Ed Gosney's Blog, page 36

Legacy, Rebirth, & a Couple October Chillers!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 108, 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 108…

 

Cool Comics News!

October. Don’t you just love the way this month sounds, rolling off your tongue? October. The sun sets sooner, the air is chillier, and the movies get scarier. And so do the comics! This week, along with more Marvel Legacy titles, I bring you two comics that might cause you to keep your bedside lamp on all night long (they aren’t that scary, but I like to set the mood!).

 

Cool Comics 

Cool comics in my collection #516: The Amazing Spider-Man #789, December 2017.

The first comic book I bought on my own was The Amazing Spider-Man #125 back in 1973, and I’ve loved the character ever since. Granted, there have been periods in which I wasn’t buying comics, and maybe I didn’t know what was happening, but I’ve always felt I could go back to Peter Parker if I needed to. For example, last week here on the blog I featured issue #344 as my Cool Comic Classic. So now we come to Legacy. Somewhere along the way, from 2003 to the present, Parker became a businessman, and a rich one, to boot. And now he’s apparently lost everything, as this comic is “Fall of Parker, Part 1.” Robbie is running The Daily Bugle, and I don’t know if J. Jonah Jameson is alive or not. But someone I saw die years ago is alive once more. I suppose I could go to Wikipedia and play catch-up, but I’ll learn most of it as time goes on. Another one of the more surprising things I discovered is that Peter/Spider-Man is currently with Mockingbird. Some people want their comics to remain static, but I don’t mind change if it makes sense. I’m definitely interested to see what comes next for the wallcrawler. The cover price of The Amazing Spider-Man #789 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool comics in my collection #517: The Uncanny Avengers #28, December 2017.

X-Men, Avengers, and Inhumans all brought together to form yet another team of super-powered heroes to take on the forces of evil. This has been a thing for several years now, but for me, it’s brand new. And I sort of like the idea of it. Oh, before I forget, Johnny Storm, the Human Torch from the Fantastic Four, is also in this. And having part of Marvel’s first family is always a good thing, in my opinion. Another big bonus is Doctor Voodoo. Remember a few weeks back when I headlined my blog with Brother Voodoo? Yeah, this makes me a happy reader. Anyway, what really sold me on giving this Legacy comic a try is bringing together the Beast and Wonder Man once more. I appreciate their friendship, and while I have a feeling there are lots of people out there who don’t much care for Simon Williams (Wonder Man), I have a soft spot for him. The actual story was pretty much an introduction (well, it felt like it to me, a new reader), setting things up for what’s coming. Did you notice from the little picture that I got another lenticular cover? It’s cool looking, but I miss my Marvel Value Stamp…although to be honest, I’d just look at it, then turn the page and possibly never see it again, so I guess it’s no big loss. The cover price of Uncanny Avengers #28 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool comics in my collection #518: Falcon #1, December 2017.

Well, I made yet another Legacy impulse buy. I was in my comic book shop on my birthday last Saturday, and while my intention was to purchase different issues from the Sixties and Seventies, I decided to give Falcon’s new solo title a try. How could I not, considering how awesome the Generations title turned out that he shared with Captain American? When I was a kid growing up, I read a lot of “Captain America & the Falcon” comics, so I already had a nostalgic place in my heart for Sam Wilson. The character’s appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe relies a lot more on tech, but I prefer the Seventies look. When it comes to comic books, I’m very old school. I liked this issue, and appreciated the juxtaposition of the Falcon working with and training the Patriot, Rayshaun Lucas. I’m still unsure if I’ll continue getting this comic, but I enjoyed this first issue, and recommend it if you like the Falcon. The cover price of Falcon #1 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool comics in my collection #519: Defenders #6, December 2017.

Back in August I featured the first three issues of this title, just before the Netflix series released. I still haven’t watched it, but I’m nearly through with the Iron Fist series, and Defenders comes next. You’ll notice that the numbering wasn’t changed for Defenders, like Marvel has done for so many of the Legacy titles, more than likely due to the team being so different from previous incarnations of the Defenders. Whereas past teams have featured characters like Doctor Strange, Namor, the Hulk, and the Silver Surfer, these Defenders are made up of Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, Daredevil, and Iron Fist. They fight street crime, rather than standing up to cosmic level bad guys. And I for one really like this team. We have the Avengers, the X-Men, and other more powerful beings to protect the planet, and I appreciate the kind of storytelling that’s taking place in this Defenders comic. The cover price of Defenders #6 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool comics in my collection #520: Jughead: The Hunger #1, December 2017.

Remember that Jughead: The Hunger One-Shot I had here in Cool Comics a few months back? Now it’s becoming an ongoing series. If you like horror, and want it with familiar characters, Archie Comics is filling the bill. From Afterlife with Archie to Chilling Adventures of Sabrina to Jughead: The Hunger, those teens in Riverdale just don’t seem to be getting a break from all the ghouls, goblins, and undead things. If you like Jughead’s character in the TV show Riverdale, you’ll feel even more sympathetic towards him and the family curse of lycanthropy. And still more distressing is that his friend Betty Cooper comes from a family of werewolf hunters. If you love this time of year, and you bleed orange and black, you’ll want this issue just for the cover alone. Even though my comic shop is getting this comic for me on the release date, which is October 25, I have a subscription to Afterlife with Archie, so they sent complimentary issues to subscribers since Afterlife is so far behind the production schedule. The cover price of Jughead: The Hunger is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool Comics Done Dirt Cheap

Cool comics in my collection #521: Evolution #1 Ashcan, September 2017.

Scoring comics dirt cheap is always a good thing, and my local comic shop owner was kind enough to give me another Ashcan edition put out by Image Comics. Like Slots from my last blog, Evolution has just a few adult panels that has me not recommending it to young readers. And they probably wouldn’t like it anyway, since there are no capes and masks between these covers. Rather, it’s more of a science fiction story with world-changing ramifications. There are four different writers for Evolution, handling different parts of the story that stretches around the globe. The Ashcan held my attention, and while I won’t be buying this title, it is something I may contemplate picking up somewhere down the round via comiXology. If it lasts, I could imagine HBO or Showtime turning it into an ongoing series. The cover price of Evolution #1 in Ashcan form is free (limited to 1 per store), while the current value is $5.

 

Cool Comics Classics

Cool comics in my collection #522: Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery #78, October 1977.

Anthology comics have their place as alternative forms of reading entertainment, and this cool comics classic fits the atmosphere of a dark October sky perfectly, as we inch closer and closer toward the 31st. Now 40 years old, this issue of Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery features four different stories, written and drawn to give you chills, which is just what you want at this time of year, right? Most of the comics we read today have ongoing characters, and more often than not, ongoing stories, but this comic gives you complete little stories featuring all-new casts of characters! “The Chameleon Creature,” “The Man Who Cried Monster,” “The Stalking Time Bomb,” and “The Microbe War,” all in one issue! What are some of your favorite scary comic books? Be sure and share in the comments section below. The cover price of Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery #78 is 30¢, while the current value is $15.

 

Recently Read Digital Comics

Over the last several months I’ve been buying DC Walmart 3-Packs of comics, most of which have various Rebirth titles. But until recently, I’d never read the comic that introduced it, DC Universe: Rebirth #1. The comiXology version retails for $2.99, not a bad price for an 81-page comic, especially considering its historical importance. But if you’ve been reading this blog long enough, you know I tend to find great deals on digital comics on Amazon. So when the price went down to 99¢, I couldn’t hit the buy button fast enough! The only time I’ve read New 52 titles is when I get those Walmart 3-Packs. Yeah, I didn’t have a great grasp on all of the hows and whys of what took place in this Rebirth special, but I’m glad I did pick it up, especially as we head towards The Doomsday Clock limited series starting next month, which I’ll be buying. In a perfect world in which I have unlimited time and funds, I’d be reading all the Rebirth titles, because from what I’ve experienced, DC is doing a phenomenal job in making comics fun again, and that’s what it’s all about. Or should be. And lastly, never underestimate the importance in today’s world of digital comics. Most of the time they are more affordable and take up so much less living space.

Will Marvel Live Up to Legacy?

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 107, 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 107…

 

Cool Comics News!

When comic book companies have been around for multiple decades, sometimes they need to stir the pot a bit to keep readers reading, or bring back those who felt the ship was sinking. And sometimes the continuity is so convoluted, it just seems like the right thing to do. And sometimes it seems completely unnecessary, and you find yourself scratching your head as to why your favorite heroes are now a little different. We all have our own opinions on which major change worked and which didn’t, from Crisis to Heroes Reborn to the New 52 to Rebirth, and now to Legacy. As constant readers of Cool Comics know, I’ve read a handful of Rebirth titles via Walmart 3-Packs. When this newest DC event started, I wasn’t reading comic books regularly. But I’ve started weekly visits to Kenmore Komics once more, so I’m actually on the ground floor for Marvel’s Legacy, and I’m going to be bringing you my views of the first issue of each one I decide to buy (we’ve been promised 53, including several that are one-shots…I can’t afford to get them all). I hope you enjoy my brand of coverage, and please feel free to leave family friendly comments in the Reply section below.

 

Cool Comics

Cool comics in my collection #509: Generations: Sam Wilson Captain America & Steve Rogers Captain America #1, November 2017.

