knight. Click the highlighted title above and relive your childhood, as this video covers multiple seasons from the show. I’ll wait for you to come back, I promise! Did you enjoy your stroll through time? This is the first Super Friends comic I ever purchased, and truth be told, I pulled it out of discount box (I think this one was just a quarter). For me, and I’m pretty sure many of you readers would agree, part of the allure of comics is the connection they give us to our past. Today, we have superhero movies and TV shows with stunning visual effects, yet watching these Super Friends openings through the years, is there anything better? For a moment, we’re kids again, sitting on the family couch, TV tray in front of us, munching away on a bowl of Quisp or Quake cereal. Did you feel it? I sure did. And that’s exactly why I write this blog each week. The cover price of Super Friends #40 is 50¢, while the current value is $14.

Recently Read Digital Comics

I finally got around to finishing up the first Runaways series by Marvel. Runaways Vol. 3: The Good Die Young, collects issues 13-18, and contains a bunch of surprises. And after reading this, I can see why the TV series on Hulu seems to be going a different direction. Not that they couldn’t bring the comic book vision to the small screen, but it would be more difficult, and probably a little harder to swallow for non-comic book readers (why do non-comic book readers still exist? Get the word out about how much fun they are, spread the news, get everyone reading, and maybe prices will go down, or at least hold steady a little longer than usual!). All told, I enjoyed these 18 issues, and may someday continue with the next series they published, from 2005. And by the way, Marvel has been putting out some great digital titles lately for just 99 cents. Check comiXology every few days to see what the new offerings are if you like to spend less money.

52 (DC Comics) is free on comiXology, so why not, right? I thought it was either an introduction or ongoing series for The New 52 phase from DC, but soon found out I was wrong. Instead, for those like me who don’t know any better, it was a weekly follow-up to DC’s Infinite Crisis series. Yes, it lasted 52 issues. By the way, I have Infinite Crisis #1 in digital (picked it up when it was being offered free) but haven’t read it yet. Okay, I’m doing things a little backwards, but it’s an honest mistake. Besides, I only have issue one, and unless Infinite Crisis knocks my socks off, that’s probably all I’ll ever read from that series (again though, if they ever offered it for free, or the collected edition at a price I can’t refuse, I’ll get it). A person can only read so many comics in a lifetime (isn’t that unfortunate?), and someone must have stolen my dollar trees from my backyard, so I have to be somewhat pickier as time continues to march forward.

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Comics That Remind Us of Being a Kid Again

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 132, where we take a look at 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.

For each of the comic books I include in this blog (except for digital issues), I list the current secondary market value. This is according to the listings at the website www.comicbookrealm.com. They list out the near mint prices, which are on the comic book grading scale of 9.4. If you go to the website to look up any in your collection, you can click on the price and see the value at different grades. Not all of my comics are 9.4. Some are probably better, and some are worse. But to simplify it, that’s the grading price I use here. And remember, a comic book is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

Have you considered being a guest host for Cool Comics? You can do a theme or 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. Send your completed blog to edgosney62@gmail.com.

If you have any questions or comments, please scroll to the bottom of the page to where it says, “Leave a reply.” I hope you enjoy seeing these as much as I do writing about them. And now, Episode 132…

Cool Comics News!

Get in the drawing for a free Audible code for my story Orange Crik! That’s right, my short story has been recorded and will be available at Audible, Amazon, and iTunes any day now. All you have to do is join my newsletter here at my website to be eligible. And then keep your eyes open for an email from me about Orange Crik in the near future, and you could become a winner!

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Weapon H versus Captain Atom! 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 in My Collection

#623 — Weapon H #1, Marvel Comics, May 2018.

