Ed Gosney's Blog, page 35

Comic Book Wishes & Superhero Dreams!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 118, 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 118…

 

Cool Comics News!

Here we are, readers, at the end of 2017. I hope it was a good year for you, filled with comic book wishes and superhero dreams! For me, it was exciting to have short stories published in four anthologies (The Jurassic Chronicles, World Domination, Collateral Damage, and Ha!Ha!Ha!), host a panel at Akron Comicon, and most of all, continue to publish this weekly blog. We never know what the future may bring our way (unless we have time-traveling abilities!), but I hope all of you have a safe and wonderful New Year’s Eve celebration and an enjoyable New Year’s Day.

P.S. – If you’re a constant reader of this blog, you’ll notice a slight difference below, as I now exclude “Cool comics in my collection #” at the start of each title. I’ve changed the heading of “Cool Comics” to “Cool Comics in My Collection,” and start each title with the cool comics number, then the title, and have now added the company name. Everyone reading this knows who Marvel and DC are, but there are some smaller companies I blog about on occasion, and they might appreciate this extra bit of free advertising!

 

Cool Comics in My Collection

#562: Marvel 2-In-One #1, Marvel Comics, February 2018.

Marvel 2-In-One, along with Captain America, seemed to be the two most anticipated issues coming out of the new “Legacy” direction from Marvel, according to nearly everything I read leading up to them. And neither title disappointed. How can you have a universe that built itself up from Marvel’s First Family, the Fantastic Four, and throw them under the bus…or into the negative zone, or some strange, hidden corner of Marveldom? While I was on a long layover from buying weekly comics, I’d see things on occasion about how there was no longer a Fantastic Four comic, and what a shame it is, as many of us have fond wishes of reading their adventures during our formative years. I don’t know all the details, but Reed, Sue, and their kids are missing and presumed dead, and Ben and Johnny are depressed, going their separate ways. But they need each other, and thanks to an unlikely source, they’ve teamed up once more. Written by Chip Zdarsky (Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man) and penciled by Jim Cheung, this first issue reads and looks good, and, in my opinion, has lots of “Cool” potential going forward. The Marvel Value Stamp in this issue is the Black Panther. The cover price of Marvel 2-In-One is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

#563: Guardians of the Galaxy #149, Marvel Comics, February 2018.

Remember the first Guardians of the Galaxy series that ran from 1990-1995? I’d found 14 issues, including #1, and a couple annuals, when I lived in Atlanta in the mid-Nineties, for 25¢ each. I knew nothing about them, and they certainly didn’t have a talking racoon or tree on the team. And when it came time to get rid of some comics because my house couldn’t contain anymore, I sold them in a garage sale. I hadn’t even read them yet. No big deal. Then the Guardians of the Galaxy movie came out. I loved it. I wasn’t buying comic books at the time, but I was kicking myself for having gotten rid of those 16 issues. Recently I saw that the current Guardians series (creative team of Gerry Duggan, writer, and Marcus To, artist) is coming to an end (looks like it’s morphing into a different title), and that in the last issue, #150, Adam Warlock shows up. Instead of being completely in the dark when it comes out next month, I decided to read issue 149. And while I didn’t know everything that was going on, it was no big deal, because it was fun reading this comic (but the movies are even better, in my opinion). The cover price of Guardians of the Galaxy #149 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

#564: Backways #1, AfterShock Comics, December 2017.

A few months ago, a comic from a company named AfterShock caught my eye. I’d never bought or read anything from AfterShock, but upon reading the description for Backways #1, I decided to give it a try, and how could I not, when it says, “…the BRAND NEW series of magic, mystery and mayhem that is sure to appeal to fans of Harry Potter & The Chronicles of Narnia!” That’s some pretty hefty company, for sure. And it also states that it has a rating of 9+, and I do like my comics to be kid friendly. Well, they did a decent job with this promise, with the exception of two caveats: in one panel, a character uses what’s considered to be a curse word three times in succession; and also, at the end of the comic, there is a preview for another new AfterShock comic, Cold War #1, that has a panel of art I wouldn’t want my nine-year-old to see. It’s not overly graphic, but when you give a comic a 9+ rating, I think you need to be a little more careful. As for the story (written by Justin Jordan, with pencils by Eleonora Carlini), it has an interesting start, and I see potential for a fun read. The cover price of Backways #1 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool Comics Done Dirt Cheap

#565: Futaba-kun Change #6, Ironcat, January 2002.

This black and white comic, Futaba-kun Change #6 (Volume 7), doesn’t rate very high on my “Cool” meter, but then again, this is from my box of 419 comics that cost me just $20, so I guess I got my 4.7 cents worth. I knew exactly nothing about this comic or series when I pulled it out of the box, but looking at the indicia, I found out that Futaba-kun Change was originally published in Japan in 1990 by Hiroshi Aro. So for those who like Japanese comics, this series might be for you. A little over 50 individual comics were published over 8 volumes. Sort of like British TV shows that last about 3 to 8 episodes per season. This particular issue was sort of like a soap opera, from my point of view, with different characters having crushes, misunderstandings, and basically confusing me since I had no background on the plot and this comes in the last issue of Volume 7. Also keep in mind that while there is no rating, I wouldn’t pass this on to a child. The cover price of Futaba-kun Change #6 is $2.95, while the current value is $3.

 

Cool Comics Classics 

#566: The Demon #7, DC Comics, March 1973.

Young Justice is one of the best cartoons I’ve ever watched. It has great action, focused relationships, comedic moments, growth, mistakes, and plenty of angst. It’s everything you could want in a show featuring teen heroes. And from that show I came to appreciate the creepy evilness of Klarion and his nasty cat, Teekl. So I decided I needed to have Klarion’s first appearance (if it was affordable, that is), and with the help of the Internet, I found out that my favorite weird witch boy made his debut in The Demon #7, written and drawn by Jack Kirby. Armed with that knowledge, next up was a trip to my trusty local comic shop, Kenmore Komics & Games, and with a minimal amount of searching (if you need back issues, this is a great place to go look) I found this gem for just $4.50. The story is a little silly, but I’m glad to have this classic in my collection! The cover price of The Demon #7 is 20¢, while the current value is $40.

 

Recently Read Digital Comics

A few episodes back (#115, for those who want to know), the Planet Hulk Prelude proudly presented itself here in my digital comics section. And now I’ve finally finished the fabulous Planet Hulk (Marvel Comics) monstrosity. It’s 506 pages of digital reading goodness, but it takes much longer than most digital comics of comparable size to finish, because it contains a special Gladiator Guidebook…with little tiny print that was hard to read even on my 10-inch tablet. And the Guidebook was nearly 50 pages! As for the story itself, I truly enjoyed watching the Green Scar and his band of merry aliens battle the corrupt ruling body of the planet Sakaar. The writing, art, and general storyline is one that most comic book fans would love. The collection itself contains Incredible Hulk (Vol. 2) #92-105, Giant-Size Hulk Vol. 2 #1, and portions of Amazing Fantasy (Vol. 2) #15, along with the aforementioned Gladiator Guidebook.

 

I’ve been watching Runaways on Hulu, and really enjoying the show, despite big differences from the comic series. And since I’d covered Vol. 1 back in November just before the show premiered, I decided it was time to purchase Runaways Vol. 2: Teenage Wasteland (Marvel Comics) (but especially because Amazon has been having a big sale on digital comics, and I got it for just $2.99). This collection features issues 7-12, and it more than proved to me that the direction the streaming series is going is probably better than following the comic book storyline. Because the comics venture into territory that would be much harder for non-comic book readers to swallow. I think. And Hulu wants a bigger audience than just comic book readers, I’m pretty sure. They want the angst-ridden crowd that’s trying to figure out how to make it day after day until the next season of Stranger Things pops up. Besides, Cloak & Dagger make an appearance, and Hulu probably doesn’t have any rights to those characters, considering that team of Marvel heroes is supposed to debut on the small screen in 2018. Anyway, I like this series and I’m looking forward to reading Vol. 3.

Holiday Comics Extravaganza!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 117, 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 117…

 

Cool Comics News!

Merry Christmas and happy holidays, everyone! I hope your comic book wishes come true and you get plenty of fun gifts to read during the upcoming winter months. Are there any Christmas comics from your past that you think fondly of today? When I was a kid, I enjoyed reading Dennis the Menace Christmas comics and digests, along with Archie and Treasury-sized holiday specials that Marvel and DC put out. What holiday-themed comic books make you feel nostalgic for your childhood? Feel free to share in the comments section at the end of the blog.

