Ed Gosney's Blog, page 44

Marvelous Memories of the Seventies

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 31, where we take a where we take a nostalgic look at six comic books I currently own, and one that I let get away.

For each of the comic books below, 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), as long as there are seven comics in your episode (you can still own all seven, or do it like me and include one you no longer own). Send your completed blog to edgosney62@gmail.com.

Special Announcement: Anyone going to Oddmall in Akron, Ohio, this weekend? If you click on the link and then go to the Panels page, notice that on Saturday at 3 p.m. I’m doing a panel on comic book nostalgia! Oddmall is free, so come to the John S. Knight Center and stop by to see me. I’ll be giving away goodies while we talk about our comic book memories.

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 31…

Cool comics in my collection #197: The Amazing Spider-Man #132, May 1974.

“THE MOLTEN MAN STRIKES AGAIN!” This is the second Spider-Man comic I bought directly off the newsstand rack when I was a kid. When I saw the cover, I thought the Molten Man looked like such a cool bad guy, so I couldn’t dig a quarter out of my pocket fast enough! The thing that boggles my mind today was how I ever let six months go by without buying another issue (I think I bought a few Marvel Tales, and didn’t realize they were reprints) until this one came out. And because of that childhood blunder, I missed out on #129, the first appearance of The Punisher. What was I thinking? My best buddy who lived across the alley from me had that issue, but at the time, neither of us knew just how important it was to become. Who knows why an eleven-year-old does what he does? Regardless, I enjoyed issue 132, and that’s what it’s really all about. The cover price of The Amazing Spider-Man #132 is 25 cents, while the current value is $80.

 

Cool comics in my collection #198: Thor #216, October 1973.

“THIS IS IT! THE FINAL BATTLE WITH THE 4-D MAN!” This is the first issue of the regular, ongoing Thor that I purchased, way back in time, just before I turned eleven. The month before, I bought Marvel Spectacular #2, and thought the reprint story with Thor and Hercules together was awesome, so I wanted more Thor. Plus, I’d been watching the old Marvel cartoons with Thor and liked the funny talking Asgardian. Things look bad for Thor on the cover, and I had to find out how my hero would get out of this jam. Just a few blocks from where I lived in Martins Ferry, Ohio, there was a little newsstand/party store called Slicks. For a kid, it was the ultimate, because they had great candy, awesome drinks, and comic books galore! And they carried fantastic monster magazines. If you happened to go past it in the seventies, you’d often see a number of bikes parked on the sidewalk, and the store would be full of kids unloading change from their pockets in exchange for these wonderful memories we have today. The cover price of Thor #216 is 20 cents, while the current value is $26.

 

Cool comics in my collection #199: Captain America #188, August 1975.

“THE ASSAULT OF THE ALCHEMOID!” I bought this issue in the summer when I was twelve years old. I’d be entering the seventh grade in the fall, and soon after become a teenager. As we get older, we often tend to attribute a certain magic to that age. And I think I know why people say this: no bills to pay; less chores than we have as we get older; not as much homework; and lack of the awkwardness we face in our teen years. When I think of the summer of being twelve, I think of Little League Baseball, Fireworks in July, riding bikes with my pals, and going to the little store where we bought our comic books and monster magazines. It was a good summer, and just seeing the cover of this issue of Captain America floods my mind with visions of the past. I can smell hot dogs being cooked out on the grill, feel the juice from a freshly bitten piece of watermelon running down my chin, and hear the boom of firecrackers going off around my neighborhood. As enjoyable as the interior stories of these comic books are, I also appreciate how they launch me backward through time and let me once more experience the magic of being twelve years old. The cover price of Captain America #188 is 25 cents, while the current value is $16. The memories it invokes are priceless.

 

Cool comics in my collection #200: Omega the Unknown #3, July 1976.

“BURN WHILE YOU LEARN!” While my comic book collecting started slowing down a bit by 1976, I was hooked on the mysteries going on in the pages of Omega the Unknown. Somehow there was a connection between the earth boy, James-Michael Starling, and Omega, an alien construct. Unfortunately, not as many fans appreciated the comic book as I did, and the title lasted just ten issues. Issue 10 came out in October of 1977, and for some reason I didn’t buy it. Maybe the store didn’t order it, or maybe it ran out before I got there. I just can’t recall. And I really didn’t buy as many comic books anymore, opting instead for monster magazines, books, and hanging out with my friends, and geez, weren’t we all getting a little too old for comic books? How many things would we change if we could step into yesteryear, from simple things like buying certain comic books and baseball cards, to more complicated issues such as decisions we made that we regret to this day? But our choices of the past formed who we are today. Some might be willing to make that exchange, but I’m pretty happy right where I am. We all make mistakes, and just like Omega the Unknown, sometimes you have to burn while you learn. The cover price of Omega the Unknown #3 is 25 cents, while the current value is $10.

 

Cool comics in my collection #201: Marvel Team-Up #22, June 1974.

“SHOCK FOLLOWS SHOCK! WITHIN THESE PAGES LURKS – – THE MESSIAH MACHINE!” This issue of Marvel Team-Up features Spider-Man and Hawkeye trying to stop the plans of the living computer, Quasimodo. I loved Marvel Team-Up in during the seventies. It was always fun to see what heroes would be pitted together to face off against the forces of evil! And this had such a different feel from traditional team comics, like the Avengers, the X-Men, and the Justice League of America, because those heroes were typically used to being together. But in Marvel Team-Up, you’d often get unlikely pairings. But in my neighborhood in 1974, we didn’t have unlikely pairings. We were more like a team who’d been training and fighting together for a long time. We played baseball, football, kick the can, ride bikes, go to the city swimming pool, explore the hills, and sneak down to the river, all as a special kind of team-up. We’d act out superhero roles together, too, and even take turns being the bad guy. We all watched those goofy Marvel cartoons from the sixties and Super Friends on Saturday morning. I have great memories of playing with my friends in those days, and buying comic books with them, too. The cover price of Marvel Team-Up #22 is 25 cents, while the current value is $13.

 

Cool comics in my collection #202: Marvel Triple Action #14, October 1973.

“VENGENCE IS OURS!” I was just short of turning eleven when I bought this comic, and I had no clue it was a reprint. And I don’t think it would have made a difference to me. I didn’t own the original and certainly hadn’t read it. All I knew was that Captain America was being thrown off a building, and I had to see if he survived! I was clueless as to the other characters on the cover (Scarlett Witch, Quicksilver, Hawkeye), but they are pretty famous today, especially with all the Marvel movies. And they seemed to be just as upset as I was that Cap was in such great danger! That makes me think of the buddies I had while growing up. We certainly had our share of arguments, fights, and silly antics, but when it came down to it, we watched out for each other and stuck together. I’m blessed to have lots of great memories from my childhood days. Sometimes I like to step back in time and just enjoy the memories of certain sights, sounds, tastes, and colors that I shared with my friends. Though we didn’t fight crime like the Avengers, we did have some super adventures. I guess that’s why so many of the stories I write have kids and young teens. The cover price of Marvel Triple Action #14 is 20 cents, while the current value is $6.

 

Cool comics in my collection #203 (One That Got Away): Fantastic Four #168, March 1976.

“REPLACED BY POWER MAN!” Due to excessive gamma ray exposure from the Hulk, Ben Grimm has reverted to his previous form as an ordinary human being. So he gets what he always seemed to want, his normal life back, but at the same time he also loses something. The Fantastic Four have always been more of a family, rather than a team. But in life, things change. And at the time I bought this comic, things were changing in my life. My neighborhood pals and I were getting older, new kids moved in to our lives, others moved out, parents and grandparents faced health issues, and we had to decide if it was still cool to buy comic books or not. Well, we kept reading them a little longer, but it wasn’t the same. When I reflect back on my childhood, I tend to reminisce in an optimistic fashion. Why do I want to think about fights, and friendships coming to an end? Yet looking at the cover of this issue, I can’t help but remember that things don’t always turn out the way we want them to. Nevertheless, with change comes growth, helping to form and shape us—prepare us—for the life we must eventually face as adults. It’s rare when I reflect back on my childhood and ponder the negative, because I have so many bright spots of memory to keep me smiling. The cover price of Fantastic Four #168 is 25 cents, while the current value is $12.

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Feel Like a Kid Again with Harvey Comics!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 30, where we take a nostalgic look at seven comic books I currently own. This week is a special tribute to characters from my youth, Harvey Comics. And while I wasn’t a reader of the comics, I knew most of the heroes of these pages from their cartoons. Maybe you remember them, too.

For each of the comic books below, 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), as long as there are seven comics in your episode (you can still own all seven, or do it like me and include one you no longer own). 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 30…

Cool comics in my collection #190: Richie Rich #80, April 1969.

