Ed Gosney's Blog, page 38

Wally West meets Wally West!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 88, 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 88…

 

Cool Comics News!

A really nice guy named David (and besides being nice, he possesses an incredible knowledge of comic books and their creators) invited me, via a Facebook group on comic books, to attend Akron Pop! Comic Book Club at a local Akron Library branch (Shatto Avenue). The club meets on the last Tuesday of the month for an hour and 45 minutes, and I have to tell you it was worth every minute of it. As a matter-of-fact, the time seemed to fly by. If you’re a comic book collector, reader, or fan, you’d probably enjoy spending some time with this knowledgeable, fun group of collectors. And one of the members is a long-time comic book writer and editor! If you live in the greater Akron, Ohio, area, you may want to check it out and come to the June 27 meeting.

 

Cool comics in my collection #436: The Flash: Kid Flash of Two Worlds #1, April 2017.

The most consistent aspect of the Walmart DC 3-pack variants is that there is no consistency. This issue was originally published as Flash 9, as part of the Rebirth series. But if you’ve noticed, the variants sometimes have subtitles, such as this one using “Kid Flash of Two Worlds.” There is nothing wrong with this, and current comic collectors can easily enough find out which issues these really are. The marketing is probably more for non-collectors to grab up #1 issues. And unless you want to have the variants be a part of your collection, you may want to avoid making an additional purchase. But for those of us who don’t buy new comics, and instead spend our days grazing back issue boxes in search of that last issue needed to complete a run (The Champions #2, January 1976…where are you?), it’s kind of fun to get these and see what’s going on in today’s DC world. The Flash is popular right now with a TV show and appearances in DC movies, so why not get this one if you’re a fan? DC is really doing things right with Rebirth, so grab this 3-pack while it’s still available. The cover price of Flash #9 is $2.99, while the current value of this variant is $5.

 

Cool comics in my collection #437: Batman Eternal #30, December 2014.

This is the third issue I’ve found of Batman Eternal in a Walmart DC 3-pack, and I’ve enjoyed each one. Batman Eternal was part of The New 52 and consists of 52 issues. If you’re a Bat Fan, I’d say it’s a must, as the stories are entertaining in that typical Batman fashion. So many people I’ve talked to over the years have a story about how Batman was their first comic book hero, whether via cartoon, TV show, movie, or comic book. And for the last few decades, I’m sure many people had their first introduction to superheroes through toys or party favors or paper plates and napkins or bedspreads or comics in breakfast cereals. Superheroes are all around us in so many ways, and with just a smidgen of parental influence, these characters can so easily become a part of our daily routines. So what’s your origin story when it comes to comic books? Who was the first hero you remember, and how was the character introduced to you? I’d love to read about it in the comments below, so please join in and participate! The cover price of Batman Eternal #30 is $2.99, while the current value is $3.

 

Cool comics in my collection #438: Justice League United #4, October 2014.

I’ve read Justice League of America, Justice League America, JLA, Justice League Europe, Justice League International, and Justice League Task Force comics. And during The New 52, there was Justice League United, so now I can add that one to my “Read It” list. This is issue 4, and there were just 16 issues, so read into that however you please. For the most part, I tend to enjoy all sorts of comics, especially if they contain characters I like. But for me, something felt flat with this comic. Maybe it’s because I missed the first 3 issues, and maybe it also has something to do with not keeping up with new stuff. Yet I’ve enjoyed almost everything I’ve read in these Walmart DC 3-packs. So maybe this title just wasn’t all that cool after all. So, while today it lives as cool comic #438 in my collection, it just may end up in a garage sale box, where it will find better love than I can give it. The cover price of Justice League United is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Recently Read Digital Comics

I tend to like my heroes to be heroes, and my villains to be villains, and when my son gave me a free code to get Volume 1 of “Injustice: Gods Among Us,” from comiXology, I was somewhat apprehensive to read it. If you are a constant reader of this blog, you may recall that back in Episode 83, Cool Comic #422 was a variant issue of Injustice: Gods Among Us #1. It was a tough read because of what Superman was tricked into doing by that foul fiend, the Joker. Yet it became the catalyst for everything that comes after, and it’s a fascinating look at what could happen if powerful beings decided to enforce the law from their perspective. This is nothing new in fiction or reality. Yet DC does a masterful job in convincing you to keep turning digital pages (remember, this section of the blog is about comics I read on my tablet) and to shell out your cash for Volume 2 (yes, I had to buy Volume 2!). Heroes die. Heroes become villains, but not in their own minds. Villains become heroes. Some of your favorites meet an early death. Part of the power of this series is that it’s based on a video game; therefore, it’s not canon and the creators can kill characters off without upsetting the applecart (this has to be the first time I’ve ever used that phrase…and it may just be the last). When the newest version of the video game launched recently, these collections were on sale, so I may wait before I continue on in the series, but I have every intention to continue reading it, because it’s that good.

Free Comic Book Day 2017: Guardians, Underdog, & More!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 87, 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 87…

 

Cool Comics News!

Most comic book readers are familiar with Free Comic Book Day (FCBD), which takes place the first Saturday in May. It’s been going on since 2002, and while I haven’t made it to my local comic shop every year, it’s an event I try to attend. And though retailers have free comics on hand that day to give out to us, they do have to pay for the comics, so I always try to show support by making some purchases, such as back issues or plastic storage bags and backing boards. The nice thing about FCBD is the wide variety of offerings, and as you’ll see below, they even have choices for the younger crowd.

 

Cool comics in my collection #431: All-New Guardians of the Galaxy #1, July 2017.

A free comic book featuring the Guardians of the Galaxy was an easy choice to pull off the shelves. Keep in mind that most comic shops limit the number of free comics you can take (it was 5 this year at Kenmore Komics), so once you get to the store and see what titles are left, you then can decide what you want to take. Mrs. Gosney was with me, and she also picked out 5 comics, and we strategically look at what’s there, and get some to take home to our kids. But I had to have Guardians, and what I didn’t even notice at the bottom of the cover at the time is that this also contains a Defenders story. Not the old Doctor Strange, Namor, and Hulk Defenders, but the characters who will be in The Defenders show later this year on Netflix. Double bonus. Anyway, I’m a big fan of the Guardians movies, so this selection was easy. The cover price of All-New Guardians of the Galaxy #1 is Free, while the current value is $1.

