Ed Gosney's Blog, page 47

Could This Be the End of Jimmy Olsen?

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection, Episode 9, 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 9…

Cool comics in my collection #57: Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #115, October 1968.

The Jimmy Olsen in this comic may not come across as cool as the new Jimmy does in the Supergirl TV show, but I sort of like the goofball version. I was just a young boy, turning six that October when this comic came out, but I didn’t buy it then. These are sort of goofy comics, and Jimmy gains the powers of Aquaman in this issue, which also has a strip of a character called Super-Turtle. When I think of Jimmy Olsen, I immediately think of Jack Larson, who played him in the old TV series The Adventures of Superman, from 1952 – 1958. I have lots of fond memories of watching the reruns of that show while growing up. The cover price of this comic is 12 cents, while the current value is $30.
Cool comics in my collection #58: Marvel Two-In-One Annual #7, December 1981.

How can you not love this cover with all these heavy hitters? I bought this when I was in college, and it was fun to read this issue with fights including Thor, Hulk, Sasquatch, Colossus, Namor, and Wonder Man. Oh, and the Thing, looking ready to take on the world…or in this case, an alien named Tryco Slatterus, who happens to be over 5 billion years old and has the title of Champion of the Universe. This comic also has many other Marvel characters, but there are too many to name here. It’s a fun issue and I recommend picking it up if you find it at a good price. The cover price is $1 and the current value is $20.
Cool comics in my collection #59: The Amazing Spider-Man #106, March 1972.

What? Peter Parker is Spider-Man? Could this be the end? Well, no. But this is another close call for our hero, as Spencer Smythe and J. Jonah Jameson are once more up to their shenanigans of trying to discredit our poor web-slinger. This issue also features Flash Thompson, Harry Osborn, Mary Jane Watson, Gwen Stacy, and the Lizard! I bought this issue used at Paradox Bookstore in Wheeling, West Virginia, for just 10 cents. The cover price is 20 cents, and the current value is $100.
Cool comics in my collection #60: The The Brave and the Bold #112, May 1974.

This comic book title sounds like a soap opera, doesn’t it? From issue #59, it started featuring Batman in a team-up with other characters, which proved popular due to the Batman TV show that many of us watched as kids. In this issue, #112, it also features Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, Hawkman, Aqualad, Big Barda, Oberon, and Mister Miracle. These DC 100 page giants were great! I got this issue when it came out from the magazine rack at Super-X Drugs in Martins Ferry, where my father was a pharmacist. It has a cover price of 60 cents, and the current value is $55.
Cool comics in my collection #61: JSA #1, August 1999.

David S. Goyer and James Robinson made the Justice Society of America cool again for a modern audience. Okay, so it was 16 years ago, but they brought these older DC characters together and created a fun team that I had to list in my cool comics. Some of the heroes include Green Lantern (Alan Scott), Flash (Jay Garrick), Johnny Thunder, Stargirl, Sandman (Wesley Dodds), and Wildcat. I bought this comic new at Kenmore Komics in Akron, Ohio. The cover price is $2.50 and the current value is $12.
Cool comics in my collection #62: Ms. Marvel #1, January 1977.

I bought this comic sometime in the mid-90’s at Titan Comics in Atlanta, Georgia. I love having comics from the seventies, since that’s when I first discovered and fell in love with spandex heroes. I never read the short run of Ms. Marvel when it came out, so it was fun buying most of the run for about 50 cents apiece in a back issue box. Now this issue has a nice value (as do most of the Ms. Marvel comics from issue 1 through 23), and I couldn’t be happier that I grabbed it about 20 years ago. And it looks like Marvel will be putting out a Ms. Marvel movie, so the value could go higher. But it’s not just about the money, as the nostalgia effect is important when it comes to collecting comic books. The cover price is 30 cents and the current value is $180.
Cool comics in my collection #63 (One That Got Away): Ultimate Spider-Man #1, Variant Cover, October 2000.

The Ultimate line of Marvels came out, and I bought them up, but then sold them later when I was running out of space. I made a lot of money off of this particular issue on Ebay ($400), and I was fine with that. I had both the original cover and this variant. It was fun reading the Ultimate comics and seeing a different perspective of Peter, Mary Jane, Flash, Aunt May, and the rest of the gang, but I liked the original line better (and kept those), especially the Spider-Man of the sixties and seventies. The cover price of this issue is $2.99 and the current value is $200.

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Cool Comics in My Collection, Episode 9

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection, Episode 9, 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 9…

Cool comics in my collection #57: Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #115, October 1968. The Jimmy Olsen in this comic may not come across as cool as the new Jimmy does in the Supergirl TV show, but I sort of like the goofball version. I was just a young boy, turning six that October when this comic came out, but I didn’t buy it then. These are sort of goofy comics, and Jimmy gains the powers of Aquaman in this issue, which also has a strip of a character called Super-Turtle. When I think of Jimmy Olsen, I immediately think of Jack Larson, who played him in the old TV series The Adventures of Superman, from 1952 – 1958. I have lots of fond memories of watching the reruns of that show while growing up. The cover price of this comic is 12 cents, while the current value is $30.

Cool comics in my collection #58: Marvel Two-In-One Annual #7, December 1981. How can you not love this cover with all these heavy hitters? I bought this when I was in college, and it was fun to read this issue with fights including Thor, Hulk, Sasquatch, Colossus, Namor, and Wonder Man. Oh, and the Thing, looking ready to take on the world…or in this case, an alien named Tryco Slatterus, who happens to be over 5 billion years old and has the title of Champion of the Universe. This comic also has many other Marvel characters, but there are too many to name here. It’s a fun issue and I recommend picking it up if you find it at a good price. The cover price is $1 and the current value is $20.