Harvey Comics weren’t a part of my childhood, but I was aware of them via cartoons and other neighborhood kids who would be the occasional issue. I did get a few Richie Rich digests when I was a little older, around 14 or so, and I talk about that a bit in CCMC #196 below. Why now? Why not! As regular readers know, I’m trying to mix it up a bit in my comic book reading and collecting, and doing a week of Harvey Comics proved to be fun. Obviously they are more juvenile than the typical superhero stories, not to mention westerns and war comics. But sometimes it’s fun to find your inner child and just enjoy these comics for kids. And who didn’t want to be Richie Rich when they were young? Or even today, for that matter! One of the interesting things about the Harvey Comics is that each one starts off with a one-page short, before delving into slightly longer stories. Often there are guests too, which makes it fun. In this issue of Richie Rich there are two stories featuring Little Dot, and one with Little Lotta, which was my favorite. But perhaps the coolest page of all was an ad to join the Kellog’s Banana Splits Club. All it cost was a cereal box top and 25 cents, and you’d get all sorts of goodies like a membership card, a 16-page booklet, an official pennant, an autographed club picture, and more! My wife was a card-carrying member of this prestigious club. I bought this comic earlier this year at Kenmore Komics for $2.50. The cover price of Richie Rich #80 is 12 cents, while the current value is $25.

 

Cool comics in my collection #191: Baby Huey and Papa #15, January 1965.

I don’t know how the giant baby phase started, or even why it proved to be popular, but maybe just because it’s fun and something different than the norm. Baby Huey can be a walking disaster, but at the same time make you laugh at his antics. This comic proved to be fun reading and the ten-year-old hiding inside me got a kick out of Baby Huey’s simple attitude during his adventures. Other guest stories in this issue include Buzzy the Funny Crow, and Herman and Katnip. I wasn’t at all familiar with these characters, and if they appeared in any cartoons I saw, those memories must have been deleted from my brain. Their stories were just okay, especially compared to the Baby Huey tales, which were lots of fun. . I bought this comic earlier this year at Kenmore Komics for $2. The cover price of Baby Huey and Papa #15 is 12 cents, while the current value is $28.

 

Cool comics in my collection #192: Casper, The Friendly Ghost #25, September 1960.

Casper has been around since 1939 and is a pretty familiar character. He’s been in books, comic books, cartoons, and even the silver screen. I have memories of watching Casper cartoons as a kid, and many of you probably do also. I like reflecting back on those Saturday morning cartoons, which were such a huge part of my childhood in the sixties and seventies. The comic contained several shorts and a guest story that featured “The Tuff Little Ghost Spooky.” I can’t say I remember Spooky if he ever appeared on the cartoons. His story was so-so, but Casper’s were actually pretty entertaining. I bought this comic earlier this year at Kenmore Komics for $3.50. The cover price of Casper #25 is 10 cents, while the current value is $70.

 

Cool comics in my collection #193: Devil Kids Starring Hot Stuff #15, November 1964.

First a ghost and now a devil? What was Harvey trying to do to us kids?! Fortunately, the heroes of these comics and cartoons were pretty peaceful, and Hot Stuff tried to be a good little devil. This issue features a few Hot Stuff stories, along with a couple that star another character I wasn’t familiar with (or at least couldn’t remember if he was ever on Saturday morning cartoons), Stumbo the Giant. Back when I was a kid, I don’t remember seeing anyone in my neighborhood with any Hot Stuff comics. I remember one girl who read Richie Rich, but I don’t recall seeing her with any of the other Harvey Comic characters. I recently bought this issue at Kenmore Komics for $3.50. The cover price of Devil Kids Starring Hot Stuff #15 is 12 cents, while the current value is $35.

 

Cool comics in my collection #194: Little Audrey and Melvin #42, October 1969.

Little Audrey appeared in the Harvey cartoons, from what I read, but I don’t recall seeing them. This comic has several adventures with both Little Audrey and Melvin, and unlike the previous Harvey Comics this week, there are no guest appearances, just the title characters. The stories were entertaining, and probably would have been more fun back when I was ten years old. According to Wikipedia, by 1960 she was the most popular female Harvey character, but later faded behind the likes of Little Dot, Wendy, and Little Lotta. You can find some full featured Little Audrey cartoons on YouTube. I bought this issue a few weeks back at Kenmore Komics for $1.50. The cover price of Little Audrey and Melvin #42 is 15 cents, while the current value is $20.

 

Cool comics in my collection #195: Wendy The Good Little Witch #67, June 1971

Wendy is a very familiar character to most people, regardless of age. She’s been around since 1954, most often teamed up with Casper. Remember the 1998 movie Casper Meets Wendy? It featured Hilary Duff as the good little witch. Much like Casper, who lives with ghosts who try to scare people, Wendy lives with witches who are bad, but she is good. The Tuff Little Ghost Spooky has 2 solo stories in this issue, as does Casper. Wendy may be on the cover, but she doesn’t fill much of the interior. I don’t know if this is the case in most of her comics or not. Also, her costume looks sort of like a Forever Lazy, and she has no problem going around in public casting her spells in it. I bought this issue at Kenmore Komics early in 2016 for $6. The cover price of Wendy The Good Little Witch is 15 cents, while the current value is $20.

 

Cool comics in my collection #196: Richie Rich Digest Stories #1, October 1977.

When I was young, I didn’t buy any of the Harvey Comics, but in my early teen years, I did pick up a few digest issues. They were easy to hold when reading in bed, and I liked the way they stacked so easily on my bookshelf. Another advantage is the longer page count. So I bought this issue when I was fourteen, and now I know why my eyes have progressively gotten worse over the years, because the print is so small I can barely read it today! This digest issue also has stories featuring Little Dot and Little Lotta. All of these Harvey Comics have complete stories in them. Granted, they aren’t long and complex like many super hero comics, but you can buy any of these issues (at least from my experience) and read complete, entertaining stories. I bought this comic in my hometown of Martins Ferry, Ohio, off the rack. The cover price of Richie Rich Digest Stories #1 is 75 cents, while the current value is $12.

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Saddle Up, It’s Western Comic Book Week!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 29, where we take a nostalgic look at six comic books I currently own, and one that I let get away.

For each of the comic books below, 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.

I want to give a big “Thank you!” to last week’s guest blogger, Gary Wilton. I’m having fun seeing what other people come up with on their cool comics list.

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), as long as there are seven comics in your episode (you can still own all seven, or do it like me and include one you no longer own). 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 29…

Cool comics in my collection #183: Tom Mix Western #7, July 1948.

“THUNDERING HOOF BEAT A TATTOO OF THRILLS ACROSS THE WESTERN PLAINS Starring THE MOST FAMOUS COWBOY OF THE WEST!” That’s a real mouthful, but Tom Mix was as big as they come in the early days of western movies. If you look him up on IMDb (Internet Movie Database), you’ll see that he has 281 acting credits. The reason I know his name is that he gets mentioned several times in the old TV show The Beverly Hillbillies. Tom lived from 1880 to 1940, but is immortalized via movie magic, and comic books, too. I bought this old Fawcett Publication issue for $10 at Kenmore Komics and was excited to find it when I decided to dedicate an entire episode to Western comic books. Also, this is now the oldest comic book in my collection. It will turn 68 this summer! When it comes to this genre of comics, my education was sorely lacking, but I made up for it and learned how enjoyable these funny page cowboys can be. This was a great old comic and I will try to add more issues to my collection. The cover price of Tom Mix Western is 10 cents, while the current value is $275.

Cool comics in my collection #184: The Sons of Katie Elder #1, September 1965.

“TROUBLE AHEAD…WHEN FOUR ENRAGED BROTHERS SHOOT IT OUT WITH THE TOWN THAT TURNED AGAINST THEM!” I’ll be the first to admit I’ve never seen this movie, but that didn’t stop me from buying the comic to add to my growing collection of westerns. The cover of this issue is a photo featuring stars John Wayne, Dean Martin, Earl Holliman, and Michael Anderson, Jr. Other actors you might recognize include Dennis Hopper, George Kennedy, and James Gregory, to name a few. One of the things I liked about this comic is how the artist showed the hitch in the walk of the character by John Wayne. Anyone who has watched a Wayne movie knows what I’m talking about. Underneath the Dell logo and the price in the top left corner it says, “Movie Classic.” Dell probably licensed to put out others, so I’ll be on the lookout. I bought this a couple of months ago at Kenmore Komics in Akron, Ohio, for $8. The cover price of The Sons of Katie Elder is 12 cents, while the current value is $200.

Cool comics in my collection #185: The Outlaw Kid #6, June 1971.

“SIX-GUN SHOOT OUT!” The Outlaw Kid is the beginning of a string of “Kid” heroes in western comics I’ve added to my collection. Why all the Kids? I don’t really know, but if you have the answer, please leave a comment below. Lance Temple is a Civil War veteran and a lawyer, and he fights the bad men of the west as the Outlaw Kid. The Kid originally made his comic debut in 1954 and rode into the hearts and minds of western lovers until 1957. Then from 1970 to 1975, he was resurrected again, mostly in reprints. This issue contains four stories of his exploits, and I enjoyed getting to know him and seeing that the Outlaw Kid is really one of the good guys. I bought this issue at Kenmore Komics for $3. The cover price of The Outlaw Kid #6 is 15 cents, while the current value is $14.