 

Cool comics in my collection #432: Underdog #1, May 2017.

Underdog? Yeah, Underdog! When Mrs. Gosney pulled this one off the shelf, I knew I’d be reading it. I spent some of my formative years watching this canine superhero battle the forces of evil while crushing on Sweet Polly Purebred. His cover isn’t as complex as Clark Kent’s, or even Peter Parker’s as far as that goes. No, in this dog-eat-dog universe, our hero is a simple shoeshine boy. But when danger strikes, or foul fiends rob the local jewelry store, shoe shine boy runs to a local phone booth and becomes that mighty hero, Underdog! This free comic also has a bonus feature from issue #12 of Underdog, published in 1977 by Gold Key, and it’s fun to take a look back. And you know how much I love my Seventies comics! This new issue is published by American Mythology Productions, and they have also licensed Casper, Rocky & Bullwinkle, the Pink Panther, the Three Stooges, and Stargate Atlantis. Fun stuff from this company. The cover price of Underdog #1 is Free, and so is the current value.

 

Cool comics in my collection #433: Secret Empire #1, July 2017.

There’s been a lot of buzz recently about Marvel’s new limited series “Secret Empire,” mostly tending towards the negative. I haven’t been able to comment one way or another, because as you know, I don’t read many new comics. I typically read older back issues I collected and never got around to reading. Most of them range from the Sixties up through the Nineties. Now an exception I’ve made is with the DC 3-packs at Walmart that each feature a variant. Most of them have had Rebirth comics, and I’ve enjoyed the direction DC has taken. But I haven’t been reading new Marvel stuff, and I keep hearing negatives. It hasn’t concerned me one way or another, but I’ll admit I was taken aback upon hearing that Captain America is now an agent of Hydra. So, will it prove to be true? Would Marvel dare go there and risk alienating their fans? Probably not. I’ve already read a few theories about Secret Empire, and I think Marvel will manage to do the right thing by Captain America. Regardless, I’m not losing any sleep over it, and I actually enjoyed the story that came with this free comic. Oh, and another bonus with this one. Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man also has a story in here. The cover price of Secret Empire #1 is Free, and so is the current value.

 

Cool comics in my collection #434: Star Trek: The Next Generation: Mirror Broken #0, May 2017.

We’re first introduced to the Star Trek Mirror Universe in the original series, and like all good things, it didn’t die there. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine used it in five episodes, and Star Trek: Enterprise had it in a two-parter episode. And it’s also been used in Star Trek novels and games. It provided a fun (maybe fun’s not the right word!), or different, look at the characters and situations in the Federation. IDW puts out some intriguing comics, and I have picked up some of their trade paperbacks (such as their combined efforts with Boom! Studios to give us Star Trek/Planet of the Apes: The Prime Directive, which was Cool Comic #160, back in Episode 23). I really appreciate the efforts of IDW, and recently saw another Star Trek comic that is sort of like a Marvel “What If” or DC “Elseworlds,” in which the Romulans get to Earth before the Vulcans do, and that’s bad news for our planet. It’s called Star Trek: Deviations, and I look forward to reading it. The cover price of Star Trek: The Next Generation: Mirror Broken #0 is Free, and so is the current value.

 

Cool comics in my collection #435: DC SuperHero Girls #1: May 2017.

My good friend Rhonda, who happens to be a librarian, gave me this issue. She got it at the library where she works, and I think it’s great that some libraries recognize FCBD and celebrate by treating their patrons. I also have the DC SuperHero Girls FCBD issue from 2016, and I think Rhonda gave me that one, also. DC is working hard to market these heroes to a younger audience via toys, videos, etc. Obviously, a business is about making money, but a good business model needs to look at future generations of potential customers. The story is straightforward and simple, and the art, I imagine, is appealing to kids. This is a nice title for introducing young readers, and most of us who read comics started off reading them as kids. The cover price of DC SuperHero Girls #1 is free, and so is the current value.

 

Recently Read Digital Comics

Since all of the above comics were free, it makes sense to feature a Digital Comic that was also free. Guardians of the Galaxy #1 (Oct 2015 – Marvel digital Marvel app) is a free offer on a small coupon that was available at the movie theater where I saw Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2. My oldest daughter gave it to me, as she went to the movie before I did, but they still had them available when I finally saw Guardians on Mother’s Day (how cool that my wife wanted to go see it on Mother’s Day!). If you get this one and are like me and just know the Guardians in their current incarnation in the movies (or perhaps even the original comic run that looks nothing like the current team in either the movies or comics), you’re in for a few surprises. Just look at the cover. The Thing? Well, he did get his powers when he was in a spaceship! Venom? The “costume” is an alien, so I guess he belongs in space, too. And who is the female? None other than Kitty Pryde. It was a fun read, especially considering it was free!

Invasion of the Anti-Heroes!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 86, 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 86…

 

Cool Comics News!

Okay comic book lovers, we’re back to three more comics that came in Walmart Variant 3-packs. In the coming weeks, I’ll also have some cool, personal comic book-related news to share with all of you!

 

Cool comics in my collection #428: Suicide Squad: The Black Vault #1, April 2017.

So here we are, back to another Walmart Variant. This comic was originally published as Suicide Squad #2, part of DC’s Rebirth. I know, it gets confusing that they keep putting these out as #1 when they aren’t, but I guess that’s part of what makes them variants. This is just the second Suicide Squad comic that I own, both having come from these nifty Walmart 3 for $5 packs, and I’ll be the first to tell you that I wasn’t thrilled to discover that Suicide Squad issues were part of the deal. And yes, this was the comic facing the customer in the plastic wrap, and I didn’t have to buy it, but sometimes we need to be willing to try new things. No, I haven’t seen the movie (although it’s currently parked on my DVR for future viewing), thanks for asking. To be honest, this just didn’t seem to be the type of comic I’d like. And yet…I loved it! The story is very entertaining, the art a pleasure to view, and yes, I hope there are more of these in Walmart’s future. If not, I may end up getting some digital collections. As longtime readers know, I rarely pick up new comics, as I usually focus on filling in older runs I started in the Seventies (and sometimes Sixties or Eighties comics). By the way, I was at my local Walmart on May 16 and they had lots of the Variant 3-packs on the shelf, in case you are looking for them. The cover price of Suicide Squad #2 is $2.99, while the current value of this variant is $5.