As a prelude to Legacy, Marvel published Generations, basically 10 One-Shots that featured related heroes, with one character thrown out of time, as a sort of bridge. I hadn’t read Marvel Comics for 14 years (with the exception of a few digital titles, which I just started reading this year), but I’m aware that they’ve fallen out of favor in the minds of many fans, not necessarily due to the stories themselves, per se, but mostly, from what I’ve read (though some will disagree, but I’m just stating what I’ve seen others say), because they’ve been replacing long-time favorite heroes with more diverse characters (some want their heroes to stay as they were created, and some say the same thing, but state there is a place for diverse characters, so just create new ones…and that’s all I’ve got to say about that). Personally, I’ve enjoyed the Generations titles, and especially so this last one, featuring Sam Wilson and Steve Rogers, both who’ve wielded the shield of Captain America. If you buy no other, this is the one to get. It’s different from the other nine titles in a couple ways. First, rather than one character finding themselves at a momentous point in time and then returning after their “mission” is complete, this character ends up living out a lifetime. Second, the other Generations characters are shown at the end of the issue, and we know that Legacy is coming next. This comic would make a great movie, if even a made for TV or Netflix type of movie. I felt it was that good. The cover price of Generations: Sam Wilson Captain America & Steve Rogers Captain America #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5.

 

Cool comics in my collection #510: Marvel Legacy #1, November 2017.

The Marvel Legacy one-shot isn’t a necessity to enjoy the comics that follow, but it does a great job of setting the tone for what is to come from Marvel titles in the future. Oh, it also has a big reveal that doesn’t feel like much of a surprise, since I saw it on the Internet in the days leading up to its publication. For some of you, knowing this reveal will be the driving force behind spending your hard-earned dollars on the title. For others, you might say, “Ho-hum, it’s exactly what I expected.” When it comes to comic books, I like to let out my inner child, so I’m on the team that jumped on my banana seat bike and furiously peddled to the store and handed over my pocket full of change to the guy behind the counter. Yet, with all the change we’ve seen in the Big 2 companies since the Eighties, it’s no wonder so many have become cynical. The prices keep rising, and many fans no longer recognize their childhood heroes. But sometimes we have to look at comic books as if we were twelve years old once more, and see the magic on the page in a different light. For me, this issue does that. The cover price of Marvel Legacy #1 is $5.99, while the current value is $6.

 

Cool comics in my collection #511: Avengers #672, December 2017.

I wonder if anyone is keeping track of how many roster changes The Avengers title has undergone in its 54 years of existence? Fans of the movies who aren’t comic book readers may have no idea of just how many Marvel characters have served in that capacity. Who was on the team when you started reading The Avengers? The first issue I bought was in 1974, #125, and it has Vision, the Scarlet Witch, Captain America, and Thor on the cover, facing off against Thanos. Isn’t that a great introduction to the team? And while the first Legacy issue of Avengers (the idea of going back to “Legacy” numbering might jar some readers, especially as how this current Avengers series goes from #11 to #672) doesn’t quite match up to what 11-year-old me discovered between the pages 43 years ago, the fact that I’ve been away from Marvel for a while allowed me to discover some interesting new things. The lineup consists of Wasp, Thor, Falcon, Vision, Spider-Man, and Hercules. Only Wasp isn’t Janet Van Dyne, she’s Nadia Pym…and Thor is Jane Foster. New readers get even more thrown their way, as the Avengers are teamed up with The Champions. Old guys like me might say, “wait a minute, Hercules is a Champion, so how can he be an Avenger, too?” Only this is an entirely new team of Champions. And what heroes make up that team? Keep reading Cool Comics to find out when that issue becomes part of my collection. Originally, I wasn’t going to get The Champions, but they’ve created a multi-issue crossover with the two titles, hoping to hook readers in. Smart marketing so we could see if we like The Champions, or more reason to be upset with Marvel? I guess it depends on how each reader tends to look at things. The cover price of The Avengers #672 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool comics in my collection #512: Iron Fist #73, December 2017.

Iron Fist is one of the titles I’ve been most looking forward to with this Legacy rebranding, and issue #73 didn’t let me down at all. Though I didn’t mention this above for The Avengers, each of the first Legacy titles ends with three comic book pages of story that gives you some pertinent background for the title. If you’ve watched or are watching Iron Fist on Netflix, then you will notice that there are some differences in the origin, but the show does a nice job capturing the essence of Danny Rand’s origin (Note: Iron Fist seems to be the least favorite of the Netflix Marvel shows. As for me, I think it’s one of the best. I enjoy the background and all the character interactions that are used to set up the action sequences.). When you think of Sabretooth, I would venture to say that most comic book fans think of Wolverine. But Victor Creed’s animalistic alter-ego made his debut in Iron Fist #14 in 1977, so it’s fitting that the first Iron Fist Legacy title features Sabretooth. And you know what else is cool about these Legacy titles? Marvel Value Stamps are back! That’s right, folks, I’m sure you remember back in the Seventies how you whipped out your mother’s scissors and proceeded to mutilate your comic book collections so that you could have those little square pictures of your favorites sitting on your nightstand. The good news is, the Marvel Value Stamps are now on a special insert, so no cutting your comic books. And if you want to leave them in there, a code has been provided to collect them digitally. What will they think of next? The cover price of Iron Fist #73 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool comics in my collection #513: Spirits of Vengeance #1, December 2017.

This comic was strictly an impulse buy. When I looked through Previews a couple months back and carefully selected which comics I wanted my shop to pull for me, Spirits of Vengeance #1 didn’t make the cut. I actually like the characters being featured in this limited series, but I’m trying to be more cash conscious this time around in my weekly buys. And there it sat on the shelf, calling to me with that neat looking lenticular cover that mixed with Giant-Size X-Men #1, a comic most collectors would love to have in their collection. The other Legacy comics in my stack were just the regular cover versions. I picked it up. I put it back down. I looked around at other comics on the shelf. Then I picked it up again and bought it. One thing I quickly found out is that the lenticular covers don’t come with the Marvel Value Stamp, so that piece of nostalgia is missing. The story was okay. Not bad, not great. But again, I like the characters in it. Will I purchase the next four issues? It’s hard to say at this point, so it’s a big “maybe,” for now. The cover price of Spirits of Vengeance #1 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool Comics Done Dirt Cheap

Cool comics in my collection #514: Slots #1 Ashcan, August 2017.

When it comes to Cool Comics Done Dirt Cheap, never look a gift comic in the mouth (or the spines, staples, edges, creases…you get the picture). I started this newer section off by covering a couple issues from a long box I purchased for just $20, full of hundreds of issues. But sometimes we need to step away when other great deals come our way, and in this case, they came in the form of an Ashcan comic book given to me by my local comic shop owner. I haven’t read any Image comics since…well, I may have to go back to the Nineties. Dan Panosian gives us the story of an over-the-hill boxer in Las Vegas, acting as both writer and artist. Panosian was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and since I’m an Ohioan, I have to mention this fact! Anyway, this is not the typical heroes and villains story I usually cover here, but an interesting story nonetheless. Beware that the language isn’t child friendly, but the instances of mature language are slim in this ashcan. The regular first issue is now out, so if you enjoy the variety of stories Image Comics offers, you may want to pick up Slots before it’s gone. The cover price of Slots Ashcan #1 is free (from my understanding, the distribution was one per comic shop, making this somewhat rare, if you like the Ashcan sized comics), while the current value is $6.

 

Cool Comics Classics

Cool comics in my collection #515: The Amazing Spider-Man #344, February 1991.

I think this issue of The Amazing Spider-Man is the newest comic I’ve ever put in the category of Cool Comics Classics. Seriously, 1991 doesn’t seem that distant, does it? It’s almost shocking to think this came out over 26 years ago. I had it stored away with other back issues and recently, when I took it out to read, I discovered that it’s the first appearance of Cletus Kasady, who later becomes Carnage. And even though I’m not a fan of that villain, I like the idea that I have this issue. We also see the first appearance of Cardiac, and Spidey’s old pal Rhino is thrown in just for kicks. And his kicks hurt…a lot! I bought this, along with a handful of other Spider-Man comics, in the mid-Nineties when I’d started my third phase of comic book collecting, and wanted to catch up on Peter Parker and his friends. Sometimes we have small treasures sitting around and we don’t even realize it. Not that this is worth hundreds of dollars, but it does have a little comic book historical significance. The cover price of The Amazing Spider-Man #344 is $1, while the current value is $30.

Aquaman & the Justice League!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 106, 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 106…

 

Cool Comics News!

While this week’s episode features another Walmart DC 3-pack, I can’t ignore the fact that last week Marvel Legacy #1 hit the stands, the comic that’s ushering in original numbering for many Marvel titles, along with featuring the return of a certain character. Want to know more? You better get to your local comic shop before they run out! Another fun item from last week’s new comics is the return of FOOM!, the Marvel fan magazine that stands for “Friends Of Ol’ Marvel, which originally ran from 1973-1979. But alas, before you get too excited and start thinking about another storage box to fill with the fun that FOOM! is, it’s listed inside as a One-Shot. Chalk full of covers, characters, and the latest info on Marvel Legacy, don’t miss the chance to grab this new issue of a blast from the past.

Do you catch the premiere episodes of The Inhumans (ABC) and The Gifted (FOX)? While I liked The Gifted immediately, The Inhumans, much like Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., may take a while to find its feet…although if some rumors I’ve seen are true, the plug may be pulled rather quickly.

 

Cool Comics

Cool comics in my collection #504: Batman and the Justice League: Outbreak #1, July 2017.