Cool comics in my collection #186: The Mighty Marvel Western #17, June 1972.

“AMBUSH AT BLACKSNAKE MESA!” The Mighty Marvel Western features The Rawhide Kid, Kid Colt, and Two-Gun Kid. See, I told you there were lots of Kids in these western comics! Much like the aforementioned Outlaw Kid comic, this issue contains various “Kid” stories that are reprints from an earlier age. Of course those comics are out of the range of my budget, so these reprints from the seventies are quite handy in exploring the Old West. Here we are treated to two stories of The Rawhide Kid and one each of Kid Colt and Two-Gun Kid. This issue cost me just $1.50 at Kenmore Komics, making it an inexpensive foray into these western heroes. I enjoyed these adventures and wouldn’t mind adding additional issues into my collection. The cover price of The Mighty Marvel Western #17 is 20 cents, while the current value is $20.

Cool comics in my collection #187: Cheyenne Kid #85, July 1971.

“BLOOD BROTHER.” After reading about four western characters named “Kid” from Marvel, now we get Charlton Comics own Cheyenne Kid. Charlton published comics from 1945 until 1986, but never gained the popularity of a Marvel or DC (DC bought some of the Charlton characters in the early eighties, including Captain Atom and Blue Beetle). The only Charlton Comics I remember owning during my first phase of comic collecting were a couple issues of The Phantom and Fightin’ Marines. This western from 1971 had some decent stories in it, but the art looked older and it reminded me of earlier comics, leaving me to wonder if this material wasn’t reprinted from a previous decade or two. But the cover claims that it’s “All New Stories & Art.” The style was just different from typical seventies fare. The interior has an ad for selling GRIT, billed as “America’s Greatest Family Newspaper.” I tried that for a while in my younger days, going door to door to earn more pennies to buy more comics. I’m certainly glad those days are past! All in all, it wasn’t a bad read. I picked it up at Kenmore Komics for just $1.50. The cover price of Cheyenne Kid #85 is 15 cents, while the current value is $9.

Cool comics in my collection #188: Bat Lash #7, November 1969.

“WANTED–DEAD OR ALIVE!” Bat Lash had a decent plot with a frustrating ending…made even more so by the fact that it was the last issue in the series. I liked the art and the writing, and if the back issue prices are any indication, this is a short-lived western series that people want to add to their collection. I certainly wouldn’t mind adding issues 1 through 6. While DC has perhaps the most famous of the western comic book heroes in Jonah Hex, DC has tried to do more with Bat Lash, resurrecting him a couple of times in the 21st Century. But it’s a different world we live in today, I before long, there probably won’t be many people desiring to add Western Comics to their collections, which is too bad. I came late to the show, but developed an affinity towards these hombres from our past who represent a big part of our history. I know I’ll continue to look for more western comics. I bought this one a couple months ago at Kenmore Komics for $4. The cover price of Bat Lash #7 is 15 cents, while the current value is $60.

Cool comics in my collection #189 (One That Got Away): Zorro #1, January 1994.

“PREQUEL IN A HOSTILE LANDSCAPE.” When my third phase of comic book collecting started up in 1993, Topps (yes, the same company that gave us sports cards for decades) decided to give comic books a go. Zorro happened to be one of the characters they set their hopes on, and it really wasn’t a bad comic. I bought this issue at a shop in Atlanta, Georgia, when it first came out. The adventures of Zorro are pretty different from the typical cowboy western comics I have listed above, but I liked it enough at the time to buy and read several issues. When my collection became overwhelming and I had to make decisions of what to keep, Zorro didn’t make the cut and was sold at a garage sale. The cover price of Zorro #1 is $2.50, while the current value is $3.

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Legend Gary’s Cool Comics!

Welcome to Episode 28 of Cool Comics In My Collection! My name is Gary Wilton and I’ll be your guest host this week as we take a look at 6 comics in my collection that I find to be really cool and 1 that wasn’t cool enough and I let it get away. First, a little about myself. I’ve been collecting for about 26 years. My love of comics started with The Savage Sword of Conan. My mother would pick it up every month and then we would read it together. Eventually, one title a month wasn’t enough, and my interest in the hobby grew from there. I currently run an eBay store called Legend Gary’s Comic Books & Games. I’m planning on opening a comic store in the near future.

Cool comics in Gary’s collection #1: Sea Bear & Grizzly Shark #1, June 2010.

Before Sharktopus vs. Pteracuda or Sharknado, there was Sea Bear & Grizzly Shark. I’ve always been a big fan of cheesy Sci-Fi/Horror films so this comic was right up my alley. You have a Grizzly Bear that prowls the ocean depths and a great white shark that lurks in woods. Plenty of gore in this one. Although they are two separate stories, maybe we will get a crossover one day. It currently books at $5.
Cool comics in Gary’s collection #2: Wonder Woman #219, September 2005.

Wonder Woman vs. Superman! This is one of my favorite issues by my favorite writer, Greg Rucka! Marvel as Wonder Woman goes toe to toe with Big Blue! Superman having the weak mind that he does gets mind controlled by Maxwell Lord. Wonder Woman decides to intervene and a fight breaks out. Being the trained warrior that she is, Wonder Woman is getting the better of Superman. He ends up breaking her arm at some point and she realizes that although she is the better fighter, Superman will never get tired so she will eventually lose.  She uses her tiara to cut Superman’s throat which buys her enough time to make the hard decisions that Batman and Superman can’t make. She practically twists Maxwell Lord’s head clean off. With Max dead the mind control on Superman is broken. As usual the Kryptonian has a hissy fit about killing and Wonder Woman gets arrested. If you are not a Wonder Woman fan after this read, you probably never will be. This issue books at $3.
Cool comics in Gary’s collection #3: Daredevil #163, March 1980.

The reason I think this comic is so cool is because of the fight between Daredevil and the Hulk. Up until I found this issue at a used book store, all of the hero vs. hero stories I had read ended in a draw. There was never a definitive winner. That all changed with this book. Not only was there a clear winner but it wasn’t even the main character. Daredevil does well considering who he’s fighting. He is managing to avoid all of the Hulk’s blows while landing a bunch of his own. The Hulk finally manages to connect once and that’s the end of the fight. The issue ends with some paramedics scraping Daredevil off of the street. Comicbookrealm.com currently lists this issue for $60.
Cool comics in Gary’s collection #4: Lobo Paramilitary Christmas Special #1, 1991.

This is one of my favorite comics off all time. I knew nothing about Lobo or even heard of him when I purchased this issue. I bought this issue because the cover had Santa lying on the ground bleeding from a stab wound while some maniac stood over him grinning. I thought, with that cover this book has to be good. Boy was I right. The Easter bunny takes out a contract on Santa and mayhem ensues. Full pages of elf brains being blown out of their heads, limbs flying in every direction and a couple of decapitations. I couldn’t believe that there were comics of this caliber and I had been missing out on them. I became an instant fan of the Main Man. You can own this amazing issue for less than $5.
Cool comics in Gary’s collection #5: G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #21, March 1984.

It was hard for me to decide which G.I. Joe issue to include just because I’m such a huge G.I. Joe fan but I went with #21. This issue is known as the silent issue but it is also the first appearance of Storm Shadow. For those that don’t read G.I. Joe Snake-eyes can’t speak and this issue is all about him infiltrating a Cobra base. He runs into Storm Shadow and a whole bunch of action takes place. There aren’t any speaking lines in the issue, the story is told with the art. I thought it was a really cool idea. Fast forward some years later to an article in Wizard magazine. They were counting down some “worst of” things or something like that. This issue made the list because of the “lack of writing.” Wizard slammed it pretty hard at the time. Then after 9-11 Marvel put out several silent issues and Wizard praised them. I just thought, you dirty dogs, after ripping one of my favorite G.I. Joe issues a new one you turn around and give praise for the exact same thing. It currently books at $30.
Cool comics in Gary’s collection #6: Iron Man #55, February 1973.

The first appearance of Thanos! After reading the Infinity Gauntlet mini-series in the early 90s I had to know more about Thanos. I started buying every issue with him in it. He became my favorite Marvel character. It took a few years for me to justify spending the money on this issue but in 1999 I finally forked over the $80 for this issue. It instantly became my most prized comic. Unfortunately, I just had it graded so I can’t read it to refresh my memory. I know the Blood Brothers are running around and Thanos has a few laughs at Iron Man’s expense. CBR values a 9.4 at $1800.
The one that got away: Daredevil #168, January 1981.

The first appearance of Elektra. I actually owned this issue for a short time. I found it at a used book store for $1. I wasn’t an Elektra fan at all, but I knew it was a key issue. I kept it until the Daredevil and Elektra movies came out. I sold it shortly after for $20 because I figured those movies killed any interest anybody had in this character. Then Netflix picked up Daredevil and this book has steadily gone up. Current book value, $220.



