Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 39, where we take a nostalgic look at six cool comic books I currently own, and one that I let get away.
For each of the comic books below, I list the current secondary market value. This is according to the listings at the website www.comicbookrealm.com. They list out the near mint prices, which are on the comic book grading scale of 9.4. If you go to the website to look up any in your collection, you can click on the price and see the value at different grades. Not all of my comics are 9.4. Some are probably better, and some are worse. But to simplify it, that’s the grading price I use here. And remember, a comic book is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.
Have you considered being a guest host for Cool Comics? You can do a theme or just pick any of your comics for inclusion (this blog is for all ages, so please keep that in mind), as long as there are seven comics in your episode (you can still own all seven, or do it like me and include one you no longer own). Send your completed blog to edgosney62@gmail.com.
If you have any questions or comments, please scroll to the bottom of the page to where it says, “Leave a reply.” I hope you enjoy seeing these as much as I do writing about them. And now, Episode 39…
Cool comics in my collection #253: JSA #2, September 1999.
During my third phase of comic book collecting (1993-2003), I learned a lot about the DC universe. I’d been mostly a Marvel reader, but the death of Superman hype started me back into reading and collecting, so when I saw this JSA series come out, I thought it looked pretty interesting and figured I’d add it to my monthly titles that I bought at Kenmore Komics in Akron, Ohio. And I really liked it, since I stayed with JSA through the first 46 issues. I really liked the characters, and the writing was phenomenal. The cover price of JSA #2 is $2.50, while the current value is $6.
During my third phase of comic book collecting (1993-2003), I learned a lot about the DC universe. I’d been mostly a Marvel reader, but the death of Superman hype started me back into reading and collecting, so when I saw this JSA series come out, I thought it looked pretty interesting and figured I’d add it to my monthly titles that I bought at Kenmore Komics in Akron, Ohio. And I really liked it, since I stayed with JSA through the first 46 issues. I really liked the characters, and the writing was phenomenal. The cover price of JSA #2 is $2.50, while the current value is $6.Cool comics in my collection #254: Shazam! The New Beginning #2, May 1987.
I’m old enough to have been a viewer of the live-action Saturday morning TV show Shazam! that aired from 1974 to 1976. Fawcett, the original company that put out Captain Marvel, definitely attracted kids with a hero who actually was a kid! I remember my dad saying how much he loved Shazam when he was young. So when I started buying and reading comics again in the Nineties, I found this older mini-series in a back issue box in Atlanta, Georgia, and just had to have it. And if the schedule holds, there will be a Shazam live-action movie coming out in 2019. I think the character is fun, and I’m glad I read these. The cover price of Shazam! The New beginning #2 is 75 cents, while the current value is $3.
I’m old enough to have been a viewer of the live-action Saturday morning TV show Shazam! that aired from 1974 to 1976. Fawcett, the original company that put out Captain Marvel, definitely attracted kids with a hero who actually was a kid! I remember my dad saying how much he loved Shazam when he was young. So when I started buying and reading comics again in the Nineties, I found this older mini-series in a back issue box in Atlanta, Georgia, and just had to have it. And if the schedule holds, there will be a Shazam live-action movie coming out in 2019. I think the character is fun, and I’m glad I read these. The cover price of Shazam! The New beginning #2 is 75 cents, while the current value is $3.Cool comics in my collection #255: Strange Adventures #197, February 1967.
I’m running out of Strange Adventures, as I have just one more to someday put in this column. I know I could go to my local comic shop and purchase more back issues, but it won’t be the same as these. This issue (along with the others I’ve written about) is one I was able to purchase for just a dime, back in the mid-Seventies, at The Paradox Bookstore in Wheeling, West Virginia. If you ever get to Wheeling, try to go. They have wonderful used books and magazines. At the time I bought this issue of Strange Adventures, I loved monster movies, especially the ones that showed out of Pittsburgh on Saturday nights, hosted by Bill Cardille, also known as “Chilly Billy.” This comic fit right in with those giant insect movies. Those were the days, weren’t they? The cover price of Strange Adventures #197 is 12 cents, while the current value is $40.
I’m running out of Strange Adventures, as I have just one more to someday put in this column. I know I could go to my local comic shop and purchase more back issues, but it won’t be the same as these. This issue (along with the others I’ve written about) is one I was able to purchase for just a dime, back in the mid-Seventies, at The Paradox Bookstore in Wheeling, West Virginia. If you ever get to Wheeling, try to go. They have wonderful used books and magazines. At the time I bought this issue of Strange Adventures, I loved monster movies, especially the ones that showed out of Pittsburgh on Saturday nights, hosted by Bill Cardille, also known as “Chilly Billy.” This comic fit right in with those giant insect movies. Those were the days, weren’t they? The cover price of Strange Adventures #197 is 12 cents, while the current value is $40.Cool comics in my collection #256: Valor #4, February 1993.