Around eight months ago, I saw some people in a discussion group talking about The Totally Awesome Hulk #22 and getting their hands on a copy…or more copies then they already had. Why? Because of some goofy new character that was a combination of Hulk and Wolverine. Hulk with Wolverine-like claws and an enhanced healing factor. It sounded kind of silly (at the time), but one day when I was in my local comic shop, I saw a second printing (first printings are selling for around $45) of the issue and decided to buy it. Honestly, I’ve read hundreds of comics since that one, so you’ll have to excuse the fact that I can’t remember a thing about it. Yet when I saw that this Weapon H was to get his own ongoing series, I decided to give it a try. And you know what? I liked it. I mean, I really liked it! It brought back the joy of being a kid and discovering the cool heroes I met in the Seventies all over again. Writer Greg Pak did a great job getting the reader to empathize with both Clay and his wife, along with the inner turmoil Clay goes through. If you can find a copy and you’re on the fence, my recommendation is to give it a try. The cover price of Weapon H #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5.

#624 —Justice League #41, DC Comics, May 2018.

Am I turning into a “bandwagon” guy? Or perhaps a dreaded “speculator”? Again, I saw some people on the Internet discussing the upcoming Justice League issue (#41) with this Red Lion character. Some expressed that he was too much like the Black Panther, but others were considering buying multiple copies, in case he becomes a big hit. I don’t regularly buy Justice League, but I did make the decision to get this issue, because Cool Comics readers demanded it! Um…not really, but it wouldn’t bother me if you did make suggestions sometimes about comics you’d like to see me talk about. So no, I’m not a bandwagon guy or a speculator. I just like to bring you all kinds of cool comics, both new and old. The old never get old, do they? And the new comics are memories in the making. I don’t know if Red Lion will catch on, but I enjoyed reading this issue. The cover price of Justice League #41 is $2.99, while the current value is $3.

Cool Comics Done Dirt Cheap

#625 — Machine Man #10, Marvel Comics, August 1979.

Back in the mid-Nineties, when I started my third (and longest so far) phase of collecting and reading comics, I ended up buying more than I could read in a reasonable amount of time. I searched discount boxes frequently (I remember going to one small show in the Atlanta, Georgia, area, and buying dozens of comics for 20 cents each), trying to add all kinds of comic book history to my collection. I can’t remember exactly when or how I got it, but issue #3 from a Machine Man mini-series ended up with my comics, yet I never got around to reading it before selling it at a garage sale when I was trying to make room to breathe in my house. And then I ended up with this Seventies issue of Machine Man in my legendary longbox I bought for $20 a while back. The cover has two chunks torn out of it, one that’s about seven inches long by two inches wide. It’s in seriously bad shape! I’ll probably end up selling this one at a garage sale for something like a dime or nickel, but I made sure to read it first. It was a piece of Seventies joy, written by Marv Wolfman and drawn by Steve Ditko. The cover price (yes, that’s still there on my copy!) of Machine Man #10 is 40¢, while the current value is $10 (although mine’s worth about 60¢, considering the condition!).

Cool Comics Classics

#626 — Captain Atom #11, DC Comics, January 1988.

Captain Atom is a character I have very little history with. I’ve owned maybe four of his comics in my life, and although he’s been in several team/crossover stories, he’s still a bit of a stranger to me. But notice on the cover the little red and yellow flamehead right on his tail? When it comes to Firestorm, I have the original five issues and the second one hundred issue series (along with all the annuals). That was reason enough to pluck this out of the quarter box at my local comic shop a few weeks ago. It’s in really nice condition, and although the current value isn’t anything to write home about, I’ve always been intrigued by the Captain and I love Firestorm. Another reason I bought this and find it worthy to be a Cool Comics Classic, as longtime readers may have surmised, is that I don’t own many comics from the Eighties, so adding them to my reading material has been fun and educational, as far as comic knowledge goes. The cover price of Captain Atom #11 is 75¢, while the current value is $3.