Welcome to another DC Walmart 3-Pack issue. You’ve gotta love the way DC markets some of these, tossing in Batman’s name as often as possible. This issue was originally published as Justice League #10. But since Batman’s on the cover, why not put his name there too? Everyone loves Batman and can’t get enough of him, right? Maybe after the Justice League movie comes out in November, this title would sell well enough without the caped crusader’s name taking up the spotlight. Because it’s all about the marketing. How does the story hold up, you ask? Pretty well, in my opinion. This issue is a perfect example of one that works, as far as these variant covers go. You want people to buy your comics on a regular basis, so first you make sure to slap #1 on the cover, then you get Batman’s name in the title, and then half the time the story begins in a way in which the reader feels lost. But this issue avoided that last pitfall, and I can imagine some readers actually deciding to search out Justice League #11, #12, and so on. Good stuff. The cover price of Justice League #10 is $2.99, while the current value of this variant is $5.

 

Cool comics in my collection #505: Infinity Man and the Forever People #3, October 2014.

A couple months ago, I read The Forever People #2, you know, the groovy one from the Seventies. I covered it in Episode 98. And now I find myself with a copy of this New 52 era DC Comic, and these Forever People don’t seem as much fun as the previous comic. Of course there’s a big difference in the way people dressed, acted, and spoke in 1971 compared to 2014. Do I always think the past is better? It probably seems that way to you, since I’m always going on and on about my love for Seventies comics. I love the nostalgic feeling you get when looking at a comic book, toy, or any object from your past. Often, we do nothing but glamorize it without stopping to think about general living conditions of then versus now. Want to watch TV in 1971? Be prepared to turn the dial on that TV, no remote for us in the past. We have to walk across the room and hope that something good is on with our limited clicks. No comic specialty shops, either. Better hope the drug store or mom and pop shop have your monthly dose of heroes in tights. Oh yeah, no buying comics from eBay or other Internet sources. Most of the time the past pales in comparison. But our memories often remain sweet, don’t they? The cover price of Infinity Man and the Forever People is $2.99, while the current value is $3.

 

Cool comics in my collection #506: Red Lanterns #39, April 2015.

Red Lanterns? When did this become a thing? Okay, in 2005. Thanks, internet, I love being able to find this stuff out so quickly! Seriously, though, it’s amazing how many characters have dropped into the world of superheroes and villains once I stopped buying comics every week back in 2003. It’s weird reading a comic when you don’t know the characters, concept, etc. Come on, it’s DC, I should know the basic universe, right? And when I think of lanterns, Hal Jordan, Alan Scott, John Stewart, Kyle Rayner, and Guy Gardner all come to mind. Those are the lanterns I know, and they’re all green. Regardless, though, this was in one of my Walmart DC 3-packs, and I forged ahead and read a pretty entertaining tale. See that baby on the cover? Appearances can be deceiving. He’s not as cute as you think, so beware. The cover price of Red Lanterns #39 is $2.99, and the current value is $3.

 

Cool Comics Done Dirt Cheap

Cool comics in my collection #507: The Green Hornet #2, December 1989.

The Green Hornet, created in 1936, has appeared on the radio, movie serials, television, feature films, and in comic book form. Many people know that Bruce Lee starred as Kato on television, and he and the Green Hornet crossed paths with Batman and Robin. Man, those were the days. But you know what? I’ve never seen an episode of that 1966-1967 Green Hornet TV series. I was pretty young at the time, and while I did watch Batman, much to my regret I missed out on this very cool superhero and his trusty sidekick. Did you ever see the movie Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story? If you haven’t, I think it’s worth watching. There are some scenes of The Green Hornet TV show being filmed. This is just my second comic out of the long box I bought so cheap, and I’ve enjoyed both very much. There may be many of you who aren’t familiar with NOW Comics, but some of their titles are pretty interesting. I felt this comic was well done and I wouldn’t mind reading more in this series. The cover price of The Green Hornet is $1.75, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool Comics Classics

Cool comics in my collection #508: Aquaman #56, March 1971.

For all the thousands of comic books I’ve read and owned in my lifetime, this is just the 18th issue of Aquaman I’ve ever bought. And it’s definitely the oldest. I’ve read other comics in which Aquaman has played a part (variations of Justice League, Brave and the Bold, etc.), but the only time I bought his comic regularly was in the Nineties, when he got the hook. I may have lost some of you there, but you can do a search and find out for yourself. I had issues 0 through 15, and while I enjoyed the story, at different times in my life I would quit reading titles for various reasons, so my collection wasn’t big. And now this is the only Aquaman I own. All the others were sold at my legendary garage sale a few years back (Anyone who was there and participated in my fantastic deals is sure to refer to it as legendary!). So why Aquaman now? Cool Comics Classics is a section I look forward to writing each week, because more often than not, I’m covering books from the Seventies, like this issue, and I LOVE Seventies comics. Also, I want to have classic characters in my collection, so it was about time to add one of his titles. This comic also has an interesting history, as it was the last issue of Aquaman until they restarted the series back up in 1977, and decided to follow the same numbering system. So if you have issue 57, that’s why there is about a six year gap in between. By the way, things aren’t going well in Detroit in this issue. That’s a city not often visited in the comic book world. The cover price of Aquaman #56 is 15¢, while the current value is $45.

 

Recently Read Digital Comics

From out of the pages of The Fantastic Four come The Inhumans! Created long ago by a race of alien beings called the Kree, the Inhumans each have unique abilities, much like mutants in the Marvel Universe. But the Inhumans achieve these powers via a process known as Terrigenesis (if you want to know more about their origins, click HERE.) This issue #1 of The Inhumans, their first series, came out in 1975. If you are watching the new TV show, you may want to grab this one on comiXology so you can learn more about these characters. I downloaded this for free, and hopefully the price is still just as cheap! The original comic is valued at $105, so that’s a substantial savings! Personally, I don’t have much of a background with The Inhumans, so I enjoyed the opportunity to read this on my tablet. With the exception of one Inhuman comic, I only have experience with the Inhumans when they’ve guest-starred in other titles. The art is by George Perez, and Doug Moench did the writing, so you know you’re going to enjoy it.

The Joy of Finding “That” Issue!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 105, 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 105…

 

Cool Comics News!

Welcome to Episode 105, which sees the launch of my new section, Cool Comics Done Dirt Cheap. If you’re a buyer/reader of comic books, most likely you enjoy getting bargains now and then. Sometimes you can find collections at remarkably discounted prices at stores like Books-A-Million, but most of the time you’ve probably acquired your best deals at garage sales and at your local comic shop, perhaps by flipping through quarter or 50¢ boxes. At the end of last year, I bought a long box filled with 419 comics from my local comic shop and talked about it right here at Cool Comics. The best part, I paid just $20, making the cost of each comic book about $0.0477. So that’s where I’m starting with Cool Comics Done Dirt Cheap. Each week that I include this section I’ll be pulling an issue from the long box, reading it, and giving you my impressions (I don’t really do reviews here, as readers know). There are over 90 titles in the box that aren’t from the “Big Two” companies, so Cool Comics will be seeing a little more variety. Enjoy!

 

Cool Comics

Cool comics in my collection #499: Doctor Strange #12, December 2016.

The first three cool comics here are from the last Marvel 3-Pack I bought at Walmart. This issue was showing through the plastic wrap, but you couldn’t tell what else you were getting, much like the DC 3-Packs. But instead of costing just $5 like the DC comics, this pack cost almost $10. Nearly twice the price, which isn’t as fan friendly. Granted, it was still cheaper than the cover prices added together of the three issues, but how many parents are going to pick this up for their kids? It didn’t seem to capture the spirit of saving money by shopping at Walmart. As for this issue? I’d previously read the first two collections of this Doctor Strange series, which covered issues 1-10, so I understood what’s been going on. However, whereas I really enjoyed the first 5 issues of this Doctor Strange series, I didn’t care much for issues 6 through 10. So is issue 12 any better? Maybe. A storyline is being set-up for subsequent issues, but I’d have to read more to really have an opinion on the direction of the series. At this point, I prefer the Doctor Strange stories from several decades past, but you know me…I usually prefer comics to be old, sort of like me. The cover price of Doctor Strange #12 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool comics in my collection #500: Secret Wars #6, December 2015.

It feels like I’m time traveling through this 2015 Secret War series, because I’d already read issue 7 from a previous Walmart 3-pack I’d opened and read, and now here’s issue 6! It’s difficult enough to miss the first several issues of a mini-series, but when you end up reading them backwards, that’s a whole other set of troubles. Although I think I appreciate this series a bit more now that I’ve read this issue. There are still lots of holes for me, but that will be taken care of sometime in the future, because now I own the series in digital format. Just like the first Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars and the spawned sequel of it, I wasn’t collecting new issues when this came out, so I’m late to the game. I remember searching back issue boxes in the Nineties, always hopeful to find another Secret Wars issue I needed from the Eighties series, and finally getting them all. Then I was able to read the series in order. Sanity. Unlike today. An interesting side note: on the cover, this issue has “#6 of 8,” while on my other issue in this series, it says “#7 of 9.” They did put out 9 issues, so they must have decided they couldn’t finish the series in 8 issues. Complete havoc! The cover price of Secret Wars #6 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool comics in my collection #501: The Mighty Thor #1, January 2016.

