Ed Gosney's Blog, page 46
December 31, 2015
When Captain America Walked Away
Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection, Episode 14, where we take a look at six cool comic books I currently own, and one that I let get away. If you’ve 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. I welcome any comments you might have, and hope you enjoy seeing these as much as I do writing about them. And now, Episode 14…
Cool comics in my collection #92: Werewolf by Night #3, January 1973.
My favorite comics are the ones from the seventies, since that’s when I first started collecting them. I didn’t buy this issue of Werewolf by Night new off the stands, but picked it up around 2000 at Kenmore Komics in Akron, Ohio. During my first go-round with comics, I pretty much just stuck with superheroes. But when I collected from 1993 to 2003, I remedied that by searching out back issue comics from the seventies, making sure to pick up some monster titles whenever I could find them at a good price. Part of the problem with this type of collecting is incomplete stories, since they typically continue, but as I’ve gotten older and space has become an issue, I don’t so much mind having gaps in some titles. The cover price Werewolf by Night #3 is 20 cents, while the current value is $80.Cool comics in my collection #93: Superman #204, February 1968.
When my father was young, he collected comic books, with Superman being one of his favorite heroes. And he had the really early ones that are worth a fortune today. Unfortunately, he sent his collection to an older cousin during World War II so he would have something to read, and the ship was sunk (though his cousin survived). So whenever I bought Superman comics, I’d always think of my father. I bought some older issues of Superman at good prices when I could find them from 1993 to 2003, and this is one of them. I paid $1 for this issue. This issue contains a couple reprints and several different stories, featuring some typical guests like Lex Luthor and Lois Lane. The cover price for Superman #204 is 12 cents, while the current value is $120.Cool comics in my collection #94: Thor #186, March 1971.
When you think about it, Thor is sort of a strange character to include in comic books, since he is part of Norse mythology. Same thing goes with Hercules as a Greek God. But Marvel has done some cool stories with these immortals, and I must admit that I am a fan of their tales. I collected a few Thor comics in the seventies, and when I started collecting in the nineties, Thor became a permanent fixture in my collection every month. Then I decided to dig in some back issue boxes and see if I could get some cool older issues, like this one. I paid $1 for it, which I think was well-worth the money. Here we get the Warriors Three, Baldur, Sif, and Odin. Unfortunately, they face off against Hela, the Norse goddess of death, so things don’t look good for our heroes. The cover price for Thor #186 is 15 cents, while the current value is $100.Cool comics in my collection #95: The Incredible Hulk #200, June 1976.
Do you remember the Marvel cartoons from the sixties, with the great theme songs? The Hulk’s song was pretty cool, at least for kids. I loved those old cartoons, though the animation was sorely lacking. I bought some issues of the green goliath here and there, but never really collected him until the nineties. I picked up this comic in a back issue bin in Atlanta, Georgia, for somewhere south of $1. This 200th anniversary issue is loaded with guests that normally inhabit the pages of the Hulk, along with some others, like Iron Man, the Silver Surfer, Rhino, and Juggernaut. Collecting key issues from the seventies is meaningful to me, considering that’s when I started buying comic books. Marvel even went through a period in which they included Marvel Value Stamps, telling you to cut them out and collect them. Unfortunately, a few times, I did what they told me! Whoever owned this comic first didn’t listen, which I’m very happy about, as the stamp is Spider-Man. The cover price for The Incredible Hulk #200 is 25 cents, while the current value is $80.Cool comics in my collection #96: The Avengers #107, January 1973.
The Avengers is a huge movie property these days, but back in 1973, it was just a simple team of super-heroes, saving the world each month against foes such as the Grim Reaper, as on the cover. I was sporadic in my purchases of the title in the seventies, and I bought this one as a back issue in the nineties. This is definitely a cool comic to own, especially considering that our heroes on the cover have all been in the movies: Captain American, Iron Man, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, and Vision. Other heroes in this issue include the Black Panther (who will be in Captain America: Civil War), Thor, Wasp, Hank Pym, Wonder Man, and the Hulk. Some of the villains include Loki and Madame Hydra. Rick Jones is also on the inside of this issue (that guy really gets around the Marvel Universe, doesn’t he?). The cover price for The Avengers #107 is 20 cents, while the current value is $50.Cool comics in my collection #97: Captain America #176, August 1974.
What?! Can it really be true? The star-spangled Avenger is calling it quits?! Shades of The Amazing Spider-Man $50, folks, and I don’t know what the nation will do when our symbol of justice and freedom walks away from his super-hero job. Is he crazy? Even Thor thinks Steve Rogers doesn’t know what he’s doing. But I sure did when I snagged this one at Slicks in Martins Ferry just a few months before I turned twelve. Based on the proceedings during the last few issues, Cap can no longer in good conscience continue his role as Captain America. This was the kind of issue that had neighborhood kids talking and speculating for months, and I’m glad I was a part of that comic book gossip. While the value of this issue hasn’t risen as much as others from the same time period, this left an indelible mark on my comic collecting sensibilities, because I couldn’t bring myself to buy further issues of this title for the next six months. The cover price for Captain America #176 is 25 cents, while the current value is $20.Cool comics in my collection #98 (One That Got Away): The X-Files #1, January 1995.
Are you aware that The X-Files will be back on TV January 24, 2016? The first issue of the comic came out nearly 21 years ago, and though it seems odd, it was produced by Topps. Yes, the company famous for baseball and football cards. They did a pretty good job, and I collected every comic they put out, from the regular monthly (this one) to digest-sized to special editions to a magazine. I definitely was crazy about the show and the comics. But alas, a few years ago I had to make room in my house and sold these issues at a garage sale. Will the new show bring back the same feelings I had with the old TV series? We can only hope. Meanwhile, don’t forget: The Truth is out there. The cover price for The X-Files #1 is $2.50, while the current value is $30.Join My Newsletter
Like comics and science fiction? Sign up for my newsletter and get both!
Get My Books
Prometheus Stumbles
Buy Book
AmazonKindleBarnesnoble
Orange Crik (A Short Story)
Buy Book
Kindle
Counterclockwise
Buy Book
Kindle
Cool Comics in My Collection, Episode 14
Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection, Episode 14, where we take a look at six cool comic books I currently own, and one that I let get away. If you’ve 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. I welcome any comments you might have, and hope you enjoy seeing these as much as I do writing about them. And now, Episode 14…
Cool comics in my collection #92: Werewolf by Night #3, January 1973.
My favorite comics are the ones from the seventies, since that’s when I first started collecting them. I didn’t buy this issue of Werewolf by Night new off the stands, but picked it up around 2000 at Kenmore Komics in Akron, Ohio. During my first go-round with comics, I pretty much just stuck with superheroes. But when I collected from 1993 to 2003, I remedied that by searching out back issue comics from the seventies, making sure to pick up some monster titles whenever I could find them at a good price. Part of the problem with this type of collecting is incomplete stories, since they typically continue, but as I’ve gotten older and space has become an issue, I don’t so much mind having gaps in some titles. The cover price Werewolf by Night #3 is 20 cents, while the current value is $80.Cool comics in my collection #93: Superman #204, February 1968.