 

Cool comics in my collection #429: Larfleeze #5, January 2014.

What is a Larfleeze? That’s the question I asked myself before opening the cover to this “New 52” comic I found tucked underneath one of the newer Walmart Variant 3-packs. To me, this is a new character, but perhaps for many of you, he’s ancient. I looked him up on the internet and saw that Larfleeze made his first appearance in 2007, so this December he’ll be a decade old. But I quit buying new comics back in 2003 when my home was being overrun by too many of them! I went cold turkey, and let me tell you, it wasn’t easy. I didn’t pick up a comic book to read again until 2011, and I’ve been enjoying reading the many back issues I’d bought before this (and even some of the newer ones I’d purchased in 2003 but hadn’t read yet…you have to understand, when I came to the realization that it couldn’t go on any longer, I didn’t want to look at them…I had to completely turn my back on comics so that I wouldn’t be tempted to start purchasing them once again like a mad man!). Okay, back to Larfleeze. I read the comic. I can say that much for it. I don’t really know how to feel about it, because I had no history with the character, this was a number 5 issue, and the entire thing was sort of weird, from my perspective. Maybe you love him, but I won’t be looking to add any of his issues to my collection. The cover price of Larfleeze #5 is $2.99, while the current value is $3.

 

Cool comics in my collection #430: Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion #4, March 2014.

Seems like DC’s really been pushing the anti-hero bit a lot since I stopped being a weekly reader (remember those from school? Just having a little fun). Lobo was sort of popular back when I was buying, and so was Guy Gardner, but all three of these comics that came from Walmart 3-packs feature the type of characters I typically don’t really care for. Except I found myself surprised by how much I enjoyed the Suicide Squad issue. The difficult part of Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion being included underneath one of the variant issues is that it’s part 4 of a 6-part limited series, so a new reader doesn’t really understand what’s going on. Maybe they were hoping to garner some interest, but personally, I’d rather get another Batman or Superman New 52 issue. The cover price of Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion is $2.99, while the current value is $3.

 

 

Recently Read Digital Comics

A couple weeks ago in Episode 84, Cool Comic #427 was Moon Knight #6 from 1981. The inclusion of Moon Knight in that episode garnered some comments, and my guest blogger from last week, Rob McClellan, mentioned the Warren Ellis take on this unusual hero. So I just had to purchase the digital collection, right? The six issues in this first volume didn’t have a lot of dialogue or description, but it wasn’t necessary, as the art and sequential storyline kept me glued to my tablet. Great series, thanks so much, Rob! I went ahead and purchased volumes 2 and 3, and although Ellis isn’t the writer for either of those collections, I’m looking forward to reading them. I was fortunate that Amazon had all three on sale, but the full price on comiXology would have been worth it. I haven’t read a lot of Moon Knight comics, but I’m working on remedying that.

Secrets, Hearts, and Hunters – An Ode To Limited Series

Hi, everyone, my name is Rob McClellan and I have the pleasure of being your guest host for the 85th Episode of Cool Comics in My Collection.

I’ve been reading comics since I could grab them off the spinner rack, and it’s a hobby I still maintain today. But, I want to take you down a slightly different memory lane than Ed usually travels, because I’m here to talk about my favorite comic medium: the limited series.

While I definitely appreciate a good ongoing series or graphic novel, I’ve always felt that the limited series was the pinnacle of the comic book world.

A good limited series can turn a languishing background hero into a rock star. It can redefine an entire genre, or launch a new series in grand fashion. And, above all, it has the benefit of telling a complete story. That hard limitation of only having a few issues somehow makes the creative team shine all the more.

A limited series can afford to take bold chances, both in art and story, where new styles and new directions can be vetted. Frank Miller’s cutting edge art style that so defined The Dark Knight Returns was test driven in the post-apocalyptic, chop-sockey limited series, Ronin. Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean cast tradition aside and brought super-heroes back to Vertigo with their defining, and beautiful, Black Orchid, showing the world that the prestige format shouldn’t be limited to Batman.

And, a nobody like Machine Man became my favorite Marvel character in 1985, when a young Barry Windsor Smith illustrated the heck out of Tom Defalco’s four issue 2020 cyberpunk story (yes, those are the four covers at the top — aren’t they gorgeous?).

From Red Tornado to Watchmen, limited series have been bringing the awesome to comics since 1982. There are a lot of ongoing series I pass on, but I’m always game to taking a chance on a limited series. Here are some of my all time favorites.

1. Superman: Secret Identity

Kurt Busiek is a writer who consistently hits it outta the park, and Secret Identity is no exception. Backed by the excellence of Stuart Immonen’s artwork, this story, for me, redefines Superman, because it dares to completely re-imagine Superman’s entire history. Here we have a normal kid in Kansas, who happens to be named Clark Kent (and is teased mercilessly for it), who just happens to find out that he’s got super-powers — just like Superman in the comic books. And just like that, while everything is the same, it’s all different. Here we get to follow a Clark that lives in the same world as us, who uses his super-powers not to fight villains from outer space, but to protect us everyday citizens. He meets a girl, named Lois… Choudhurry, and they start a life, have kids, raise a family. It’s a textbook example of taking the familiar and making it new, and this sleepy little Superman story has become my favorite.