The last comic in the Marvel Walmart 3-Pack was The Mighty Thor #1. I’m a longtime fan of the character, and only Spider-Man beats him out for number of issues in my collection. Why do I like him so much? I’m not sure if there’s a particular reason, but we readers always recognize when something resonates with us, and when it does, we want more. Even though I’ve been out of the weekly comic buying game since 2003, I knew Thor was now a female. Or at least there was a female version of him. It didn’t surprise me, because when a character has been around for many decades, sometimes creators try different things. Sort of like Beta Ray Bill and Thunderstrike, and a few others who’ve filled in for the Odinson. Some of the changes Marvel has made over the last few years have driven readers away. I’ve read very few of these issues, as my focus has been on mostly 20th Century comics. Regardless of the reasons behind Marvel’s decisions, none of it has affected me one way or another. I read what I want to read, and if I don’t like something, I’ll quit reading it. That’s about as political as you’ll find me here, because when it comes to buying, reading, and collecting comics, the fun factor is what matters to me. What did I think of this issue, you ask? I thought it was well done, thought provoking, and a little sad, based on Jane Foster’s condition (my wife went through a horrific battle with cancer 18 years ago, so yes, some of the panels affected me in a personal way). The cover price of The Mighty Thor #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5.

 

Cool Comics Done Dirt Cheap

Cool comics in my collection #502: Judge Dredd #10, September 2016.

I’m excited to start this new section in my blog on comics that I picked up dirt cheap, especially considering the long history of this iconic character. Did you know that this year marks the 40th anniversary of the creation of Judge Dredd? And yet I know so little about him. I think I saw part of the Sylvester Stallone movie once, when I was flipping through channels, but I never set out to watch it. He’s a British creation, and obviously quite popular, but I didn’t read his comics. I looked him up on comicbookrealm.com and was surprised to see the number of series he’s been in, not to mention how many different comic book companies have published Judge Dredd. This issue comes from a newer series put out by IDW, a comic book company that frequently produces comics from licensed properties such as Star Trek, Transformers, Ghostbusters, and even My Little Pony. There is definitely a place for these comics, and while it’s difficult for them to get near the top, where DC, Marvel, and Image typically reign, if they find the right fanbase, they can last for a while. I was fascinated with this Judge Dredd comic, and I can see myself reading more in the future. The cover price of Judge Dredd #10 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool Comics Classics

Cool comics in my collection #503: The Spectacular Spider-Man #1, December 1976.

Do you remember a couple weeks ago how I was lamenting the fact that I neglected to purchase The Spectacular Spider-Man #1 when it showed up at the newsstands and on drugstores racks at the end of 1976? Now get this, I recently walked into my local comic book shop, flipped through some back issues, and there it was, not a pristine issue like they have under the glass counter, but a number one issue all the same. Some creases in the spine didn’t prevent me from making this purchase. All collectors appreciate old comics that look brand new, but not all of us have the money to shell out for them. I’m quite happy with the purchase I made. It would have been really cool to have bought it in 1976 for just 30¢, but now part of the fun for me is finding these gems from my childhood. The cover price of The Spectacular Spider-Man #1 is 30¢, while the current value is $90.

 

Recently Read Digital Comics

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If you’re a reader of digital comics, it certainly pays to take a look at the current sales comiXology is offering. Last week I discovered they had the Batman: The Long Halloween collected edition, featuring all 13 issues, for just $5.99. I just so happened to have some Amazon credits, so I bought it through them (they own comiXology, and your digital comic purchases through Amazon can be read in the comiXology app). This was another much-talked about series that I’d never read, so it was a great way to get it without breaking the bank. Written by Jeph Loeb and drawn by Tim Sale, this series is Batman noir all the way, with crime families, a mystery killer referred to as Holiday, and plenty of other characters from the Batman family. While I’ve read plenty of comics featuring Bruce Wayne and his alter ego, Batman’s never been in my top list of must-buy superhero comic books. But I couldn’t put my tablet down for long once I’d started The Long Halloween, and I finished reading it in less than three days. It had the perfect balance of word and art, and the darker colors greatly captured the mood. If you’ve never read Batman: The Long Halloween, I strongly recommend it.

Two Years of Cool Comics!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 104, 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 104…

 

Cool Comics News!

This Episode marks my two-year anniversary of publishing this blog. Every Thursday I try to bring you interesting tidbits—quite often with a nostalgic feel—about comic books in my collection. I’ve also invited you to guest blog here, and four of you have taken me up on it. I appreciate the opportunity to see what others have to say, and hope you also enjoyed those guest posts. I do this out of love for the hobby. It’s always fun to have some books worth a lot of money, but for me, the joy of reading them eclipses value. As we head into year three, I’m just starting to collect newly issued comic books…again. Phase four, I call it. If you have any requests, thoughts, ideas, or want to guest blog, please don’t hesitate to let me know. You can post in the comments below, or contact me at the email address in the section above.

During year two, Cool Comics added a few new sections: Cool Comics News!, Recently Read Digital Comics, and Cool Comics Classics. Next week, as Cool Comics begins year 3, I’ll be unveiling the newest section of Cool Comics in My Collection.

 

Cool Comics

Cool comics in my collection #494: Justice League vs. Suicide Squad #1, July 2017.

Justice League vs. Suicide Squad? Who doesn’t want to read this?! Another cool comic in my collection, another Walmart DC 3-pack variant cover. Are you the type of collector who sometimes wants to have all cover variants for a certain series or issue? Rest assured, from what I’ve seen, you can still pick this one up at your local Walmart. But what about the other 37 covers? Gulp…you mean there are 38 different covers for issue 1 of this series? According to the entry at comicbookrealm.com for this comic, yes. The original, a second printing, this Walmart variant, and 35 other covers. Happy hunting! Seriously, I wonder just how many people would be able to get all of these covers? The different covers add up to over $200 (and some don’t even have prices associated with them at this point), so it wouldn’t be cheap, and then you have to find people who are willing to sell. Ebay? Message boards? Reddit? Facebook groups? Your local comic shop? While this isn’t a challenge I would try to accomplish, if any of you have ever tried anything like this before, whether you’ve succeeded or failed, let us know in the comments section below. With a few details, if you will. The cover price of Justice League vs. Suicide Squad #1 is $3.99, while the current value of this variant is $5.

 

Cool comics in my collection #495: The New 52: Futures End #22, December 2014.

A couple weeks ago here at Cool Comics, I was excited about having read a Justice League Dark issue from my Walmart 3-pack because it had the Frankenstein Monster in it. While I’m familiar with Marvel’s version of the monster, and have a few issues of the Seventies solo series, as far as I can remember, I’d never previously read a DC Comic that had the monster. And now, in The New 52: Futures End #22, the Frankenstein Monster pops up yet again! A quick Internet search led me to find out that DC introduced the character in Detective Comics #135 in 1948. Apparently, he wasn’t used much, and during my DC reading periods, the character was absent. After Phase three of my comic collecting days ended in 2003, he started showing up more often. While this is old news to those of you in the know, it’s fresh and exciting to me. I have a love for the old Universal Monsters, along with any literature from which they came. I’ll have to try to hunt up some of these issues with the monster when I’m looking through back issues. The cover price of The New 52: Futures End #22 is $2.99, while the current value is $3.

 

Cool comics in my collection #496: Grayson #4, January 2015.

As I’ve said here a few times, the Walmart DC 3-Packs have been a lot of fun, giving me an opportunity to sample some of The New 52 titles, since I wasn’t actively buying comics during that period. Over the last few years, I’ve heard some people grumble about it, and some people who showered love on it. And while I’ve read mostly Marvel comics throughout my collecting periods, I’ll throw in that I’ve enjoyed the majority of The New 52 titles I’ve gotten. I never saw or looked for a list of what DC offered during that time, and now, when I open these discounted 3-packs, it’s always fun to see what’s in them. So when I saw this comic, Grayson #4, it was a complete surprise. Nightwing would have made more sense, I initially thought, but then with a little research I saw that there was a Nightwing series, and after they ended the run, DC had Dick Grayson star in a title with his own name, doing things a little differently this time around. So former teen sidekick Robin, who became his own man in Nightwing, has now morphed into a veritable James Bond. Kind of cool, especially if you love Batman and all its comic book offshoots. The cover price of Grayson #4 is $2.99, while the current value is $3.

 

Cool comics in my collection #497: Dark Nights: Metal #2, November 2017.

In Episode 102 of Cool Comics, Dark Nights: Metal #1 was featured in the blog as Cool Comics #488. I asked readers if I should stay with it or call it quits. The series is spread out over many different titles, and as one reader told me, the build-up has been a longtime coming, and it would be very helpful if I read some titles from the last few years. Unfortunately, there was no way I could make up that kind of ground before issue #2 came out. And even though I won’t understand much of what’s going on, I decided to forge ahead and continue with this limited series, and I’m really glad I did, because issue 2 was definitely worth the price of admission! The pace is rapid and you barely have time to breath from panel to panel, from page to page, and once you reach the end, you’ll find yourself screaming that issue 3 is still a month away. Yes, I certainly made the right decision! The cover price of Dark Nights: Metal #2 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool Comics Classics

Cool comics in my collection #498: House of Secrets #129, March 1975.