Cool comics in my collection #59: The Amazing Spider-Man #106, March 1972. What? Peter Parker is Spider-Man? Could this be the end? Well, no. But this is another close call for our hero, as Spencer Smythe and J. Jonah Jameson are once more up to their shenanigans of trying to discredit our poor web-slinger. This issue also features Flash Thompson, Harry Osborn, Mary Jane Watson, Gwen Stacy, and the Lizard! I bought this issue used at Paradox Bookstore in Wheeling, West Virginia, for just 10 cents. The cover price is 20 cents, and the current value is $100.

Cool comics in my collection #60: The The Brave and the Bold #112, May 1974. This comic book title sounds like a soap opera, doesn’t it? From issue #59, it started featuring Batman in a team-up with other characters, which proved popular due to the Batman TV show that many of us watched as kids. In this issue, #112, it also features Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, Hawkman, Aqualad, Big Barda, Oberon, and Mister Miracle. These DC 100 page giants were great! I got this issue when it came out from the magazine rack at Super-X Drugs in Martins Ferry, where my father was a pharmacist. It has a cover price of 60 cents, and the current value is $55.

Cool comics in my collection #61: JSA #1, August 1999. David S. Goyer and James Robinson made the Justice Society of America cool again for a modern audience. Okay, so it was 16 years ago, but they brought these older DC characters together and created a fun team that I had to list in my cool comics. Some of the heroes include Green Lantern (Alan Scott), Flash (Jay Garrick), Johnny Thunder, Stargirl, Sandman (Wesley Dodds), and Wildcat. I bought this comic new at Kenmore Komics in Akron, Ohio. The cover price is $2.50 and the current value is $12.

Cool comics in my collection #62: Ms. Marvel #1, January 1977. I bought this comic sometime in the mid-90’s at Titan Comics in Atlanta, Georgia. I love having comics from the seventies, since that’s when I first discovered and fell in love with spandex heroes. I never read the short run of Ms. Marvel when it came out, so it was fun buying most of the run for about 50 cents apiece in a back issue box. Now this issue has a nice value (as do most of the Ms. Marvel comics from issue 1 through 23), and I couldn’t be happier that I grabbed it about 20 years ago. And it looks like Marvel will be putting out a Ms. Marvel movie, so the value could go higher. But it’s not just about the money, as the nostalgia effect is important when it comes to collecting comic books. The cover price is 30 cents and the current value is $180.

Cool comics in my collection #63 (One That Got Away): Ultimate Spider-Man #1, Variant Cover, October 2000. The Ultimate line of Marvels came out, and I bought them up, but then sold them later when I was running out of space. I made a lot of money off of this particular issue on Ebay ($400), and I was fine with that. I had both the original cover and this variant. It was fun reading the Ultimate comics and seeing a different perspective of Peter, Mary Jane, Flash, Aunt May, and the rest of the gang, but I liked the original line better (and kept those), especially the Spider-Man of the sixties and seventies. The cover price of this issue is $2.99 and the current value is $200.

Crisis & Boba Fett: Coincidence?

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection, Episode 8, 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 8…

Cool comics in my collection #50: The Mighty Thor #411, December 1989.

If you like comics with lots of guest spots, then this issue of Thor is for you. Besides the Juggernaut as seen on the cover, this one also has Firestar, Nova, Namorita, Justice, Speedball, Night Thrasher (okay, I might just as well have said that The New Warriors are in it…and by the way, this is the first appearance of Night Thrasher), Thunderstrike, and Hercules. Oh yeah, Thor’s in this issue, too, along with a backup story featuring Beta Ray Bill. I bought this comic as a back issue for a really good price at Titan Comics in Atlanta, Georgia, in the mid-90s. The cover price is $1, while the current value is $16.
Cool comics in my collection #51: The Amazing Spider-Man #82, March 1970.

I bought this comic used from the Paradox Bookstore in Wheeling, West Virginia, for 10 cents. All the old familiar characters appear here, including Flash Thompson, Gwen Stacy, J. Jonah Jameson, Robbie Robertson, Mary Jane, and Harry Osborn. Electro is the villain in this adventure, which happens to be the earliest issue I have of this comic series. The older Spider-Man comics have good secondary market value, and I’m glad to have an Amazing Spider-Man comic in the double digit numbering. The cover price is just 15 cents, while the current value is $155.
Cool comics in my collection #52: The New Warriors #1, July 1990.

Billed as “Heroes for the 90’s” on the cover, this team can’t compare to the Avengers or X-Men, but they are a lot of fun to read. Maybe a good comparison would be DC’s Teen Titans. If you wonder who they are, take a closer look at the cover, as it names the members. Some of the additional characters in this issue are She-Hulk, Captain America, and Terrax. I bought this for a quarter as a back issue at Excalibur Comics in Atlanta, Georgia. The cover price is $1 and the current value is $4. Maybe they don’t have great resale value, but if you want to collect all 75 issues in this series, it’s more affordable than most comics that date back 25 years.
Cool comics in my collection #53: The Invaders #31, August 1978.