When my father was young, he collected comic books, with Superman being one of his favorite heroes. And he had the really early ones that are worth a fortune today. Unfortunately, he sent his collection to an older cousin during World War II so he would have something to read, and the ship was sunk (though his cousin survived). So whenever I bought Superman comics, I’d always think of my father. I bought some older issues of Superman at good prices when I could find them from 1993 to 2003, and this is one of them. I paid $1 for this issue. This issue contains a couple reprints and several different stories, featuring some typical guests like Lex Luthor and Lois Lane. The cover price for Superman #204 is 12 cents, while the current value is $120.Cool comics in my collection #94: Thor #186, March 1971.
When you think about it, Thor is sort of a strange character to include in comic books, since he is part of Norse mythology. Same thing goes with Hercules as a Greek God. But Marvel has done some cool stories with these immortals, and I must admit that I am a fan of their tales. I collected a few Thor comics in the seventies, and when I started collecting in the nineties, Thor became a permanent fixture in my collection every month. Then I decided to dig in some back issue boxes and see if I could get some cool older issues, like this one. I paid $1 for it, which I think was well-worth the money. Here we get the Warriors Three, Baldur, Sif, and Odin. Unfortunately, they face off against Hela, the Norse goddess of death, so things don’t look good for our heroes. The cover price for Thor #186 is 15 cents, while the current value is $100.Cool comics in my collection #95: The Incredible Hulk #200, June 1976.
Do you remember the Marvel cartoons from the sixties, with the great theme songs? The Hulk’s song was pretty cool, at least for kids. I loved those old cartoons, though the animation was sorely lacking. I bought some issues of the green goliath here and there, but never really collected him until the nineties. I picked up this comic in a back issue bin in Atlanta, Georgia, for somewhere south of $1. This 200th anniversary issue is loaded with guests that normally inhabit the pages of the Hulk, along with some others, like Iron Man, the Silver Surfer, Rhino, and Juggernaut. Collecting key issues from the seventies is meaningful to me, considering that’s when I started buying comic books. Marvel even went through a period in which they included Marvel Value Stamps, telling you to cut them out and collect them. Unfortunately, a few times, I did what they told me! Whoever owned this comic first didn’t listen, which I’m very happy about, as the stamp is Spider-Man. The cover price for The Incredible Hulk #200 is 25 cents, while the current value is $80.Cool comics in my collection #96: The Avengers #107, January 1973.
The Avengers is a huge movie property these days, but back in 1973, it was just a simple team of super-heroes, saving the world each month against foes such as the Grim Reaper, as on the cover. I was sporadic in my purchases of the title in the seventies, and I bought this one as a back issue in the nineties. This is definitely a cool comic to own, especially considering that our heroes on the cover have all been in the movies: Captain American, Iron Man, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, and Vision. Other heroes in this issue include the Black Panther (who will be in Captain America: Civil War), Thor, Wasp, Hank Pym, Wonder Man, and the Hulk. Some of the villains include Loki and Madame Hydra. Rick Jones is also on the inside of this issue (that guy really gets around the Marvel Universe, doesn’t he?). The cover price for The Avengers #107 is 20 cents, while the current value is $50.Cool comics in my collection #97: Captain America #176, August 1974.
What?! Can it really be true? The star-spangled Avenger is calling it quits?! Shades of The Amazing Spider-Man $50, folks, and I don’t know what the nation will do when our symbol of justice and freedom walks away from his super-hero job. Is he crazy? Even Thor thinks Steve Rogers doesn’t know what he’s doing. But I sure did when I snagged this one at Slicks in Martins Ferry just a few months before I turned twelve. Based on the proceedings during the last few issues, Cap can no longer in good conscience continue his role as Captain America. This was the kind of issue that had neighborhood kids talking and speculating for months, and I’m glad I was a part of that comic book gossip. While the value of this issue hasn’t risen as much as others from the same time period, this left an indelible mark on my comic collecting sensibilities, because I couldn’t bring myself to buy further issues of this title for the next six months. The cover price for Captain America #176 is 25 cents, while the current value is $20.Cool comics in my collection #98 (One That Got Away): The X-Files #1, January 1995.
Are you aware that The X-Files will be back on TV January 24, 2016? The first issue of the comic came out nearly 21 years ago, and though it seems odd, it was produced by Topps. Yes, the company famous for baseball and football cards. They did a pretty good job, and I collected every comic they put out, from the regular monthly (this one) to digest-sized to special editions to a magazine. I definitely was crazy about the show and the comics. But alas, a few years ago I had to make room in my house and sold these issues at a garage sale. Will the new show bring back the same feelings I had with the old TV series? We can only hope. Meanwhile, don’t forget: The Truth is out there. The cover price for The X-Files #1 is $2.50, while the current value is $30.
Join My Newsletter
Like comics and science fiction? Sign up for my newsletter and get both!
Sign Up Here!
Get My Books
Apocalypse Weird: Last Meal
Buy Book
KindleNookKoboIbooks
Something the Wind Blew In
Buy Book
Kindle
Practice
Buy Book
Kindle
December 24, 2015
The Seventies Revisited: Star Wars & Planet of the Apes
Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection, Episode 13, where we take a look at six cool comic books I currently own, and one that I let get away.
If you’ve 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. I welcome any comments you might have, and hope you enjoy seeing these as much as I do writing about them. And now, Episode 13…
Cool comics in my collection #85: Star Wars #23, May 1979.
Since the new Star Wars movie has been released, I thought I’d go there with my cool comic. For some people, the movie is like Christmas come early. I’m not the biggest Star Wars fan, but I like it okay. When the first movie came out, my family waited a while until it was at a cheap theater in Bellaire, Ohio. I think we got in for 50 cents each. I’ll always remember how sticky the floor was, as if someone had spilled pop all over it a couple weeks previously, and I felt fortunate that I could lift my shoes to leave once the movie was over. But I must admit that it kept me mesmerized, and I didn’t think of the gross floor until we stood up to leave. I bought this comic at Titan Comics in Atlanta, Georgia, around 1996, for about 25 cents. The cover price is 40 cents, while the current value is $12.Cool comics in my collection #86: Afterlife With Archie #1, December 2013.
After going ten years of not buying any monthly comics, I caved in 2013 and got a subscription to an apocalyptic Archie comic. Yes, that’s what I said, the Riverdale gang of Archie, Jughead, Betty, Veronica, Reggie, Pops, Mr. Weatherbee, Moose, Sabrina, and Ms. Grundy face a zombie Arch-pocalypse. This certainly isn’t the Archie most of us grew up with. Archie has done some funny things over the years, such as the crossover with the Punisher, Archie’s Weird Mysteries (Scooby Gang? Mulder and Scully in Riverdale?), and Archie versus Predator, which started earlier in 2015. The freckled-face redhead has more tricks up his sleeve than you ever would have imagined. The cover price is $2.99, and the current value is $12.Cool comics in my collection #87: Planet of the Apes #1, August 1974.