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Where Did You Go, Devil Dinosaur?

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 27, where we take a nostalgic look at six comic books I currently own, and one that I let get away.

For each of the comic books below, 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.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Guest blogger Kevin G. Summers did a fantastic job last week! And maybe it encouraged you to decide to write about your 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), as long as there are seven comics in your episode (you can still own all seven, or do it like me and include one you no longer own). If the idea interests you and you have questions about it, please email me at edgosney62@gmail.com.

And now the moment you’ve been waiting for: the winners of the audiobook of The Paladin by Kevin G. Summers are Justin and Ray! Since you both left comments in last week’s episode, Kevin wanted each of you to get the prize. You should have already received an email from me with everything you need to collect your audiobook. Also, the best way to thank Kevin for this is by leaving him a review (it can be just a short comment) on Amazon after you’ve listened to the audiobook.

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 27…

Cool comics in my collection #176: The Amazing Spider-Man #118, March 1973.

“THE SMASHER STRIKES! THE DISRUPTOR DESTROYS! ALL THIS AND A SHOCK ENDING, TOO!” I love the older covers with these exciting, sensationalistic words. You read them and can’t help but buy the comic. This is the last issue of The Amazing Spider-Man I can list here that I bought from The Paradox Bookstore in Wheeling, West Virginia. When I was a kid, my mother would let me go in to this used bookstore and pick out some comics for just a dime each. I bought some great stuff there, including eight issues of The Amazing Spider-Man. If only I could go back in time and snag a few more! This issue harkens back to the old days of Spider-Man before Gwen Stacy dies, and of course she is in this issue, along with Harry Osborn, Robbie Robertson, Mary Jane, and your favorite editor-in-chief and publisher, J. Jonah Jameson. The bad guys for this issue are Disruptor and the Smasher. By the time I bought this, I was already purchasing newer issues of The Amazing Spider-Man at Slicks (a little newsstand/party/and candy store) in Martins Ferry, Ohio. The weird thing is that for a few months, I wasn’t consistent in what I bought, and I missed issue 129, which was the debut of the Punisher, a key issue. The cover price of The Amazing Spider-Man #118 is 20 cents, while the current value is $100.

Cool comics in my collection #177: Thor #202, August 1972.

“EGO-PRIME VS. THE EARTH!” Back in the seventies, I sort of liked Thor, and bought a few issues of Marvel Spectacular, not realizing at the time that they were reprints (Marvel really threw me for a loop with Marvel Tales…how could Gwen Stacy be dead in one comic and alive in another?). When I hit phase three of comic collecting in the nineties, Thor became a monthly staple, and I wanted some back issues, so I went to Titan Comics in Atlanta, Georgia, and went through their back issue boxes, and snagged this one for $1. I’ve always like mythology, and didn’t know much about Norse mythology, so it was fun collecting these older Thor comics. This issue features Ego-Prime, Balder, Fandral, Sif, Volstagg, Heimdall, Hogan, Odin, and more. If you like Thor, you can find back issues at decent prices if you search around. The cover price of Thor #202 is 20 cents, while the current value is $30.

Cool comics in my collection #178: Captain Marvel #5, September 1968.

“THE MARK OF THE METAZOID!” I wasn’t quite six years old when this issue came out, and at the time, about the only thing I knew about superheroes was from watching the campy Batman show with Adam West. I don’t even recall if I knew that comic books existed at that time, but if I had, the cover of this issue probably would have been too scary for me at the time. I never bought any Captain Marvel issues during its run from 1968 to 1979, but I do recall seeing them on the shelves and racks with other comics. During my first collector phase from about 1973 until 1978, I really didn’t know anything about the character. When I hit phase three of comic buying, reading, and collecting (1993 to 2003), that’s when I found out more about Captain Marvel and decided that I wanted to get as many of his original run issues as I could lay my hands on. My local shop, Kenmore Komics in Akron, Ohio, has a lot of great back issues, and that’s where I bought this one. When I read an issue with Mar-Vell still in his green and white uniform, I feel like I have my hands on a piece of ancient history. It’s a trip back in time when I read the comics of my youth. The cover price of Captain Marvel #5 is 12 cents, while the current value is $100.

Cool comics in my collection #179: Firestorm, the Nuclear Man #2, April 1978.

“DANGER DOUBLED IS DEATH!” is the title inside this issue that sports a cover with the Man of Steel refusing to help our hero. What? Superman is going to just stand by and do nothing when Firestorm is facing the menace of Multiplex? By the time 1978 rolled around, I was too cool for comics. I remember seeing Firestorm on Super Friends when I was flipping through channels, but I no longer watched superhero cartoons, either. It wasn’t until the second half of my freshman year at Ohio State, in 1982, that I really became aware of Firestorm. His second series had just come out, and I thought he looked pretty cool, so I picked it up and bought it monthly for close to a year. Then I quite buying comics once again. A little more than ten years later, when I discovered the joys of comic books once more, I sought out back issues of Firestorm, and discovered his short-lived original series and bought them as soon as I could find them at several different comic shops in Atlanta, Georgia. I still have many Firestorm comics left to read, and once I get started on them, I’m sure it will be a blast, perhaps feeling like I’m back in 1982 all over again. The cover price of Firestorm, the Nuclear Man #2 is 35 cents, while the current value is $8.

Cool comics in my collection #180: Marvel Premiere #61, August 1981.

“PRESENTING A TRULY BIZARRE SCIENCE-FICTION BLOCKBUSTER—PLANET STORY!” This issue of Marvel Premiere, which is the last in the series, features Star-Lord. You know, Star-Lord? The hero from the movie Guardians of the Galaxy? If you’ve seen the movie, you know what I’m talking about. But don’t be looking for Groot, Rocket Racoon, Gamora, and Drax in this comic book, as this takes place prior to the current iteration of Guardians. And this Peter Quill is quite different from the big-screen version. But if you’re a fan, you probably want to get your hands on this one to add to your collection. I admit that I didn’t know anything about Star-Lord prior to the movie, but I did have this comic and a couple others that featured him, though I hadn’t read them yet. I bought them in back issue boxes years ago, when I found them at really good prices and thought they looked interesting. I believe I bought this one in Akron, Ohio, at Kenmore Komics. I probably got it for about 50 cents. I really love these anthology style series that Marvel put out for a while, and I’m really glad I picked this one up. The cover price of Marvel Premiere #61 is 50 cents, while the current value is $16.

Cool comics in my collection #181: Strange Adventures #188, May 1966.

“DON’T BRING THAT MONSTER TO LIFE!” This issue has three different “Strange” adventure stories for those brave enough to turn the pages! I bought this comic and several other issues of the title one day when my mother let me go to the Paradox Bookstore in Wheeling, West Virginia. It is a small used bookstore that used to carry some back issues of comic books, selling for just a dime each. In the early seventies, I’d go in and buy a dollar’s worth of treasures, and on one particular trip, instead of buying the usual superhero comics I collected, I instead walked out with six issues of Strange Adventures. This was a time in my life when I’d started staying up late on the weekends and watching Chiller Theater with host Bill Cardille (aka Chilly Billy), out of Pittsburgh. Monster movies became an exciting new adventure in my young life, and while I didn’t buy any monthly monster comics (much to my chagrin), I did buy some older ones like Strange Adventures. Of course when you read these as an adult, they really are pretty tame, but when you’re a ten-year-old kid, the stories can give you nightmares. And you definitely want to sleep with a light on! The cover price of Strange Adventures #188 is 12 cents, while the current value is $45.

Cool comics in my collection #182 (One That Got Away): Devil Dinosaur #1, April 1978.

“IN AN AGE WHEN GIANTS WALKED THE WORLD—HE WAS THE MIGHTIEST OF ALL!” Poor Devil Dinosaur lasted just 9 issues before becoming extinct (I couldn’t resist!). I didn’t buy this comic when it first came out, but instead years later out of a quarter back issue box, sometime in the mid-to-late nineties. When I bought it, I really knew nothing about it. And no wonder, since it wasn’t around long. But looking at the back issue prices, there are definitely collectors who want to get their hands on this terrifying T. rex and his sidekick, Moon Boy. And most unfortunately, this comic didn’t make the cut when I had to cull my collection, which had grown way too large. I think it sold for all of a quarter at my garage sale (which is what I bought it for, so at least I broke even). But now that I’m all about collecting comics from my past (especially the seventies), I do have regrets about having parted with this one. It hurts. It stings. And I never even read the issue. Last week I turned in a short story manuscript to an anthology that is going to feature dinosaurs, and while I don’t know if I’ll make the cut, it made me reflect back on this particular comic book. Goodbye, Devil Dinosaur, I hardly knew ye. The cover price of Devil Dinosaur #1 is 35 cents, while the current value is $30.

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Our First Cool Comics Guest and an Awesome Prize!