Marvel decided to let fans read some untold stories of the earliest superheroes in their universe, thus The Invaders. Comprised of Captain America, Namor, and The Human Torch (Jim Hammond, not Johnny Storm – and he was an android!), they battled the Axis powers of World War II. And in this particular issue, they go up against a newer version of Frankenstein’s Monster, who’s decked out in a Nazi uniform! A nice mix of monsters and heroes. I bought this issue at Kenmore Komics in Akron, Ohio, as a back issue. The cover price is 35 cents, while the current value is $10.
Cool comics in my collection #54: Crisis on Infinite Earths #1, April 1985.

This crossover series from DC lasted for 12 issues, but was actually bigger than that–much bigger–as it spread across 66 other issues of titles in DC’s stable as a way for their continuity to start fresh. Big moments happen in the series, meaning some deaths of beloved characters. For years afterward, comics, magazines, and people having discussions about DC would state if something they were referring to was pre- or post-crisis. This probably doesn’t seem like such a big deal today, with the New 52 and other series that have gone on in more modern comics, but back in the mid-80’s, this was a daring risk to take. I bought this issue (along with the entire series) at a comic book show in Atlanta in the mid-90’s, for about $1 each (the 12 issues…not all 78!). The cover price is 75 cents and the current value is $7.
Cool comics in my collection #55: Star Wars #68, February 1983.

While there have been many Star Wars comics produced by both Marvel and Dark Horse, and there are a few that are more valuable than this issue, I’m really glad that I pulled this copy out of a back issue bin and got it for 25 cents back in Atlanta sometime in the 90’s. As you can see from the cover, fan favorite Boba Fett is on the cover, and my son, Ed, is a fan of the bounty hunter. Who else is inside this issue? Chewbacca, Luke Skywalker, R2-D2, C-3PO, Princess Leia, and Lando Calrissian, along with a few others. With the new movie coming out, I’m sure this issue will at the least hold its value, if not go up a few more dollars. The cover price is 60 cents and the current asking price is $70.
Cool comics in my collection #56 (One That Got Away): Batman #348, June 1982.

I bought this issue at a store just off-campus at Ohio State, when I started collecting comics again after thinking I was too old for them. I wasn’t sure what I would like, so I tried different titles to get a feel for what they were like, since I had pretty much stopped buying them around 1976. This issue of Batman has a cool cover, and I wasn’t familiar back then with the Man-Bat, so I picked it up. This issue also contains Catwoman, Barbara Gordon, and Vicki Vale. When I had to thin out my collection, I don’t remember if I sold it or gave it away. The cover price is 60 cents, and the current value is $15.

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Cool Comics in My Collection, Episode 8

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection, Episode 8, 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 8…

Cool comics in my collection #50: The Mighty Thor #411, December 1989.

If you like comics with lots of guest spots, then this issue of Thor is for you. Besides the Juggernaut as seen on the cover, this one also has Firestar, Nova, Namorita, Justice, Speedball, Night Thrasher (okay, I might just as well have said that The New Warriors are in it…and by the way, this is the first appearance of Night Thrasher), Thunderstrike, and Hercules. Oh yeah, Thor’s in this issue, too, along with a backup story featuring Beta Ray Bill. I bought this comic as a back issue for a really good price at Titan Comics in Atlanta, Georgia, in the mid-90s. The cover price is $1, while the current value is $16.
Cool comics in my collection #51: The Amazing Spider-Man #82, March 1970.

I bought this comic used from the Paradox Bookstore in Wheeling, West Virginia, for 10 cents. All the old familiar characters appear here, including Flash Thompson, Gwen Stacy, J. Jonah Jameson, Robbie Robertson, Mary Jane, and Harry Osborn. Electro is the villain in this adventure, which happens to be the earliest issue I have of this comic series. The older Spider-Man comics have good secondary market value, and I’m glad to have an Amazing Spider-Man comic in the double digit numbering. The cover price is just 15 cents, while the current value is $155.
Cool comics in my collection #52: The New Warriors #1, July 1990.

Billed as “Heroes for the 90’s” on the cover, this team can’t compare to the Avengers or X-Men, but they are a lot of fun to read. Maybe a good comparison would be DC’s Teen Titans. If you wonder who they are, take a closer look at the cover, as it names the members. Some of the additional characters in this issue are She-Hulk, Captain America, and Terrax. I bought this for a quarter as a back issue at Excalibur Comics in Atlanta, Georgia. The cover price is $1 and the current value is $4. Maybe they don’t have great resale value, but if you want to collect all 75 issues in this series, it’s more affordable than most comics that date back 25 years.
Cool comics in my collection #53: The Invaders #31, August 1978.

Marvel decided to let fans read some untold stories of the earliest superheroes in their universe, thus The Invaders. Comprised of Captain America, Namor, and The Human Torch (Jim Hammond, not Johnny Storm – and he was an android!), they battled the Axis powers of World War II. And in this particular issue, they go up against a newer version of Frankenstein’s Monster, who’s decked out in a Nazi uniform! A nice mix of monsters and heroes. I bought this issue at Kenmore Komics in Akron, Ohio, as a back issue. The cover price is 35 cents, while the current value is $10.
Cool comics in my collection #54: Crisis on Infinite Earths #1, April 1985.