This is another one of those “scary” DC comics I happened to purchase at The Paradox Bookstore (a used bookstore) in Wheeling, WV, for just a dime back in the Seventies. I was fortunate enough (or maybe smart enough?) to buy three issues of this title. Probably what I should have done was convince my mother to buy every comic the owner, Tom, was selling for a mere 10¢ each. It was there that I got my copy of The Amazing Spider-Man #121 (the death of Gwen Stacy), along with some other really cool comics. Can you imagine walking into a store and finding all these Sixties and Seventies Marvel and DC titles for just a dime each? A dream come true! And while I can’t recall buying any DC superhero comics there, just titles like House of Secrets, House of Mystery, and Strange Adventures, I’m really glad to have them. They are a part of my past. The cover price of House of Secrets #129 is 25¢, while the current value is $20.

 

Recently Read Digital Comics

Runaways started back in the summer of 2003, just a few months before my third phase of collecting came to an end, so I didn’t bother with this new title (Argh! It’s currently valued at $60, so why didn’t I buy it then?). And now that these kids are about to have a streaming series on Hulu (November 21), I thought it was time to find out what the comic is all about. Especially since I was able to get the first issue free via comiXology, which is always a good thing. Runaways features a bunch of kids from different families whose parents get together annually and meet in secret while their kids hang out together. They don’t know each other well, because it’s only once a year. But this time, they decide to find out what the parents are actually doing, and they go through a secret room, look through a two-way mirror, and their lives will never be the same again! Brian K. Vaughan (Y-The Last Man) is the writer, and he certainly has a way of making the buildup to the big reveal keep your interest, despite the fact that not much goes on until the dramatic finale. And yes, after what the kids witness, the title of the comic makes sense.

Brother Voodoo is One Cool Character!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 103, 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 103…

 

Cool Comics News!

Though I told myself I was going to get some newer comic book titles starting with the Generations comics from Marvel, and then Marvel Legacy, I cheated a little and bought four titles a little early. They all had new #1 issues (although Legacy will change this as they go back to original numbering), which typically make great jumping on points. Last month I covered the first three issues of Defenders, to coincide with the Netflix series, and the other three titles are all below, as this week’s cool comics.

 

Cool Comics

Cool comics in my collection #490: Cable #1, July 2017.

When I started my third phase of comic book collecting in 1993, a newer character was on the scene, and he was pretty popular. I quickly got up to speed on Cable, buying some back issues of a Cable mini-series and early X-Force comics, and some of the late issues of New Mutants that he appeared in. I loved the concept of a superhero born in our time, sent to the future to save his life, and now back in our time, only much older than his own parents. When I saw the first couple issues at Kenmore Komics, I decided to give the new series a try, and I’m really glad I did. The writer and artist (James Robinson and Carlos Pacheco) are familiar names, as I’ve read some of the comics they were involved with back in the Nineties. The story through the first four issues is pretty good, with some jumps through various timelines. Lots of the story is told through the art, so don’t expect an overload of dialog. If you like Cable, this comic is definitely for you. The cover price of Cable #1 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool comics in my collection #491: Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #1, August 2017.

I made a big mistake toward the end of 1976 by not purchasing The Spectacular Spider-Man #1. The cover with the Tarantula is dynamic, and the price was only 30¢. Today it can cost up to $100 to buy it, depending on condition. Oh, I did wise up the next month and bought the second issue, but since I was already getting The Amazing Spider-Man and the occasional Marvel Team-Up with Spidey, I wanted to spend some of my newspaper delivery boy money on some other characters. But I didn’t make the same mistake this time around when I saw Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #1. Okay, it’s not the same, and I will be getting The Amazing Spider-Man title, once Legacy starts in October. But it was a ton of fun seeing this fresh start and view of a character I have lots of history with, and this series has the Human Torch in it, to boot! Spider-Man has gone through a lot of ups and downs and changes over the years, and while I don’t always agree with these editorial decisions, the first three issues of this comic have been fun to read. The cover price of Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5.

 

Cool comics in my collection #492: Astonishing X-Men #1, September 2017.

When I started collecting comic books, once again, in 1993, I noticed that there were now a number of different X-Men-based titles. In the Seventies, I hadn’t bought a single issue, but for my brief period of comic buying in college in 1982, I did get Uncanny X-Men comics. My interest in the X-Men definitely grew when a cartoon series came out in 1992. I learned much about new and old characters, and I started buying all the different X-titles. Let’s see, there was X-Men, Uncanny X-Men, Excalibur, X-Force, X-Factor, Wolverine, Cable, and a ton of one-shots and mini-series. I may have listed these here on the blog before, but it was crazy how many titles came out each month related to Professor Charles Xavier and crew. As a reader and fan, it was great understanding what was going on, and once you got sucked in, you never wanted to leave! But now that I’m back to getting some monthly comics, the only team X-book I’ll be getting in the foreseeable future is Astonishing X-Men. The cool part of the new series so far is that the villain is the Shadow King, Amahl Farouk, who plays a big part in season one of Legion (which is perhaps the best of all of the comic book superhero TV shows…but it’s a little trippy, so I can understand if some people don’t like it). This ongoing title has some of the most popular X-Men characters, and if the first 3 issues are any indication, readers have a lot to look forward to. The cover price of Astonishing X-Men #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5.

 

Cool Comics Classics

Cool comics in my collection #493: Strange Tales #171, December 1973

A few weeks ago, I was in my local comic shop, flipping through some back issue boxes, and found this issue of Strange Tales, featuring Brother Voodoo. I couldn’t resist it and had to purchase this gem from the Seventies, my favorite time period of comic books. Marvel used to put out some really fun anthology style comics, and this is further proof of that. I think I own just one comic with Brother Voodoo from back in those days, a Marvel Team-Up with Spider-Man in it. And after reading this issue, there is no doubt my cool comics need more Brother Voodoo. As much as I now love the older monster comics that I didn’t purchase as a kid, I really like the monster hunters, and Brother Voodoo is one of the best! A couple weeks ago I’d planned on using this comic as my Cool Comics Classic for this episode, which turns out to be a fitting tribute to the writer, Len Wein, who recently passed away. Len created some of the greatest comic book characters, and if you don’t know much about him, check out his Wikipedia page. He was a major contributor to many of our childhood memories and will never be forgotten. The cover price of Strange Tales #171 is 20¢, while the current value is $30.

 

Recently Read Digital Comics

There are probably many of you out there who remember each issue of Crisis on Infinite Earths as they were released from April 1985 to March 1986. I’m not one of them. So when I started collecting in the Nineties, and reading comic book magazines such as Wizard, it didn’t take long to learn about this important, character changing series from DC Comics. With decades of stories crossing multiple Earths and various versions of heroes and villains, DC decided it was time to start fresh, and they shocked the comic book world with some of their decisions. Of course, we all know that in the world of comic books, characters are easier to resurrect than Dracula at a blood bank, but I do tend to go for dramatic flair every once in a while. So while I was living and buying comics in Atlanta, Georgia, one of my goals was to find all 12 issues. It wasn’t very hard, especially since not much time had passed. As I was flipping through the comics I own via comiXology, I decided to re-read issue 1 of this series (got it for free, so why not?), and it took me back in time to a sweet spot in my memories. And that’s always cool.

Dark Nights: Metal Features DC Heavy Hitters

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 102, 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 102…

 

Cool Comics News!

Can you believe it’s been an entire month since I last tore open a DC Comics 3-pack from Walmart? This puts me halfway through the newest collection currently appearing at your local Walmart. So far, they’ve been distributing them in sets of 8, with each 3-pack selling for just $5, which is a pretty decent price, considering what the original cover prices add up to for each pack.

 

Cool Comics

Cool comics in my collection #485: Batman: Night of the Monster Men #1, July 2017.

DC loves to promote the caped crusader, and I understand why so many of the Walmart 3-Packs contain Batman issues. But for the life of me, why would they do the variants from Rebirth out of order? Granted, most comics have short arcs that contain a certain amount of issues, and these variants are a great promotional gimmick to get new readers, but at the same time, we aren’t stupid, and we like to read our comics as sequentially as possible. So what in the world am I talking about? In a previously released batch of Walmart DC 3-Packs, one of the Rebirth variants packed on top was Batman #9 (although they’ve been renumbering them all as #1). This story, Night of the Monster Men, was really issue #7. Why? I don’t know if anyone has the answer, but if I could ask the marketing people at DC behind these decisions, that’s what I’d ask. At any rate, this contained some Bat people I’m not familiar with, and a big-headed, strange enemy who may just pop up in one of my nightmares sometime. It was pretty gross. The cover price of Batman #7 is $2.99, while the current value of this variant is $5.

 

Cool comics in my collection #486: Justice League Dark #36, January 2015.

This cover is pretty bizarre, even by comic book standards. I mean, it’s hard to tell what’s going on, and frankly, with a title like Justice League Dark, just who are the good guys? Typically, I like good guys good, and bad guys bad. Yet I really enjoyed the Suicide Squad movie, so I try to keep an open mind. And oh yeah…this has a vampire, the Frankenstein monster, and Swamp Thing. So that settles that, as I’m a sucker for monsters. Especially the Frankenstein monster. Have you ever read any of the Dean Koontz novels featuring him? I’ve just read the first one so far, and if you have preconceived notions of Boris Karloff staggering around in those extra-large Herman Munster boots, Koontz gives us a different look at the monster, one that would make Mary Shelley proud. Anyway, back to Justice League Dark. These anti-heroes are stuck on a small piece of what appears to be all that’s left of the Earth. And we go from there. I liked it, even though I didn’t know what came before. That’s part of the fun of these Walmart 3-packs. I’m reading titles I’ve never explored (especially lots of New 52 comics) and discovering some good ones. Being that I hadn’t bought any new DC titles since 2003, each issue is a new realm for me, and it’s been a lot of fun. The cover price of Justice League Dark #36 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool comics in my collection #487: The New 52: Futures End #13, September 2014.