2. The Longbow Hunters

For a long time, it’s seemed like Green Arrow had taken second fiddle to DC’s Batman and Marvel’s Hawkeye. As if there is only room in the DC universe for one non-super superhero. In 1987, Mike Grell took away the trick arrows, the arrow-car, the sidekick, and the secret cave and reinvented Green Arrow in a way only the creator of The Warlord and Jon Sable could – and that was the three issue limited series, The Longbow Hunters. Here an Oliver Queen at middle age relocates to Portland with his true love, Dinah Lance (Black Canary), and soon runs afoul of the Yakuza, the CIA, and organized crime. This three issue prestige format series brought Green Arrow out of the background and fully into the DC pantheon. I’ve read it a hundred times…

3. Jack of Hearts

I know what you’re thinking – Jack of Hearts? Yes. Definitely. In 1984, Bill Mantlo and artist George Freeman took the very definition of a D-List hero and turned him into a cosmic force to be reckoned with. Jack Hart was a typical throwaway character with an origin story so stupid it hurts me to say it (he fell into a vat of fluid… I know, terrible). Now possessed with an unlimited amount of personal energy, he has to be kept in a containment suit to keep from exploding. And, that suit just happens to look like a multi-colored playing card. Absurd, totally. Yet, somehow, these two talented gentlemen turned Jack Hart into the last chance to save the dying planet of Contraxia by using his power to rekindle their sun. Suddenly, this nobody is swooshed away from Earth and thrown into the political intrigue of an interplanetary species that might not want their planet saved. When taken away from Earth, the Jack of Hearts really shines, becoming one of the most powerful galactic heroes in the Marvel Universe. Sadly, Jack was ignored after his four-issue greatness, and nearly two decades later returned once again to D-Lister status. But, for one fleeting moment he was mighty – and if you blinked, you’d have missed it.

4. Twilight

Thanks to the Annihilation story line that brought back Star Lord and formed the modern Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel has been enjoying a huge upswing in their galactic heroes. But, DC also had a forgotten space retinue and, in 1990, writer Howard Chaykin and artist Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez brought them all back in the three-issue prestige format series, Twilight. Tommy Tomorrow, the Manhunter, Star Rovers, Iron Wolf, Space Ranger, Star Hawkins – even Space Cabbie! A darker story (as one would expect from Chaykin), it was incredibly bold, and laid tremendous groundwork for a launch in the deeper galaxy – a Galactic Vertigo, if you will. Chaykin really gave this one his all, and Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez provided, what I honestly feel, was the best artwork of his career. DC decided not to go into the far reaches of space, so all we have is this brilliant limited series, but for three issues that vast darkness shined so very, very brightly.

5. Aquaman (1986)

Aquaman was revitalized in the New 52 by Geoff Johns, and for that I will always be grateful. But, for a very long time, Arthur Curry was languishing. In 1986, writer Neal Pozner and artist Craig Hamilton brought a heck of story in four parts. Boldly ditching the long standing orange and green suit, the brought out a super cool “blue camouflage” costume that really worked (way better than that ’90’s gladiator thing). In an almost Shakespearean tale, Arthur is once again locked into combat with his brother, Ocean Master, who has scoured the oceans for a dark magic equalizer. Everything about this story, from the portrayal of magic to the emotional depths Arthur must reach, all blended together into one fantastic tale.

There are tons of stories that were runners up to these five, from Claremont and Miller’s Wolverine to Millar’s Starlight. So many times over the years a limited series brought forgotten heroes to the forefront, such as Elektra, Ragman, the Forever People, and the Inhumans. Some were pure flights of fancy, like All Star Superman, Ultras, Slash Maraud, Camelot 3000, and Lords of the Ultra-Realm. Others became serious contenders like V for Vendetta and From Hell.

Yes, limited series have been abused the last few years with these ridiculous “Crisis” and “Secret” events, but they still produce greatness like Kingdom Come, Marvels, and The New Frontier.

So keep an eye out, the short runs may not get the huge marketing push, but their stories embody the very best about comics.

Are you a fan of the limited series? What’s you favorite?

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Rob McClellan



When I'm not out saving the world, I'm looking after ThirdScribe.









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Spider, Moon, Omega, and 666!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 84, 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 84…

 

Cool Comics News!

This week I’m focusing on three comic series that never made it past 50 issues. But there was something about them that I find attractive, especially today. I’m the sort of guy who often tends to cheer for the underdog, and maybe that’s what these three less popular heroes have in common. An interesting aside is that all three are issue #6. That’s right. 666. Coincidence?

 

Cool comics in my collection #425: Injustice: Omega the Unknown #6, January 1977.

Poor Omega the Unknown! His original run back in 1976-77 lasted just 10 issues, and I’m getting close to the end of being able to show them off to you. I suppose I’ll have to hunt down the Defenders issues that contain some of his story. That’s right! Omega the Unknown makes an appearance in the Defenders in 1979. I don’t own those issues, but someday…if I can find them…I will. I’m not sure how many of you readers out there have ever picked up this obscure comic, but back in the Seventies I thought he looked cool, and I loved the mystery concept they built around him and the boy, James-Michael Starling. When I think back to those days of buying comics in my youth, this one always comes to the forefront of my mind. If I close my eyes and shut out the rest of the world, I can visualize myself, on my knees, in the little store named Slicks in Martins Ferry, Ohio, gazing over all those beautiful comic books. They didn’t cost much back then, but I had so little money that I had to choose carefully. Omega the Unknown was worth every penny. The cover price of Omega the Unknown #6 is 30 cents, while the current value of this variant is $8.

 

Cool comics in my collection #426: Spider-Woman #6, September 1978.

There’s no doubt that my favorite hero throughout the Seventies was Peter Parker, the Amazing Spider-Man. Notice I used his civilian name first, before his hero identity? That’s because the writers and artists found a way to make readers care about the guy wearing the suit. Otherwise, does it really bother us all that much if the Green Goblin beats him up? But when Marvel came out with a new hero named Spider-Woman, I think most of the guys in my neighborhood thought it was just some gimmick the company was trying to pull on us to make more sales with Spider-Man’s name. Or part of his name. But Jessica Drew, the first woman to bear the title, has stuck around Marvel for several decades now, and I’m glad to have a few of her first series comics in my collection. When this issue came out, my comic book buying days were wrapping up for a few years, and I didn’t purchase it. Years later, when my third phase of comic collecting was going full blazes, I found this issue in a quarter box, and seeing Jack Russell, the Werewolf by Night, on the cover, I couldn’t resist. So, to be honest, I bought it more for the werewolf. I’ve mentioned here before that I didn’t buy the monster comics when they came out in the Seventies, and that’s one of my regrets. I make up for it when I can find them at good prices, and when they make an appearance in another title, I can’t resist! The cover price of Spider-Woman #6 is 35 cents, while the current value is $8.