 

Cool Comics

Cool comics in my collection #559: DC Holiday Special 2017 #1, February 2018.

Now that I’m buying new comics again, DC must have realized that I’m a sucker for holiday issues. They got me in October with their big horror special, and now they nailed me with their winter Holiday Special. The cover is slick and solid, which is great for reading a longer comic (this is 87 pages), and the cover illustration knocks you out with your favorite heroes of the DCU, taunting potential buyers by stating “Eleven Festive Fables…From Some of Comics’ Greatest Creators!” How can you refuse? Well, it might be easy if you don’t have the spare $9.99. Yup, these don’t come cheap. And notice something else in particular about the cover? Rebirth is gone, and now DC is using a “DC Universe” emblem in the top left corner. So, is it worth it? For me, it is. I love the holiday stories, and you do get a lot of bang for your buck(s). It even has Bibbo, and you know who his favorite happens to be! Some of the stories will tug at your heartstrings, making this the perfect comic book to read while sitting in front of a warm fire as December 25 approaches. The cover price of DC Holiday Special 2017 #1 is $9.99, while the current value is $10.

 

Cool Comics Done Dirt Cheap

Cool comics in my collection #560: Love and Rockets Free Comic Book Day 2016, May 2016.

The Hernandez brothers—Gilbert, Jaime, and Mario—hit the black and white comic book indie scene with Love and Rockets in 1982, published by Fantagraphics Books. Still going strong today, although Mario doesn’t really contribute any longer, I’d never before picked up an issue of this comic until I found it in my $20 long box of 419 individual comics. This particular issue is from Free Comic Book Day 2016, which publishers use to hopefully introduce new fans to their books. The back of the comic book tells us that it’s rated M (Mature), and it has language that you probably don’t want your kids reading, so keep in mind that this is a comic for adults. And when it comes to comic books, I don’t like “Adult” comics. I want comics that can be read by all ages, comics that I can pass off to my children and not feel embarrassed with the content. I understand that the Hernandez brothers are trying to give us what could be real-life stories, but not everyone speaks the way their characters do. Obviously, this title has a bevy of fans, or it wouldn’t have lasted so long. It’s just not for me. The cover price of Love and Rockets Free Comic Book Day 2016 is (yes, you guessed it!) free, while the current value is (yup, let’s hear it again…) free.

 

Cool Comics Classics

Cool comics in my collection #561: Teen Titans #13, February 1968.

One of my favorite things to do is search through back issue boxes at Kenmore Komics & Games (if you live in the Akron, Ohio, area and have never been there, treat yourself to a visit!), and when I found this one just a few months back in fair condition for only $4, I knew I had my Christmas Cool Comics Classic issue! Teen Titans #13 came out the December that I was just a wee lad of six years old, and didn’t even know what a comic book was. Of course, I’d already fallen in love with Batman and Robin on the TV, coming at me in bright and beautiful colors! Oh, if only I’d known then that Robin had his own crime-fighting unit, the brave kids of the Teen Titans. Not only do they help right wrongs, but sometimes they go out of their way to help others during the Christmas season. This issue gives us ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future. I hope you get to spend your holidays with your personal heroes! The cover price of Teen Titans #13 is 12¢, while the current value is $105.

 

Recently Read Digital Comics

When I was a kid buying comics weekly, I happened to love getting special Christmas issues. Seems like most of the ones back in the Seventies were those over-sized Treasury issues that they don’t make anymore. If you want some Christmas comics, you can hop in your car and visit your local comic shop. But the alternative is to go shopping from your house on comiXology (or Amazon, by linking your accounts). Many of us have limited funds these days, not to mention space to store our collections, so if you want to read some comics, but don’t necessarily feel the need to own physical copies, digital is a great alternative. And this time of year sees comiXology having great sales, sometimes as much as 88 percent off. I bought this Marvel Holiday Special: 2005 about a year ago and finally got around to reading it. It’s that time of year, right? I didn’t care much for the first story, about the Mole Man (the art wasn’t for me), but the second story, “Yes Virginia, There is a Santron,” is both fun and touching. This story made the comic worth the price, in my opinion. The last story is a little different, and also is a touching tribute to what this time of year means.

 

The next calendar year comic, Marvel Holiday Special: 2006, gives us a story that wraps around another story, and a strange little alphabet rhyme. While this issue wasn’t as good as the 2005 Holiday Special, “How Fin Fang Foom Saved Christmas” is a somewhat enjoyable read, and Marvel finishes this special off with a background of Santa Claus and the ways the Marvel Universe have been involved with him. This part is almost all text, with a few little drawings, and it made me glad to own a larger tablet for my digital comic reading, because if I had to read this on my smartphone, I probably wouldn’t have been able to. The wraparound story is about a young woman who works for A.I.M. (Advanced Idea Mechanics) and her date at A.I.M.’s holiday party. It has its moments, but if your budget doesn’t allow you to get 2005 and 2006, go with the former.

 

Because I didn’t start collecting new comics again until this fall, I missed last year’s DC Rebirth Holiday Special. Maybe I could have found it in a back issue box, but comiXology happened to combine it with Batman Annual #1 and Harley Quinn #10, since both had Christmas themes. This way readers get even more bang for their buck. A Very DC Rebirth Holiday just became available in November, so I read both it and DC Holiday Special 2017 #1 in close proximity to each other. Personally, I like this year’s holiday offering from DC better. There were some good tales in this one, but I’m glad I picked up the digital copy for a fraction of the print release price. I think my favorite story in this issue is “The Last Minute,” which features Superman & Batman, along with the Super Sons. Thinking about it, this one made the collection worth it, and if you’re a Harley Quinn fan, you won’t want to miss this collection.

 

Remembering the Eighties!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 116, 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 116…

 

Cool Comics News!

Last week in Cool Comics News I pondered gift ideas for the comic book lover in your life, and suggestions both in the comments here and in other forums included gift cards to comic shops, tickets to a local comic convention, separate issues/trade paperbacks, and just about everything comic book related, except for boxer shorts in tin cans with super heroes plastered all over! This week, as we get closer to the holiday, I’d love to hear your suggestions of specific comics to buy for those who don’t read comics. Again, single issues, collections, and graphic novels are fine. For example, you may want to give the Maus graphic novel to a history buff. Let’s try to have some fun with this, and maybe it will give the rest of us some ideas, in the comment section below.

 

Cool Comics

  Cool comics in my collection #555: Marvel Comics Digest #3, December 2017.

Although they aren’t the easiest on my eyes, I really appreciate and enjoy these Marvel Comics Digests. Containing reprints from the Sixties to the present, this is an opportunity for fans to read some issues they might be missing in their collections, or to remind them of which era of comics they enjoyed the most. Issue #3 has some fun Stan Lee and Jack Kirby Thor stories, including issues #154-157, featuring the Mangog in his attempt to usher in Ragnarok. One of the reasons I enjoy these is because I hadn’t bought any new comics from mid-2003 until a few months ago, and it’s always interesting to see what’s gone on in the lives and adventures of these characters. And you get a pretty good value, considering that there are ten stories in each, and over 200 pages of comic book digest fun! The advertising for these is sort of funny, as they continually bill them as a one-time only printing, even though they contain all reprints. But in this format, grab them while you can if you want to travel through time with some of your favorite Marvel heroes. The cover price of Marvel Comics Digest #3 is $6.99, while the current value is $7.

 

Cool comics in my collection #556: Riverdale #8, January 2018.

If you can’t get enough of the quirky TV show Riverdale on The CW, then you may just want to start reading Riverdale, the comic. It’s a companion piece to the show, with stories that fall in between episodes. Issue #8 provides an interesting take as Betty, Veronica, Archie, and Jughead take a road trip to New York City. Veronica wants Archie to spend time with her and her old friends, while Betty and Jughead explore the city. The timing for this issue was pretty spot on, as in a recent episode of the TV show, Archie and Jughead discussed the possibility of living in NYC someday. While the comic (so far) hasn’t been as quirky as the TV show, and the stories are fairly self-contained, it does provide further character development and reveals some interesting tidbits about the teens so many of us have grown up with. The cover price of Riverdale #8 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool Comics Done Dirt Cheap

Cool comics in my collection #557: E-Man #3, June 1983.