I’ve covered a few Futures End titles here in cool comics, but each of them seemed to go with a specific ongoing series. I hadn’t realized Futures End also had its own ongoing series that ran 48 issues. This particular issue features Batman Beyond, Big Barda, and Emiko. I believe this is the first comic I’ve read with Batman Beyond, although I’m familiar with him. Emiko was completely new to me, being that she had her first appearance a decade after I’d gone cold turkey on comic books. With these factors in mind, and considering that all the Futures End titles take place five years in the future from when they were written, and factoring in that this is issue 13 and I missed a bunch of what happened previously, it was a decent read. If you’re a fan of the New 52, or wonder if it’s still relevant after Rebirth, perhaps the answer lies somewhere outside the “52” multiverses. Which takes us to Dark Nights: Metal #1, directly below. The cover price of The New 52: Futures End #13 is $2.99, while the current value is $3.

 

Cool comics in my collection #488: Dark Nights: Metal #1, October 2017.

As a kid in the Seventies, I cut my teeth on mostly Marvel Comics. When it was time to ride my bike to Slicks (a little newsstand/party store/candy haven) in search of new issues to buy, Marvel titles were the ongoing comics I bought, most of the time. Most of my DC Comics from those days came from either the drug store where my father worked, when they got in the 100-page issues, or over in Wheeling, WV, at The Paradox Bookstore, a used bookstore that sold older comic books for just a dime apiece. I picked up some cool Strange Adventures and House of Mystery comics, along with other DC Comics that typically frightened me just a little. It wasn’t until the early Eighties that I gave DC a serious look, and that collecting period was short-lived. Then, from 1993 until 2003, I read lots of different titles, and while I enjoyed a variety of DC Comics, most of my monthly buys were Marvel. So now that I’m buying some new comics once more, I decided to pick up this limited series. When I first got it, I didn’t realize it was crossing over into so many different ongoing titles, which I’m not going to buy. So the question is, is it worth it to read the six issues alone? I know I’ll miss out on some of what’s going on (that’s typically the case with these kinds of mini-series), but I’m limiting how many ongoing titles I buy each month. I did some digging around on the Internet to learn a little about it, and how it ties in with the idea of 52 multiverses, a Dark Multiverse (isn’t that always lovely?), and how the series is very Batman-centric, along with DC’s other famous heavy hitters. But there’s a cost factor ($…BINGO), and the first issue was $4.99, and I’m guessing the final 5 will also cost the same. Does anyone out there have advice? Does anyone believe this series will be worth it, both from a reading and DC historical factor? Feel free to chime in via the comments section below. The cover price of Dark Nights: Metal #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5.

 

Cool Comics Classics

Cool comics in my collection #489: World’s Finest Comics #158, June 1966.

This cool comics classic dates pretty far back in time, and I was just a wee lad of 3, going on 4, when it appeared at your local newsstand. As you can see from the cover, Superman and Batman appear to be outclassed by this giant, and that’s because they are in a bottled city. Not Kandor, but there are three other Kryptonian bottled cities in this issue, and things would have been fine if only Robin and Jimmy Olsen had left well enough alone. But they found these tiny cities and couldn’t resist shrinking themselves and going for a visit. When Superman and Batman discover the shrinking machine has been used, they realize their best course of action is to do the same, and save the youngsters. But there’s a problem. Superman’s powers don’t work in any of them, due to the colors of the artificial sun in each. Will they survive? No spoilers here, lol! This issue also comes with some short stories, such as Super-Turtle and Roy Raymond TV Detective. As always in older comics, I give each advertisement a good look, because so much of the fun comes from there! The cover price of World’s Finest Comics #158 is 12¢, while the current value is $90.

 

Recently Read Digital Comics

One of the earlier collections I read on the comiXology app was Doctor Strange, Volume 1: The Way of the Weird. I really liked it and bought Doctor Strange, Volume 2, The Last Days of Magic, when it was on sale via Amazon. This collection covers issues #6-10 of the series that started in 2015, along with the single issue Doctor Strange: Last Days of Magic comic. These issues concern a group of aliens called the Empirikul, and they are out to destroy all magic in every dimension. While it had some interesting ideas and plotlines, it didn’t grab me the way the first volume did. I don’t mind having spent the money and taking the time to read it, but this is definitely one of those cases in which I’m glad I bought the digital version, since I am often able to buy them for a fraction of the price of the original issues and trades.

A few months back I mentioned the Prime Reading program that Amazon now has for Prime members. Besides books and magazines, single comic books and collections are also available to read as part of your Prime membership. It’s a really nice deal, and worth taking a look at every month or so to see what the current offerings happen to be. My advice is, if you happen to see some comics on there you want to read, download them, even if you won’t get to them for a while (you can have up to 10 at a time), because you never know if they might switch out some issues. I finally got around to watching Jessica Jones on Netflix, so I jumped on the opportunity to read the first 9 issues of Alias, collected as Jessica Jones: Alias Vol. 1, and the comparison was quite interesting. It’s a Max title, and as you may know, they are definitely on the more mature side. Really, Marvel doesn’t need to go there, because if you put out a good story, you can keep it cleaner. And the comic version was much cleaner than the Netflix show. I think if you remove about a minute and a half from the Netflix series, it would have a wider audience. The stuff they put in that keeps the kids from seeing it, and many adults, too, is so unnecessary, but that’s just my opinion. I like my stories and superheroes more on the clean-cut side.

My wife and I had a little getaway to Millersburg, Ohio, this past Labor Day weekend (a continuance of our 30th Anniversary celebration), and I didn’t want to pack up any comics, so I just took my tablet with me. This is one of the reasons I love digital comics. I had dozens at my fingertips on one device. After shopping and eating, eating and shopping, I kicked back in bed and finished the Jessica Jones: Alias collection while Melissa watched a movie. It was getting late on the last night there, so I wanted something shorter, and I just so happened to have Daredevil #1 on my tablet, which is a nice companion piece to the Netflix series (I’m closing in on being halfway through season 2). It’s been years since I read his origin story (Son of Origins of Marvel Comics…back in the Seventies!), and in my retro mind, it still holds up quite well.

NEO Comic Con Special Edition!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 101, 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 101…

 

Cool Comics News!

On August 20, my wife (Melissa) and I attended the third annual NEO (Northeast Ohio) Comic Con, in North Olmstead, Ohio. While there were lots of vendor tables full of comics, many dealers also had original works of art, crafty things they’d created, and lots of other collectibles such as Funko Pops! (Melissa scored two she wanted immediately after we got our wristbands).

Some of the stuff I really enjoyed seeing were items from my childhood, such as Topps Planet of the Apes trading cards and a Lite-Brite in the original box! It was like taking a ride in the TARDIS and visiting my childhood years (I look a little wibbly wobbly in the picture, don’t I?). There were all kinds of toys and action figures galore, from current times to several decades old. It was definitely a cool place to be for a person like me!

As a comic book lover, I probably could have spent hours doing nothing but searching through back issue boxes, but that isn’t fair to Melissa (along with another couple we met up with there), so I set my goal on finding one particular comic book: The Champions #2 from 1976. Faithful readers know of my love affair with Seventies comic books, and some of you may know that I owned 16 of the 17 issues from this short-lived series. So when you have a particular item in mind, it makes sifting through the dealer boxes a little easier. The first couple dealers I stopped at had some issues of The Champions, and while my heart started beating a little faster, once again that sneaky #2 was nowhere to be found. But within 15 minutes of walking in, I finally pulled that beauty out of a dealer’s box, prepared to pay the price he wanted, and he actually gave me a bit of a discount. Score! That’s all I needed to make my month. And with that said, all the Cool Comics listed below came from NEO Comic Con.

The atmosphere at NEO Comic Con was fun, especially if you enjoy seeing people walking around in costumes of comic book characters. And while they had a cosplay event and several different panels with guests, I wasn’t able to fit them in that day. I’ve included a few pictures here that you can see of the crowd and a couple attendees in costume. Also, they had photo opportunities with props or people dressed as characters, with money often going towards charities. You can see Melissa when she used to wield a lightsaber with the best of them, and with her childhood hero, Captain Kangaroo!

NEO Comic Con had some fantastic guests, including Kevin Nowlan, Bob Hall, Tony Isabella, Marc Sumerak, Aaron Archer, Don Simpson, Darryl Banks, Matt Horak, and many more. For a full list please click here.

Many comic book fans are familiar with the Seventies character Black Lightning from DC Comics, and some are aware that The CW is giving him a TV show to be launched in 2018. I’m not sure what kind of a tie-in it may have with Arrow, Flash, Supergirl, and Legends of Tomorrow, but I’m excited about it. And for those who may not know, Tony Isabella is the creator of the character (he also created The Champions and wrote that #2 issue I’m so excited about finding!). This was the first time I ever met Tony, and he was very personable and a blast to talk with for the few moments I held up the line of people standing behind me! Tony has recently put out the first volume of a book about how he is collecting every comic book issued in July of 1963 (and yes, I bought it and had Tony sign it!). It may be awhile before I get around to reading it, due to a big stack of books I’m in the middle of, but once I read it, I’ll let you know what I think. If you are interested in the book, just click on the title: July 1963: A Pivotal Month in the Comic Book Life of Tony Isabella, Volume One, by Tony Isabella.