Hey Gosneyholics, my name is Kevin G. Summers and I’m your guest host on this very special 26th Episode of Cool Comics in My Collection. I’ve been quietly following Ed’s blog since the beginning, so when the opportunity came up to show off a few comics from my own collection, I jumped at the chance.

Who the heck am I? I’m an author, just like Ed, and I’ve been collecting comics for more than 30 years. Some of my books are Legendarium (co-authored with Michael Bunker) and The Man Who Shot John Wilkes Booth. I also wrote the Star Trek Deep Space Nine story Isolation Ward 4, which was nominated for the 2002 Nebula Awards.

Audiobook Giveaway

I’m giving away an audiobook of my novelette The Paladin, which is my take on what would really happen if a teenager decided to become a superhero. This is the book summary: Devastated by the loss of his older brother, teenaged Jared Weiss dons a mask and cape in pursuit of vengeance. He becomes The Paladin. Unfortunately, the real world isn’t like a comic book, and wherever The Paladin goes, disaster is never far behind. Will Jared be able to avenge his brother before he winds up in a grave beside him? The audiobook also includes the short story No. 38, a coming of age tale that includes a famous comic as the McGuffin. All you have to do to enter the giveaway is leave a comment on this blog post.

Without further ado, here are some cool comics from MY collection:

 

Cool comics in my collection #1: Batman From the 30’s to the 70’s

OK, this technically isn’t a comic book, it’s a collection of long out of print Batman & Robin stories. My parents bought me this book when I was a little kid, a baby, and there’s sloppy coloring on the black & white pages to prove it. There literally isn’t a time in my life when I don’t remember having this book. It was my first exposure to comics and I must have read each story a hundred times. Those campy old Batman tales are my favorites… like the one where Batman and Robin went back in time and met Native American versions of themselves. I don’t care that they don’t fit the mold of the current dark and gritty version of the character, they were fun and they made me want to read more comics. This book was the gateway drug that made me a fan for life and it holds a cherished place on my shelf. You can probably find one on eBay, but I wouldn’t sell you mine.

 

Cool comics in my collection #2: Tales of the Teen Titans #44

This was the very first comic I ever bought. Dick Grayson/Robin was my favorite character and my comic collection began with this, the issue where Grayson became Nightwing. I picked it up from a spinner rack in a 7-11 near George Mason University, where my mother was taking classes at the time. I loved the book, and I went back and got the rest of the run. Some of those early Wolfman/Perez issues are worth more than this one, and I’m not ashamed to tell you that this book is in poor condition. The staples are loose and the pages yellowed because of how many times it’s been read. But my copy is signed by Marv Wolfman and George Perez. When Marv looked at the book he told me how much he loves to see well-loved books like this.

 

Cool comics in my collection #3: Jonah Hex Spectacular

I’m gonna be straight up with you and tell you that it was the modern Jonah Hex series that got me into the character. It was a great series, 10,000x better than the movie, and I loved the character. I started looking into back issues and, eventually, I assembled quite a collection of Jonah Hex comics. This one, however, is special. First of all, it’s rare, but that’s not why I like it. This story ends with an aged Jonah Hex being gunned down, his body stolen, stuffed and used in a Wild West Review! And if you’re familiar with the groundbreaking Kingdom Come series by Mark Waid and Alex Ross, you might just find out what happened to Jonah’s remains.

 

 

Cool comics in my collection #4: Have Gun, Will Travel #1

The numbering scheme with these Dell TV Comics is a train wreck, the stories and the art are childish and beneath the TV show, but I have a special place in my collection for these old comics. I love Have Gun, Will Travel and the adventures of Paladin. I was first introduced to the character when the kids from Stand By Me sung his theme song while they were walking on the train tracks, and it still holds up as one of the best TV westerns ever made. I have the full set, but the first issue has the best cover of the lot. The cover price is 10 FREAKIN’ CENTS, and you can bet I paid a lot more than that for this issue on eBay. It’s probably the oldest book in my collection, and one of the coolest.

 

 

Cool comics in my collection #5: The Unwritten #1

This book isn’t all that old… you could probably find one on eBay for cover price. I’m including it here because it is absolutely brilliant and, in my opinion, one of the finest examples of comics as literature. The Unwritten is a metaphysical story that was a huge part of the inspiration for my novel, Legendarium. Readers of Harry Potter (and strangely Winnie-the-Pooh) will find the characters oddly familiar as they traverse basically every genre from the classics to fables to choose your own adventure. This is a great series and I go back and reread it every couple of years.

 

 

Cool comics in my collection #6: The Escapists #1

This is weird. Do you remember Michael Chabon’s excellent novel, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay? If you’re into old comics, you should read that book. It won the Pulitzer in 2001 and introduced a new golden-aged superhero called The Escapist. That’s not what this mini-series was about. The Escapists was a mini-series about some modern comic creators that purchase that rights to The Escapist and attempt to publish a new book about the character. The book is a labor of love and a lot of things go wrong. This is a strange story that doesn’t fit easily into the superhero genre, but it’s the kind of book that sticks with you. I liked it enough to include on this list.

 

Cool comics in my collection #7: Tiny Titans #46

This was a comic for little kids that included a page where young fans could send in their drawings of the Tiny Titans. My daughter sent in a picture when she was 6 and they printed it. Remember that scene in It’s A Wonderful Life when Jimmy Stewart has a big stack of newspapers with his brother on the front cover? This proud Papa has about 20 copies of this issue.

Don’t forget to leave a comment below and enter the giveaway for The Paladin audiobook! The winner will be revealed next Thursday in Episode 27, so get your comment in before March 31.

Why We Couldn’t Wait for Saturday Morning!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 25, where we take a nostalgic look at six comic books I currently own, and one that I let get away. This week I went with the theme of Saturday morning shows from our youth.

For each of the comic books below, 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.

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 25…

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

I’ve been putting this blog out for 25 weeks in a row, and now I want to give YOU an opportunity to write about YOUR cool comics. That’s right, I’m now open for guest spots in Cool Comics in My Collection. You can do a theme or just pick any of your comics for inclusion (this blog is for all ages, so keep that in mind), as long as there are seven comics in your episode (you can still own all seven, or do it like me and include one you no longer own). If the idea interests you and you have questions about it, please email me at edgosney62@gmail.com.

 

Cool comics in my collection #169: The Banana Splits #3, July 1970.

Are you old enough to remember The Banana Splits Adventure Hour? It ran Saturday mornings from 1968 to 1970, and if you were young enough at the time, you probably loved this live-action variety show for kids. Most people who watched it definitely remember the catchy theme song, which is difficult to get out of your head, so click on the link at your own risk! When you flip open The Banana Splits #3, you are met with an ad for a Giant Play Zoo Animal Collection. For only $1 you get 20 “Lovable Animals to Delight the Heart of Every Child!” To send away for it, you had to cut out part of the comic book cover, so I wonder how many of these got ordered? The first comic has the gang in some misadventures with a vampire in Batko Castle, along with a Frankenstein’s monster character. Then we come to the Gold Key Club News page, which tells us about upcoming Gold Key Comic issues and a Reader’s Page with drawings from fans, then a page with jokes. There are a few more adventures of the Banana Splits, and finally a Reader’s Page with Doodles drawn by fans. I certainly wouldn’t draw any comparisons between The Banana Splits comic and the Justice League, or even Super Friends for that matter, but it was fun to revisit my childhood by reading this issue. I bought this back issue at Kenmore Komics this year for $3.50. The cover price of The Banana Splits #3 is 15 cents, while the current value is $85.

 

Cool comics in my collection #170: H.R. Pufnstuf #4, July 1971.

If you thought The Banana Splits were trippy, H.R. Pufnstuf really takes the cake! Just 17 episodes aired of this strange adventure of a boy who is tricked by Witchiepoo into going to Living Island so that she could steal his magical flute, Freddy. Living Island is populated with strange, magical creatures. And as bizarre as this show seemed, I loved it as a kid. It was goofy, the songs were catchy, and it was a fun way to spend part of my Saturday mornings. Check out the link to the H.R. Pufnstuf intro, which pretty much explains everything you need to know heading into an episode, or one of their comic books, for that matter. I bought this comic in a back issue box at Kenmore Komics recently for just $4. Part of the fun of looking at these old comics from yesteryear are the ads. This one leads off with an offer for reproduced paintings of four Thoroughbred horses for just $1. A few pages later there is an offer for 110 postage stamps and an album to put them in, which is an ad I don’t recall seeing before. Another ad is in the form of a one-page comic about Lee Jeans, Jim Driscoll in “Danger on the Field.” And then we come to more familiar territory with Columbia House records. Any 12 for just $2.86, with the promise of purchasing 10 more within 2 years! But the best ad in this comic is for Sea-Monkeys! For only $1, you can have the greatest pets in the world. Every kid on the block wanted these, and as far as I know, none of the parents ever gave up that dollar to purchase them. The comic stories were okay, but given the choice, I’d rather watch an episode. The cover price of H.R. Pufnstuf #4 is 15 cents, while the current value is $30.