 

Cool comics in my collection #427: Moon Knight #6, April 1981.

It’s fun having some “monsters” during a week that features issues 6, 6, and 6! In Spider-Woman, Werewolf by Night is on the prowl, and in Moon Knight, Marc Spector faces off against Zombies (or, as they are called here, Zuvembies)! Moon Knight is one of those heroes I didn’t collect the first time around, but if I see some issues in clearance boxes, I tend to buy them. What I wish I’d done was buy the first comic book I ever saw him on the cover of. Back in August of 1975, on the cover of issue #32 of Werewolf by Night (there he is again!), Moon Knight was revealed to the Marvel Universe. I remember seeing the issue, but I didn’t even lay a finger on it. Too bad, because it’s worth about $1,000 today. It would have been so easy to clunk down a quarter and a penny or two to cover the tax, but that’s the way it goes. Such is life. But though I’ll probably never own that issue, I occasionally find some fun Moon Knight issues from the early Eighties and enjoy every minute of them. The cover price of Moon Knight #6 is 50 cents, while the current value is $5.

 

 

Recently Read Digital Comics

This week I read the Marvel Limited Series “House of M” on my Android tablet. Currently selling for $14.99 on comiXology, I bought this 8-issue series on Amazon for just $3.99. You get 182 pages, and even at the full price it’s a nice deal. This series came out in 2005, just a couple years after I went cold turkey and quit buying new comics, so it wasn’t long after I’d been pretty deep in the game. This collection reads like a “What If?” to me, and while I know it crossed over into other titles, I felt this was too big a deal for the amount of change that takes place. Although that was probably the intention. At any rate, the problem is that not everyone can afford to follow along in every title. And this is part of the reason I like the Seventies comics so much. Still, I enjoyed it for the most part, but I didn’t like some of the writer’s (Brian Michael Bendis) decisions. Some of the character interactions I was hoping for weren’t there (of course these things may have happened in some of the other 55 issues involved in The House of M, but I’m not going to hunt them down), and that’s part of the trouble when you have a cast of dozens. All-in-all, it was worth my $3.99 plus tax.

DCU Dark Times in Cool Comics

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 83, 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 83…

 

Cool Comics News!

This marks week 4 of Walmart Variant Madness, putting us at the halfway mark! Although the majority of the 8 Variants that came with this recent set of 3-packs are Rebirth comics, the Variant I’m covering this week is from a comic that came out four years ago. Also, if you missed my talk with Hank Garner on the Author Stories podcast, which focused quite a bit on comic books, you can listen to it here: http://hankgarner.com/episode-177-ed-gosney-interview/

 

Cool comics in my collection #422: Injustice: Gods Among Us #1 (Walmart Variant), April 2017.

DC’s first Injustice series (Gods Among Us) came out four years ago, but that didn’t stop them from putting out a Variant via Walmart of this popular series. The original comic this is a variant of sells for about $35 on the secondary market, and because I don’t regularly purchase new comics, it is a welcome addition to my collection. Or it least it was until I read it! Based on a video game, this alternative look at the DC Universe provides the reader with some shocks, especially at the end. Now I know it’s fiction, and none of these characters really exist, but if you are the kind of reader who removes yourself from reality and “lives” in the story, you may just find yourself in a knot of emotions by the time you set it down. I’m definitely not telling you to ignore this if you haven’t read it before, but just warning you that it packs an emotional wallop. Last week my son gifted me a code to get a collection of the first six issues of this series on comiXology, so I guess I’ll have to break out the tissues and soldier on through it at some point in the future, then give you my feedback under my “Recently Read Digital Comics” section below. The cover price of the original Injustice: Gods Among Us #1 is $3.99, while the current value of this variant is $5.

 

Cool comics in my collection #423: Beware the Batman #2, January 2014.

When I started my third phase of comic collecting in the early 90s, The Batman Adventures comic came out, and while I didn’t watch the cartoon, I tried a couple issues on for size. I didn’t much care for the animated look, and ended up selling the two I had bought—7 and 8—at a garage sale a few years ago. If I’d stuck with the comic just four more months, I would have bought issue 12, which is the first appearance of Harley Quinn in comics. And I probably would have sold it at my garage sale also, because it wasn’t until I started writing my blog this week that I discovered that issue #12 is worth several hundred dollars. So, in a way, I’m glad I didn’t buy it, or I’d be upset with myself right now for basically giving it away at my garage sale. Anyway, Beware the Batman is another comic book based on a cartoon, and this time, probably because I’m older and more nostalgic, I enjoyed the art and story. I’m not going to run to my local comic shop and hunt for back issues, but I appreciated the comic for what it is. By the way, this comic is part of one of my recent Walmart 3-pack purchases, and with it not being a variant, I had no idea it was part of the package. I’ve been enjoying the fun of discovering what lurks beneath the Variant covers, and for the most part the stories and art have been good. The cover price of Beware the Batman #2 is $2.99, while the current value is $3.

 

Cool comics in my collection #424: Green Lantern Corps: Future’s End, November 2014.

This is the first comic that came with the Walmart 3-packs that I didn’t enjoy as much. I like the concept of the “Futures End” series that DC did, in which we get a look at what the universe is like in five years, but this particular comic was not a good jumping on point for me. I’ve read Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps comics in the past, but none of that background helped me to have a good feel for what was going on here. And I’m okay with that, because we aren’t always going to like everything we read. This story focused on Green Lantern John Stewart, and I don’t have much of a background with him, nor was I familiar with other Green Lanterns and some of the aliens in this issue. The cover price of Green Lantern Corps: Futures End #1 is $2.99, while the current value is $3.