Somewhere between 1988 and 1992, I found some comic books in bundled packs at a discount store in Akron, Ohio. It could have been a Big Lots, but I no longer remember. What I do remember is seeing a display table with these bundled comics I’d never before heard of. I hadn’t bought any comic books since 1982, and these were published by a company called First Comics. I think they were three for $1, and I bought a few packs of them. I remember reading them all, but because I had no background with the characters, I couldn’t always understand everything that was going on. One of the issues was E-Man #5, but when I read issue 3 a few days ago, I can’t claim I remember the other one at all. Yet E-Man didn’t originate with First Comics. He actually got his start with Charlton in 1973, but throughout the Seventies, my comics were mostly Marvel, with a scattering of DC. If you’re a fan of the X-Men, and enjoy parody, you may want to check out this issue. It’s pretty obvious by the cover what’s being done here. First Comics didn’t conform to the Comic Code Authority, and there are a few things in this issue that made that fact clear. Whereas most modern comics can be read in 10 to 15 minutes, this one takes at least twice as long, so if you like lots of dialogue, there you go. And best of all? It cost me less than 5¢. The cover price of E-Man #3 is $1, while the current value is $3.

 

Cool Comics Classics

Cool comics in my collection #558: The Fury of Firestorm #4, September 1982.

I’m stepping back to the Eighties once again this episode, as the Cool Comics Classic takes us to issue four of Firestorm’s second volume. When Firestorm, The Nuclear Man, hit the shelves in 1978, I was at the end of my first phase of comic book purchases, and didn’t give his (or is it “their,” since the character consists of both Ronnie Raymond and Professor Martin Stein?) comic a glance. But when phase 2 of my life with comic books launched in 1982, I wanted to try a few new things, and The Fury of Firestorm #1 beckoned me with open arms. I loved it from the start, and enjoyed the idea of two individuals making up one Superhero. “Wonder Twin Powers, Activate!” As you can see from the cover, Firestorm also grabbed the attention of some big guns, including Superman, Wonder Woman, Hawkman, Zatanna, and Red Tornado. And, of course, Crystal Frost couldn’t resist a battle between fire and ice. The cover price of The Fury of Firestorm #4 is 60¢, while the current value is $4.

 

Recently Read Digital Comics

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Did you happen to see the fantastic Black Friday sales on comiXology and Amazon? I couldn’t resist picking up some collections I’ve been interested in reading, and Super Sons Vol. 1: When I Grow Up, didn’t disappoint. I’ve been hearing some buzz over the last few months about what a fun read it is, and I have to agree. Reading it made me feel like a kid again, and these first six digital issues make for some cool comics. If you’re not familiar with Super Sons, the series features Jonathan Kent, the son of Lois and Clark, in the Rebirth DC Universe. He’s young, not even a teenager yet, and as his superpowers continue to develop, he needs to learn when and how to use them. Damien Wayne, the son of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul, is smart, resourceful, and stubborn. Sounds like a chip off the old Bat. I loved these first six issues and will be reading the next collection sometime in the future (and be sure to let me know if you see Vol. 2 on sale…once it’s available!).

 

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I’ve seen some people comment that when Aquaman is done right, his comics are every bit as good as anything else out there, which is exactly my feeling after finishing Aquaman Vol. 1: The Drowning (contains Aquaman: Rebirth, and Aquaman #1-6). By no means am I an Aquaman expert (before this collection, I’d only read 18 issues from various volumes of the King of Atlantis), but I know what I like, and when my finger can’t seem to turn digital pages fast enough, that’s evidence that I’m in the reading zone and far removed from everything else going on around me. And Aquaman takes us to another world, both underwater and on the surface, as politics, revenge, and prejudice lead to a clash between Aquaman and…but I don’t want to spoil it for those who haven’t had the pleasure yet of discovering this title. One last thing I enjoyed about this were some of the jokes about Aquaman being the “fish” guy. Who doesn’t appreciate their comics—especially when serious matters are taking place—being infused with some comedy?

Gift Ideas for Comic Book Lovers!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 115, 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 115…

 

Cool Comics News!

What? It’s December already? Time to start shopping for that comic book person in your life. Do you buy them a nice collected edition you think they’ve never read? Some individual issues you keep trying to convince them to read? Decisions, decisions. And when I think about it, sometimes the wisest present is buying them a gift card or gift certificate from their favorite Local Comic Shop. Any other ideas? Now it’s your turn to help all of us out by letting us know what you like to get for your comic book loving friends and family members in the comments section below!

 

Cool Comics

Cool comics in my collection #550: Batman Eternal #1, July 2017.

This week I opened another DC Walmart 3-Pack, this one with issue #1 of Batman Eternal as the top comic. While it’s considered as having a variant cover, there isn’t much difference. The issue number moved from left to right, along with the style it’s done in. Several Batman Eternal issues have shown up in these 3-packs, and I’ve enjoyed them, although the number ordering is odd, considering they just now put out the first issue. As I’ve said here before, I don’t know a lot of the current creative teams, but it seems that almost everything Scott Snyder writes is good. The art is by Jason Fabok. Batman covers are most likely a good seller when placing these in Walmart, since he’s one of the most recognizable characters in comics. The cover price of Batman Eternal #1 is $2.99, while the current value of this variant is $5.

 

Cool comics in my collection #551: Justice League Dark #33, September 2014.

The insertion of Justice League Dark #33 into this 3-pack provides yet another curiosity of the decision-making process that went into the comics included in each pack. Previously, #36 came out, I think in the wave just before these more recent sets. Why go backwards? We’ll possibly never know. But I will say that Justice League Dark provides an opportunity to showcase some of the characters who aren’t as well known as Superman, Wonder Woman, etc. A series that incorporates Deadman, Constantine, Zatanna, and Swamp Thing (along with some others) is certainly not typical of the regular Justice League titles we’ve read over the years. And I like it. I’ve read a number of comics written by J. M. DeMatteis, but the artist, Andres Guinaldo is unfamiliar to me (which tends to happen when you’re away from the hobby for as long as I was). His style works well with the story being told and I was pleased with the visual aspects. The cover price of Justice League Dark #33 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool comics in my collection #552: Sinestro #9, March 2015.

The comic at the bottom of the Walmart DC 3-Pack was Sinestro #9, which didn’t exactly leave me jumping for joy. I used to read Green Lantern on and off from 1993 to 2003, and I’ve never much liked Sinestro. I understand the concept of a hero turned villain, but still, I just never clicked with him. Anyway, I’d previously read the Sinestro: Futures End, which I got in a 3-Pack also, and that’s my total experience with Sinestro in his own series. He leads a Yellow Corps, but I can’t tell you much more than that. For not having any sort of background on the story, I’d say Cullen Bunn did a good job with the writing, because I still found it entertaining, and Brad Walker’s pencils looked good. Props to colorist Jason Wright, because it was a joy to read and view the bright colors, especially with his use of yellow throughout. There were two covers to this issue, and the one I have, pictured here, is a variant Ethan Van Sciver Flash 75th Anniversary Cover. The cover price of Sinestro #9 is $2.99, while the current value is $3.

 

Cool Comics Done Dirt Cheap

Cool comics in my collection #553: Eagle #2, December 1986.

I don’t have a lot of experience with black and white comic books. I’ve read a few of Jeff Smith’s Bone collections (before they added the color) and the first part of Art Spiegelman’s Maus, but I’ve always preferred my comics to give me the Sunday Funny feeling I got as a kid, with full colors and cool characters. So when I pulled this copy of Eagle out of my long box of cheap comics (I paid $20 for a box of 419 comics), I’ll admit I was a little disappointed to find out it was black and white. Produced by Crystal, a company I’d never heard of before, I learned that Eagle ran for 16 issues, then went over to Apple Comics, who published #17 through #23. Not a lot by numbers, but considering the fact that it lasted from 1986 to 1990 in a world dominated by DC and Marvel, this title didn’t have a bad run. The story proved to be a fun read, and I wouldn’t cry if more of these issues fell into my lap. The cover price of Eagle #2 is $1.50, while the current value is $2.50.

 

Cool Comics Classics

Cool comics in my collection #554: Marvel Team-Up #48, August 1976.

In my opinion, every comic published in the Seventies is a Cool Comics Classic, and Marvel Team-Up has to be near the top of the list of my fondest comic book memories. Admittedly, I didn’t buy this issue when it came out, but found it in a cheap back issue box in the Nineties. This issue has both Iron Man and Spider-Man on the cover and features the first appearance of Jean DeWolff, yet the secondary market value is rather low. What does that mean for you? An affordable price, if you like to collect bronze age first appearances (this is the first appearance of the villain Wraith, also). Okay, maybe it’s not the first appearance of Mary Jane or Gwen, but for the price and history, it’s not a bad comic to have in your collection. The cover price of Marvel Team-Up #48 is 25¢, while the current value is $8.