The Planet of the Apes magazine may have said Curtis on the cover, but Marvel was the company behind it. This hybrid comic/magazine features the first original Planet of the Apes tale, along with the start of a comic adaptation of the 1968 movie. It even features an interview with scriptwriter Rod Serling (yes, that Rod Serling of The Twilight Zone fame). This first issue came out shortly before I turned twelve, and I was already a huge Apes fan. I had the Mego Apes action figures, the battery-operated stallion, and the treehouse. I read the original novel, and the novelizations of each of the movies as they came out. This was my childhood Star Wars. Nineteen seventy-four was a great year, as the TV show also debuted. Though the new Planet of the Apes movies may look great, they certainly don’t have the same post-apocalyptic atmosphere as the original movies and the TV series (I have the DVD box set of it, along with the Saturday morning cartoon series on DVD). The original comic stories in these issues are fun and entertaining, and I wish I had the entire collection of 29 issues, but I’m 11 issues short, and these aren’t cheap. I bought this issue off the rack when it came out at Slicks in Martins Ferry, Ohio. The cover price is $1, and the current value is $32.Cool comics in my collection #88: Shazam! The New Beginning #1, April 1987.
After DC’s Crisis on Infinite Earths, they continued their “do-over” with some mini-series of different heroes, and the Big Red Cheese got to be one of these featured characters. Shazam is a character that kids can associate with, since young Billy Batson changes into a powerful superhero, when he says, “Shazam.” I remember watching the Shazam live-action Saturday morning show, which started in 1974 (that year comes up a lot in my history, it seems). Shazam has an interesting history, and outsold Superman for a while, back in the forties. I bought this comic in 1996 at Titan Comics in Atlanta, Georgia. The cover price is 75 cents, while the current value is $3.Cool comics in my collection #89: The Amazing Spider-Man #194, July 1979.
It’s always fun when you find out one of the comics you own is highly collectible and you didn’t even realize it. That’s the case with this Amazing Spider-Man issue, which contains the first appearance of The Black Cat. When I’ve looked through my collection to decide what to put here, I tend to look at the early issues I have, but it turns out this is a great one to have. Felicia Hardy’s popularity continues to grow, so this is a very cool comic in my collection. When I started collecting comics for the third time, in the 1990s, I often would look for back issues of The Amazing Spider-Man, and I snagged this one in Atlanta, Georgia. The cover price is 40 cents, while the current value is $180.Cool comics in my collection #90: Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions #1, June 1982.
Marvel recently released a softcover trade of this classic mini-series from 1982, but there really is nothing like owning the original. I bought this issue off the rack at a little store in Columbus, Ohio, when I was attending Ohio State. While it hasn’t gained much in value, what it does have is a tremendous, all-star cast, too numerous to list here. Just look at the cover and that will give you an idea. Because of the whims of others, heroes of the Marvel Universe end up fighting each other while searching for particular items. It’s a lot of action and a lot of fun, and if you have a chance to grab this one at a good price, I recommend it. The cover price is 60 cents, while the current value is $4.Cool comics in my collection #91 (One That Got Away): Limited Collectors’ Edition Presents Christmas with the Super-Heroes C-43.
Do you remember these oversize comics? Both DC and Marvel put them out quite often in the seventies. I had over 20 of these giant comics, and when space became an issue in my house, these had to go. Unfortunately, I had some that were worth more money than I got for them, but I paid newsstand prices so I gained a little from the sales. Anyway, I had to put this one here on Christmas Eve. What’s Christmas without Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, the Sandman, and Cain. Okay, maybe Cain, from House of Mystery, seems a little out of place, but don’t we try to open our hearts and have goodwill towards all men at Christmas? The cover price for this is just $1, while the current value is $26.Join My Newsletter!
Get My Books
Orange Crik (A Short Story)
Buy Book
Kindle
Apocalypse Weird: Last Meal
Buy Book
KindleNookKoboIbooks
Something the Wind Blew In
Buy Book
Kindle
Cool Comics in My Collection, Episode 13
Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection, Episode 13, where we take a look at six cool comic books I currently own, and one that I let get away.
If you’ve 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. I welcome any comments you might have, and hope you enjoy seeing these as much as I do writing about them. And now, Episode 13…
Cool comics in my collection #85: Star Wars #23, May 1979.
Since the new Star Wars movie has been released, I thought I’d go there with my cool comic. For some people, the movie is like Christmas come early. I’m not the biggest Star Wars fan, but I like it okay. When the first movie came out, my family waited a while until it was at a cheap theater in Bellaire, Ohio. I think we got in for 50 cents each. I’ll always remember how sticky the floor was, as if someone had spilled pop all over it a couple weeks previously, and I felt fortunate that I could lift my shoes to leave once the movie was over. But I must admit that it kept me mesmerized, and I didn’t think of the gross floor until we stood up to leave. I bought this comic at Titan Comics in Atlanta, Georgia, around 1996, for about 25 cents. The cover price is 40 cents, while the current value is $12.Cool comics in my collection #86: Afterlife With Archie #1, December 2013.
After going ten years of not buying any monthly comics, I caved in 2013 and got a subscription to an apocalyptic Archie comic. Yes, that’s what I said, the Riverdale gang of Archie, Jughead, Betty, Veronica, Reggie, Pops, Mr. Weatherbee, Moose, Sabrina, and Ms. Grundy face a zombie Arch-pocalypse. This certainly isn’t the Archie most of us grew up with. Archie has done some funny things over the years, such as the crossover with the Punisher, Archie’s Weird Mysteries (Scooby Gang? Mulder and Scully in Riverdale?), and Archie versus Predator, which started earlier in 2015. The freckled-face redhead has more tricks up his sleeve than you ever would have imagined. The cover price is $2.99, and the current value is $12.Cool comics in my collection #87: Planet of the Apes #1, August 1974.
The Planet of the Apes magazine may have said Curtis on the cover, but Marvel was the company behind it. This hybrid comic/magazine features the first original Planet of the Apes tale, along with the start of a comic adaptation of the 1968 movie. It even features an interview with scriptwriter Rod Serling (yes, that Rod Serling of The Twilight Zone fame). This first issue came out shortly before I turned twelve, and I was already a huge Apes fan. I had the Mego Apes action figures, the battery-operated stallion, and the treehouse. I read the original novel, and the novelizations of each of the movies as they came out. This was my childhood Star Wars. Nineteen seventy-four was a great year, as the TV show also debuted. Though the new Planet of the Apes movies may look great, they certainly don’t have the same post-apocalyptic atmosphere as the original movies and the TV series (I have the DVD box set of it, along with the Saturday morning cartoon series on DVD). The original comic stories in these issues are fun and entertaining, and I wish I had the entire collection of 29 issues, but I’m 11 issues short, and these aren’t cheap. I bought this issue off the rack when it came out at Slicks in Martins Ferry, Ohio. The cover price is $1, and the current value is $32.Cool comics in my collection #88: Shazam! The New Beginning #1, April 1987.