Recently Read Digital Comics

If you’re a reader of digital comics, you’ve probably been loving all the recent 99¢ sales on Marvel titles via comiXology and Amazon. Unfortunately, DC sales don’t come near those kinds of prices, but I do love playing catch-up with many of the Rebirth titles. Superman is always a fun read, and though some may not care for throwing a son into the mix, Jonathan Kent has been a blast, in my opinion. Superman Vol. 1: Son of Superman collects the Superman Rebirth one-shot, along with the first six issues of the ongoing Superman title. I bought and read Super Sons Vol. 1 before reading this, but that didn’t discourage me from traveling a little back in time to get the bigger picture of Superman’s son. If you like DC Comics but haven’t bought any in a while, you need to check out some of the Rebirth titles, because most of them have been a pure joy to read.

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 Now you can get Cool Comics in My Collection delivered directly to your email! Just click on “Join My Newsletter” on my website, sign up, and that’s it. Pretty easy, right?

Sword & Sorcery Invades Cool Comics!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 131, where we take a look at 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.

For each of the comic books I include in this blog (except for digital issues), I list the current secondary market value. This is according to the listings at the website www.comicbookrealm.com. They list out the near mint prices, which are on the comic book grading scale of 9.4. If you go to the website to look up any in your collection, you can click on the price and see the value at different grades. Not all of my comics are 9.4. Some are probably better, and some are worse. But to simplify it, that’s the grading price I use here. And remember, a comic book is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

Have you considered being a guest host for Cool Comics? You can do a theme or 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. Send your completed blog to edgosney62@gmail.com.

If you have any questions or comments, please scroll to the bottom of the page to where it says, “Leave a reply.” I hope you enjoy seeing these as much as I do writing about them. And now, Episode 131…

Cool Comics News!

All three comics are Cool Comics Classics this week!

In February, I had to change website hosts, and while most of my blogs transitioned well, I’m still working on some cleanup issues. So if you happen to peruse some of my older stuff and click on an image that doesn’t work, that’s why. I’ll have them all corrected in a few months, but it’s going to take some time, and I appreciate your patience. By the way, if you like the blog, tell someone about it this week! Thanks for your continued readership.

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Conan the Barbarian versus Arak, Son of Thunder! 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 Classics

#620 — Conan the Barbarian #118, Marvel Comics, January 1981.

This week Cool Comics is looking at some characters from a different time and age, who fought life and death battles with swords, or whatever might be within their grasp. It was a brutal time, not for the weakhearted. And while I’m pretty sure you’re all familiar with Conan, perhaps the other two are strangers. Robert E. Howard’s Cimmerian has entertained fans for decades, first in the pulps, and later via comic books and then on the big screen. Many of you have probably seen the original Conan film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, and whether you liked the movie or not, it put Conan front and center for a new audience. When Marvel was putting Conan the Barbarian on comic racks and shelves across the nation, it was never a choice for me. Instead, I preferred modern day superheroes in spandex. But something about the character always intrigued me, and now I buy back issues when I can find them at decent prices (I got this one for a quarter). And in case you didn’t hear the news, Marvel has regained the Conan license, so I’m looking forward to seeing what they do this time around. The cover price of Conan the Barbarian #118 is 50¢, while the current value is $4.

#621 — Skull the Slayer #8, Marvel Comics, August 1975.

Skull is a little different from our other two heroes this week, as he is a 20th Century guy who gets trapped 250 million years in the past. He and three companions ventured too near the Bermuda Triangle, and we know that always means trouble in fiction! But lucky for him, he has a power belt that boosts his strength and endurance (when are they going to make those for the rest of us?), which he needs because there’s all kinds of trouble just waiting in that distant past! This issue is the last of the short-lived ongoing series, but later Skull and his buddies are rescued by the Thing of The Fantastic Four, although Marvel made little use of him after that. If you’re looking to put together small, complete runs of titles from the Seventies, this one shouldn’t be too difficult to finish (again, I was able to get this issue from a quarter box). The cover price of Skull the Slayer #8 is 30¢, while the current value is $12.

#622 — Arak, Son of Thunder #1, DC Comics, September 1981.