 

Cool comics in my collection #171: Huckleberry Hound #38, July 1969.

The Huckleberry Hound Show originally ran from 1958 to 1961, the year before I was born, but he was still a part of my childhood. Hannah-Barbera’s blue dog with a Southern drawl was known for breaking the fourth wall and talking to his television audience, and became part of the line-up in Yogi’s Gang, which debuted in 1973. Have some fun and click on the links to watch the intros to these Saturday morning memories. You’ll especially enjoy seeing all the characters that are in Yogi’s Gang. So go on, I’ll wait for you. Back now? Did you feel like a kid again? Maybe you’re too young to remember any of these cartoons and this is your first real exposure to them. I bought this recently at Kenmore Komics, in Akron, Ohio, for just $2. Inside the cover of this Gold Key comic book is an ad for Matchbox cars in the form of a comic panel. I really like this ad, since I had lots of Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars around the time this came out. These old Gold Key comics also have some pages called “Gold Key Club Comics,” in which they have some fun facts. This issue covers Neanderthal Man. The inside of the back cover has an ad for “Large – Fluorescent Colored Posters, Your Favorite Comic Character.” You could get Bugs Bunny, Yogi Bear, Fred Flintstone, and others for just $2. And the back has an ad for 411 pieces of fishing gear for just $12.95! Great prices! The actual stories aren’t as exciting as reading a Batman comic, but the memories (including the ads) are worth it. The cover price of Huckleberry Hound #38 is 15 cents, while the current value is $40.

 

Cool comics in my collection #172: The Flintstones #48, October 1968.

The Flintstones may just have the most familiar theme song of any of the Saturday morning cartoon-based comics I’m covering this week. If you grew up watching Fred, Wilma, Barney, and Betty, the song probably brings a smile to your face, and you might find yourself humming it the rest of the day. The Flintstones, another gem by Hanna-Barbera, ran from 1960 to 1966, consisting of the pilot and 166 episodes. Most kids wouldn’t mind seeing reruns of the cartoon, because it was that good. And the show has certainly stayed popular, with cartoon movies, a live-action movie, straight to video, and many toys, glasses, and other merchandise. I bought this comic on a recent visit to Kenmore Komics in Akron, Ohio, for $2. The inside cover has an ad for Cherrios that tells us details about the most powerful airplane in the world. I guess they figured the cereal would be more attractive to parents if they threw in some knowledge! This Gold Key comic also contains some of the Club pages, and also contains a Stone Age Crossword puzzle (I’m glad no one filled out the one in this issue!). We also get a feature on the Plesiosaur, a dinosaur that lived in the sea. But the best ad is on the inside back cover. In 1968, you could order 28 Disney characters, “printed in full color on luxurious durable art-board,” for just $1, plus 25 cents postage. These might be nice collectibles to have today, but you had to cut out the back of the comic book to order them. This comic was enjoyable to read, because I’m much more familiar with The Flintstones, and I could almost imagine that what I was reading was a Saturday morning cartoon. No doubt this comic had me feeling very nostalgic. The cover price of The Flintstones #48 is 15 cents, while the current value is $28.

 

Cool comics in my collection #173: Bugs Bunny #32, August-September 1953.

Bugs Bunny is an American icon. He made his first official cartoon appearance in 1940 and then had his own prime time cartoon in 1960, moving to Saturday mornings the following year. Mel Blanc provided the voice of Bugs for nearly 50 years, and I actually got to see Mel do voice performances on stage many years ago. Bugs helped educate us in opera and classical music, but most importantly, the show was just plain fun. The Looney Tunes were a big part of my childhood memories, and if you grew up watching them, you probably feel just as nostalgic as I do when reminiscing about these characters. With a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Bugs is in a league of his own. This Dell comic from 1953 doesn’t have any ads, which is so different from the comics most of us know. Instead, there are comic panels on the inside of both the front and back cover, and even on the back cover. No wasted space here. I recently bought it at Kenmore Komics in Akron, Ohio, for $3. Bugs is paired up with Porky Pig for the majority of the stories, and Elmer Fudd also appears here. You can find Bugs everywhere, from toys to games to drinking glasses to movies like Space Jam, he’s one rabbit who won’t be stopped. The cover price of Bugs Bunny #32 is 10 cents, while the current value is $65.

 

Cool comics in my collection #174: Beep Beep #6, August-October 1960.

While Beep Beep may seem an unusual title, anyone familiar with the Road Runner gets it. From 1966 to 1973, this little desert bird headlined his own cartoon, always staying one step ahead of Wile E. Coyote, who single-handedly kept Acme Corporation in business. The theme to The Road Runner Show is, much like The Flintstones, catchy and well-known by millions. The Road Runner and his compatriot, Wile E. Coyote, have been around since 1949, making children of all ages laugh and puzzle over the strange laws of physics we often see on display. After watching a number of these cartoons, you may even start feeling sorry for the coyote! Just like the Bugs Bunny comic by Dell, Beep Beep has no interior ads, but it is seven years later, so Dell has an ad on the back for KRAFT Caramels and KRAFT Chocolate Fudgies. There is a lot of fine print, with a headline that states, “Hey! Boys and Girls! Win a $20,000.00 Baseball Park For Your Team or League Free! Just for Collecting KRAFT Caramels and KRAFT Fudgies bags!” I wonder if anybody actually won? If you are in the know, please tell us in the comment section at the bottom of the page. There are lots of smaller strips in this comic, such as one-pagers, and a few that very from 5 to 8 pages. The odd thing about reading this comic is that in the cartoons, the Road Runner doesn’t talk, but here, he has three sons, and they all talk. In rhyme. One of the four may say a sentence, then one of the others finishes it, making it rhyme. Sort of like Etrigan the Demon. It isn’t annoying, but kind of jarring, because for decades all I thought he could say was Beep Beep. I recently bought his issue at Kenmore Komics in Akron, Ohio, for $4. The cover price of Beep Beep #6 is 10 cents, while the current value is $95.

 

Cool comics in my collection #175 (One That Got Away): The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan #2, August 1973.

You very well may be looking at this and saying, “Chan and the Chan who?” This 1972 Saturday morning cartoon lasted just 16 episodes. I certainly can’t recall how many of those I actually watched, but I do remember seeing at least a few episodes. This comic came in one of the Whitman plastic packs. Western Publishing would distribute comics under the Gold Key label for typical comic book racks, then they’d change the cover to their Whitman brand and package three of them up in a plastic bag to sell at department stores, toy stores, and even the SupeRx Drugstore in Martins Ferry, Ohio, where I grew up. And hence, that’s how I got this way back in the early seventies. Many DC Comics even received the Whitman treatment, in case you wondered why that older Superman issue you doesn’t have DC on the cover. I ended up selling this comic at a giant garage sale I had a few years back, when comics were threatening to take over my house, so I can’t tell you anything about the cool ads, or how it compared to the cartoon, which I don’t remember anyway, but I do have the intro to the Saturday morning show linked here, so click and enjoy. The cover price of The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan #2 is 20 cents, while the current value is $30.

 

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Four Decades of Comic Book Memories!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 24, where we take a nostalgic look at six comic books I currently own, and one that I let get away. If you enjoying reading about my trip down comic book lane, consider signing up for my newsletter. There are perks to being a subscriber, and you’ll have the inside track to my writing projects.

For each of the comic books below, 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.

I welcome any comments you might have, and hope you enjoy seeing these as much as I do writing about them. And now, Episode 24…

Special message to my readers before you start! I want to mention here that I’d love for you to join me at Cleveland ConCoction 2016 at the Cleveland Sheraton Airport Hotel March 12, as I’ll be hosting a panel on comic book nostalgia.

 

Cool comics in my collection #162: Captain America #186, June 1975.

“MY ALLY…MY ENEMY!” Though the title for this issue is actually “Mind Cage,” I absolutely love these exuberant phrases used on the cover. This issue of Captain America was a bit of a shocker when it came out in 1975. The origin of the Falcon is revealed in these pages, and it turns out that he was a criminal! That dreaded enemy of Captain America, the Red Skull, used the Cosmic Cube to turn Sam Wilson into the Falcon, giving him a link with his bird Redwing. So he appeared to be a hero, and fought alongside Captain America. Until now, when the Red Skull uses mind control in an attempt to have the Falcon kill our hero! Back in the seventies I was a huge Captain America and Falcon fan, looking forward each month to their adventures, and this issue was disturbing! If you keep up with Marvel’s movies and TV shows, you’d also recognize both Peggy and Sharon Carter who appear with Cap. I bought this comic off the rack at Slicks in Martins Ferry, Ohio. The cover price of Captain America #186 is 25 cents, while the current value is $16.

 

Cool comics in my collection #163: Ms. Marvel #16, April 1978.