After DC’s Crisis on Infinite Earths, they continued their “do-over” with some mini-series of different heroes, and the Big Red Cheese got to be one of these featured characters. Shazam is a character that kids can associate with, since young Billy Batson changes into a powerful superhero, when he says, “Shazam.” I remember watching the Shazam live-action Saturday morning show, which started in 1974 (that year comes up a lot in my history, it seems). Shazam has an interesting history, and outsold Superman for a while, back in the forties. I bought this comic in 1996 at Titan Comics in Atlanta, Georgia. The cover price is 75 cents, while the current value is $3.Cool comics in my collection #89: The Amazing Spider-Man #194, July 1979.
It’s always fun when you find out one of the comics you own is highly collectible and you didn’t even realize it. That’s the case with this Amazing Spider-Man issue, which contains the first appearance of The Black Cat. When I’ve looked through my collection to decide what to put here, I tend to look at the early issues I have, but it turns out this is a great one to have. Felicia Hardy’s popularity continues to grow, so this is a very cool comic in my collection. When I started collecting comics for the third time, in the 1990s, I often would look for back issues of The Amazing Spider-Man, and I snagged this one in Atlanta, Georgia. The cover price is 40 cents, while the current value is $180.Cool comics in my collection #90: Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions #1, June 1982.
Marvel recently released a softcover trade of this classic mini-series from 1982, but there really is nothing like owning the original. I bought this issue off the rack at a little store in Columbus, Ohio, when I was attending Ohio State. While it hasn’t gained much in value, what it does have is a tremendous, all-star cast, too numerous to list here. Just look at the cover and that will give you an idea. Because of the whims of others, heroes of the Marvel Universe end up fighting each other while searching for particular items. It’s a lot of action and a lot of fun, and if you have a chance to grab this one at a good price, I recommend it. The cover price is 60 cents, while the current value is $4.Cool comics in my collection #91 (One That Got Away): Limited Collectors’ Edition Presents Christmas with the Super-Heroes C-43.
Do you remember these oversize comics? Both DC and Marvel put them out quite often in the seventies. I had over 20 of these giant comics, and when space became an issue in my house, these had to go. Unfortunately, I had some that were worth more money than I got for them, but I paid newsstand prices so I gained a little from the sales. Anyway, I had to put this one here on Christmas Eve. What’s Christmas without Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, the Sandman, and Cain. Okay, maybe Cain, from House of Mystery, seems a little out of place, but don’t we try to open our hearts and have goodwill towards all men at Christmas? The cover price for this is just $1, while the current value is $26.
Join My Newsletter!
Get My Books
Counterclockwise
Buy Book
Kindle
Something the Wind Blew In
Buy Book
Kindle
Apocalypse Weird: Last Meal
Buy Book
KindleNookKoboIbooks
December 17, 2015
Finds from the Back Issue Bins
Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection, Episode 12, where we take a look at six cool comic books I currently own, and one that I let get away. If you’ve 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. I welcome any comments you might have, and hope you enjoy seeing these as much as I do writing about them. And now, Episode 12…
Cool comics in my collection #78: Action Comics #340, August 1966.
Sometimes it pays off to nose around in the back issue bins, because I’ve been able to get some great old comics at low prices. Of course, that was from 1993 through 2003, so maybe it’s harder to find these gems today. Action Comics #340 features the usual Superman crowd of Lois Lane and Perry White, but what makes this issue even better is that it features the first appearance and origin of the villain the Parasite. While I’m not a huge Superman fan, I do remember going to see the 1978 movie with my father, which was a great bonding time. The cover price is 12 cents, while the current value is $135.Cool comics in my collection #79: The Amazing Spider-Man #114, November 1972.
I bought this comic as a back issue, sometime around the mid-1970’s, from The Paradox Bookstore in Wheeling, West Virginia, for just 10 cents. Paradox was the only place I knew of that sold back issues, as its specialty is used books. What a treasure trove. There were always lots of cool comic books on the racks, and at just a dime each, I would buy a stack when I went shopping with my mother. This issue features Doctor Octopus, Hammerhead, Flash Thompson, Gwen Stacy, and Aunt May. These early Spider-Man issues are a lot of fun to read, thanks to the writing of Gerry Conway. The cover price is 20 cents and the current value is $100.Cool comics in my collection #80: Superman: The Wedding Album #1, December 1996.
While some people may not think this is a cool comic, you can’t beat the sheer number of guests the DC writers and artists put into this special issue that features the nuptials of perhaps the most famous couple in all of comic book history, Lois and Clark. Also, today I attended the wedding of my daughter Renee’s friend, Hannah. They’ve been friends since Kindergarten, and this is a tribute to both their friendship and Hannah’s wedding. I bought this issue at Titan Comics in Atlanta, Georgia, when it came out. The cover price is $4.95 and the current value is $5.Cool comics in my collection #81: Iron Fist #15, September 1977.
I bought this as a back issue at Titan Comics in Atlanta, Georgia, back in the mid-90’s. I started liking Power Man and Iron Fist a little late in the game, but grabbed up some back issues of both characters when I could find them at good prices. This one is awesome because Iron Fist goes up against the X-Men. Some of the Mutant guests include Wolverine, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Nightcrawler, Storm, Banshee, and Colossus. I’m really looking forward to the Iron Fist show that is supposed to come out on Netflix, which might make his comics become even more valuable. The cover price on this issue is 30 cents, while the current value is $150.Cool comics in my collection #82: Marvels #1, January 1994.
The Marvels mini-series gave us an interesting look at the different ages of Marvel comics history through the eyes of Daily Bugle reporter Phil Sheldon. Kurt Busiek is the writer of the series, with pencils by Alex Ross. It’s really a visual feast, and a trip down Marvel memory lane. If you aren’t all that familiar with the early heroes, such as the original Human Torch, Jim Hammond, and even the early exploits of Captain America, you may want to try to find these or get a trade paperback. This series came out shortly after I started my third phase of comic book collecting, and I really appreciated it. I bought this issue at Titan Comics in Atlanta, Georgia, for the cover price of $5.95. The current value is $8.Cool comics in my collection #83: Captain Marvel #57, July 1978.
I didn’t buy this gem off the rack, but I wish I had. Unfortunately, I didn’t buy any Captain Marvels until I was in my third phase of comic book collecting. I bought this in 2001 at Kenmore Komics in Akron, Ohio. This issue is cool just for the cover, featuring the heavy hitters pictured. This issue has everything! Thor vs. Captain Marvel, Mjolnir vs. Nega-Bands, the Kree, the Negative Zone, and yes folks, Rick Jones! I’m close to having the entire run of Captain Marvel, but there are a few early issues I still need, and finding good deals on them is getting harder and harder, but maybe someday… The cover price is 35 cents and the current value is $16.Cool comics in my collection #84 (One That Got Away): The Phantom #38, June 1970.