 

Recently Read Digital Comics

When you don’t continually read comic books (yes, that’s been my profile over the years), you’re inevitably going to miss out on some good storylines. And that’s one of the reasons I appreciate digital comics so much. They’re easy to find (no digging around in back issue bins with mounting frustrations of not being able to find certain issues, and sometimes not wanting to pay the asking price) and usually much cheaper to purchase. For example, with tax included, I paid a whopping $1.49 for this Planet Hulk Prelude. It contains issues 88-91 from The Incredible Hulk Vol. 3, and you’d be hard-pressed to find all four issues at a lower combined price. After seeing the movie Thor: Ragnarok, and hearing that there are many similarities to Planet Hulk, I decided it was time to see for myself. This prelude shows us why and how Hulk later finds himself on the planet Sakaar. If you’ve read it, do you agree with the decisions made by his friends back on Earth? Let us know in the comments section below.

Nothing But Number Ones!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 114, 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 114…

 

Cool Comics News!

This week we’re looking at nothing but number 1 issues! No, I don’t have Action Comics #1 (although I did have it in my digital reading section a few episodes ago) or Spider-Man #1, but I did include the first issue of the Watchmen – DC Universe crossover, and also the digital version of the comic that started the Marvel Universe as we know it today. What else? Keep reading, fearless friends, and find out what exciting 4-color adventures reside below.

 

Cool Comics

Cool comics in my collection #546: Doomsday Clock #1, January 2018.

Doomsday Clock is a 12-issue limited series, written by Geoff Johns and penciled by Gary Frank, that promises to show us what would happen if Watchmen characters entered the DC Universe as we know it today. Like an Elseworlds, right? Wait, is this for real? Is this canon? Does it really count? I guess we’ll have to keep reading to find out. For those who’ve read the original Watchmen, when last we saw Rorschach…wait a minute…no spoilers here. Watchmen is decades old, but I recently read it for the first time, and I’m sure there are many others who’ve yet to crack open this important work in comic book history, and even though you can find out what took place all over the Internet, I’m not about to be accused of ruining it for any of you. Seriously, if you haven’t read the original and you plan on buying Doomsday Clock, you need to do your homework and travel back to the origins of The Comedian, Doctor Manhattan, Nite Owl, Ozymandias, Silk Spectre, and the aforementioned Rorschach. The design of the interior pages gives you the impression that you’re traveled back to the Eighties when Watchmen entered the comic book landscape, and it even contains the “printed” material pages at the end. Some of you are probably excited for this, while others want DC to leave the Watchmen alone. I’m interested to see what they are going to do, so I’m looking forward to issue 2. The cover price of Doomsday Clock #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5.

 

Cool comics in my collection #547: The Librarians #1, September 2017.

Our second number 1 issue this week comes from Dynamite and is based on the TV series by the same name, The Librarians. And guess what? The TV series is based on a trilogy of movies: The Librarian: Quest for the Spear; The Librarian: Return to King Solomon’s Mines; and The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice. The made-for-TV movies came out every couple years from 2004 through 2008, and featured Noah Wylie, Bob Newhart, and Jane Curtin. The spinoff TV series has Noah Wylie (sometimes), Rebecca Romijn, Christian Kane, Lindy Booth, John Kim, and John Larroquette, each with a special ability. The show is entertaining and lighthearted, featuring adventures in which the team attempts to recover artifacts that allow too much power into the world. The comic does a nice job with the various personalities of the team, and I thought it did a nice job of capturing the flavor of the show. Unfortunately, the second issue ended up being a couple months behind, and now I’ve read that the fourth issue will be the finale of this series. The cover price of The Librarians #1 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool Comics Done Dirt Cheap

Cool comics in my collection #548: Curse of the Molemen #1, March 1991.

When I pulled this issue out of the $20 long box of comics I bought nearly a year ago and saw the cover, I immediately knew that Curse of the Molemen wouldn’t be to my liking. I knew next to nothing about Kitchen Sink Comix, let alone the fact that Charles Burns originally published this in 1986 as Big Baby. And another thing I found out is that Curse of the Molemen, the thin volume that it is, also came out in a hardcover edition. So why care about any of that when I knew immediately this comic wouldn’t be for me? Maybe because I was dead wrong. Is the art different? You bet it is. Is the story bizarre? Undoubtedly. Did I hate it like I imagined I would? Absolutely not. On the contrary, I ended up loving Curse of the Molemen. It’s a weird coming of age story that has stayed with me, and I can easily imagine reading this one again someday (which is something I rarely do, considering there are so many comics yet to read and not as much time left on this earth as I once had). I figured after I read it and blogged here about it, the comic would find its way to my “garage sale” comic box. Nope. I’m keeping this odd little gem! The cover price of Curse of the Molemen #1 is $4.95, while the current value is $12.

 

Cool Comics Classics

Cool comics in my collection #549: Hercules Unbound #1, November 1975.

When I saw that this Hercules Unbound issue #1 came out in 1975, I figured that Marvel’s version of the Greek God must have come out first, since I know he appeared in 1965 in Marvel. But then, with a little research, I learned that Hercules first appeared in a DC comic way back in 1941. It was All Star Comics #8, the first appearance of Wonder Woman, and William Moulton Marston included Hercules in that issue. Now I read the digital version of All Star Comics #8 a few months back, but, unfortunately, I don’t have an eidetic memory. Hercules has been used sparingly by DC over the years, and I would imagine that most people, when talking about comic books and Hercules, tend think of the Marvel version. This Cool Comics Classic was an interesting start of an adventure for the Greek strongman in an apocalyptic future, written by Gerry Conway, with art by J.L. Garcia and Wally Wood. It’s truly amazing when you think about all the movies, books, TV shows, cartoons, and comic books that have included this mythological hero. The cover price of Hercules Unbound #1 is 25¢, while the current value is $16.

 

Recently Read Digital Comics

This week’s last number one issue features the first family of Marvel, the Fantastic Four. Currently free via comiXology, if you’ve never read this issue, you probably should download it and experience it for yourself (unless you’re fortunate enough to already have a copy, whether the original, in an anthology, or a reprint…but if you plan to run down to your local comic book shop and buy a first edition, don’t say you haven’t been warned…you may have to pay around $135,000 for a decent copy, if you actually find one). Stan Lee and Jack Kirby started the Marvel Universe as we know it today within these pages, but this probably isn’t the Fantastic Four that you remember reading. It took a few issues to hit their stride in art and storytelling, no doubt. The characters certainly don’t feel like themselves, but then again, every comic has a starting point. For me, Ben Grimm’s (the Thing!) character and dialogue changed the most from these beginnings. When you read this issue, he seems like a different character. This is certainly a worthy digital comic to get and read. Anyone out there have an original? Please let us know about it in the comments section below!

Thanksgiving With the Watchmen!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 113, 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 113…

 

Cool Comics News!

To all my readers, Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you were able to spend time with family and/or friends, and to consider all you have to be thankful for. Did you watch the Macy’s parade? Are you traditional and have turkey for dinner, or do you have ham or something else? Did you watch football, hockey, or instead, finally binge Stranger Things 2? Do you have a roaring fire going during the holiday, or is it too hot where you live? What are some of your favorite Thanksgiving traditions? Do you get together with friends and family to eat and have great conversation? Do you participate in local turkey trots or play a friendly annual football game? Maybe you watch comic book movies or shows on Thanksgiving! Nothing wrong with that. Whatever it is that you like to do or eat, why not share some of your traditions and memories in the comments field below? Cool Comics would love to hear from you.

 

Cool Comics

Cool comics in my collection #542: Doctor Strange #381, January 2018.

While Marvel Legacy has been providing some interesting stories, there have been a few in which the headliner of the title is mostly missing. In the case of Doctor Strange, we don’t actually see Stephen Strange until the last three pages. And he’s not even the Sorcerer Supreme. Say what? Yup, we’re told that there was a tournament and that Loki (of course, it had to be Loki!) defeated Strange and now holds the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme. I imagine there are a number of Loki fans out there, based on how popular he seems to be in the Thor and Avengers movies, so is this a play to pull in some of those readers? At any rate, it’s an interesting story, but darn it, we have to wait a while until we get to our real hero. Even Thor (the Jane Foster version) makes an appearance before Strange enters the fray. I’m a fan of Doctor Strange, and I’m hoping writer Donny Cates and artist Gabriel Hernandez Walta give us an awesome Loki – Strange faceoff. The Marvel Value Stamp for this issue is Deadpool. Is anyone removing them from their comics and putting them in the special book Marvel produced for this? Tell us in the comments section below. The cover price of Doctor Strange #381 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool comics in my collection #543: Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #297, January 2018.