“WAR BENEATH THE WAVES!” Again, the exciting verbiage from the cover of the comic is different from the actual title, this one being “The Deep, Deadly Silence!” I have no idea why they did them this way, but the words on the cover are typically more exciting. This issue of Ms. Marvel features Tiger Shark, Beast, Scarlet Witch, and Namorita. It also contains the first appearance of Raven Darkholme, who later becomes Mystique. The blue skinned shape shifter was played in the first three X-Men movies by Rebecca Romijn, and in the most recent two (with the third scheduled for a late May release) by Jennifer Lawrence. The character of Mystique has a bit of a hand, along with Rogue, in a tragic occurrence that happens to Ms. Marvel (Carol Danvers is her non-superhero name), so it’s rather fitting that her first appearance in Marvel comics is in this series. By the time this comic came out on the stands, I rarely bought anymore during my first phase of comic book collecting, so later, during my third phase, I bought this out of a back issue bin in Atlanta, Georgia, at Titan Comics, in the mid 1990’s. The cover price of Ms. Marvel #16 is 35 cents, while the current value is $50.

 

Cool comics in my collection #164: Legion of Super-Heroes #293, November 1982.

“WITHIN THE DARKNESS…” This issue doesn’t have anything exciting written on the cover (except that there is a 16-page preview of Masters of the Universe inside!), and it doesn’t really need it. There is plenty of action surrounding the title, and for anyone who’s been reading it for the previous three months, they know that therein lies Chapter Four of The Great Darkness Saga! If the cover makes you think the heroes are having a rough time of it, they are. Darkseid, using mental control, has the Daxamites (beings who can wield powers like Superman under a yellow sun) basically attack the rest of the universe. Yikes! I bought this comic off the rack at a store in Columbus, Ohio, near The Ohio State University. This was during my second phase of comic collecting, which really didn’t last long, but I was fortunate enough to pick up issues like this one, which I definitely kept. As I’ve said before on this blog when discussing each issue of The Great Darkness Saga, it’s a fun series to read, and you can buy it in trade paperback, or collect the individual issues, if that’s your preference. Just keep in mind that the Legion has seemingly dozens of characters on the team, so it can get a little overwhelming if you’ve never read them before. The cover price of Legion of Super-Heroes #293 is 60 cents, while the current value is $8.

 

Cool comics in my collection #165: Valor #2, December 1992.

“BOY MEETS SUPERGIRL” sees Mon-El, aka Lar Gand, aka Valor, go up against Supergirl at the command of Lex Luthor II. So we have a battle between a Daxamite and a Kryptonian, right? Wrong! This Supergirl is not the one you see flying around on television these days. Instead, she’s a protoplasmic lifeform who was created by a nicer Lex Luthor in a different universe. You basically need a flowchart to keep all these straight. But still, this Supergirl is strong, and she does wear the suit and cape. Valor’s series didn’t last all that long, and when I entered my third phase of comic book collecting while in the Army, I picked up the earlier issues at Titan Comics in Atlanta, Georgia, to complete my collection. Valor also appears in Legion comics, and the character under the name of Mon-El first arrived in 1961 in Superboy #89. I really enjoyed this short 23 issue run, and while it hasn’t caught on with collectors, and maybe never will, I’m glad to have it. And that’s the thing about comic book collecting. Get what YOU like and what YOU want to read. Because regardless of trends, collectability, covers, and price, you’re the one reading it. Make your collection fun. There’s nothing wrong with comics that are worth lots of money (every collector wants some of those), but I get more enjoyment out of comics I love to actually read. The cover price of Valor #2 is $1.25, while the current value is $2.25.

 

Cool comics in my collection #166: Marvels #2, February 1994.

“MONSTERS” is the title for the second in this wonderful mini-series from 1994. If you appreciate the history of comic book heroes, then this comic is one you don’t want to miss. The age of Marvel really started in the early sixties, with the advent of The Fantastic Four, with the other popular heroes following close behind. Alex Ross, the artist, and Kurt Busiek, the writer, definitely create a feel for the past, especially when they populate the pages with the Beatles (yes, John, Paul, George, and Ringo are all here!) and Walter Cronkite. Some of the other Marvel characters who show up include Nick Fury and several Howling Commandos, Foggy Nelson, Willy Lumpkin (the mailman of the Fantastic Four), and Millie the Model. Not to mention supporting cast members of Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four, along with members of the Avengers and X-Men. It’s an all-star cast and a blast from the past. I bought this comic at Titan Comics in Atlanta, Georgia, when it was released. Once I’d entered this third phase of collecting, I wanted to know more about the history of the Marvel characters, and this one does a great job as seen through the lens of reporter/photograph Phil Sheldon. If the early tales of Marvel characters make you feel nostalgic and you’ve never read this, then you need to get it. Beside the individual issues, it’s available in both a hardcover and paperback collected edition. The cover price of Marvels #2 is $5.95, while the current value is $8.

 

Cool comics in my collection #167: Kingdom Come #1, May 1996.

“STRANGE VISITOR” is the opening story of Kingdom Come in what is considered by many to be the greatest of all Elseworlds comics. Just in case you aren’t familiar with this concept, Elseworlds are stories that take place outside of the DC Universe Canon, which makes for a lot of fun (Marvel also has had several iterations of a similar series called What If?). If you’re a fan of artist Alex Ross, then this series is a must for you. The story takes place in the future, and Superman is now retired. But the current superheroes are more violent than usual. I bought this comic during my third phase of collecting at Titan Comics in Atlanta, Georgia, off the rack. It’s visually appealing, and the writing is entertaining, although somewhat overloaded with heroes, like so many of these mini-series (The Legion of Super-Heroes are in Kingdom Come, and they always have a large roster). Though it’s been 20 years since I read it, I remember how much I enjoyed seeing these heroes in a different light, and I may just have to read it again. Great comics tend to have us come back for seconds, don’t they? The cover price of Kingdom Come #1 is $4.95, while the current value is $8.

 

Cool comics in my collection #168 (One That Got Away): Fantastic Four #66 (Vol. 3), April 2003.

“…BIG STUFF PART 2 OF 2” is the last Fantastic Four comic I bought when my third phase of comic collecting was coming to an end. And to my understanding, there is not a current monthly FF comic out there. It used to be billed as “The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine.” I remember buying a few issues in the mid-seventies, and it was a confusing time for the team because Ben Grimm had lost his powers and they brought on Luke Cage, Power Man, for their muscle. And I can’t remember if it was before or after Cage, but Reed Richards had constructed a powerful suit that looked like the Thing, so that Ben could still battle evil with the rest of them. Of course some of us remember the Fantastic Four cartoon from the late sixties, then the strange version from 1978 that didn’t have Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, but instead a little robot (H.E.R.B.I.E.) that Reed had created. I’d always heard that it was because parents feared that their kids would try to imitate the Torch and light themselves on fire, but it just isn’t true. If you go down to the subsection “Trivia” at this link, you can read the real story behind the absence of the Human Torch (in a nutshell, the TV rights weren’t available). Like so many of my comics that got away, this one was sold at a garage sale because I had too many thousands of comic books (it was an awesome garage sale…I had three 8-foot long tables, and two were completely covered with long boxes of comics, while the third table was halfway covered…thousands, and I mean thousands, sold that weekend, at rock bottom prices). I don’t so much mind having sold this comic, but if I could go back and save the issues from the seventies, I would, because that’s where my comic book collecting heart lives. I bought this issue at Kenmore Komics in Akron, Ohio, off the rack. The cover price of Fantastic Four #66 (Vol. 3) is $2.25, while the current value is $2.25.

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Warp Speed Ahead! It’s Science Fiction Week

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 23, where we take a nostalgic look at six comic books I currently own, and one that I let get away. If you enjoying reading about my trip down comic book lane, consider signing up for my newsletter. There are perks to being a subscriber, and you’ll have the inside track to my writing projects.

For each of the comic books below, 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.

I welcome any comments you might have, and hope you enjoy seeing these as much as I do writing about them. And now, Episode 23…

Special message to my readers before you start!

I want to mention here that I’d love for you to join me at Cleveland ConCoction 2016 at the Cleveland Sheraton Airport Hotel March 12, as I’ll be hosting a panel on comic book nostalgia. Look for a blog about this event in the coming days.

 

Cool comics in my collection #155: Star Wars #1, December 1998.

“PRELUDE to REBELLION” Part 1 of 6 introduces us to a Jedi named Ki-Adi-Mundi, from the planet Cerea. He received his Jedi training from both Yoda and Master Micah Giiett. What’s really cool is that he proved to be such an awesome character that he made it into the Star Wars: Clone Wars movie in 2003. Whether you love or hate or just ignore the prequels, don’t let that keep you from seeking out comics with Ki-Adi-Mundi, and specifically this one, since it’s his debut. When Dark Horse launched this comic series, I thought it was going to be just six issues, as indicated by the “1 of 6” on the cover, but instead it was just this particular story, Prelude to Rebellion. They continued doing little series within the title, and ended up changing the cover title to Star Wars: Republic, with issue #46. The series then continued until issue #83 in 2006 and ended there. I picked this up at Kenmore Komics, in Akron, Ohio, off the rack. I stopped buying this comic at #28, in 2001, because I needed to cut back on how many I purchased each month. If you are a Star Wars fan and love the background stories not shown in the movies, you’d probably love this series. The back issues aren’t expensive at all, and you can also collect them as graphic novels if that is your preference. The cover price of Star Wars #1 is $2.50, while the current value is $6.