The Phantom has been around longer than Superman, but certainly hasn’t gotten the attention or the had appeal. He started off as a comic strip and since then, several companies have produced Phantom comic books. He also had a movie and a mini-series, but they didn’t prove popular. My mother gave me this old Charlton edition when I was a kid (I believe it came in a sealed plastic bag with some other Charlton comics, such as Fightin’ Marines). I sold this issue, along with several other comics, to a comic shop when I was in college. The cover price is 15 cents, and the current value is $28.Join My Newsletter!
Get My Books
Prometheus Stumbles
Buy Book
AmazonKindleBarnesnoble
Orange Crik (A Short Story)
Buy Book
Kindle
Practice
Buy Book
Kindle
Cool Comics in My Collection, Episode 12
Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection, Episode 12, where we take a look at six cool comic books I currently own, and one that I let get away. If you’ve 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. I welcome any comments you might have, and hope you enjoy seeing these as much as I do writing about them. And now, Episode 12…
Cool comics in my collection #78: Action Comics #340, August 1966. Sometimes it pays off to nose around in the back issue bins, because I’ve been able to get some great old comics at low prices. Of course, that was from 1993 through 2003, so maybe it’s harder to find these gems today. Action Comics #340 features the usual Superman crowd of Lois Lane and Perry White, but what makes this issue even better is that it features the first appearance and origin of the villain the Parasite. While I’m not a huge Superman fan, I do remember going to see the 1978 movie with my father, which was a great bonding time. The cover price is 12 cents, while the current value is $135.
Cool comics in my collection #79: The Amazing Spider-Man #114, November 1972. I bought this comic as a back issue, sometime around the mid-1970’s, from The Paradox Bookstore in Wheeling, West Virginia, for just 10 cents. Paradox was the only place I knew of that sold back issues, as its specialty is used books. What a treasure trove. There were always lots of cool comic books on the racks, and at just a dime each, I would buy a stack when I went shopping with my mother. This issue features Doctor Octopus, Hammerhead, Flash Thompson, Gwen Stacy, and Aunt May. These early Spider-Man issues are a lot of fun to read, thanks to the writing of Gerry Conway. The cover price is 20 cents and the current value is $100.
Cool comics in my collection #80: Superman: The Wedding Album #1, December 1996. While some people may not think this is a cool comic, you can’t beat the sheer number of guests the DC writers and artists put into this special issue that features the nuptials of perhaps the most famous couple in all of comic book history, Lois and Clark. Also, today I attended the wedding of my daughter Renee’s friend, Hannah. They’ve been friends since Kindergarten, and this is a tribute to both their friendship and Hannah’s wedding. I bought this issue at Titan Comics in Atlanta, Georgia, when it came out. The cover price is $4.95 and the current value is $5.
Cool comics in my collection #81: Iron Fist #15, September 1977. I bought this as a back issue at Titan Comics in Atlanta, Georgia, back in the mid-90’s. I started liking Power Man and Iron Fist a little late in the game, but grabbed up some back issues of both characters when I could find them at good prices. This one is awesome because Iron Fist goes up against the X-Men. Some of the Mutant guests include Wolverine, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Nightcrawler, Storm, Banshee, and Colossus. I’m really looking forward to the Iron Fist show that is supposed to come out on Netflix, which might make his comics become even more valuable. The cover price on this issue is 30 cents, while the current value is $150.
Cool comics in my collection #82: Marvels #1, January 1994. The Marvels mini-series gave us an interesting look at the different ages of Marvel comics history through the eyes of Daily Bugle reporter Phil Sheldon. Kurt Busiek is the writer of the series, with pencils by Alex Ross. It’s really a visual feast, and a trip down Marvel memory lane. If you aren’t all that familiar with the early heroes, such as the original Human Torch, Jim Hammond, and even the early exploits of Captain America, you may want to try to find these or get a trade paperback. This series came out shortly after I started my third phase of comic book collecting, and I really appreciated it. I bought this issue at Titan Comics in Atlanta, Georgia, for the cover price of $5.95. The current value is $8.
Cool comics in my collection #83: Captain Marvel #57, July 1978. I didn’t buy this gem off the rack, but I wish I had. Unfortunately, I didn’t buy any Captain Marvels until I was in my third phase of comic book collecting. I bought this in 2001 at Kenmore Komics in Akron, Ohio. This issue is cool just for the cover, featuring the heavy hitters pictured. This issue has everything! Thor vs. Captain Marvel, Mjolnir vs. Nega-Bands, the Kree, the Negative Zone, and yes folks, Rick Jones! I’m close to having the entire run of Captain Marvel, but there are a few early issues I still need, and finding good deals on them is getting harder and harder, but maybe someday… The cover price is 35 cents and the current value is $16.
Cool comics in my collection #84 (One That Got Away): The Phantom #38, June 1970. The Phantom has been around longer than Superman, but certainly hasn’t gotten the attention or the had appeal. He started off as a comic strip and since then, several companies have produced Phantom comic books. He also had a movie and a mini-series, but they didn’t prove popular. My mother gave me this old Charlton edition when I was a kid (I believe it came in a sealed plastic bag with some other Charlton comics, such as Fightin’ Marines). I sold this issue, along with several other comics, to a comic shop when I was in college. The cover price is 15 cents, and the current value is $28.
December 10, 2015
Squirrel Girl? Is This a Real Super-Hero?
Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection, Episode 11, where we take a look at six cool comic books I currently own, and one that I let get away. If you’ve 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. I welcome any comments you might have, and hope you enjoy seeing these as much as I do writing about them. And now, Episode 11…
Cool comics in my collection #71: Marvel Super-Heroes #8, Winter 1991.
I bought a handful of these thick Marvel Super-Heroes comics out of a back issue box for about 25 cents each many years ago, and figured they would be fun to read. What I never suspected was that one of them would have the first appearance of a character that would make this particular issue have some value. So who is it? None other than Squirrel Girl. Okay, until a few days ago, I didn’t even know who she was, since I just got around to reading this issue. My comics are older, so I’m not up on what’s going on. I haven’t read regular monthly issues since mid-2003. I didn’t read Civil War, and Jessica Jones didn’t exist yet. But this is a nice issue to have, and I really enjoyed the tale with Squirrel Girl, Iron Man, and Doctor Doom! The cover price is $2.25, and the current value is $60.Cool comics in my collection #72: The Fury of Firestorm #23, May 1984.
I picked this comic up as a back issue in Atlanta, Georgia, at Titan Comics. For years it was just a typical back issue that no one really noticed, except for Firestorm enthusiasts. But guess who has their first appearance in this comic? None other than Felicity Smoak, who happens to be managing a computer software firm. And if you still don’t know who she is, then you aren’t watching The Arrow TV show. Believe it or not, in this version of the DC world she’s living in, she becomes Ronnie Raymond’s stepmother. Weird, isn’t it? Anyway, this issue is now sort of collectible, thanks to The Arrow. The cover price is 75 cents, and the current value is $12.Cool comics in my collection #73: Thor #183, December 1970.