Can you imagine the shock of walking into your local comic shop and discovering that the next issue of Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man is number 297? Because just a few weeks ago, you picked up issue 6 from the shelves. You have all six issues at home, stored in special plastic bags with nice white backing boards, and carefully placed in a comic book box. So what gives? While most hardcore collectors have known about Marvel Legacy for months, and know that many titles are going back to their original numbering, newer collectors may not understand how they missed out on over 290 issues in such a short space of time! But within the pages of each first Legacy issue per title, Marvel gives us a breakdown of how they figured the numbering scheme now being used. And with this comic, we can see that #1-133 began in 1976, #134-263 started in 1988 (with a slight change to the title name), and #264-290 launched in 2003, but the numbering was actually 1-27 on the covers. Then comes our current series of #291-296 in 2017, listed as 1-6. Do you like it or hate it? Like everything in life, change happens. But most importantly, writer Chip Zdarsk and artist Adam Kubert (with Juan Frigeri) are putting out some good comics, and I’m glad to be along for the ride. The Marvel Value Stamp for this issue is Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan…the Ms. Marvel from the Seventies is now Captain Marvel, for those who haven’t kept up). The cover price of Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #297 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool Comics Done Dirt Cheap

Cool comics in my collection #544: Ash/22 Brides #2, April 1997.

Whenever you pay less than 5¢ for a comic book, that’s a good thing, right? It’s really hard to go wrong when they’re so cheap, so that’s my mindset with Ash/22 Brides #2. It wasn’t bad…it just wasn’t for me. The good is that it features the writing of Fabian Nicieza and the pencils of Humberto Ramos, along with inks by Jimmy Palmiotti. Familiar names to me. I especially have appreciated Ramos’ art, distinctly recalling the big feet he gave Impulse, and he has big feet in this comic, too. These days, he’s drawing Champions for Marvel, and I noticed that only the Hulk has big feet. Which makes sense of course. Yet 20 years ago, everyone seemed to have big feet when Ramos penciled. Part of the problem for me is that I never read issue #1, which makes this hard to follow the action. I read a total of three Ash comics way back when, but can’t tell you anything about him. There were dinosaurs and vampires in this comic, and people like those, so maybe you read this and loved it. Nothing wrong with that. The cover price of Ash/22 Brides #2 is $2.95, while the current value is $3.

 

Cool Comics Classics

Cool comics in my collection #545: Watchman Trade Edition, May 2014.

Originally published in comic book form from September 1986 through October 1987, Watchman is a groundbreaking story that changed the way people perceive and create comic books. Although dated in some respects, it’s still has relevancy today, and HBO is working on a live-action series. When Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons were putting out monthly issues of Watchman, my mind was on other things, such as finishing up college, becoming engaged, and then getting married. When I did start buying comics again in 1993, for some reason I never sought out the iconic series. But last year, one of my daughters gave me this collected volume, and with the advent of DC’s Doomsday Clock (it came out yesterday!), I realized it was time to crack open the pages and discover for myself why everyone says it’s a must read. First off, let me say that this isn’t a comic book for all ages, as there are some adult themes. Nothing too bad, but I’d keep it out of the hands of pre-teens for sure. It’s violent, philosophical, and at times, slow. As in boring slow. But that’s just me, and maybe your experience is different. The characters I found most interesting were Rorschach and Nite Owl, just in case you were wondering. Now that I’ve finally read it, I can watch the movie, which came out in 2009. The cover price of this collected edition of Watchmen is $19.99, while the current value is $20. The current value of the 12 original individual issues adds up to $135.

 

Recently Read Digital Comics

Over the last couple months, I’ve seen several people on social media raving about the new Mister Miracle comic written by Tom King and penciled by Mitch Gerads, so it was a no brainer to download Mister Miracle #1 Extended Preview, when I saw it offered free via comiXology. I admit that I don’t have much background with the character, having never bought any issues from the original series that ran from 1971 to 1978. Sounds like a solid run, but it saw just 25 issues published during that time, and I didn’t buy anything related to the New Gods back in the Seventies. DC gave the character another title from 1989 to 1991, this time putting out 28 issues, but I wasn’t buying comics at that time. And then in 1996, when I was once more making weekly trips to a comic shop, Mister Miracle had another series. I bought issue 7, but that was the last one released, until now. There have been 4 issues so far for Volume 4, and it’s getting a lot of love. Unfortunately, this digital preview was just 10 pages, so it was hard to know what was going on. When this comes out in a digital collected volume, I may have to pick it up.

A Double Dose of Daredevil

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 112, 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 112…

 

Cool Comics News!

Notable news items in the world of comics: I finally saw Thor: Ragnarok, and really enjoyed it. While some have said it was too infused with humor, that didn’t bother me one bit. I was entertained throughout, which is what we expect when we plunk down our money, isn’t it?

Other big news in the world of comics is Brian Michael Bendis leaving Marvel to write exclusively for DC. When Bendis first came to Marvel, I started reading the Ultimate line, but I think that was my total experience with his comics until I read the first Jessica Jones Alias collection on my tablet. He’s been with Marvel a long time, and as a creator, he probably is looking forward to some new challenges and an opportunity to write some iconic characters. I’m looking forward to seeing what his future at DC holds.

 

Cool Comics

Cool comics in my collection #537: Daredevil #595, January 2018.

I’ve never been a big Daredevil reader or collector, but this first Legacy issue looks like the title is going to be a lot of fun. During my first phase of comic book collecting, which started in the Seventies, I didn’t buy a single issue of Daredevil, but during my short-lived second phase, while in college, I picked up the title for 11 straight months, during Frank Miller’s reign, getting issues 181 through 191. Those were some great issues. But alas, they are no longer part of my collection. Then, during my much longer third phase of comic collecting that ran from 1993 to 2003, I faithfully purchased Ol’ Horn Head for 21 months, including the Fall From Grace storyline that started off as very popular, seeing prices go up, only to eventually come back down. So now we are confronted with the Kingpin, Wilson Fisk, as mayor of New York City, and I really enjoyed this comic. Being that I’m like a rookie once more when it comes to new comics, the creators of Daredevil (Charles Soule as writer and Stefano Landini as artist) are unfamiliar to me, but I appreciate what I’ve seen, and I have hopes that future issues will be just as much fun. By the way, for the nostalgia fans out there (and I’m one of them), the Marvel Value Stamp in this issue is Magneto. The cover price of Daredevil #595 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool comics in my collection #538: Master of Kung Fu #126, January 2018.

When I saw that Marvel Legacy was going to put out a Master of Kung Fu title, I felt a wave of excitement and nostalgia. Though I’ve read very few comics with Shang-Chi, there is something so likeable about the character, and it took me back in time to the early Eighties, when I was a student at Ohio State and read a few of his comics. As it turns out, Master of Kung Fu is just a Legacy one-shot, but we can still hope that Marvel will continue using the character in other titles, or maybe give him an ongoing or limited series. Yet. That sounds ominous, doesn’t it? “Yet.” I’ve been pretty happy with the Legacy titles so far, yet when it comes to this one…it wasn’t quite what I was expecting. Or maybe the right phrase would be, “it wasn’t what I was hoping for.” Not that it was bad. The comic was entertaining, but…it lacked something for me. The title for this one shot is “Shang-Chi’s Day Off,” so I guess that should have told me the direction of it right there. Again, I’m unfamiliar with the writer, CM Punk, and artist, Dalibor Talajić. And while I wasn’t overly enthused with the writing or penciling, I’m glad that a new Master of Kung Fu comic exists. And sometimes that’s good enough to fill in the holes from our past. No Marvel Value Stamp in this issue, fearless friends. The cover price of Master of Kung Fu #126 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool comics in my collection #539: Moon Knight #188, January 2018.