 

 

Recently Read Digital Comics

Even though I separate my digital comic reading from my “Cool Comics” that I list above, this is my favorite comic of the week. I bought this collection for just $5.99 via Amazon, and it’s currently selling for $19.99 on comiXology. The story collects the following comics: Superman Vol. 3, #51-52; Action Comics Vol. 2, #51-52; Batman / Superman #31-32, and Superman / Wonder Woman #28-29. Superman: The Final Days of Superman, is exactly what the title implies. If you aren’t familiar with this story, you may think back to the 1992 Death of Superman and all the spin-offs that resulted from that, but this time around things are different, as the events take us from the New 52 period to the cusp of Rebirth. You’ll notice on the cover that it states, “Road to Rebirth,” which is an appropriate label. If you’ve been reading my blog for the last few months, you know I’ve been singing the praises of the Rebirth titles that I’ve read as Walmart Variants, along with these “Road to Rebirth” digital collections. You can’t go wrong with these comics.

Watch Out, Riverdale, Jughead Needs a Snack!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 82, 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 82…

 

Cool comics in my collection #419: Pep Comics #273, January 1973.

Did you know that Archie Andrew’s first appearance was in Pep Comics? Issue 22 in December 1941 saw the birth of America’s favorite, and oldest, teenager. Back then, you would have shelled out 10 cents…one measly dime…for the comic book. And if you did, and still have it today, a near mint issue is valued at $280,000, and if your copy is pristine, we’re talking $420,000! Well I don’t have that issue, but this week I selected the oldest copy I own of Pep Comics, and it’s still a pretty cool comic, because Archie was quite popular in the late Sixties and early Seventies. Some of you may remember the Saturday morning cartoons with Archie, Jughead, Veronica, Betty, Reggie, and the rest of the gang. They played songs like “Sugar, Sugar” and entertained us with their innocent hijinks. I’m really glad I kept all my old Archie comics, and so is my youngest daughter, as they will someday be passed on to her. The cover price of Pep Comics #273 is 20 cents, while the current value is $15.

 

Cool comics in my collection #420: Jughead the Hunger, One-Shot, May 2017.

With Jughead the Hunger we get a title with a double entendre, because if you know Jughead, then you know he likes his food (early on, there is a priceless scene where we see Jughead and the gang at an all-you-can-eat buffet named Silver Stables!), and it’s quite obvious there is a werewolf involved. This one-shot is another great edition to the Archie Horror stable of comics that started a few years ago in the pages of Afterlife With Archie, so if you’ve been keeping up with those, you know the quality and probably want to add it to your collection. Jughead has long been a fan favorite, and I was glad to see him getting to star in this horror issue. Thinking back to my heyday of reading Archie Comics in the Seventies, I never dreamed the company would be putting out tales like this, let alone the huge leap in quality of art and writing. I look forward to seeing what else the horror line puts out (and yes, I know all about The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina…I’ll cover that sometime in a future episode). The cover price of Jughead the Hunger, One-Shot is $4.99, while the current value is $5.

 

Cool comics in my collection #421: Riverdale #1, April 2017

A few weeks back I featured the Riverdale One-Shot on here, a comic that acted as a prequel to the TV series on The CW. Now Archie Comics is giving the fans even more by providing an ongoing Riverdale series. In Episode 75 of Cool Comics in My Collection I mentioned the Twin Peaks/90210 vibe coming from the show and the comic, but I’m also going to mention Archie’s Weird Mysteries, because some of you may have enjoyed that Saturday morning cartoon or read the comic series. These kids from Riverdale seem built for mystery and intrigue, don’t they? The writers are doing a great job of making it interesting, especially from the perspective of the younger crowd. Jughead is the voice of the show, and captures, via his laptop and a nice voiceover, what’s happening around the death of Jason Blossom, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a suspect himself. When it comes to the parents in Riverdale, we see lots of flaws and strange behavior. It certainly isn’t “Father Knows Best.” If you’re a fan of the Riverdale TV show, you may just want to check out this comic. The cover price of Riverdale #1 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Recently Read Digital Comics

 

Titans Hunt, which consists of the 8 issue limited series, Justice League Vol. 2 issue 51, and Titans Rebirth #1, is another fun collection in DC’s “Road to Rebirth.” It contains 259 pages and retails on comiXology for $12.99 (I picked it up on Amazon when it was on sale for just $5.99, and had enough on a gift card to cover it and the tax…cha-ching!). For some odd reason, the description of this at both comiXology and Amazon list “Titans Hunt 100 Page Super Spectacular” as being part of it, along with the Titans Hunt 8 issues, but that’s wrong. If you’ve read any Titans comics in the past, you’ll be sure to enjoy the limited series, and may have trouble putting it down, like I did. During the early Eighties, I was introduced to the team by a friend in college. I always wonder if he still reads comics (Ed H., if you’re reading this, I’d love to talk comics with you once more). I read most of the ten issues contained here in one day, which tells you I really liked the art and story. If you haven’t read any digital comics yet, these collections are a nice way to give them a try.

DC is Doing It Right!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 81, 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 81…

 

Cool Comics News!

This week the focus is back on the DC Walmart 3-packs, leading off with a variant and then a couple other issues that came in the 3 packs. And don’t forget, if you haven’t signed up for my newsletter yet, you may want to do it now. Soon, I’ll be giving away a dozen or so copies of my newest audiobook via a random drawing, and you have to be a subscriber to find out how to enter.

 

Cool comics in my collection #416: Detective Comics: Rise of the Batmen #1, April 2017.

Originally published as Detective Comics #935 (published in August 2016), I’m happy to report that the high quality of art and writing I’ve seen in other Rebirth comics carried over to this title. And I don’t know about you, but I appreciate that even though most of DC’s Rebirth issues started renumbering their titles with #1, Detective Comics has gone back to the original volume’s numbering scheme. There is history behind this comic, and it deserves to be recognized. If you aren’t reading current titles and are thinking about doing so again, DC is the place to start. You get great superhero adventures at a more affordable price than most of the competition. During my most prolific comic buying years, I’ve been a “Make Mine Marvel” kind of reader, but that certainly isn’t the case when it comes to current comics. While I still love my older Marvel titles, you can’t beat what DC is putting on the racks. But why trust me? Buy an issue and see for yourself. The cover price of Detective Comics #935 is $2.99, while the current value of this variant is $5.

 

Cool comics in my collection #417: Swamp Thing: Future’s End #1, November 2014.