I bought this issue of Thor at Titan Comics in Atlanta, Georgia, around 1995. When I started reading comic books again in the early 1990’s, I really started enjoying Thor, so I searched back issue boxes for good deals. I believe I paid $1 for this beauty that has Thor facing Doctor Doom on the cover. Doom is such a great villain, and it’s always interesting to see what tricks he has up his sleeve for the different heroes in the Marvel Universe. And now that Marvel and Star Wars both belong to Disney, maybe we can see what happens when Doom and Darth face each other in battle. Okay, we probably won’t be seeing that, but it would be interesting. The cover price of this comic is 15 cents, while the current value is $100.Cool comics in my collection #74: The Flash TV Special #1, 1991.
News flash! The current Flash TV show had a predecessor, and it starred John Wesley Shipp as Barry Allen. The same actor plays Barry’s dad on the new show. The older version lasted one season made up of 22 episodes, and many fans really loved it, especially considering there weren’t other comic book heroes in prime time back during the 1990-1991 TV season. I was disappointed when it wasn’t renewed for the next season. This comic came out a couple years before I started my third round of collecting comics, and I found it in a back issue bin in Atlanta for 25 cents. Although this comic hasn’t increased in value, and may never, it’s a nice reminder of the TV show. You can watch the first episode for free on Amazon and then have to pay for the remainder. It was fun while it lasted, but the new Flash is so much better. The cover price of this comic is $3.95, and the current value is the same price.Cool comics in my collection #75: The Spectacular Spider-Man #2, January 1977.
I bought this comic new off the newsstand at Slicks in Martins Ferry, Ohio. Why didn’t I buy issue number 1, which is worth $90 today? What was I thinking? Oh well, issue #2 is a nice one to have, and has plenty of villains and familiar Spiderverse faces, such as Kingpin, Tarantula, the Lizard, Kraven the Hunter, J. Jonah Jameson, and Aunt May. A few years back, when I had to get rid of the thousands of comics that were attacking my house, it was a tough decision to get rid of all of my Spider-Man comics except for my collection that started with “Amazing.” So I kept a few “Spectacular” issues, too. I’ve always been a big Spider-Man fan, but when I realized I needed to cull my collection, I wanted to retain a variety of comics, so many of my Spider-Man issues ended up getting sold to a friend. The cover price is 30 cents, while the current value is $35.Cool comics in my collection #76: Power Man #17, February 1974.
Yet another classic from 1974, which seems to have been a very good year for comic books. I didn’t buy this one when it came out, but as a back issue from Kenmore Komics and Games in Akron, Ohio. If you are ever looking for back issues and live anywhere near Akron, you really need to visit this fantastic comic shop. I bought this issue around 2002 for a couple dollars, as I snagged several older Power Man comics during a visit. There are some great guests here, including Iron Man, Spider-Man, Captain America, the Vulture, and Baron Helmut Zemo. Luke Cage is going to gain in popularity, thanks to Netflix, so you may want to grab some of his older comics while you can find them. The cover price is 20 cents, and the current value is $40.Cool comics in my collection #77 (One That Got Away): Black Goliath #1, February 1976.
Why oh why did I sell a stack of comic books to a comic shop when I was in college? I wanted some date money, and all I got was $20 for some great comics I now wish I had kept. Hindsight is 20/20, right? At any rate, I read this comic nearly 40 years ago, and remember liking it. When it comes to comic books produced in the seventies, I get wistful and wish I had more of them! Besides Bill Foster, the Black Goliath, this issue features Iron Man, Luke Cage, and Hank Pym. By the way, the series lasted just five issues, with a total series value of $78. The cover price of this issue is 25 cents and the current value is $18. Cool comics in my collection #77 (One That Got Away): Black Goliath #1, February 1976. Why oh why did I sell a stack of comic books to a comic shop when I was in college? I wanted some date money, and all I got was $20 for some great comics I now wish I had kept. Hindsight is 20/20, right? At any rate, I read this comic nearly 40 years ago, and remember liking it. When it comes to comic books produced in the seventies, I get wistful and wish I had more of them! Besides Bill Foster, the Black Goliath, this issue features Iron Man, Luke Cage, and Hank Pym. By the way, the series lasted just five issues, with a total series value of $78. The cover price of this issue is 25 cents and the current value is $18.
Join My Newsletter!
Get My Books
Prometheus Stumbles
Buy Book
AmazonKindleBarnesnoble
Orange Crik (A Short Story)
Buy Book
Kindle
Something the Wind Blew In
Buy Book
Kindle
Cool Comics in My Collection, Episode 11
Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection, Episode 11, where we take a look at six cool comic books I currently own, and one that I let get away. If you’ve 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. I welcome any comments you might have, and hope you enjoy seeing these as much as I do writing about them. And now, Episode 11…
Cool comics in my collection #71: Marvel Super-Heroes #8, Winter 1991.
I bought a handful of these thick Marvel Super-Heroes comics out of a back issue box for about 25 cents each many years ago, and figured they would be fun to read. What I never suspected was that one of them would have the first appearance of a character that would make this particular issue have some value. So who is it? None other than Squirrel Girl. Okay, until a few days ago, I didn’t even know who she was, since I just got around to reading this issue. My comics are older, so I’m not up on what’s going on. I haven’t read regular monthly issues since mid-2003. I didn’t read Civil War, and Jessica Jones didn’t exist yet. But this is a nice issue to have, and I really enjoyed the tale with Squirrel Girl, Iron Man, and Doctor Doom! The cover price is $2.25, and the current value is $60.Cool comics in my collection #72: The Fury of Firestorm #23, May 1984.
I picked this comic up as a back issue in Atlanta, Georgia, at Titan Comics. For years it was just a typical back issue that no one really noticed, except for Firestorm enthusiasts. But guess who has their first appearance in this comic? None other than Felicity Smoak, who happens to be managing a computer software firm. And if you still don’t know who she is, then you aren’t watching The Arrow TV show. Believe it or not, in this version of the DC world she’s living in, she becomes Ronnie Raymond’s stepmother. Weird, isn’t it? Anyway, this issue is now sort of collectible, thanks to The Arrow. The cover price is 75 cents, and the current value is $12.Cool comics in my collection #73: Thor #183, December 1970.
I bought this issue of Thor at Titan Comics in Atlanta, Georgia, around 1995. When I started reading comic books again in the early 1990’s, I really started enjoying Thor, so I searched back issue boxes for good deals. I believe I paid $1 for this beauty that has Thor facing Doctor Doom on the cover. Doom is such a great villain, and it’s always interesting to see what tricks he has up his sleeve for the different heroes in the Marvel Universe. And now that Marvel and Star Wars both belong to Disney, maybe we can see what happens when Doom and Darth face each other in battle. Okay, we probably won’t be seeing that, but it would be interesting. The cover price of this comic is 15 cents, while the current value is $100.Cool comics in my collection #74: The Flash TV Special #1, 1991.