Moon Knight was born out of the pages of Werewolf By Night #32 in August 1975, and for the next few years Marvel gave him appearances in some anthologies, team books, and even the Hulk black and white magazine before landing his own series. In 1998 they put out a 4-issue limited series, and those were the first Moon Knight comics I ever bought. Since that time, I’ve gotten a few cheap back issues, but I’ve never been much of a reader until I read the three collected issues (17 comics in all) from Volume 7 that started in 2014, with the first six issues written by Warren Ellis. It was “good stuff,” as a college friend of mine used to say, and now I’m a Moon Knight fan. By now you want me to tell you if the Legacy issue (Part 1 of “Crazy Runs In The Family”) was worth it, I’m guessing, and yes, it certainly was. Although beware that this issue is setting up things to come, and our odd hero is not the focus. Yet it was a fascinating issue, and I think this series is going to be a real treat. Once more, as I’m reading these new comics, I’m coming across many creators who are completely new to me, including writer Max Bemis and artist Jacen Burrows, but I’m looking forward to seeing what they come up with in the pages of Moon Knight. The Marvel Value Stamp in this issue is Cable. The cover price of Moon Knight #188 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool Comics Done Dirt Cheap

Cool comics in my collection #540: Sting of the Green Hornet #1, June 1992.

 Up this week in my long box of cheap comics is this interesting Green Hornet limited series by NOW Comics. It’s World War II, and the Nazi’s have devious plans up their sleeves for the United States. Hitler makes an appearance near the beginning of this issue, and if you like The Green Hornet or are just a big Bruce Lee fan (I know there are lots of you out there!), then you may want to dig around in your local comic shop’s back issue boxes to find this fun gem (but you’ll probably have to pay more than I did, since, broken down, each comic out of the 419 in my $20 long box translates to $0.047). This is the second Green Hornet comic book I’ve pulled from that long box, and even though I don’t have any background with the character (I’ve never seen the original series from back in 1966, though I would now love to, nor have I watched the 2011 movie), the comics seem to be well done and entertaining. The cover price of Sting of the Green Hornet is $2.50, while the current value is $3.

 

Cool Comics Classics

Cool comics in my collection #541: Daredevil #11, December 1965.

Looks like this is Daredevil week at Cool Comics, as I read both the first Legacy issue and now this classic from back in 1965. I think (although I’m not positive) that this is my oldest Marvel comic book. It’s certainly not the oldest comic in my collection, but I’m pretty sure I don’t have any Marvel books that predate this one. And like most of these older tales, the one thing that stands out the most is the amount of words per page. When reading this issue, it seemed as if it took me three times as long as the others in this week’s blog. Stan Lee was a writing machine back in the Sixties, penning multiple issues each month with lots of dialogue. I’m not saying today’s comics should have just as many words; I’m just making an observation. Sometimes the story is told every bit as well with fewer words, letting the art tell the story. Besides that, I got a kick out of reading this old issue, which of course has Foggy Nelson and Karen Page, too. For those who’ve watched the Netflix Daredevil show, you might enjoy seeing the characters back at their beginnings. As much as I’m enjoying my weekly trips to the comic shop now, I absolutely love pulling out older titles to read and then feature in Cool Comics Classics. The cover price of Daredevil #11 is 12¢, while the current value is $210.

 

Recently Read Digital Comics

Back in 2002, I read about a new Vertigo comic book coming out called Y: The Last Man, and decided to give it a shot. Immediately I liked the writing of Brian K. Vaughan, and faithfully bought the title through issue 13, at which point I completely cut off my comic book purchases. Yup, I went cold turkey. I was spending too much money. And I remember seeing the solicitations for Runways in 2003, and that Vaughan would be writing it, but the writing was on the wall, and I couldn’t add any more comics to my monthly buys. And here we are 14 years later, and I finally had a chance to read the first six issues collected in Vol. 1: Pride and Joy. It’s a fun comic, very different from traditional superhero stuff, but it takes place in the Marvel Universe. And my digital reading selection for this week was completely purposeful, as next Tuesday, November 21, Runaways will drop on Hulu with 13 episodes. I probably won’t be able to watch it for a while, but I’m curious to see how this story translates to the small screen.

Black Lightning & Akron Comicon Special Edition!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 111, 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 111…

 

Cool Comics News!

Last weekend I was invited to conduct my panel on comic book nostalgia at Akron Comicon, and I had a blast! I appreciate all who came out, and want to give a special thanks to David Ehase, Bryan Pixler, and Ted Sikora for participating on the panel. I absolutely loved the con, and hope some of you will consider attending next year. Be sure to see some of my pictures (just click on them to see a larger image) from Akron Comicon below!

Though I’m not covering the issue today, and I’ve seen others give away the big reveal in Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #6 (it came out last week), I won’t say what happened, in case it’s still sitting in your “To Be Read” pile. But will it stick? We’ve seen reveals like this in comics for decades, and more often than not the creators change their minds and find a way to erase what seems like a big deal. I’m curious to see how it all turns out. And no, Uncle Ben is still dead.

 

Cool Comics

Cool comics in my collection #534: Captain America #695, January 2017.

I’ve seen a number of people state on social media that Marvel Legacy provides a “jumping off” point for them, yet many are curious to see what Marvel is going to do with Captain America after the events of Secret Empire. Without having read that limited series, but knowing a little of what it was about, I’ll tell you that I really enjoyed this first Marvel Legacy issue of Captain America, and I like the direction they appear to be taking with it. Steve Rogers needs to gain the trust of the people and shine a light on what Captain America really stands for, so he decides to travel the country, visiting small town America, but also keeping tabs on Hydra and ways he can take them down. Will he ride into your hometown? Keep reading and find out! The cover price of Captain America #695 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool comics in my collection #535: Black Lightning: Cold Dead Hands, January 2017.

I’ve always held a special place in my comic-book-loving heart for lesser known heroes, and Black Lightning is fast becoming a favorite. Tony Isabella, the writer and creator (who happens to live just a few cities west of me), has been given an opportunity to take hold of the writing reigns once more, and I’m hoping that DC sees it has such a hit on its hands (and with the upcoming CW TV series featuring Black Lightning, it just may!) that Tony gets to transition from this six issue limited series to an ongoing title. I had a brief conversation with Tony about this new Black Lightning comic at Akron Comicon (and if you click on the cover, you’ll easily be able to see where he signed my book!), and while he wondered what fans may think about certain changes to the character, I told him I thought he did a great job and produced a very entertaining read. If you want to help support comic creators, give the new Black Lighting title a try. The cover price of Black Lightning: Cold Dead Hands is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool Comics Classics

  Cool comics in my collection #536: Black Lightning #5, November 1977.

Picking out Black Lightning #5 from the original series run was a no-brainer for this week, as I took it to Akron Comicon with me and had it signed by the original writer, Tony Isabella, and the original penciller, Trevor Von Eeden (who was hired by DC Comics at just 16 years of age…let that sink in a minute while you consider your first job at 16). You’re probably asking yourself why issue #5, and not #1. Well, for starters, I don’t own the first issue. I have issue 4, but it’s buried in a box somewhere, and this issue was easy to find, as I have it filed away with other future Cool Comics Classics. Plus, it has Superman in trouble on the cover, while Jimmy Olsen and Black Lightning look on. Two historically significant characters with a (at the time) new hero, trying to find his way in the pantheon of DC legends. Pretty cool stuff. And yes, you can click on this cover to get a close-up view of Tony’s and Trevor’s signatures on my comic. They were both such nice gentlemen and it’s an honor to have their signatures on my comic. The cover price of Black Lightning #5 is 35¢, while the current value is $12.

 

Recently Read Digital Comics

Popular DC villain Harley Quinn made her first appearance on Batman: The Animated Series in September 1992, voiced by actress Arleen Sorkin. Which means the character is now 25 years old. Yes, you read that correctly, she’s now been around for a quarter of a century. But breaking into print took another year, and in September 1993 Harley Quinn showed up in The Batman Adventures #12, which sold for $1.25. If you happened to buy it in 1993, good for you. Because if you want a copy of it now, the current value is about $595, depending on condition. Harley Quinn quickly became popular, and is now a mainstay of the DC Universe. Did you see the Suicide Squad movie? Yup. She’s in it. Do I have a copy of The Batman Adventures #12? No, but what I do have is a digital edition I downloaded free from comiXology. And while there is no resale value, and it’s not the same as having the original comic book, I enjoyed getting the opportunity to read this issue without having to pay a big chunk of money.

 

Akron Comicon Highlights!

Writer Ted Sikora and Apama, the Undiscovered Animal, could be seen the moment you walked in the door at Akron Comicon. I met Ted at another con a few months ago, and Apama became one of my favorite comic books, and now I have a signed edition of Volume 2!