Yes, you’re absolutely right that my DC selection should have been The Warlord, but I no longer have any Warlord comics in my collection. At one point I had seven issues I’d picked up in discount boxes, but when my collection got too large to manage, I had a garage sale, and, well, you get the picture: the Warlord comics didn’t make the cut and I sold them, unread. Sigh. Yet, Arak, Son of Thunder, does make a little sense, because it came from the same quarter box in which I bought the Conan and Skull comics. I saw a theme, and I fished all three out and into my collection! And Arak, though not lasting as long as the Warlord did, made it to 50 issues. I was completely unfamiliar with this character as I sat down to read it, and thoroughly enjoyed getting transported back to the days of Vikings. Oh, and there is magic in this series, so if you are a fan of sword and sorcery, you may just want to hunt for some of these issues. The cover price of Arak, Son of Thunder #1 is 50¢, while the current value is $4.

Recently Read Digital Comics

I really wanted to keep my theme going this week, so I searched my digital comics until I found Elric: The Balance Lost, which was a Free Comic Book Day issue back in 2011, and I just happened to download this BOOM! Studios digital comic free from comiXology before it disappeared. That’s right, it’s no longer available on comiXology. Unless it’s under a different company now, since Elric is a licensed character based on novels and stories by Michael Moorcock. Are you familiar with Elric of Melniboné? I read about three novels featuring the 428th Emperor, but it was so long ago I can’t recall much of what happened. I know that Moorcock has a number of characters that are all part of the “Eternal Champion,” stories, and if you want to know more, a little Internet searching will give you lots of information. At any rate, Elric’s first comic book appearance was in Conan the Barbarian #14 from Marvel in 1972, and this free digital comic walks us through Elric’s history in comic books, which I enjoyed reading about.

Never Miss an Episode of Cool Comics!

 Now you can get Cool Comics in My Collection delivered directly to your email! Just click on “Join My Newsletter” on my website, sign up, and that’s it. Pretty easy, right?

Archie Comics Get Batty, New Mutants Return, & Killraven Was Here!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 130, where we take a look at 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.

For each of the comic books I include in this blog (except for digital issues), I list the current secondary market value. This is according to the listings at the website www.comicbookrealm.com. They list out the near mint prices, which are on the comic book grading scale of 9.4. If you go to the website to look up any in your collection, you can click on the price and see the value at different grades. Not all of my comics are 9.4. Some are probably better, and some are worse. But to simplify it, that’s the grading price I use here. And remember, a comic book is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

Have you considered being a guest host for Cool Comics? You can do a theme or 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. Send your completed blog to edgosney62@gmail.com.

If you have any questions or comments, please scroll to the bottom of the page to where it says, “Leave a reply.” I hope you enjoy seeing these as much as I do writing about them. And now, Episode 130…

Cool Comics News!

Pick up any good comics this week? Whether fresh off the rack or treasures you found in back issue boxes, let us know in the comments!

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is the New Mutants versus the Justice League International! What do you think would happen if they faced each other in a titanic tussle, and how do you see the winners achieving victory? Let us know in the comments section below.

Cool Comics in My Collection

  #616 — New Mutants: Dead Souls #1, Marvel Comics, May 2018.

When The New Mutants appeared on the comic book scene in 1983 (the series lasted for 100 issues, ending in 1991), I’d just ended my short, second phase of comic book collecting in the fall of 1982. I became a regular reader once more in 1993 and knew I had some catching up to do if I wanted to understand what had been going on over the last decade, so I started buying back issues of different titles when I could find them at reasonable prices. I was able to get a handful of comics featuring these young mutants, and they are all still in my collection. There was supposed to be a New Mutants movie coming out around April of this year, but it got pushed back to a 2019 release, due to various reasons. Have you seen the trailer? Anyway, I decided to give this mini-series a try, since I have to wait longer for the movie. Plus, I like Strong Guy, so why not, right? I enjoyed this first issue and look forward to seeing what comes next. The cover price of New Mutants: Dead Souls #1 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

  #617 — Vampironica #1, Archie Comics, March 2018.