News flash! The current Flash TV show had a predecessor, and it starred John Wesley Shipp as Barry Allen. The same actor plays Barry’s dad on the new show. The older version lasted one season made up of 22 episodes, and many fans really loved it, especially considering there weren’t other comic book heroes in prime time back during the 1990-1991 TV season. I was disappointed when it wasn’t renewed for the next season. This comic came out a couple years before I started my third round of collecting comics, and I found it in a back issue bin in Atlanta for 25 cents. Although this comic hasn’t increased in value, and may never, it’s a nice reminder of the TV show. You can watch the first episode for free on Amazon and then have to pay for the remainder. It was fun while it lasted, but the new Flash is so much better. The cover price of this comic is $3.95, and the current value is the same price.Cool comics in my collection #75: The Spectacular Spider-Man #2, January 1977.
I bought this comic new off the newsstand at Slicks in Martins Ferry, Ohio. Why didn’t I buy issue number 1, which is worth $90 today? What was I thinking? Oh well, issue #2 is a nice one to have, and has plenty of villains and familiar Spiderverse faces, such as Kingpin, Tarantula, the Lizard, Kraven the Hunter, J. Jonah Jameson, and Aunt May. A few years back, when I had to get rid of the thousands of comics that were attacking my house, it was a tough decision to get rid of all of my Spider-Man comics except for my collection that started with “Amazing.” So I kept a few “Spectacular” issues, too. I’ve always been a big Spider-Man fan, but when I realized I needed to cull my collection, I wanted to retain a variety of comics, so many of my Spider-Man issues ended up getting sold to a friend. The cover price is 30 cents, while the current value is $35.Cool comics in my collection #76: Power Man #17, February 1974.
Yet another classic from 1974, which seems to have been a very good year for comic books. I didn’t buy this one when it came out, but as a back issue from Kenmore Komics and Games in Akron, Ohio. If you are ever looking for back issues and live anywhere near Akron, you really need to visit this fantastic comic shop. I bought this issue around 2002 for a couple dollars, as I snagged several older Power Man comics during a visit. There are some great guests here, including Iron Man, Spider-Man, Captain America, the Vulture, and Baron Helmut Zemo. Luke Cage is going to gain in popularity, thanks to Netflix, so you may want to grab some of his older comics while you can find them. The cover price is 20 cents, and the current value is $40.Cool comics in my collection #77 (One That Got Away): Black Goliath #1, February 1976.
Why oh why did I sell a stack of comic books to a comic shop when I was in college? I wanted some date money, and all I got was $20 for some great comics I now wish I had kept. Hindsight is 20/20, right? At any rate, I read this comic nearly 40 years ago, and remember liking it. When it comes to comic books produced in the seventies, I get wistful and wish I had more of them! Besides Bill Foster, the Black Goliath, this issue features Iron Man, Luke Cage, and Hank Pym. By the way, the series lasted just five issues, with a total series value of $78. The cover price of this issue is 25 cents and the current value is $18. Cool comics in my collection #77 (One That Got Away): Black Goliath #1, February 1976. Why oh why did I sell a stack of comic books to a comic shop when I was in college? I wanted some date money, and all I got was $20 for some great comics I now wish I had kept. Hindsight is 20/20, right? At any rate, I read this comic nearly 40 years ago, and remember liking it. When it comes to comic books produced in the seventies, I get wistful and wish I had more of them! Besides Bill Foster, the Black Goliath, this issue features Iron Man, Luke Cage, and Hank Pym. By the way, the series lasted just five issues, with a total series value of $78. The cover price of this issue is 25 cents and the current value is $18.
Join My Newsletter!
Get My Books
Practice
Buy Book
Kindle
Apocalypse Weird: Last Meal
Buy Book
KindleNookKoboIbooks
Counterclockwise
Buy Book
Kindle
December 3, 2015
Death, Resurrection (by cloning), & Reaction
Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection, Episode 10, where we take a look at six cool comic books I currently own, and one that I let get away. If you’ve 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. I welcome any comments you might have, and hope you enjoy seeing these as much as I do writing about them. And now, Episode 10…
Cool comics in my collection #64: Captain America #175, July 1974.
This is another Captain America comic I bought at Slicks in Martins Ferry, Ohio. Often, when the new comics came in, I would have to wait patiently until they got put on the wooden newsstand, salivating as the bundles were cut and the store owner would spread them out, separating them by title, and count them and mark them off in a log. Such simple yet exciting times. Anyway, this issue is a continuation of the last Captain America issue I posted a couple weeks ago, and features many X-Men and Shield agents. The cover price is 25 cents and the current value is $60.Cool comics in my collection #65: The Amazing Spider-Man #144, May 1975.
There is a supervillain named Cyclone who has kidnapped J. Jonah Jameson and Robbie Robertson in Paris, demanding that Peter Parker brings a million dollars to Notre Dame, but all this gets forgotten at the end of this issue when Peter Parker gets back to the states, goes in his apartment, and finds his dead girlfriend, Gwen Stacy, seemingly resurrected. Thus starts the first Clone Saga to grace the pages of Spider-Man. It’s funny how the cover is so different from the interior reveal. But I remember how exciting this was as a kid, and the speculative conversations that ensued. I bought this from Slicks in Martins Ferry back when it came out in 1975. The cover price is 25 cents and the current value is $50.Cool comics in my collection #66: The Flash #92, July 1994.
Do you watch The Flash TV show? Then you know who Barry Allen is. But how about Bart Allen? He’s the grandson of Barry and is from the 30th century! His other grandfather happens to be Professor Zoom. This issue of The Flash is his introduction, and it has guest spots galore: Tim Drake (Robin), Maxima, Metamorpho, Martian Manhunter, the Ray, and Jay Garrick, to name a few. With the TV show, the Flash’s popularity should continue to rise, and I think this is a cool issue for anyone’s collection, with the introduction of Bart. Will he appear on the TV show? The character did appear on the occasional episode of Smallville. The cover price is $1.50 and the current value is $20.Cool comics in my collection #67: Superman #213, January 1969.
Regular readers of cool comics know that I had to ditch dozens of fantastic comics so that my house would have room to breathe, with many Superman titles, including the famous “Death of Superman,” being one of them. But low and behold, as I discovered in a box recently, I found this old gem, with another death of Superman scene on the cover! I picked up this back issue of Superman in Atlanta at Titan Comics, back in the mid-90’s. This issue contains Brainiac 5, Lex Luthor, Mordru, Jimmy Olsen, and Supergirl, who currently has her own TV show. The cover price for this issue is 12 cents, while the current value is $120.Cool comics in my collection #68: Marvel Super-Heroes #25, March 1970.