 

 

Tony Isabella and Trevor Von Eeden sign books and answer questions at Akron Comicon.

 

 

 

 

Marc Sumerak signs a copy of his book The Complete Marvel Cosmos. Happy to add this one to my library!

 

 

 

 

Though I haven’t seen Thor: Ragnarok yet, it was fun to see the members of #asgardohio roaming the halls of the John S. Knight Center during Akron Comicon. Kids and adults alike got a kick out of these awesome Asgardians!

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a thrill to have artist P. Craig Russell sign a copy of The Sandman: The Dream Hunters for me!

 

 

 

 

Akron Comicon wouldn’t be complete without an appearance from Peter Porker: The Spectacular Spider-Ham!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comic book legends Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz having a good time at Akron Comicon.

 

 

 

 

Tony Isabella and Trevor Von Eeden loved answering questions about Black Lightning over the weekend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A panel of heavy hitters at Akron Comicon: Tom DeFalco, Ron Frenz (Thor), Jack C. Harris, John Totleben, Mike Sangiacomo, P. Craig Russell, and Mike Gustovich.

 

 

 

The Penguin was ready for lots of fan photo opportunities!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What do you get when you cross Doctor Strange and Eleven from Stranger Things? Doctor Strangerthings, these two told me!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

David Ehase hosts Brave and the Bold: The Trevor Von Eeden and Mike W. Barr panel discussion. I picked up the complete collection of Camelot 3000 from Mike and had him sign it for me!

 

 

 

I couldn’t resist buying and getting this Star Trek book signed by both Mike Ingersoll  and Tony Isabella at Akron Comicon as a gift for my wife!

 

Traveling Through Time with Swamp Thing!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 110, 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 110…

 

Cool Comics News!

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I’ve got a couple exciting news items this week! First up, books 3 and 4 of Superheroes and Vile Villains are available on Amazon today. Book 3 is Collateral Damage: A Superhero Anthology, and I’ve got a new story in it named “Mindhopper.” It’s about a socially awkward man with powers who has always used them for his own selfish gain, with no desire to be a superhero. But when he becomes a target, what will he do? Book 4 in the series is Ha!Ha!Ha!: A Supervillain Anthology, and guess what? I’m in that one, too! “Counterclockwise” is a short story I’d previously published on Amazon, but now it’s exclusively available in the anthology. If you like time travel tales, be sure to check it out, along with all the other stories in the two editions by some of today’s most exciting authors!

My other news this week is that I’m going to be a part of Akron Comicon. On Sunday, November 5 at 1 p.m., I’ll be leading a panel discussion called Comic Book Nostalgia: Reflections on Our Collections. If you plan on going to the con, come to my panel as I have some fun giveaways planned, along with some great conversation that will transport you back in time to those memories you have of hopping on your bike with a pocket full of change to buy the latest funny books. If you’re still not sure if you want to go, check out all the fantastic creators that will be there by clicking Akron Comicon.

 

Cool Comics

Cool comics in my collection #530: Captain Marvel #125, December 2017.

The only Legacy comic book that released October 25 I bought was Captain Marvel. When I started collecting comics (again) a few years ago, I took an interest in comics from the 1970s, the first era I started buying in when I was growing up. Ms. Marvel wasn’t a title I read at the time, but over a dozen years ago I picked up a few in back issue boxes, and since it’s a short run of just 23 comics, I worked on finishing the series, and enjoyed getting to read it in order. Obviously, there have been some changes since 1979 when it ended. She’s no longer Ms. Marvel, but instead Captain Marvel (spoiler alert…Captain Marvel, the Kree soldier, died…a long time ago), and works with Alpha Flight, a Canadian team that seems a bit different in today’s comic book world from what I remember. I have a lot of catching up to do. The story was okay, and I’ll keep getting it for a while before I decide if it stays or goes on my pull list. The Marvel Value Stamp for this comic is Spider-Gwen (another character I know nothing about). The cover price of Captain Marvel #125 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool Comics Done Dirt Cheap

Cool comics in my collection #531: Paradiso (Ashcan edition), October 2017.

I guess I’ve been living right, because my local comic shop owner slipped another free ashcan into my weekly pile of books at Kenmore Komics. Like the previous two, this is an Image comic, only this time the pages are full color, giving the reader a better impression of how this will look when the regular-sized version comes out. As I tend to do when talking comics here, I give a word of warning when some of the language is on the more adult side. There isn’t much here, but just enough that you may want to be careful who’s hands this may fall into if you pick up the series. And if you enjoy post-apocalyptic stories, and hunger for it in your comics, then look no further than Paradiso. Civilization goes haywire due to some destructive event, and now…well, there’s still a lot to discover in this world. An interesting alternative to the typical heroes in spandex. The cover price of this Ashcan edition of Paradiso is free (limited to one per store), while the current value is $5.

 

Cool comics in my collection #532: Action Man #4, September 2016.

With just one Legacy comic book this week, I pulled another cheap issue from my long box I bought for $20 nearly a year ago. This IDW comic book, Action Man #4, is based on a Hasbro toy. I’m not familiar with the toy, or the comic book (you’ll notice this came out just over a year ago, before I started getting my monthly Previews once more), so I had to do a little Internet research in preparation for reading it. And of course it’s issue 4, so yeah, there was a fog bank rolling in with this one. But I ended up enjoying it, to the extent I could understand the action. It seemed like there was a lot of “explaining” going on by one of the characters, almost as if she knew I might need help. Again, no superheroes in this one. Instead we get James Bond like spies. Not a bad read for a comic I paid less than a nickel for. By the way, for those who might have read this and know the series, the issue I bought has the variant subscription cover. The cover price of Action Man #4 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool Comics Classics

Cool comics in my collection #533: Swamp Thing #12, October 1974.

When it comes to Swamp Thing, I almost feel a need to apologize. I’ve never been a Swamp Thing reader, and when this issue was on the stands back in 1974, I probably didn’t give it more than a quick glance. Monster comics weren’t my thing when I was younger, and now I wish I’d picked up some along the way. I did buy a Swamp Thing Annual issue when I was in college, and this was my first intentional Swamp Thing purchase since then. A few months ago, comiXology had Swamp Thing #1 for free, and I downloaded it, read it, and figured I would be buying some back issues on occasion, so here we are. If you like time travel, this issue has that in full, as Swamp Thing’s getting tossed around to all different periods, running into a certain starry-eyed man each time. This story will probably leave you feeling a little sad, but then, Swamp Thing is a bit of a sad character, is he not? The cover price of Swamp Thing #12 is 20¢, while the current value is $38.

 

Recently Read Digital Comics

I’d never heard of Arcana Comics before downloading a free copy of The Evil Tree #1 on comiXology, but this issue really got my attention. The atmosphere for this story is great for some Halloween reading, but considering the snow storm going on in the comic and the imminent approach of winter, this could be just what you’re looking for in the next month or two. Misha is having strange dreams, and some sleepwalking issues, just as her friends are helping her move into a big house in an isolated area. Elements of this story reminded me of the underrated movie Wind Chill (anyone out there see this movie?), and if you like spooky mysteries, I suggest giving this a try. There is a little language in it, along with some horror elements and blood, so beware. Issues 2 through 4 are just 99¢ each, so the series is rather inexpensive. The art was interesting and fit the mood, in my opinion. There are a lot more Arcana Comics available through comiXology, so I probably have some exploring to do.

DC House of Horror is Here!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 109, 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 109…

 

Cool Comics News!

This is a busy week for Legacy issues that I’ve added to my collection, along with a special DC horror comic I’ve been looking forward to ever since it was announced, featuring cool horror writers like Weston Ochse and Brian Keene. The first six comics are all Marvel Legacy titles I bought last week, and overall, I enjoyed them.

Yesterday, my mail wasn’t just the usual assortment of bills and useless junk. I won tickets to Akron Comicon! If you live within driving distance, or feel like taking a road trip (the dates are November 4 and 5), Akron Comicon won’t disappoint with the lineup of guests they have scheduled. Visit their website and see for yourself!

 

Cool Comics

Cool comics in my collection #523: The Incredible Hulk #709, December 2017.