NEO Comic Con was a great success, from my perspective. The venue was good, albeit crowded at times, and the only downside was parking proved difficult for some attendees. Shawn Belles, the creator and organizer of NEO Comic Con, is to be commended, and I look forward to attending again in the future!

 

Cool Comics

Cool comics in my collection #482: Octo Skull #1, September 2016.

As an Indie author, I understand the importance of building an audience, and when you’ve created something new and different, something that doesn’t have a major company logo on the cover, it can be a hard sell. But sometimes you’re considered the coolest kid on the block, because you’re a trend-setter in discovering the next big thing. And while I have no idea if Octo Skull will become a “next big thing,” I’m really glad I own a copy of it. Signed by Matt Horak. Let the jealousy begin. For those who may not be familiar with the name, Matt Horak is an artist who has recently penciled The Punisher for Marvel. But he also works for EarthQuaker Devices, a local company that makes effects pedals, and the Octo Skull comic is based somewhat on these concepts. I’m not going to pretend that I understand the effects pedals part of it, but I can tell you that the art and story were good, and left me wanting to read more. Only there isn’t more, yet, from what I can tell. You can check out Matt’s bio information using the link in the section above. The cover price of Octo Skull #1 is $2.99, while the current value is $3.

 

Cool comics in my collection #483: Apama The Undiscovered Animal Volume 1, February 2015.

You never know who or what you might run into when attending a comic con. Sometimes you find a new creator with some comics that you like, and sometimes you are fortunate enough to find a creator with comics that you love! Because I’d been focusing on older comics on my blog for the last couple years, and I’d basically been out of the game of buying new ones, I’d never heard of Apama or one of his creative team members, Ted Sikora. Ted had a nice exhibit at NEO Comic Con, with all kinds of Apama art, comics, and other cool stuff. As I was approaching him, I heard him telling another attendee a little about the Apama comics, how the story takes place in the greater Cleveland area, even using West Side Market in one of the stories. It intrigued me, and after a brief discussion, I told him I’d be back later. Often people use that as an excuse to get away, but I really did intend on going back before I left, and wow am I glad I did! Along with getting an autographed copy, I really enjoyed a few more minutes of getting to talk with Ted. The Apama comics are visually appealing, especially to someone who loves that Seventies look, with great use of color and backgrounds that include real places in the Cleveland area. The writing helps move the story forward, while at the same time giving you an opportunity to get to know the characters. The first trade paperback contains 5 full comics worth, along with plenty of background material to keep fans interested. I’ll definitely be buying the second volume, as Apama is now one of my favorite series. The cover price of Apama The Undiscovered Animal Volume 1 is $19.99, while the current value is $20.

 

Cool Comics Classics

Cool comics in my collection #484: The Champions #2, January 1976.

Our Cool Comics Classic this week is none other than The Champions #2, the one comic I had on my “must find” list for NEO Comic Con. Doesn’t it feel good to complete something? It’s an accomplishment, and I’m so glad I was able to finish up my run of The Champions from the Seventies. I’ve now read every issue, albeit not in numerical order, but that’s okay with me. The Champions is an eclectic mix of characters, including Hercules, the Black Widow, Ghost Rider, Angel, and Iceman. One of the things I most like to collect now are short runs of comics from the Seventies that aren’t too difficult to complete (both in finding the comics and in the money I need to spend to finish the series). While I like getting good buys on comics in nice condition, sometimes quality takes a back seat, because in the end, I want to complete that set and read the comics. This search for The Champions #2 took a little over a year, reminding me of how long I looked for Ms. Marvel #9, until my daughter’s boyfriend was able to find one and gave me a spectacular gift! Do you have any particular collecting goals? I’d love to hear about them in the comments section below. The cover price of The Champions #2 is 25¢, while the current value is $20.

Celebrating 100 Episodes!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 100, where we take a nostalgic look at comic books I currently own, and in some sad cases, ones that I let get away.

For each of the comic books I include in this blog, 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 100…

 

Cool Comics News!

Welcome to Episode 100! I’m celebrating this special landmark in the history of Cool Comics by focusing on new Marvel titles and older DC comics. Lately I’ve featured many newer DC issues via the Walmart 3-Packs, but I’ve barely cracked open any Marvel comics since 2003. Now, as constant readers know, I’m starting to get some regular monthly comics once more, and the 10-issue Generations series is a good place to start to re-introduce me back into the fold.

Also, I visited NEO Comic Con this past weekend and had a blast! Look for a special edition of Cool Comics coming next week that will give you the scoop on the con, including a few pictures, along with some of the items I picked up there.Welcome to Episode 100! I’m celebrating this special landmark in the history of Cool Comics by focusing on new Marvel titles and older DC comics. Lately I’ve featured many newer DC issues via the Walmart 3-Packs, but I’ve barely cracked open any Marvel comics since 2003. Now, as constant readers know, I’m starting to get some regular monthly comics once more, and the 10-issue Generations series is a good place to start to re-introduce me back into the fold.

 

Cool Comics

Cool comics in my collection #477: Generations: Banner Hulk & The Totally Awesome Hulk #1, October 2017.

For someone who’s starting to read new comics again, this series has turned out to be a good jumping on point, especially with Marvel Legacy on the horizon (don’t worry, frantic friends, Cool Comics will definitely be chiming in on this momentous relaunch!). I’ve been reading Hulk comics on and off again since the early Seventies, and this issue was definitely fun, giving me an opportunity to learn about the Amadeus Cho Hulk, but having enough Bruce Banner Hulk to satisfy my thirst for nostalgia. Speaking of which, I used to own The Incredible Hulk #182, from December 1974. I bought a previously owned copy at Paradox, a used bookstore in Wheeling, West Virginia, for one little dime, way back in the Seventies. This fantastic comic contains the third appearance of Wolverine, but more importantly, it features the story of Hulk and his friendship with a poor man named Crackerjack Jackson. It easily brought out empathy even among my neighborhood buddies, and this issue got passed around  to my friends several times. Man, I still wish I had it. Today, my comic boxes don’t contain many issues with the jade-skinned giant, but I have a feeling they’ll be “Hulking out” once the Legacy series kicks in. The cover price of Generations: Banner Hulk & The Totally Awesome Hulk #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5.

 

Cool comics in my collection #478: Generations: Phoenix & Jean Grey #1, October 2017.

How fortuitous that last week for my Recently Read Digital Comics I decided to finally explore the X-Men classic The Dark Phoenix Saga, because this Generations series included a Phoenix & Jean Grey adventure. It would have been fine to read this without the background story, but sometimes we want more than “fine,” right? With The Dark Phoenix Saga fresh on my mind, this comic came alive in a way that wouldn’t have been possible, otherwise. I became a big fan of the X titles in the Nineties, during Phase 3 of my comic collecting, and while I loved them, there were about a gazillion ongoing series, and to get the full scoop it felt like I needed to buy every title and mini-series that Marvel published. Yes, I played right into their hands! But they are in the business of making sales, so I understand what they were doing. This time around I have a different mindset about what I’ll be buying when it comes to new titles. But boy, was it fun when I knew everything that was going on in the X-World. When I had to cull my comic collection a few years back, many, many X-titles flew the coop (sort of like the Hulk comics, as mentioned above). Yet I’ll always have the memories. The cover price of Generations: Phoenix & Jean Grey #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5.

 

Cool comics in my collection #479: Generations: Wolverine & All-New Wolverine #1, October 2017.

My son really wanted me to watch the movie Logan with him this summer, as I hadn’t seen it. And here we go again with the perfect timing! From the previews I’d seen of the motion picture, I knew there was some young girl who has claws—yet not quite the same—similar to Wolverine’s, and is a vicious fighter. But that’s all I knew. Well, her name is Laura, and though quite young in the movie, she’s older in this Generations issue. I’m not going to say anything more here about her, because there could be someone else left in the world who hasn’t seen the movie. And if you haven’t been reading Wolverine comics that have Laura in them, but you want to read this comic, I’d suggest watching the Logan movie first. It worked well for me! Wolverine fans, I used to be (those words hurt…used to be…) the proud owner of the original Wolverine mini-series that came out in 1982. It’s a must-have for those who love the character, but most unfortunately, I sold all four issues. Why? Don’t even ask. Because I don’t want to think about it. The cover price of Generations: Wolverine & All-New Wolverine #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5.

 

Cool comics in my collection #480: Marvel Comics Digest #1, July 2017.

If you’ve been reading Cool Comics for a while, you know that I love older comics. And you also know I hold a special place in my heart for digest-sized comic books. So how in the world could I resist the new Marvel Comics Digest? Produced by Archie Comics, because they have a knack for digests (or maybe they found a stash of Pym particles?), Marvel Comics Digest will put out six issues a year, with each featuring a team or individual hero. The idea is to build a larger audience with wider distribution alongside Archie digests that appear near supermarket checkouts (at least that’s what I read, and ever since then I haven’t seen any Archie Digest comics near checkout lines, let alone the Marvel Digest issues). It’s no surprise that they decided to start off with Spider-Man, considering his popularity and the new movie this summer. You get over 200 pages of 10 reprint stories, covering a wide spectrum of years from a variety of Spider-Man comics. Beware, though, that the print is small, and I think I need to invest in some reading glasses. The second issue is out now, which features the Avengers, and a Thor issue is due in October. You get a lot of bang for your buck with these, and it’s fun to catch up on some stories you may have missed. The cover price of Marvel Comics Digest #1 is $6.99, while the current value is $7.