First Riverdale gets infested with Zombies in Afterlife with Archie, then Jughead turns out to be cursed as a werewolf in Jughead, the Hunger. And now Archie’s favorite brunette has been turned into a vampire in Vampironica! No one can say the creators at Archie Comics are satisfied to have the Riverdale gang sit back and just drink milkshakes at Pop’s (and a hamburger for Jughead!). While the Archie Horror line may not be your thing, nor the edginess of the TV show and its companion comic book, Riverdale, sales must be up for these alternate Archie universe comics. When I was younger, I bought my fair share of Archie comics, and at the time, the Little Archie series was probably the most different of all the ones I read. But these horror Archie series have certainly eclipsed Little Archie comics. If you want to try something familiar, yet different, you may want to give Vampironica a try. The cover price of Vampironica #1 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

Cool Comics Done Dirt Cheap

  #618 — Justice League International #21, DC Comics, December 1988.

This week, we travel back in time to the end of the year 1988 to a period in comic book history in which I couldn’t be found. There is a great comic book void in my life from late 1982 until 1993, so whenever I get to read comics from these years, it’s always fun for me to see what I missed out on. And as luck would have it, the mystical $20 longbox I purchased at my local comic shop (which contained 419 issues!) had this Justice League International adventure from 1988. If you’re a fan of Blue Beetle and Booster Gold, this issue may prove interesting to you. But truth be told, it was a little too goofy for my taste. Not necessarily purposely funny, but something didn’t click right for me. Could be the fact that this is issue #21, so I didn’t have context as to what has happened previously, but who knows? Not everything is for everyone, but still, the price was definitely right ($0.047), so I’m not complaining. The cover price of Justice League International #21 is 75¢, while the current value is $4.

Cool Comics Classics

  #619 — Amazing Adventures #30, May 1975.

The mid-Seventies hold lots of cool, fun memories for me. Playing outside with my friends on hot summer days, taking a dip at the city swimming pool, movies and TV shows like Planet of the Apes and The Six Million Dollar Man, and of course, comic books. During this period, Marvel had a number of anthology comics, such as this one, Amazing Adventures. Often, they’d feature a certain character over a number of issues, and Killraven was no exception. I can remember looking at the covers of these issues, somewhat curious about the tales taking place and this man’s struggle to keep the world safe from aliens. But I preferred to spend my pocket change on superheroes for the most part (along with Planet of the Apes magazine and some monster magazines), so I didn’t really have room in my budget. I did get introduced to Killraven in an issue of Marvel Team-Up, but until recently, never owned any issues of Amazing Adventures that he was in. It’s a Cool Comics Classic I’m happy to have in my collection! The cover price of Amazing Adventures #30 is 25¢, while the current value is $10.

Recently Read Digital Comics

Marvel’s Infinity Collects Infinity #1-6, New Avengers (2013) #7-12, Avengers (2012) #14-23, and Infinity: Against the Tide Infinite Comic #1-2 (these last two comics are only available in the digital edition, and are to be read using the guided view, which is basically one panel at a time). I’m pretty sure this is the largest collected volume I’ve ever read (866 pages!), but I finished it rather quickly, considering the length. If you like stories with Thanos in them, especially with the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War movie, then Infinity might be just what you’re looking for. Packed with heroes (Captain America, Doctor Strange, Black Panther, Namor, Iron Man, Hulk, Captain Marvel, and so more that I’m not going to list) and villains, with battle fronts in space and here on earth, Infinity features a conflict with mass casualties that will have you on the edge of your seat!

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World Above by Rane Guthrie

Could you have written a novel while just a teenager? I know I couldn’t have (I had a tough enough time with my senior English research paper), and that’s just one of the reasons I’m so impressed with Rane Guthrie’s dystopic thriller, World Above (The Three Cities Series).