The first Legacy issue of The Incredible Hulk sees the Hulk going back to the planet Sakaar, the location of the Planet Hulk storyline. Only it’s not the same Hulk, and I can’t truly claim to know what I’m even talking about! First, Amadeus Cho, the eighth smartest person in the Marvel Universe, is now the Hulk, and I’ve never read Planet Hulk. I own the Prelude title in digital format, and World War Hulk, so I probably need to get Planet Hulk at some point. Anyway, I kind of like this Amadeus version of the Hulk, but for a Legacy title, it doesn’t feel right without Banner. Hulk hasn’t been on my radar much, but I did buy The Totally Awesome Hulk issue 22, which has seen its secondary market value skyrocket lately. Unfortunately, I had to settle for a second printing. Don’t worry, it doesn’t bother me (too much). Can you believe that issue is already selling for around $50? It’s got a Hulk with claws. Like Wolverine. And yes, people are liking it. I read somewhere that Weapon H (I didn’t name him) might be heading for his own series. Anyway, I like this Amadeus kid, as I was saying, and now he has to fight on the planet Sakaar, and I’m looking forward to seeing how all this turns out. The Marvel Value Stamp in this issue is Venom, by the way. The cover price of The Incredible Hulk #709 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool comics in my collection #524: Invincible Iron Man #593, December 2017.

I quit reading new comic books for 14 years, and there is no status quo! Mary Jane is a Watson, not a Parker, and she works for Tony Stark. Tony Stark was adopted, and his real mother is in this issue (I had to do a little research on that one, because I wasn’t at all sure who this Amanda woman is). Sort of like the Hulk comic from above, I’m dealing with characters other than the ones I grew up with. But unlike the lack of Bruce in Hulk, Tony…well…okay, no spoilers. If you’re an old school Iron Man reader, just be prepared for “different.” That seems to be the safest route to take when jumping back on board after a lengthy time away. And how does the term “Legacy” fit the story I read? I guess I’ll have to get back to you, once I figure it out. But to be fair, Marvel never said that Legacy was a turning back of the clock in the sense of giving us nothing but the familiar characters of old. It’s a nod to your favorite comics of yesteryear, heroes new and old, and great storylines in the tradition of Marvel Comics. And, of course, all of this can’t be accomplished in one issue per title. So if you’re giving Legacy a try, patience is a key word. But I’ve liked the stories to this point, so no complaints here. The Marvel Value Stamp for this issue is The Incredible Hulk. The cover price of Invincible Iron Man #593 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool comics in my collection #525: Luke Cage #150, December 2017.

One of the things you notice when you’ve been away from new comic books for a number of years is the current style of art. And I’m not entirely sure how I feel yet about Guillermo Sanna’s work on Luke Cage. It’s pretty clean and sort of simple and kind of cartoony. Back in the Seventies, it seems like most pencillers tried to make you feel as if you were holding a movie in your hands, considering the amount of detail they’d drop in, rather than a comic book. I can remember how different Frank Miller’s style seemed in contrast to what I’d grown used to. Anyway, the art is a lot different from early Power Man comics, not to mention the Cage series from the Nineties. Nevertheless, I’m one who cares more about the story itself. If the art is stunning but the story doesn’t intrigue me, I’ll drop the title. And I liked what I read. David F. Walker did a nice job on the writing end, and I look forward to next month’s issue. The Marvel Value Stamp is the hero of the title himself, Luke Cage. The cover price of Luke Cage #166 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool comics in my collection #526: Champions #13, December 2017.

A couple weeks back in Cool Comics (Episode 107, for those who keeping track) I covered Avengers #672, the first Legacy comic for the title. As I’d found out, the Avengers will be crossing back and forth with Champions for a few months, sort of forcing me to buy a title I wouldn’t have chosen if not for this situation. Okay, maybe “forcing” is too strong a term, but if I want to keep from getting lost, I have to shell out an additional $3.99 a month (plus tax). Nova’s in it…only it’s not Rich Rider. Okay, well, strangely enough, Cyclops from the X-Men is part of the team…only he’s a younger version who came through the timeline, or something comic-booky like that. Ms. Marvel? Not Carol Danvers. Spider-Man? Um…no, it’s not Peter Parker. No problem, that big green guy is the Hulk. I’d recognize him anywhere. What? Amadeus Cho again? And Viv? The girl with the green hair and dark pink face? That’s the Vision’s daughter. So, am I mad about this? Regardless of Marvel’s marketing manipulation (Stan Lee himself might appreciate that piece of alliteration!), I’m enjoying getting to know these newer heroes. It turns out that having them involved with the Avengers is a smart way of making readers (well, at least this reader) care. Oh, and one more reason to appreciate this issue is that the Marvel Value Stamp is the Thing. The cover price of Champions #13 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool comics in my collection #527: The Mighty Thor #700, December 2017.

I own close to 250 Thor comic books. I like the character, the mythology behind it, and the fact that he comes from such a different background than the other mainstays in the Marvel Universe. But what I don’t like is when they start calling any character who is able to wield his mystical uru hammer, Mjolnir, “Thor.” Okay, I know it states on Mjolnir, right underneath the manufacturer’s warranty, that, “Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor.” But that doesn’t mean they should be called Thor. Am I right? I guess that’s my main complaint with the Jane Foster version. And any previous manifestation of someone “filling in” for Thor. Because isn’t that the character’s actual name? Why not just call her The Mighty Jane? For Thor’s issue #700, Marvel Legacy went deep with a bevy of artists, some of which I liked, and some made me think of what I said about Luke Cage above. No doubt Marvel saw this opportunity to produce a Thor comic epic in scope (and length…and price), setting up further, exciting issues. If you’re a Thor fan, don’t miss it. The Marvel Value Stamp in this issue is The Amazing Spider-Man. The cover price of The Mighty Thor #700 is $5.99, while the current value is $6.

 

Cool comics in my collection #528: Cable #150, December 2017.

Cable’s first Legacy issue gives us a new direction (writer James Robinson and artists Carlos Pacheco and Yildiray Cinar are replaced by Ed Brisson and Jon Malin), bringing in some other heroes, which harkens back to his New Mutant beginnings and X-Force run. This 150th issue starts a new storyline called The Newer Mutants, and in it we see the death of an External. I enjoyed this issue and always find Cable an interesting character. This story is very different from the previous five-issue run, but I think the comic is headed in a good direction. Shatterstar, Longshot, and Doop are involved in this initial issue, teaming up with Cable to pay a visit to the only remaining External, Selene. As far as I can tell, this is the first comic I’ve read with Doop, the green thing on the cover. His first appearance was in an X-Force comic in 2001, but I was no longer reading the title by that time, and stopped getting new comics in 2003. Who is on my Marvel Value Stamp in this issue, you ask? Iceman. Thanks for asking. The cover price of Cable #150 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool comics in my collection #529: DC House of Horror #1, December 2017.

I was sort of hoping DC House of Horror would have a better tie-in with Halloween, and/or also include some of the darker characters in the DCU. Instead, the comic gives us generic horror tales that work at any time of the year. Nothing wrong with that, but the timing had me hoping. This 84-page special issue features eight different tales, featuring some of the top horror writers today. There were stories with Superman, Wonder Woman, the Justice League, Shazam, Harley Quinn, Green Arrow, and, of course, Batman. I’m a fan of anthologies, because usually there are several stories each reader likes, providing something for everyone. Will DC House of Horror get promoted to a second issue? I guess sales will determine that, but if they do, and they keep it in this same format, I’d rather it come out quarterly rather than monthly, because it is not a cheap title. The cover price of DC House of Horror #1 is $9.99, while the current value is $10.

 

Recently Read Digital Comics

When it comes to October, it’s time to read some scary stuff. I’m not big on gross-out, slasher type things. I like suspense, and I like classic monsters. So when I saw a Monster of Frankenstein digital collection on sale via Amazon (regularly $29.99, but just $6 during the sale!), I couldn’t click “Buy Now” fast enough! Not only does this collection have the entire 18-issue run of the 1973 through 1975 Marvel series of Frankenstein, it also contains Giant-Size Werewolf By Night #2 (yup, the Monster and the Werewolf!), Marvel Team-Up #36-37 (Spider-Man, the Monster, and the Man-Wolf…I have the original comics of these gems from the Seventies, but haven’t read them since they came out), and material from the black and white magazine style comics Monsters Unleashed #2 and #4-10, and Legion of Monsters #1. The Frankenstein Monster is one of my favorite literary characters, no matter if he’s portrayed as a growling creature or a thoughtful, sensitive monster (if you love the monster, be sure to check out the 5 books author Dean Koontz wrote about him). Monster of Frankenstein made this a fun October for reading Seventies comics on my tablet, with 30 stories total, all featuring the Monster.