This crossover series from DC lasted for 12 issues, but was actually bigger than that–much bigger–as it spread across 66 other issues of titles in DC’s stable as a way for their continuity to start fresh. Big moments happen in the series, meaning some deaths of beloved characters. For years afterward, comics, magazines, and people having discussions about DC would state if something they were referring to was pre- or post-crisis. This probably doesn’t seem like such a big deal today, with the New 52 and other series that have gone on in more modern comics, but back in the mid-80’s, this was a daring risk to take. I bought this issue (along with the entire series) at a comic book show in Atlanta in the mid-90’s, for about $1 each (the 12 issues…not all 78!). The cover price is 75 cents and the current value is $7.
Cool comics in my collection #55: Star Wars #68, February 1983.

While there have been many Star Wars comics produced by both Marvel and Dark Horse, and there are a few that are more valuable than this issue, I’m really glad that I pulled this copy out of a back issue bin and got it for 25 cents back in Atlanta sometime in the 90’s. As you can see from the cover, fan favorite Boba Fett is on the cover, and my son, Ed, is a fan of the bounty hunter. Who else is inside this issue? Chewbacca, Luke Skywalker, R2-D2, C-3PO, Princess Leia, and Lando Calrissian, along with a few others. With the new movie coming out, I’m sure this issue will at the least hold its value, if not go up a few more dollars. The cover price is 60 cents and the current asking price is $70.
Cool comics in my collection #56 (One That Got Away): Batman #348, June 1982.

I bought this issue at a store just off-campus at Ohio State, when I started collecting comics again after thinking I was too old for them. I wasn’t sure what I would like, so I tried different titles to get a feel for what they were like, since I had pretty much stopped buying them around 1976. This issue of Batman has a cool cover, and I wasn’t familiar back then with the Man-Bat, so I picked it up. This issue also contains Catwoman, Barbara Gordon, and Vicki Vale. When I had to thin out my collection, I don’t remember if I sold it or gave it away. The cover price is 60 cents, and the current value is $15.

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Cool Comics in My Collection, Episode 7

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection, Episode 7, 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 7…

Cool comics in my collection #43: Marvel Spotlight #6, May 1980.

If you want to know the real story about Peter Quill, the hero known as Star-Lord, this issue contains his origin story. The Guardians of the Galaxy movie is different from this comic book, and I’m okay with the way it turned out. Chris Pratt and the others gave us a rousing space adventure, showing movie audiences another side to the Marvel Universe. But sometimes it’s fun to see how it was done the first time around, and there are many differences. I bought this issue at Kenmore Komics in Akron, Ohio, for 50 cents. The cover price is 40 cents and the current value is $40.
Cool comics in my collection #44: Marvel Team-Up #20, April 1974.

If you’re a Jurassic Park fan, this comic is for you, as it features Stegron the Dinosaur Man and his dinosaurs rampaging around NYC. Who is going to stop this? Hopefully Spider-Man and the Black Panther! This issue also has Ka-Zar and the Lizard, turning New York into a regular jungle. Other guests include J. Jonah Jameson and Mary Jane Watson. I bought this issue at Slicks in Martins Ferry, Ohio, directly off the rack. The cover price is 20 cents and the current value is $18.
Cool comics in my collection #45: Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #16, December 1973.

This was the last issue before changing the title to Power Man. Luke Cage will be appearing in the upcoming Jessica Jones Marvel series on Netflix, and also his own series on Netflix. I love the team-up of Power Man and Iron Fist, and Luke Cage is so cool that actor Nicolas Cage got his stage name from him (in case you didn’t know, he’s part of the Hollywood Coppola clan). I didn’t start collection him until the 90s, and got this back issue at Titan Comics in Atlanta, Georgia, around 1994. The cover price is 20 cents, while the current value is $20.
Cool comics in my collection #46: Marvel Two-In-One #5, September 1974.

While it’s no surprise that Spider-Man could carry a monthly team-up comic, many people might not realize that Benjamin J. Grimm, the The Ever-Lovin’ Blue-Eyed Thing, coming to you straight from Yancy Street, had a team-up comic of his own in the 70s, lasting for 100 issues. The one featured here has him teamed up with Captain America, Sharon Carter, and in just their second appearance, the original Guardians of the Galaxy. And no Rocket Raccoon didn’t exist back then. I bought this comic out of a back issue box at Titan Comics in Atlanta, Georgia, in the mid-90s. The cover price is 20 cents and the current value is $20.
Cool comics in my collection #47: The Champions #12, March 1977.

The first issue of this comic came out in 1975, and this issue a couple years later. Is it a coincidence that Queen put out their hit, “We Are the Champions,” in 1977, on the heels of these Marvel heroes? I’ll leave it up to you to decide. But maybe these guys deserve to have a theme song as they save the world. If you aren’t familiar with them, team members include Ghost Rider, Angel, Black Widow, Darkstar, Hercules, and Iceman. This issue also includes appearances by Stilt Man, Black Goliath, Silver Surfer, and the Stranger. I bought this issue at Titan Comics in Atlanta, Georgia, for 25 cents. The cover price is 30 cents, and the current value is $22.
Cool comics in my collection #48: Captain America #174, June 1974.

The Star Spangled Avenger for Veterans Day! This issue has guest stars galore from the world of the X-Men: Angel, Beast, Havok, Professor X, Banshee, Blob, Cyclops, Jean Grey, and Polaris, and also Gabriel Jones from S.H.I.E.L.D. There is a Secret Empire, with a character named Number One, who is alluded to be Richard Nixon (remember Watergate and the trials that summer?). The title of this issue is, “It’s Always Darkest!” and just a few issues later Steve Rogers hung up his shield and walked away…at least for a few months. I bought this comic off the rack at Slicks in Martins Ferry, Ohio. The cover price is 25 cents and the current value is $60.
Cool comics in my collection #49 (One That Got Away): Spawn #1, May 1992.