You get a lot of bang for your buck (actually, way cheaper than a buck!) with this anthology of reprints. Three full issues of classic Marvel stories are here, including The X-Men #6, Tales to Astonish #60 (the Hulk is featured), and Daredevil #5. For those who’ve watched the Netflix series, you’ll enjoy this issue that includes Foggy and Karen. In the X-Men story, Professor Xavier and Magneto both try to recruit Namor, the Sub-Mariner, to their individual causes, but the Prince of Atlantis is definitely his own man. I picked this back issue up at Kenmore Komics in Akron, Ohio. The cover price is just 25 cents (and boy is it a thick issue for the price), and the current value is $16.Cool comics in my collection #69: The Avengers #125, July 1974.
This is another one from my childhood that I bought directly off the newsstand at Slicks in Martins Ferry, Ohio, when I was eleven years old. This is the 14th comic I’ve posted on here that is from 1974. You can probably surmise that my childhood was greatly influenced by comic books. Anyway, the Avengers are all over the place today because of the success of the movies, but nothing beats the pages of those old comics. This issue is packed with heroes and villains, including Thor, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Captain America, Iron Man, Scarlet Witch, Vision, Drax the Destroyer, and Thanos. The cover price is 25 cents and the current value is $80.Cool comics in my collection #70 (One That Got Away): John Carter, Warlord of Mars #11, April 1978.
I didn’t buy any John Carter comics when they first came out, but instead bought them in the mid-90’s at a comic book show in Atlanta, Georgia. I bought 24 of the 28 issue run for just 20 cents apiece. When it came time to make some room in my house by purging some comics, John Carter didn’t make the cut. Now I sort of wish I had kept them, but that’s life, and I have plenty of other comics. This particular issue has the origin of Deja Thoris. If you’ve read any of the books by Edgar Rice Burroughs or saw the movie from a few years back, then you are familiar with her, and John Carter. The cover price for this issue is 35 cents, and the current value is $10.Join My Newsletter!
Get My Books
Apocalypse Weird: Last Meal
Buy Book
KindleNookKoboIbooks
Something the Wind Blew In
Buy Book
Kindle
Counterclockwise
Buy Book
Kindle
Cool Comics in My Collection, Episode 10
Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection, Episode 10, where we take a look at six cool comic books I currently own, and one that I let get away. If you’ve 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. I welcome any comments you might have, and hope you enjoy seeing these as much as I do writing about them. And now, Episode 10…
Cool comics in my collection #64: Captain America #175, July 1974.
This is another Captain America comic I bought at Slicks in Martins Ferry, Ohio. Often, when the new comics came in, I would have to wait patiently until they got put on the wooden newsstand, salivating as the bundles were cut and the store owner would spread them out, separating them by title, and count them and mark them off in a log. Such simple yet exciting times. Anyway, this issue is a continuation of the last Captain America issue I posted a couple weeks ago, and features many X-Men and Shield agents. The cover price is 25 cents and the current value is $60.Cool comics in my collection #65: The Amazing Spider-Man #144, May 1975.
There is a supervillain named Cyclone who has kidnapped J. Jonah Jameson and Robbie Robertson in Paris, demanding that Peter Parker brings a million dollars to Notre Dame, but all this gets forgotten at the end of this issue when Peter Parker gets back to the states, goes in his apartment, and finds his dead girlfriend, Gwen Stacy, seemingly resurrected. Thus starts the first Clone Saga to grace the pages of Spider-Man. It’s funny how the cover is so different from the interior reveal. But I remember how exciting this was as a kid, and the speculative conversations that ensued. I bought this from Slicks in Martins Ferry back when it came out in 1975. The cover price is 25 cents and the current value is $50.Cool comics in my collection #66: The Flash #92, July 1994.
Do you watch The Flash TV show? Then you know who Barry Allen is. But how about Bart Allen? He’s the grandson of Barry and is from the 30th century! His other grandfather happens to be Professor Zoom. This issue of The Flash is his introduction, and it has guest spots galore: Tim Drake (Robin), Maxima, Metamorpho, Martian Manhunter, the Ray, and Jay Garrick, to name a few. With the TV show, the Flash’s popularity should continue to rise, and I think this is a cool issue for anyone’s collection, with the introduction of Bart. Will he appear on the TV show? The character did appear on the occasional episode of Smallville. The cover price is $1.50 and the current value is $20.Cool comics in my collection #67: Superman #213, January 1969.
Regular readers of cool comics know that I had to ditch dozens of fantastic comics so that my house would have room to breathe, with many Superman titles, including the famous “Death of Superman,” being one of them. But low and behold, as I discovered in a box recently, I found this old gem, with another death of Superman scene on the cover! I picked up this back issue of Superman in Atlanta at Titan Comics, back in the mid-90’s. This issue contains Brainiac 5, Lex Luthor, Mordru, Jimmy Olsen, and Supergirl, who currently has her own TV show. The cover price for this issue is 12 cents, while the current value is $120.Cool comics in my collection #68: Marvel Super-Heroes #25, March 1970.
You get a lot of bang for your buck (actually, way cheaper than a buck!) with this anthology of reprints. Three full issues of classic Marvel stories are here, including The X-Men #6, Tales to Astonish #60 (the Hulk is featured), and Daredevil #5. For those who’ve watched the Netflix series, you’ll enjoy this issue that includes Foggy and Karen. In the X-Men story, Professor Xavier and Magneto both try to recruit Namor, the Sub-Mariner, to their individual causes, but the Prince of Atlantis is definitely his own man. I picked this back issue up at Kenmore Komics in Akron, Ohio. The cover price is just 25 cents (and boy is it a thick issue for the price), and the current value is $16.Cool comics in my collection #69: The Avengers #125, July 1974.
This is another one from my childhood that I bought directly off the newsstand at Slicks in Martins Ferry, Ohio, when I was eleven years old. This is the 14th comic I’ve posted on here that is from 1974. You can probably surmise that my childhood was greatly influenced by comic books. Anyway, the Avengers are all over the place today because of the success of the movies, but nothing beats the pages of those old comics. This issue is packed with heroes and villains, including Thor, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Captain America, Iron Man, Scarlet Witch, Vision, Drax the Destroyer, and Thanos. The cover price is 25 cents and the current value is $80.Cool comics in my collection #70 (One That Got Away): John Carter, Warlord of Mars #11, April 1978.
I didn’t buy any John Carter comics when they first came out, but instead bought them in the mid-90’s at a comic book show in Atlanta, Georgia. I bought 24 of the 28 issue run for just 20 cents apiece. When it came time to make some room in my house by purging some comics, John Carter didn’t make the cut. Now I sort of wish I had kept them, but that’s life, and I have plenty of other comics. This particular issue has the origin of Deja Thoris. If you’ve read any of the books by Edgar Rice Burroughs or saw the movie from a few years back, then you are familiar with her, and John Carter. The cover price for this issue is 35 cents, and the current value is $10.
Join My Newsletter!
Get My Books
Practice
Buy Book
Kindle
Prometheus Stumbles
Buy Book
AmazonKindleBarnesnoble
Counterclockwise
Buy Book
Kindle