Back in 2014, during “The New 52” era, DC used the month of November (although they came out in September) to take a five-year look ahead in their universe of titles, which they called “Future’s End.” This is another reason I’m glad I purchased and opened my Walmart 3-packs, because otherwise I would have missed out on some good stories. While I was never a regular reader of Swamp Thing, I have an appreciation for the character, and ironically enough, just a few weeks ago I read issue #1 via comiXology. That issue originally came out on October 31, 1972, so it will be 45 years old in about six months. Was it really that long ago? I remember seeing Swamp Thing on the comic racks as a kid, but I didn’t care much for monster comics back then. And to be honest, I can’t remember if anyone in my neighborhood ever read it. The only issue I ever owned before this one was a 1982 annual that was the official adaptation of the movie. Yes, if you didn’t know it, there was a Swamp Thing movie way back then. This Future’s End Swamp Thing came with the standard cover, and I just mention that because DC also released one with a 3D motion cover. The cover price of Swamp Thing: Future’s End is $2.99, while the current value is $3.

 

Cool comics in my collection #418: Batman Eternal #22, November 2014.

I’ve bought 16 different Walmart 3-packs with Variants on top, and of the 32 regular comics tucked underneath, three of them were different issues of Batman Eternal. Before any of this, I wasn’t at all familiar with the story, the history behind it, and if Batman Eternal happened to be worth reading. And while I’m not going to go into all of that here, I will tell you that of the two issues I’ve read so far, I really liked them. This was a limited series that came out on a weekly basis for a year, and I would think the main complaint would be the expense to those who happened to be on a budget. And if you are a Batman fan, how can you say no? We love to have variety and plenty of choices for where and how we spend our entertainment dollar(s), but sometimes what is being offered just isn’t affordable. And whereas I have great memories of taking my pocketful of change to the local mom and pop shop that had candy, snacks, chips, and comic books, and walking out with 3 or 4 titles for a dollar or less, kids can’t say the same in today’s market. Those were the days, my friend. The cover price of Batman Eternal #22 is $2.99, while the current value is $3.

 

 

Recently Read Digital Comics

Some of my earliest memories of science fiction include the original Star Trek television series, followed by The Animated Series. My older sister bought the paperback books that turned episodes into short stories, and I can remember reading them while camped out on the family couch. The Star Trek movie from 2009, while controversial to some, paved the way for new adventures, along with revamping original characters. Star Trek Vol. 1 from IDW Publishing collects the first 4 issues of a 60-issue run that follows on the heels of this movie, and includes the character Gary Mitchell from the episode “Where No Man Has Gone Before.” The writers did a good job with characterization, making the actions and dialogue fit, based on the movie. If you are a Star Trek fan, you may want to give this series a try. And by the way, I read it for free via Amazon Prime Reading. If you are an Amazon Prime member, you can now read selected magazines and comic books each month at no additional charge. The retail value of this digital collection is $7.99.

Feeling Like a Champion with Recent Find!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 80, 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 80…

 

Cool Comics News!

This week Cool Comics is giving the DC Walmart 3 packs a rest and taking a look at some Marvel mid-Seventies issues. Also, if you haven’t signed up here for my newsletter yet, you may want to do it now. Soon, I’ll be giving away a dozen or so copies of my newest audiobook via a random drawing, and you have to be a subscriber to find out how to enter.

 

Cool comics in my collection #413: The Champions #1, October 1975.

Regular readers of Cool Comics know that my favorite era is the Seventies, so it’s no surprise that on this off week from DC Walmart Variants, I have to give more love to my generation. Last Saturday Mrs. Gosney, the youngest daughter, and I, happened to stop in a comic shop where I hadn’t previously ventured: J C Comics & Cards in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. There is a certain series I’m trying to finish up (I still need something like 44 issues), and while I’ve currently exhausted the back issue boxes of my regular store, I thought I’d do a little advance scouting and see what I could find at J C. And bingo, it looks like I may be able to get some of what I need, but I didn’t want to spend an hour looking through boxes and leave my family waiting. Yes, I’ll be back, but in the meantime, there are certain things I typically look for when in a shop, and currently it’s the short run of The Champions from the mid-Seventies. Before Saturday, I had issues 3 through 17, but as you can see, I finally located #1. It’s in very nice condition, and the price was a low $10! This is a bit of an unusual team-up book when you consider the line-up of heroes, but it’s lots of fun. Issue 2—you can run, but you can’t hide! I’ll find you sooner or later. The cover price of The Champions #1 is 25 cents, while the current value is $50.

 

Cool comics in my collection #414: Captain America #197, May 1976.

More Madbomb mayhem for Cap and the Falcon! This cover may be familiar even if you weren’t alive or reading comics back in 1976, as it’s been reprinted on different collectibles over the last few years. Written during a period of political unrest in the country, this storyline in Captain America was a little on the strange side for me and my buddies. Today, it seems like far more adults read comics than kids do, but back then, I don’t recall ever seeing adults looking at the comics when I road my bike up to Slicks in Martins Ferry, Ohio, to peruse over the comic stand, carefully weigh decisions, then drop a handful of quarters on the counter. I’m sure there were some grownups reading about Steve and Sam’s adventures through a dark America, and probably getting the deeper meanings behind the story, but as far as kids were concerned, we didn’t much like the politics. Still, I’ve always held a special place in my heart for this Star-Spangled Avenger, so I kept handing over my change. The cover price of Captain America #197 is 25 cents, while the current value is $18.

 

Cool comics in my collection #415: Power Man #42, April 1977.

Can you believe the price?! Suddenly comic books went up a nickel, and kids were scrambling around for a little extra change to help pay for their four-color habit. Whether it was delivering papers, mowing lawns, or searching for empty pop bottles to turn in at the local store to get the deposit money back (remember when that was a thing and you’d put your empty bottles back in the cartoon and then take them to the grocery store and get money for them?), kids would find a way to keep reading their favorite superhero exploits. But because of rising prices, gas shortages, and other tactics parents would use as a weapon to hinder our favorite pastime, we had tough decisions to make when gazing at the new issues every week. I didn’t know Luke Cage all that well back in those days. My only exposure to him was when he filled in for the Thing with the Fantastic Four the previous year. Ben Grimm lost his powers by reverting back to his normal body, and Reed Richards wanted muscle on the team. So he found a “Hero for Hire” in Fantastic Four #168. Problem was it made me sympathetic for Ben, and I held a bit of a grudge against Cage. Therefore, I didn’t read his comic back in the Seventies. Besides, I could afford only so many issues per month. As an adult, I’ve bought some back issues and now see the error of my ways. The cover price of Power Man #42 is 30 cents, while the current value is $10.