Part Logan’s Run and part X-Men comics, this exciting novel takes on an enclosed society, reminiscent of the Divergent novels, yet stands on its own. In the future, as teenagers get ready to move into adulthood, they are evaluated for what job they will be trained for.

Russel and Charlton have been best friends for years, but they are now going their separate ways, Russell into medical school and Charlton has been selected to train to become an elite guardsman. But one of them learns something about himself and now has a secret that, once exposed, could bring death. With the help of his personal A.I. and a reversal on his thoughts about the world he lives in, Russel now must decide not only his fate, but the possibly the fate of everyone he knows.

Guthrie’s story ends with the reader wanting to know more, and we’re told we’ll get it in its sequel, The Encampment. I’m looking forward to it!

Reminiscing About the Good Old Days of the New Teen Titans

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 129, where we take a look at 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.

For each of the comic books I include in this blog (except for digital issues), I list the current secondary market value. This is according to the listings at the website www.comicbookrealm.com. They list out the near mint prices, which are on the comic book grading scale of 9.4. If you go to the website to look up any in your collection, you can click on the price and see the value at different grades. Not all of my comics are 9.4. Some are probably better, and some are worse. But to simplify it, that’s the grading price I use here. And remember, a comic book is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

Have you considered being a guest host for Cool Comics? You can do a theme or 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. Send your completed blog to edgosney62@gmail.com.

If you have any questions or comments, please scroll to the bottom of the page to where it says, “Leave a reply.” I hope you enjoy seeing these as much as I do writing about them. And now, Episode 129…

 

Cool Comics News!

Have you seen Black Panther at the theater yet? If not, you may be one of the few left who hasn’t, as it’s now eclipsed $1 billion worldwide. This is a fun time to be a superhero fan, as there have been lots of movies and TV shows to watch over the last few years. I enjoyed Black Panther, and I’m now excited for Avengers: Infinity War.

 

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

This week our Cool Comics Battle pits the Legion of Super-Heroes vs. the New Teen Titans. What do you think would happen if they faced each other in a titanic tussle, and how do they pull off the victory? Let us know in the comments section below.

 

Cool Comics in My Collection

#612 — Infinity Countdown #1, Marvel Comics, May 2018.

Marvel doesn’t want you to forget about their next big movie (Avengers: Infinity War is coming out in April), so in the world of comic books, we’re getting an infinite amount of infinity. There are infinitely too many of them for me to buy them all (this is getting stale, isn’t it?), but I am getting this Infinity Countdown series, because even at my age, I enjoy getting excited for the movie (not to mention what’s happening in the comic book version of the Marvel Universe). The Infinity stones are spread throughout the galaxy, and different forces are fighting for possession. And just who is that on the cover, with the claws extended? You’re right, it’s little ole Wolverine, possessor of the Space stone. This series has a fun cast of heroes and villains, and you knew the moment you saw the cover you wanted to have it, didn’t you? Get to your local comic shop before they run out! The cover price of Infinity Countdown #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5.

 

#613 — Oblivion Song, Image Comics, March 2018.

In Episode 126, in the Cool Comics News section, I mentioned how my local comic shop granted me a preview of this new series. Now, just a few weeks later, I think I enjoyed rereading issue #1 more than the first time through it. A second reading gave me a better understanding of what was going on, and I could appreciate the struggles and conflict happening within the pages. Interestingly, this is written by Robert Kirkman, writer of The Walking Dead. Up to this point, I’d never read one of his comics, but I remembered having downloaded a free copy of the first issue of The Walking Dead on my tablet via comiXology and gave it a read (see Recently Read Digital Comics below). There is a definite similarity in style and method of storytelling, and reading that digital comic gave me a better appreciation of his newest effort here in Oblivion Song. I found this story intriguing, and I’m looking forward to future issues. The cover price of Oblivion Song #1 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool Comics Done Dirt Cheap

#614 — Legion of Super-Heroes, DC Comics, January 1999.