 

Cool Comics Classics

Cool comics in my collection #481: Superboy #117, December 1964.

OK, DC fans, I’m finally here! You get the special treatment this week, because Superboy #117 is featured as the Cool Comics Classic! Anytime you go to your local comic book shop (remember, mine is Kenmore Komics in Akron, Ohio, and if you live in the area, make sure to stop and visit and tell them Ed sent you…and if they say, “Ed who?” mention the blog, Cool Comics in My Collection!) and buy a comic that originally cost less than a quarter, you’re in for a treat, in my opinion. No, the stories aren’t as sophisticated, and there is a certain amount of goofiness, but you’ll be whisked back in time and get a taste of the kind of comics your parents, or perhaps grandparents, read in days gone by. This issue contains three Superboy stories and some fun ads from 1964 that you should make sure to check out. And what else is special about it? Oh yeah, the Legion of Super-Heroes! I know there are a lot of Legion fans out there, so you may want to see if you can round up a copy of this issue for your own collection. And again, do yourself a favor and read it slowly, enjoying the journey from front to back. The cover price of Superboy #117 is 12¢, while the current value is $165.

 

Recently Read Digital Comics

For this 100th Episode, I decided to read some historically important comics on my tablet. Sorry if I disappoint you for not buying the originals, but they were all “slightly” out of my budget! First up I read this short version of Detective Comics #27, featuring the first appearance of Batman and James Gordon. It’s just a few pages long (the original print copy is much longer) and comiXology has it priced at Free, which works well for all of us. While the art wasn’t as sophisticated back then, the stories contained many more words than most comic books do today (if you have an opinion on this, drop in a comment below!). In print form, Detective Comics #27 was released on May 17, 1939, and would have cost you just a dime. Today, if you can find one to purchase, it could set you back around $1 million. If you were given a copy of this, would you keep it or sell it?

 

This has been a big summer for Wonder Woman, as the movie adaptation has brought in over $800 million worldwide, and is the second highest grossing film in the United States (over $404 million). This is great news for DC fans, as the Amazon princess beat out Guardians 2, Spider-Man, and Logan. I saw it with some of my family on a rainy day while vacationing at the Outer Banks, and all of us enjoyed it. This issue, Sensation Comics #1, contains the second appearance of Wonder Woman. The comiXology version I read is offered Free, and contains just 16 pages from the original. And the original? It was released on December 31, 1941, and the price was 10¢. The current value is around $80,000 for this issue, depending on condition. My mother-in-law had some Wonder Woman comics back then, but I don’t know if she had any under the Sensation Comics title. Sensation Comics #1 may have been part of her collection, for all I know. This little digital title sure was fun to read after seeing the movie.

 

Everyone who knows anything about comic books recognizes the importance of Superman, and I’m proud to be living near his birthplace. Superman #1 became available to the public on May 18, 1939, and contained mostly reprints from the first four issues of Action Comics. But still, it contains a short origin story and the first appearances of Superman’s foster parents, who are referred to as John and Mary Kent. Also, this comic names the planet Krypton for the first time. The comiXology copy I got for Free contains the entire issue, and it was fun reading through these old stories that my own father read when he was young. Perhaps the most shocking thing I saw in this comic is a scene in which Superman casually tosses a soldier from a South American army into the air. No doubt he traveled a good distance, and while they didn’t show the landing, you can guess what the result would have been! Thinking about buying an original version of this one? You may end up paying over $1 million. And that’s just another reason I love comiXology!

The Defenders!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 99, where we take a nostalgic look at comic books I currently own, and in some sad cases, ones that I let get away.

For each of the comic books I include in this blog, 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 99…

 

Cool Comics News!

If you live in Northeast Ohio, or don’t mind driving, this Sunday plan on a trip to North Olmstead for NEO Comic Con. There will be guests (including Kevin Nowlan, Bob Hall, Tony Isabella, Marc Sumerak, and more!), gaming, cosplay, and plenty of vendors. The cost is just $7, so start planning on all the cool comics you want to find in back issue boxes. I’ll be there, roaming around and taking it all in, so if you happen to see me, make sure to stop me and show me the cool comics you found. Keep in mind that this isn’t a full weekend show. It’s August 20 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Click on the link above to get all the details, and be sure to check out this commercial!

 

Cool Comics

Cool comics in my collection #473: Defenders #1, August 2017.

The Defenders TV series launches on Netflix August 18 (if you’re reading Cool Comics the day it comes out, then that means the show starts…tomorrow!!!), and I thought I’d do a little tribute by going totally Defenders with Cool Comics this week. As longtime readers know, I went cold turkey with my comic collecting in 2003. I had a mountain of white boxes and my house was being taken over, plus I just couldn’t afford it any longer. Finally, in 2011, I started reading some of my back issues that I hadn’t previously touched. I also realized I needed to get rid of some issues, so I painfully went through my collection and had a gigantic garage sale. I lost many a good friend that weekend, but it had to be done. I’ve been reading my back issues ever since, and also started my blog. Which in turn took me back to my local comic shop, where I started buying more back issues (especially when planning a special theme week for the blog). But until recently, I’ve kept my hands off the new comics. A few weeks back I noticed that my store still had the first three issues of this new Defenders series, so I decided to buy them, since the show is starting off. The cover price of Defenders #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5.

 

Cool comics in my collection #474: Defenders #2, August 2017.

Did you know that this new Defenders series is Volume 5 for that title? Of course, Volume 1, with 152 issues, contains many more issues than the next four volumes added together, but maybe this new version will get traction and gain some ground on the original classic series. Especially considering that the characters used in this volume have live-action shows on Netflix. This time we get Luke Cage (Power Man), Jessica Jones, Danny Rand (Iron Fist), and Matt Murdock (Daredevil). With the exception of Jessica Jones, I’m pretty familiar with the other three heroes. Jones didn’t enter the Marvel Universe until after I’d stopped collecting in 2003, so she’s new to me. Are you excited for the show? Have you bought these comics, too? Well, I have a little confession for you. I’m behind on my Netflix viewing. I mean REALLY behind. I just finished Daredevil season one last night! And I won’t watch The Defenders until I’m all caught up. But if this new comic series is any indication, then I’m excited to see it! The cover price of Defenders #2 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool comics in my collection #475: Defenders #3, September 2017.

If you need another excuse to spend your pennies on this new Defenders series, just check out the cover for this issue. Yup. The Punisher. Back in the Seventies when I first started collecting comics, the Punisher was new, cool, and mysterious. Now, with characters like Venom, Lobo, and Deadpool, he doesn’t seem like a big deal. But if you were a kid when I was a kid, you know what I’m talking about. I’ve often mentioned here in Cool Comics my three phases of comic collecting, which always coincided with the purchase of new issues, along with some back issues. In 2013 I started subscribing to Afterlife With Archie, and occasionally getting some back issues, starting with buying some on eBay to help fill in one of my collections. Plus, I’ve also been going to Free Comic Book Day since then. I wanted to say that I’ve officially now started phase four of my comic buying and collecting this summer, since I’ve placed some orders with my shop via Previews, but I’ve just had an epiphany that phase four has been here since 2013. And here I thought it officially started a couple weeks ago when my comic shop actually pulled a new comic for me for the first time since the summer of 2003. I guess the first four years of phase four just looks a little different, but it’s there all the same. The cover price of Defenders #3 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool Comics Classics

Cool comics in my collection #476: The Defenders #11, December 1973.

For Cool Comics Classics this week, I must include an issue from the original Defenders series. Because I was just a kid and buying comics for the first time, the Seventies is the period most revered by me. And I think we can all understand that nostalgic feeling, whether it’s from 50 years ago or just 10. We get that longing for our childhood, to experience these positive emotions once more. Do you remember where you bought your first comic book? Life comes with ups and downs, but sometimes all it takes to get through a rough day is that happy thought we had when, with a pocket full of change and the company of a few good childhood friends, we make our way to that special place that has a colorful array of comic books with our heroes on the covers, and we gladly plunk down our money in turn for a couple hours of adventures. The Silver Surfer, Doctor Strange, Hulk, and Namor. It looks like they’re battling for their lives on this cover. Yet hopefully it brings a smile to your face as you think back to some of your best memories of good times reading comics as a kid. The cover price of The Defenders #11 is 20¢, while the current value is $60.

 

Recently Read Digital Comics

One of the most legendary of all stories in the history of the X-Men is The Dark Phoenix Saga, which ran in 1980, a period of my life in which I was not collecting comic books. To go back and buy issues 129 through 137 now would be too costly, but since we live in the age of digital comics, I was able to get the entire run for just $2.99, via Amazon. Anyone who is familiar with these merry mutants is aware that Jean Grey and her teammates went through these troubled times, as I was, but until now I hadn’t read the actual story. Chris Claremont (writer) and John Byrne (artist) don’t fail to entertain, and introduce some important characters along the way, such as Kitty Pryde (Shadowcat), Emma Frost (the White Queen), Sabastian Shaw, Allison Blaire (Dazzler), Senator Robert Kelly, the Hellfire Club, and, of course, the first appearance of the Dark Phoenix. If you appreciate the X-Men but haven’t read the Dark Phoenix Saga, it’s probably time that you did.