Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 70, where we take a nostalgic look at comic books I currently own, and in some sad cases, ones that I let get away.
For each of the comic books I include in this blog, I list the current secondary market value. This is according to the listings at the website www.comicbookrealm.com. They list out the near mint prices, which are on the comic book grading scale of 9.4. If you go to the website to look up any in your collection, you can click on the price and see the value at different grades. Not all of my comics are 9.4. Some are probably better, and some are worse. But to simplify it, that’s the grading price I use here. And remember, a comic book is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.
Have you considered being a guest host for Cool Comics? You can do a theme or just pick any of your comics for inclusion (this blog is for all ages, so please keep that in mind), with a maximum of seven issues. Repeat guest hosts are permitted and encouraged. Send your completed blog to edgosney62@gmail.com.
If you have any questions or comments, please scroll to the bottom of the page to where it says, “Leave a reply.” I hope you enjoy seeing these as much as I do writing about them. And now, Episode 70…
Cool comics in my collection #389: Justice League: Rebirth #1 (Walmart Variant), October 2016.
This week sees more coverage of my Walmart DC Rebirth variant finds, and we start off with the big guns, the Justice League. When I bought these 3-packs, I had no idea what the Rebirth concept entailed, and that it still related (at least somewhat, from what information I was able to find) to the New 52. Which still leaves me pretty much in the dark, since I hadn’t been reading any comics newer than 2003 since, well, 2003. So just what is going on? Superman seems to be dead, but Clark, Lois, and their young son Jon are alive and well, and Lois and Clark have a discussion about whether or not Clark should become this world’s Superman. Interesting stuff, along with a couple Green Lanterns I’d never seen before. Also, and I know it’s been for a few years now (from what I’ve seen as a none reader), but Cyborg is a Justice League member and has a larger role in the DCU than back in the days of the New Teen Titans. Fun stuff, and just maybe I’ll read more of these via comiXology. The cover price of Justice League: Rebirth #1 is $2.99, while the current value is $5.
Cool comics in my collection #390: Batman #1 (Walmart Variant), September 2016.
The Walmart 3-packs included both the Batman: Rebirth issue (see Episode 69 of Cool Comics) and the first issue of the ongoing Batman comic in the age of Rebirth, which is great for collectors. This first issue is packed with action, as a commercial airliner is hit with a missile as it’s flying over Gotham, and the expected crash site is filled with people. Under ordinary circumstances, you’d expect Batman to call in Superman, but Clark isn’t home, so Batman has to attempt to save the day. This is a fast-paced, hold-your-breath story that shows lots of promise for the Rebirth of DC Comics. It’s usually easy for the supernaturally powerful heroes with the ability of flight to save the day, so it makes it all the more hair-raising when someone like Batman is the only hero in town. These are the plot devices that Bruce Wayne may not like, but readers do. Pick this one up if you want to be entertained. The cover price of Batman #1 is $2.99, while the current value is $5.
Recently Read Digital Comics
You may have noticed a slight name change for this section, which now better reflects what it’s been about. Digital comics have become an ingrained part of my everyday existence. So much so that when I saw a 10.1-inch Android tablet on sale for $80 this week, I bought it. My trusty old Asus Transformer EEE Pad’s operating system is just too old to download the latest apps, and since I’ve become serious about the digital reading experience, I needed something newer. I didn’t need a $500 BIG NAME BRAND tablet, but 
something that I could easily read comics on, and my new Insignia works great with all the apps, including the Amazon Prime comics via the Kindle app (which helped me get my Archie fix, and I’m also working on a huge Peanuts book that I downloaded for free as a Prime member!). The selection is small right now, but if you’re a Prime member, you should check out the new section called Prime Reading, as it also includes magazines.
Anyway, back to the comics. A couple weeks ago comiXology offered “Immortal Iron Fist Vol. 1: The Last Iron Fist Story,” for free, which is always cool when a collection containing six issues doesn’t cost you a penny. Where the problem comes in is that the story was so gosh-darned good that I’ll eventually have to shell out money so I can continue the series! I don’t know if they gave it away in anticipation of the Iron Fist Netflix series releasing in March, but maybe they’ll do a big Iron Fist push when it comes out.
When you have the comiXology app and you’re testing it out, you tend to download some of the free comics so you can see what the experience is like. And free is always a good choice. Now in my house, cryptozoology is taken seriously, because bigfoot, Nessie, and jackalopes really exist (okay, we don’t really believe it, but wouldn’t it be cool?). So when I saw Bigfoot #1, I immediately purchased it. For free. I decided to finally read it this week, and discovered it was written by Rob Zombie, which was kind of cool. What I didn’t realize until I got to some certain panels is that Bigfoot #1 has a 17+ age rating. Part of the reason I read comics is for the fun adventures, and part of the reason is because they make me feel like a kid again, and when you’re on the “other” side of 50, it’s fun to reclaim your youth. Anyway, some of the adult themes in this comic disappointed me, because I figured if I liked it I would purchase the remaining three issues in this series. Not going to happen now.
In one of my Marvel Blu-Ray movies there was a little paper that had a code in which you could download three comics from the Marvel app, and I believe that Invincible Iron Man #1 happened to be one of them. I can’t be sure because after I got the three comics into my app, I tossed the paper away. But regardless of how I got this comic, I’m glad I did, because it was enjoyable and reminded me of the Robert Downey Jr. version of Iron Man. This is a 2015 comic, and I’m enjoying seeing the direction both Marvel and DC have taken recently. I know I always say here that I’m a Seventies comic guy, and I still am, but if a story is good, then it’s good!
Archie #4 and #5 where part of my Amazon Prime Reading comics that I downloaded for my Kindle app, and they looked great on my new tablet. This modern approach to Archie is probably more relevant for the character in the 21st century, but it’s still Archie and Jughead and the rest of the gang. But the 
storyline is more serious, the art is very appealing, and the writing is great. Riverdale premieres on The CW this week, and it will be interesting to see how the ratings go and if comic sales increase with Archie back on the small screen (I loved the old cartoons when I was a kid).
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Definitely pick up the rest of Iron Fist. One of the best runs the character ever had (too bad it’s fairly short).
Atom, I’m definitely going to read the rest of this series!