Valor is similar in strength and abilities to Superman, but has a different alien background. I started collecting the comic part-way through this short run, and sought out the back issues at comic book shops in Atlanta, Georgia. It’s fun to have complete collections, and when they are small runs, they don’t take up much space and you can have a variety of heroes and comics in your collection. While Valor may not be on your list as a cool comic, I like the character, and you’ve got to admit that this issue with Lobo on the cover makes him that much more appealing. The cover price of Valor #4 is $1.25, while the current value is $2.25.
Valor is similar in strength and abilities to Superman, but has a different alien background. I started collecting the comic part-way through this short run, and sought out the back issues at comic book shops in Atlanta, Georgia. It’s fun to have complete collections, and when they are small runs, they don’t take up much space and you can have a variety of heroes and comics in your collection. While Valor may not be on your list as a cool comic, I like the character, and you’ve got to admit that this issue with Lobo on the cover makes him that much more appealing. The cover price of Valor #4 is $1.25, while the current value is $2.25.Cool comics in my collection #257: Legion of Super-Heroes #294, December 1982.
This issue marks the conclusion to The Great Darkness Saga. I’ve been trying to stave it off for a while now, because I didn’t want to be finished with it here, but all good things come to an end. I think with each issue I’ve urged you readers to get this series and read it, if you haven’t. You’ll really like it, as it has heroes galore, along with great villains, featuring Darkseid. I got into the Legion of Super-Heroes during my second phase of comic book collecting, while in college, and I’m really glad I saw this epic run through to the end. The cover price of Legion of Super-Heroes #294 is $1, while the current value is $8.
This issue marks the conclusion to The Great Darkness Saga. I’ve been trying to stave it off for a while now, because I didn’t want to be finished with it here, but all good things come to an end. I think with each issue I’ve urged you readers to get this series and read it, if you haven’t. You’ll really like it, as it has heroes galore, along with great villains, featuring Darkseid. I got into the Legion of Super-Heroes during my second phase of comic book collecting, while in college, and I’m really glad I saw this epic run through to the end. The cover price of Legion of Super-Heroes #294 is $1, while the current value is $8.Cool comics in my collection #258: The Flash #3, August 1987.
I like the cover date of this issue of The Flash, because it’s the month and year my wife and I got married. And is it any wonder that we watched both the original Flash TV series and also the new series? If you aren’t watching the current TV show, you’re missing out on a lot of fun. I bought this particular issue when I lived in Atlanta, Georgia, during my third phase of comic book collecting. I’d never bought and Flash comics before, and started reading him monthly, and picked up a few back issues when I was able to find them at good prices. This series covered the exploits of Wally West, while the TV show features Barry Allen. The cover price of The Flash #3 is 75 cents, while the current value is $5.
I like the cover date of this issue of The Flash, because it’s the month and year my wife and I got married. And is it any wonder that we watched both the original Flash TV series and also the new series? If you aren’t watching the current TV show, you’re missing out on a lot of fun. I bought this particular issue when I lived in Atlanta, Georgia, during my third phase of comic book collecting. I’d never bought and Flash comics before, and started reading him monthly, and picked up a few back issues when I was able to find them at good prices. This series covered the exploits of Wally West, while the TV show features Barry Allen. The cover price of The Flash #3 is 75 cents, while the current value is $5.Cool comics in my collection #259 (one that got away): Superman #1, January 1987.
In the early Nineties, when Superman became all the rage because Doomsday killed him, I started buying some back issues of the iconic hero. I was living in Atlanta, Georgia, at the time, serving in the U.S. Army, and I found many back issues at local comic book shops in the area, picking this one up for about a quarter. My father had started reading Superman, dating clear back to Action Comics #1, and he bought me the death of Superman issue, which got me back into buying comics once more. For several years I picked up monthly Superman comics for my father, and we it was fun to have this relationship. Unfortunately, my collection became too large, and I sold this issue, along with other Superman comics, at a garage sale. The cover price of Superman #1 is 75 cents, while the current value is $5.
In the early Nineties, when Superman became all the rage because Doomsday killed him, I started buying some back issues of the iconic hero. I was living in Atlanta, Georgia, at the time, serving in the U.S. Army, and I found many back issues at local comic book shops in the area, picking this one up for about a quarter. My father had started reading Superman, dating clear back to Action Comics #1, and he bought me the death of Superman issue, which got me back into buying comics once more. For several years I picked up monthly Superman comics for my father, and we it was fun to have this relationship. Unfortunately, my collection became too large, and I sold this issue, along with other Superman comics, at a garage sale. The cover price of Superman #1 is 75 cents, while the current value is $5.[gravityform id=”3″ title=”false” description=”false”]
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