Back in the 90s, some comic creators decided they no longer wanted to keep making new stories and coming up with heroes and villains without owning the rights, so they broke away and formed Image Comics. Some of the comics did pretty well, and fans new to the scene searched for back issues so they could complete their collections, which is what I did. I bought my first Spawn in 1993, then got the few previous issues when I could at decent prices. Spawn proved to be quite popular due to creator Todd McFarlane building a following at both DC and Marvel, most notably with Spider-Man. I bought this issue at Titan Comics in Atlanta, Georgia, and when I realized I had way too many comics, my Spawn collection was sold during a garage sale. The cover price is $1.95 while the current value is $12.

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Cool Comics in My Collection, Episode 6

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection, Episode 6, 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 6…

Cool comics in my collection #36: Werewolf By Night #42, January 1977.

Horror of horrors! Iron Man is down and about to be pounced on by Jack Russell, the Werewolf By Night! Being that today is my oldest daughter’s 21st birthday, I had to get an Iron Man comic in here since she loves old Shellhead, while still keeping up with my horror theme for the week of Halloween. And I think I hit the jackpot with this issue from my collection. I bought this comic around the year 2000 at Kenmore Komics for $1. The cover price is 30 cents, while the current value is $20. Happy birthday, Renee!
Cool comics in my collection #37: All Hallow’s Eve #1, 1991.

I’ve been saving this one for Halloween! Do you remember Innovation comic books? They did some really awesome licensed properties such as Quantum Leap, Dark Shadows, and Interview with the Vampire. And it’s very cool to me personally because Innovation was based in Wheeling, West Virginia, right across the river from where I grew up in Martins Ferry, Ohio. The Ohio Valley was so important in shaping my imagination, and my upcoming Apocalypse Weird novel takes place there (if you like comic books, you really should be reading the Apocalypse Weird books – find them on Amazon). David Campiti, this one’s in honor of your former company! I bought this issue at Titan Comics in Atlanta, GA. The cover price is $4.95 and the current value is $7.
Cool comics in my collection #38: Logan’s Run #6, June 1977.

You might remember the movie Logan’s Run, starring Michael York, with the jewel embedded in his hand getting changed into a different color, and then he had to run for his life! Did you also know that it was a short-lived TV series? And of course, first it was a book by the awesome author duo of William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson. Nolan went on to write several sequels about Logan, and if all you’ve ever seen is the movie, you should read the books, which are different from the movie and quite exciting. As for the comic book series by Marvel, the run was even shorter, just 7 issues. But issue 6 contained not only a Logan story, but also featured a standalone story with Thanos and Drax the Destroyer, making this comic more valuable to collectors. I bought this issue at Kenmore Komics in Akron, Ohio, in the late 90s. The cover price is 30 cents, and the current value is $50.
Cool comics in my collection #39: The Amazing Spider-Man #136, September 1974.

The Green Goblin is back! Although Norman Osborn is dead (or at least believed so at this point), Spider-Man’s nemesis turns out to be Peter Parker’s best friend, Harry Osborn. As cool as we like to think Spidey is, nothing is ever easy in his life. The Green Goblin was a fan favorite, and Marvel decided they couldn’t keep a good villain down. And this was just the beginning of Peter’s troubles in the mid-seventies, as eight issues later, someone else who was assumed to be dead makes an appearance that proves even more shocking (I’ll get to that story, eventually). I bought this issue right off the comic stand at Slicks in Martins Ferry, Ohio. The cover price is 25 cents and the current value is $140.
Cool comics in my collection #40: Star Trek #40 (Whitman edition), January 1976.

This comic came out in the 10th year of Star Trek’s existence. After the original series lasted three seasons on network television, many probably thought they’d never hear from it again, but here we are a few months from the Star Trek universe turning 50, and we find out a new series is planned for 2017, along with another movie to come out summer of 2016. Add those to the past 5 TV series, an animated series, and 12 other movies. Star Trek merchandising is huge, there are still Star Trek books being published, and you can get new Star Trek comics, now published by IDW. So do you think this vision of the future had an impact on fans, or what? There used to be a themed attraction at the Los Vegas Hilton called Star Trek: The Experience. It lasted from 1998 to 2008, and I was fortunate enough to have been there twice during business travels. Any of you ever been there? It was pretty awesome. I bought this comic used at Kenmore Komics in Akron, Ohio, for 50 cents. The cover price is 30 cents and it is currently valued at $25.
Cool comics in my collection #41: Legends #3, January 1987.

The six issue Legends limited series put out by DC Comics is a follow-up to the 12 issue Crisis on Infinite Earths maxi-series. Legends is pretty cool when you factor in characters such as Darkseid, Shazam, Firestorm, Martian Manhunter … you get the idea. But issue 3 is special because it features the first appearance of the Suicide Squad (the movie is due out August 2016). If you can find all six issues at a good price, grab it. I bought this issue at Titan Comics in Atlanta, Georgia, around 1995, for $1. The cover price is 75 cents, and the current value is $30.
Cool comics in my collection #42 (One That Got Away): Green Lantern #47, November 1993.