The $20 longbox full of surprise comics I bought a little over a year ago contains a wide variety of titles, companies, and publishing dates. This issue of Legion of Super-Heroes transported me back 19 years ago, a time in which I was regularly buying monthly comics, but not this super team. Yet so much was immediately familiar to me when took it from the box. The cover, the vibrant colors, and the feel of the paper. My memories of collecting in those days are sweet, but 1999 also marked the year that my wife was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. She’s doing great today, and while that period of our lives brought about an uncertain future, it made us stronger going forward. Speaking of stronger, is there any way in the world that Karate-Kid could best Mon-El in a fight? Read this issue to find out for yourself! The cover price of Legion of Super-Heroes #111 is $2.50, while the current value is $2.50.

 

Cool Comics Classics

#615 — The New Teen Titans #4, February 1981.

The poor New Teen Titans. First, I put them in battle against the Legion of Super-Heroes, and now in this issue they come face-to-face with the Justice League of America! This Cool Comics Classic issue came out during a time that I wasn’t paying any attention to comic books. I was a senior in high school, and way too cool (or at least thought I was) for silly childhood reading. Yet once I was in college, one of my roommates (there were 4 of us to a room my freshman year at Ohio State) straightened me out and showed me the error of my ways, and I became a regular reader of The New Teen Titans, starting with issue #19. Yet after ten delicious issues, I started dating a girl, and my comics took a back seat. I even sold some to get date money…YIKES! No worries, though, Teen Titan fans, as I didn’t sell any of those comics. Today, my son is in possession of them. But for now, I once more have a New Teen Titans comic in my collection (found in a quarter box at my LCS!), and I’m channeling those feelings from 1982. The cover price of The New Teen Titans #4 is 50¢, while the current value is $14.

 

Recently Read Digital Comics

As I mentioned above in Cool Comics #613, I read Oblivion Song without having read Robert Kirkman’s most famous work, The Walking Dead. I’ve espoused the advantages of digital comics in general—and comiXology in particular—here in Cool Comics in My Collection for over a year now, and I don’t see my opinions changing anytime soon. Why so gung-ho over it? Because you can read classic (or highly overpriced) back issues for a fraction of the cost. Listen, like most everyone else who enjoys the medium, I wish I could go back in time to 2003 and purchase an original number one issue of The Walking Dead. It came out just a couple months after I’d ended my longest phase of comic book collecting (1993-2003), so I missed it, but to be honest, would I have bought it in the first place? Probably not, as it’s extremely rare that I buy or read black and white comics, not to mention it doesn’t contain guys in capes or shooting webs. I’m not completely stuck on superhero comics, but they are what enticed me into reading them in the first place, and are still the majority of what I purchase. I’ve never watched a single episode of The Walking Dead TV show (am I the only one left?), and my initial impression upon reading the first issue is that I get why the story grabbed so many people. Not to mention that it took me by surprise when I saw the kid whack the sheriff with a shovel, because in my own novel, Transmutations, I have a young teenager named Shawn who fights off the monsters with a shovel. Kirkman did it before I did, and though my shovel-wielding kid is just coincidence, I’m following in good footsteps.

 

Back in Episode 105, I praised Batman: The Long Halloween, written by Jeph Loeb and drawn by Tim Sale. I found myself having trouble setting the story aside for long, and once I was finished, I wanted more. And even though it took me a while to finally read it, Batman: Dark Victory is the follow-up series. Containing 14 issues (#0-13), Batman: Dark Victory finally adds Dick Grayson to the mix, and if you enjoy the Batman mythos, you’ll certainly appreciate the art and storytelling in these issues. And again, I was able to purchase the entire series in one inexpensive collection via Amazon, reading it on my comiXology app. If you haven’t read The Long Halloween or Dark Victory, I strongly recommend them, because even if you aren’t a regular Batman reader, I think you’ll appreciate these stories.

 

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