 

Cool comics in my collection #156: Star Trek: The Next Generation #50, September 1993.

“AND DEATH SHALL HAVE NO DOMINION.” You’ve probably noticed that over the last two episodes of Cool Comics in My Collection, I’ve been adding the titles of the issue from the cover. This one doesn’t have the title on the cover, but you can find it on the inside. Part of comic book coolness is the snazzy language used, so at least for now, it’s become a part of my blog. Continuing with Sci Fi week, we join the voyage of the starship Enterprise…okay, it’s not Kirk’s enterprise, but instead we pay a visit to the Next Generation crew who travel in space aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise-D (NCC-1701-D). The TV series started in 1987, the year my wife and I married, so it holds a special meaning. And while I didn’t collect Star Trek comics when they originally came out, I did start picking them up in the really cheap back issue boxes. If you’re a collector, you know the ones I mean. They always sit at one end of the long rows of boxes and have a price point of anywhere from 25 cents to $1. I think I bought most of my Star Trek issues for 50 cents. I also want to make mention that this issue is published by DC Comics, which you can see on the cover. The reason I say this is that unlike many of the superheroes I write about here, Star Trek isn’t owned by DC (it’s owned by CBS and Paramount Pictures). It’s all about licensing rights, and the following companies have published Star Trek comic books through the decades, dating back to the sixties: Gold Key (and their Whitman line), Marvel, DC, Malibu, Wildstorm, Tokyopop, IDW Publishing, and E.C. (if you count the Mad Magazine parodies). I bought this particular issue in Atlanta, Georgia, at Titan Comics in the mid-nineties. This anniversary issue is 64 pages of Star Trek fun, delving into an alternate universe in which Captain Picard faces his alternate self as Locutus. This issue happens to be part 4 of 4 in a story arc called “The Worst of Both Worlds.” If you are a Star Trek fan, you might find this intriguing enough to search this one out, and the three previous issues. The cover price of Star Trek: The Next Generation #50 is $3.50, while the current value is $5.

 

Cool comics in my collection #157: Quantum Leap #6, September 1992.

 “A TALE OF TWO CINDY’S.” As you read this, you might be asking yourself, “What in the world is Gosney doing now by putting Quantum Leap into his Cool Comics blog?” And that’s okay to question it and even to disagree with my decision. Art and literature are subjective. While some people read nothing but superheroes, there are many more genres of comics to explore, and I made the decision that I will branch out at times and include things like Quantum Leap comics, because most of all, this blog is about the nostalgic feelings we get when reflecting on our comic collections. And in my opinion, Quantum Leap was a great TV show. Plus, it’s Science Fiction week, and anyone who can quantum leap belongs in this category! Probably everybody who has seen the show has a favorite episode, and for me, it was episode 3, Star-Crossed, which aired on March 31, 1989. The setting was June 15, 1972, and took place in my home state, Ohio. Plus, my alma mater, Ohio State, is mentioned, so how can I not like it? I love the seventies setting, and Dr. Sam Beckett (Scott Bakula) finds himself as a literature professor. Plus, Teri Hatcher is in this episode and the song “Betcha By Golly Wow” by The Stylistics really sets the mood as it plays on the radio. And don’t miss out on the political scandal at the end. It’s really worth a watch. And the comic book is worth a read, especially if you’re a fan of the show. Innovation Publishing (which was headquartered in Wheeling, West Virginia, just across the river from where I grew up) did a nice job with this short-lived comic series. I bought this comic in a back issue box for 25 cents at Kenmore Komics in Akron, Ohio, around 2001. The cover price of Quantum Leap #6 is $2.50, while the current value is $3.

 

Cool comics in my collection #158: Logan’s Run #1, January 1977.

“PART ONE.” Ugh! Part One? How boring is that? I guess I have to forgive it for not having an exciting title, as this was part one of the official adaptation of the movie. This was a pretty popular movie, and besides spawning this comic book, there was also a short-lived TV series. I guess we were both fascinated and horrified at the thought of living in a world in which once you turned 30, you had to go to Carousel, hoping for renewal, but the reality was death. William F. Nolan and the late George Clayton Johnson co-wrote the slim novel pretty quickly and had Hollywood calling. Only to see Hollywood make many changes. For example, the age limit in the book is 21, and the settings are about 150 years apart. In case you are interested, this blog by Julie Israel showcases some of the differences. I’m sure there are others you can find on the web, maybe some with even greater detail. The movie had stars like Peter Ustinov, Michael York, Jenny Agutter, and Richard Jordan, but for anyone who remembers watching this on television when it used to be shown almost every Saturday for about 5 years, was how inane it was that they would always bill it as, “Logan’s Run, starring Farrah Fawcett.” Did she even have five minutes of airtime? What was that all about? I bought this issue at Kenmore Komics around 1999 for not more than $1 in a back issue bin. The cover price of this issue is 30 cents, while the current value is $12.

 

Cool comics in my collection #159: Battlestar Galactica #1, March 1979.

“ANNIHILATION!” Back in the late seventies, TV saw the birth of a new science fiction show on the heels of Star Wars. Battlestar Galactica certainly didn’t have the same level of success, but it did prove popular with many fans, and the series was even reborn in the 21st Century. The original series featured stars such as Lorne Greene, Richard Hatch, and Dirk Benedict, while the updated series had Edward James Olmos, Jamie Bamber, and Katee Sackhoff. Between the two, there have been sequels, prequels, books, games (handheld, board, cards, online, etc.), action figures, and other toys. Still, it’s never reached the popularity of Star Wars or Star Trek, but people do love it. This issue is the first in the franchise history, which certainly makes it a cool comic. The humans and Cylons are coming together to broker peace, but then a sneak attack by the Cylons ruins everything, millions are killed, and the humans must find a new home. I didn’t buy this comic when it first came out, and this is my first issue of it, which I recently bought at Kenmore Komics in Akron, Ohio, in the back issue boxes for $2. The cover price of Battlestar Galactica #1 is 35 cents, while the current value is $8.

 

Cool comics in my collection #160: Star Trek: Planet of the Apes, August 2015.

“THE PRIME DIRECTIVE” is a trade paperback collection of a five issue mini-series that combines two of the greatest science fiction universes of all time…at least in my mind! When I saw an advertisement that this would actually be happening, I knew I had to have it, and the collected edition ended up being the best deal for me because the Science Fiction Book Club carried it and I got a nice discount. I have great memories of growing up in the seventies watching classic Star Trek reruns, Star Trek: The Animated Series on Saturday mornings (wow, those Saturday mornings used to be really special during that decade, didn’t they?), Planet of the Apes movies, The Planet of the Apes TV series, and Return to the Planet of the Apes, which also happened to be a Saturday morning cartoon. I had some Star Trek toys and lots of Planet of the Apes (POTA) toys, such as the Mego figures, along with the Treehouse and the Action Stallion that actually walked…very slowly. I also remember a plastic POTA mug and bowl set. I still have the mug, but I ate out of the bowl so much it got a crack in it and had to be thrown into the forbidden zone (my mom just called it the trash can). I bought all the POTA novelizations and absorbed them, and read my sister’s Star Trek log books. Our memories love to reflect back on happy times and the things we loved; hence, it was a no-brainer to buy this comic book. And of course it has them all, from Spock to Taylor to Nova to Kirk to Doctor Zaius. The cover price of Star Trek: Planet of the Apes TPB is $19.99, while the current value is $20.

 

Cool comics in my collection #161 (One That Got Away): Marvel Special Edition: Star Wars #1, November 1977.

“THE GREATEST SPACE-FANTASY FILM OF ALL!” Do you remember those Treasury Size comics from the seventies? They were pretty awesome as a kid, but not at all easy to store with your collection. And that’s pretty much why I no longer own any of them. I had a number of these giant comic books, but no place to put them, so I sold them at a garage sale. In some ways I still wish I had them, but they were so big I didn’t know what to do with them. This issue was definitely a cool one because it reprinted the first three issues of the Marvel Star Wars comic book, which was great for all the kids who missed out the first time around. I always bought these Treasury Size comics at SupeRX Drugs in Martins Ferry, Ohio, where my father was a pharmacist, and got the employee discount. Marvel Special Edition: Star Wars #1 has a cover price of $1, while the current value is $18.

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Come to Cleveland ConCoction 2016!

For the last few episodes of my Cool Comics blog, I’ve made mention that I’ll be hosting a panel on comic book nostalgia. Below is the name of the panel and a description.

 

Sound interesting to you? Then come join us on Saturday, March 12, from 11 to noon at the Cleveland Airport Sheraton Hotel!

http://www.clevelandconcoction.org