Colors are important in the world of superheroes, and green stands out in the DC Universe. A few years ago a Green Lantern movie was released at the theaters, and currently The CW network is on season four of Arrow…being the Green Arrow. Which he is now called on the show, after being just the Arrow for the first three seasons. At any rate, DC seems to enjoy pairing up Team Green from time-to-time, and 1993 saw one of these pairings, shortly before Hal Jordan went off the deep end. My Green Lantern comics didn’t make the cut when I had to cull my collection, and someone else became the lucky recipient of this issue. I bought it when it came out at Fischer’s in Atlanta, Georgia. The cover price is $1.25 while the current value is $16.

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Cool Comics in My Collection, Episode 5

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection, Episode 5, 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. I welcome any comments you might have, and hope you enjoy seeing these as much as I do writing about them. And now, Episode 5…

Cool comics in my collection #29: Valor #1, November 1992. So who is Valor? He’s Lar Gand, a Daxamite, who is associated with the Legion of Super-Heroes and has powers similar to Superman. The character has a somewhat complicated history throughout DC comics (see his Wikipedia entry if you are interested), but I liked this iteration that ran just 23 issues. The secondary market value for Valor is pretty cheap, especially considering that two of the writers on this short-lived series are Mark Waid and Kurt Busiek. I bought this issue at Titan Comics in Atlanta, Georgia, around 1994. The cover price is $1.25 while the current value is $2.25.

Cool comics in my collection #30: Captain America #171, March 1974. I absolutely love this cover as much today as I did as a kid when I bought it at Slicks in Martins Ferry, Ohio. The crime-fighting team of Captain America and the Falcon are joined by T’Challa, the Black Panther. As far as I can remember, this was my introduction to the character. This issue has a cover price of 20 cents and the current value is $20. When I was fortunate enough to have a dollar and some change in hand, I could come away with five comics. Those were the days!

Cool comics in my collection #31: Lord Pumpkin #0, October 1994. Remember Malibu’s Ultraverse Comics? I loved the characters and concepts, and eventually Marvel bought them, and then rather swiftly they disappeared. Regardless of the politics behind the decision, I still like the Ultraverse universe, and have most of the comics. Valiant has made a comeback, so why not the Ultraverse? Lord Pumpkin is a great comic for the start of Halloween week, being that he’s a villain and actually has a pumpkin head. I bought this comic at Titan Comics in Atlanta when it came out in 1994. The cover price is $2.50 and the current value is $2.25.

Cool comics in my collection #32: Tomb of Dracula #19, April 1974. I bought this issue at Kenmore Komics in Akron, Ohio, as a back issue in the late 90s. This comic contains other Marvel favorites such as Blade, Werewolf by Night, and Frank Drake. For some reason, I bought monster magazines as a kid, and loved monster movies, but when it came to comics, I pretty much stuck with the super-heroes. So a couple decades later, when I decided it would be cool to have some Werewolf by Night and Tomb of Dracula issues, they cost more money, of course. The cover price is 20 cents and the current value is $35.

Cool comics in my collection #33: Marvel Team-Up #24, August 1974. This is another cool issue to feature here during Halloween week, with Brother Voodoo on the cover, teaming up with Spider-Man, battling supernatural forces. I bought issues of Marvel Team-Up right off the rack when I was a kid, but this one I bought later in life, around the year 2000, from Kenmore Komics in Akron, Ohio. As I stated previously, I started taking an interest in adding horror comics to my collection, and paring Spider-Man up with this mystical master is a comic I just had to have. The cover price is 25 cents and the current value is $13.

Cool comics in my collection #34: Marvel Spotlight #22, June 1975. What better time of the year than to include a comic with Daimon Hellstrom, the Son of Satan? This snazzy issue from 1975 digs deep into his psyche, and includes his devilish sister, Satana, and Ghost Rider. I bought this comic at Kenmore Komics in Akron, in the late 90s. I believe I paid 50 cents for it. Daimon Hellstrom (also known as Hellstorm) is the son of Satan and has a human mother. At one time he was part of the Defenders. The cover price for this comic is 25 cents and is currently valued at $12.

Cool comics in my collection #35 (One That Got Away): The Uncanny X-Men Annual #6, August 1982. In keeping with my theme of comics with a horror element, I’ve chosen this X-Men annual because it features both Dracula and his daughter, along with Rachel van Helsing. Seems sort of strange, doesn’t it, thinking about the X-Men (Wolverine, Kitty Pryde, Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler, and Cyclops are all here) battling the king of the vampires? But it’s fun stuff. A college friend of mine picked this up for me in the summer of 1982 from the comic shop he frequented in Toledo, Ohio. When my comic collection grew too large, I sold many off, and this one didn’t make the cut. The cover price is $1 and the current value is $10.

Cool Comics in My Collection, Episode 4

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection, Episode 4, 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. I welcome any comments you might have, and hope you enjoy seeing these as much as I do writing about them. And now, Episode 4…

Cool comics in my collection #22: House of Mystery #176, October 1968. I didn’t buy this comic new, and if I had, it would have been too scary for me at 5 going on 6. The real mystery is where I bought it. I can’t for the life of me remember (no wonder since it was sometime between 1993 and 2003). House of Mystery has several short stories, and for a comic from the sixties, is a surprisingly fast read. The cover price is 12 cents and it’s currently valued at $60.

Cool comics in my collection #23: Tales of Suspense #95, November 1967. These older Marvel titles are pretty cool, as you’d usually get a couple different heroes per comic. This issue has an Iron Man story with the Grey Gargoyle and one featuring Captain America. In his civilian guise as Steve Rogers, the Star Spangled Avenger goes on a date with Agent 13 of SHIELD and proposes to her! Don’t worry, no other spoilers here. I’m pretty sure I bought this one at Kenmore Komics in Akron, Ohio, around the year 2000. I believe I bought it on sale for just $1. The cover price is 12 cents, and it’s currently valued at $100.