 

Recently Read Digital Comics

In December 2015, DC put out the first issue of a comic called Superman: Lois and Clark. It followed up the Convergence storyline (I haven’t read those yet) and features the Kents, along with their young son, Jon, after their Earth gets wiped from reality and they try to make a go of it on a similar, yet different, Earth. This one already has a Lois and Clark, so they live in California, rather than Metropolis, and keep their identities a secret, even from their own child. The series ran 8 issues, and then DC packaged it as a trade paperback collection for $18, putting “Road to Rebirth” across the top. You know I’ve been talking over the last few months about how impressed I am with the Rebirth comics (I have only read the ones that come out in the Walmart Variant packs), and this story helped explain some of my questions. I saw the digital comiXology version on sale for $5.99, which made my decision easy. If you haven’t read this, you might like it as much as I did. The story is easy to follow, the art is pleasing and not confusing to the eye, and it gives you those good feelings you had as a kid when you read comic books. If I were buying new superhero comics today on a weekly basis, DC’s offerings would be at the top of my list.

Superman and Batman: DC Icons

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 79, 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 79…

 

Cool Comics News!

Okay, we’re back once more to cover three of the recent Walmart Variant comic 3-packs. If, like me, you aren’t a current reader of the DC Rebirth issues, these variants give you a taste of the direction DC has gone, and from what I’ve read, I like them.

 

Cool comics in my collection #410: Batman #1 (Walmart Variant), April 2017.

If you buy Batman monthly, the cover of this one may confuse you, due to the numbering of this Walmart Variant. There’s a nice big “1” in a circle, but the artwork matches issue #9 from December 2016. Because it’s the same issue. DC is trying to get some interesting comics out there to pull in new readers, so this deal with Walmart has them putting #1 on all the covers of the variants, regardless of the real issue number. Perhaps psychological reasoning that it’s easier to get people to start with issue #1? If you know the real reason, please tell us in the comments section at the bottom of the blog. So how do you find out the real issue number? The small print at the front or back of the comic (the indicia – DC puts this in the back now) gives you the information, and for this Batman comic, it tells us it was originally published as “BATMAN 9 REBIRTH.” Of course, you can’t read this unless you open your 3-pack, and I know some people aren’t doing that. Which leaves the other two issues as a mystery. I have no idea if DC is being consistent on what comes in each pack, but I’m reporting on all 24 issues from the most recent eight collections, so you can keep coming back here to see what else I got. My guess is that most collectors already have these other comics, but since I haven’t been buying new ones since 2003, these are new to me. If you like Batman but haven’t read him the last few years, these 3-packs gave me a lot of comics featuring the Dark Knight, so you may want to see if your local Walmart has any left. The cover price of Batman #9 is $2.99, while the current value of this variant is $5.

 

Cool comics in my collection #411: Smallville: Chaos #3, December 2014.

I watched all ten seasons of Smallville, and was excited to see this issue of a Smallville mini-series in one of my 3-packs from Walmart. DC marketed this with Smallville viewers in mind by putting “Season 11 Continues!” on the cover. The TV show gave us an interesting look at Lex Luthor, who becomes a friend to Clark. But with Superman’s number one nemesis, things aren’t always what they seem, and I thought the writers did a nice job handling the character. Even though I didn’t read issues 1 and 2, I had enough familiarity with the show and characters that I could enjoy the comic. I’ve said it on here before, and I’ll say it again: Superman always brings my father to mind. My dad was a fan, owned several of the original Superman comic books (which met a painful end during World War 2 when he sent them to a cousin in the Navy, and the ship ended up destroyed in battle), and we saw the 1978 movie together. Later in life, my dad had me buy new Superman comics for him, following the famous “Death of Superman” storyline. So I have great memories when it comes to the Man of Steel. And that makes finding this comic in my 3-pack even more special. The cover price of Smallville: Chaos #3 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

Cool comics in my collection #412: Batman/Superman #32, July 2016.

No doubt, when it comes to DC Comics, Batman and Superman are the “World’s Finest,” a former title that I’m guessing many of you are familiar with. Whether titled Superman/Batman, Batman/Superman, or, once again, World’s Finest, the pairing of these two iconic characters is bound to please many readers. When I opened one of my Walmart 3-packs and found this issue, I figured it had to be a good comic, and I was right. It’s the last in the series, and this red cover is actually a second printing, so I’m guessing that other readers enjoyed it as well. I’ve read a number of newer DC comics now that I’ve been buying the Walmart Variant packs, and I can say that I’m pleased with the direction they’ve been going in. I know that some of these are from “The New 52” era, but I’ve liked reading them, also. In the past, the majority of my comic buying tended towards Marvel titles, but I think if I were buying comics on a weekly basis today, DC would be taking most of my money. The cover price of Batman/Superman #32 (2nd Printing) is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

 

 

Recently Read Digital Comics

Jughead Volume One covers the first six issues of this revised Archieverse title, along with a bonus of the first issue of the newer Archie series written by Mark Waid. I read this collection on my tablet using the Archie Comics app, but if you’re thinking of getting any digital Archieverse comics, the comiXology app is much better, as you can read panel by panel with it. In defense of the Archie app though, I will mention that if your tablet is large enough, you can easily read the full page. I’ve read some digital Marvel and DC comics that have so much fine print that without the individual panel option, you practically need a magnifying glass. While these six issues of Jughead were entertaining, they certainly aren’t in the same league as the new Archie series, so it was no surprise when I read that Mark Waid will be taking over the writing chores for the Riverdale teen sporting the whoopee cap, too. These first six issues had a few dream sequences with Jughead. Perhaps Waid could have Jughead dream about visiting Goober Pyle on The Andy Griffith Show and comparing their headgear.