Cool comics in my collection #24: The Amazing Spider-Man #135, August 1974. This is a great issue of Spider-Man that I bought from Slicks in Martins Ferry, Ohio. It has the origin of the Punisher, Frank Castle, who made his first comic book appearance just six issues previously (why didn’t I buy that one?). We also find out the origin of the Tarantula, one of my favorite villains back when I was a kid. I loved Gerry Conway’s stories of Peter Parker, with this being my favorite era of comics. The cover price is 25 cents, and it’s currently valued at $140.

Cool comic in my collection #25: The Mighty Thor #182, November 1970. I bought this comic at Titan Comics and Games in Atlanta, Georgia, probably around 1996. I remember during one of their sales looking through back issues of heroes I liked, searching for good deals on older comics. The cover of this one certainly caught my eye. Doctor Doom is more well-known as a foe of the Fantastic Four, so finding an issue with him squaring off against Thor was a treat, especially considering that I got it for just $1. This issue also has Lady Sif and Odin. The cover price is 15 cents and the current value is $100.

Cool comic in my collection #26: Nova #1, September 1976. I love having this comic in my collection, and especially because it’s from the seventies. The Guardians of the Galaxy movie had some Nova involvement, but not our hero, Richard Rider. This is such a key issue because it’s the first comic with Nova and contains his origin. I think I got this one in Atlanta, at Titan Comics, but I’m not positive. I probably paid no more than a dollar, as I often tried to find older comics at great prices. The cover price for Nova is 30 cents, but the current value is $100.

Cool comic in my collection #27: Marvel Premiere #22, June 1975. This is the earliest issue of Iron Fist that I own. Danny Rand first appeared in the same comic title in issue #15, which is valued at $400. Wish I had that one! But I started liking the character later in life, having not paid attention to him when he first entered the Marvel Universe. I believe I bought this one at Titan Comics in Atlanta, back in the mid-90s when I was a soldier. There’s a chance that older Iron Fist comics will increase in value when he finally has his series on Netflix. The cover price is 25 cents, and the current value is $40.

Cool comics in my collection #28 (One That Got Away): Iron Man #62, September 1973. I bought this comic at Slicks in Martins Ferry, Ohio. It was the first issue I bought of Iron Man, and I thought that for a bad guy, Whiplash was just plain cool. Funny how so many villains wear purple, isn’t it? I remember that I liked the old Iron Man cartoon from the sixties, so I had to get this issue. So why did I part with it? My oldest child, Renee, likes the Iron Man movies, so I gifted here with every Iron Man issue that I owned. The cover price is a mere 20 cents and the current value is $24.

Cool Comics in My Collection, Episode 3

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection, Episode 3, 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. I welcome any comments you might have, and hope you enjoy seeing these as much as I do writing about them. And now, Episode 3…

Cool comics in my collection #15: Strange Tales #157, June 1967. To be honest, I can’t remember if I bought this issue in Akron, Ohio, or Atlanta, Georgia. But I saw it in a back issue box and had to have it. It’s got a cool image of Nick Fury on the cover versus a giant Baron Von Strucker. Those of you who watch Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I..E.L.D. may not realize that Hydra goes back decades in Marvel’s history. Also, this issue has a Doctor Strange story, containing the first appearance of the Living Tribunal. It’s fun to seed your collection with issues that have 12 cent cover prices (especially when I probably paid $1 for it). The current value is $100.

Cool comics in my collection #16: Astonishing Tales #25, August 1974. Check this one out, folks! It’s the first appearance of Deathlok, aka Luther Manning. Deathlok has been on Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD, and since that time this comic has climbed in value. I’m pretty sure I bought it in Atlanta at Titan Games and Comics in the mid-90s, probably for about $1, which turned out to be a good investment. The cover price is 25 cents, and it’s valued at $80. No doubt my favorite comic era is the seventies, because that’s when I started buying them. I also enjoy comics from the sixties, when Marvel really started making a name for themselves. But I bought most of my comics from 1993 to 2003. Not only did I purchase the new stuff coming out at the time (Marvel, DC, Image, Valiant, Malibu), but I searched around for key issues at good prices, such as this issue of Astonishing Tales. ‘Nuff said.

Cool comics in my collection #17: The New Mutants #98, February 1991. This issue features the first appearance of Deadpool, Domino, and Gideon, but it’s definitely Deadpool who made the value of this comic go so high. I’m pretty sure that I bought this at a small comic convention in Atlanta (along with a number of other New Mutant issues) in the mid-90s, when the value wasn’t high and Deadpool wasn’t as popular. I paid something like 20 cents for it. Many fans today love the character and are excited about his upcoming movie, so this comic will probably continue to rise in value over time, so it’s a key issue in my collection. The cover price is $1 and it’s valued today at $320.

Cool comics in my collection #18: Sub-Mariner #30, October 1970. I’m not a huge Namor fan, but I do recognize his importance in the history of comics, since he first appeared in 1939! But this issue is really cool because it also has Captain Marvel (his hair is still white at this time) and Rick Jones, who has a few panels playing his guitar, surrounded by psychedelic colors. Namor is not very impressed. I’m pretty sure that I picked this issue up at Kenmore Komics in Akron, Ohio, during one of their sales, for about $1. The cover price is just 15 cents, and the current value is $15.

Cool comics in my collection #19: Doctor Strange: Master of the Mystic Arts, 1979. This is a trade paperback (there was also a hardcover edition) of earlier released adventures of the doctor. I believe my mother bought this for me. Doctor Strange is going to be pretty big, I think, once the movie with Benedict Cumberbatch is released, so this comic may rise a little in value. This came out the year after the Dr. Strange TV movie aired (1978), but most people probably never heard of it or saw it. This comic has a $3.95 cover price and is currently valued at $80.

Cool comics in my collection #20: Omega The Unknown #2. I bought this comic at Slicks in Martins Ferry, Ohio, when it first came out. For some reason, I really liked the mysterious character and the connection he had with a boy. And when you throw in this beautiful cover with the Hulk attacking him, how could you resist? Unfortunately, Omega wasn’t around long, but I own all 10 issues. The cover price is 25 cents, and the current value is $10.

Cool comics in my collection #21 (One That Got Away): Wolverine #1, September 1982. This is the first issue in a four issue limited series, the first comic to feature Wolverine solo. Wolverine is a very popular character today, and I really wish I had kept this series in my collection, but this was among a pile I sold back to a comic book store while I attended Ohio State. If you have followed the Wolverine movies or read the comics, then you’ll recognize Muriko, Yukio, and others in this series. The cover price is 60 cents and it’s currently valued at $80.

Cool Comics In My Collection, Episode 3

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection, Episode 3, 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. I welcome any comments you might have, and hope you enjoy seeing these as much as I do writing about them. And now, Episode 3…

Cool comics in my collection #15: Strange Tales #157, June 1967. To be honest, I can’t remember if I bought this issue in Akron, Ohio, or Atlanta, Georgia. But I saw it in a back issue box and had to have it. It’s got a cool image of Nick Fury on the cover versus a giant Baron Von Strucker. Those of you who watch Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I..E.L.D. may not realize that Hydra goes back decades in Marvel’s history. Also, this issue has a Doctor Strange story, containing the first appearance of the Living Tribunal. It’s fun to seed your collection with issues that have 12 cent cover prices (especially when I probably paid $1 for it). The current value is $100.

Cool comics in my collection #16: Astonishing Tales #25, August 1974. Check this one out, folks! It’s the first appearance of Deathlok, aka Luther Manning. Deathlok has been on Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD, and since that time this comic has climbed in value. I’m pretty sure I bought it in Atlanta at Titan Games and Comics in the mid-90s, probably for about $1, which turned out to be a good investment. The cover price is 25 cents, and it’s valued at $80. No doubt my favorite comic era is the seventies, because that’s when I started buying them. I also enjoy comics from the sixties, when Marvel really started making a name for themselves. But I bought most of my comics from 1993 to 2003. Not only did I purchase the new stuff coming out at the time (Marvel, DC, Image, Valiant, Malibu), but I searched around for key issues at good prices, such as this issue of Astonishing Tales. ‘Nuff said.

Cool comics in my collection #17: The New Mutants #98, February 1991. This issue features the first appearance of Deadpool, Domino, and Gideon, but it’s definitely Deadpool who made the value of this comic go so high. I’m pretty sure that I bought this at a small comic convention in Atlanta (along with a number of other New Mutant issues) in the mid-90s, when the value wasn’t high and Deadpool wasn’t as popular. I paid something like 20 cents for it. Many fans today love the character and are excited about his upcoming movie, so this comic will probably continue to rise in value over time, so it’s a key issue in my collection. The cover price is $1 and it’s valued today at $320.

Cool comics in my collection #18: Sub-Mariner #30, October 1970. I’m not a huge Namor fan, but I do recognize his importance in the history of comics, since he first appeared in 1939! But this issue is really cool because it also has Captain Marvel (his hair is still white at this time) and Rick Jones, who has a few panels playing his guitar, surrounded by psychedelic colors. Namor is not very impressed. I’m pretty sure that I picked this issue up at Kenmore Komics in Akron, Ohio, during one of their sales, for about $1. The cover price is just 15 cents, and the current value is $15.

Cool comics in my collection #19: Doctor Strange: Master of the Mystic Arts, 1979. This is a trade paperback (there was also a hardcover edition) of earlier released adventures of the doctor. I believe my mother bought this for me. Doctor Strange is going to be pretty big, I think, once the movie with Benedict Cumberbatch is released, so this comic may rise a little in value. This came out the year after the Dr. Strange TV movie aired (1978), but most people probably never heard of it or saw it. This comic has a $3.95 cover price and is currently valued at $80.

Cool comics in my collection #20: Omega The Unknown #2. I bought this comic at Slicks in Martins Ferry, Ohio, when it first came out. For some reason, I really liked the mysterious character and the connection he had with a boy. And when you throw in this beautiful cover with the Hulk attacking him, how could you resist? Unfortunately, Omega wasn’t around long, but I own all 10 issues. The cover price is 25 cents, and the current value is $10.

Cool comics in my collection #21 (One That Got Away): Wolverine #1, September 1982. This is the first issue in a four issue limited series, the first comic to feature Wolverine solo. Wolverine is a very popular character today, and I really wish I had kept this series in my collection, but this was among a pile I sold back to a comic book store while I attended Ohio State. If you have followed the Wolverine movies or read the comics, then you’ll recognize Muriko, Yukio, and others in this series. The cover price is 60 cents and it’s currently valued at $80.