How Many Times Has Reed Richards Gone Missing?

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 154, where we take a look at various comic books I own (and in some cases ones that I let get away), both new and old, often with a nostalgic leaning for those feelings of yesteryear.

For each of the comic books I include in this blog (except for digital issues), I list the current secondary market value. This is according to 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 scale 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. For any questions or to submit your completed blog, write to edgosney62@gmail.com.

If you have any comments, please scroll to the bottom of the page to where it says, “Leave a Reply.” And now, Episode 154…

Cool Comics News!

If you’re going to the Cincinnati Comic Expo September 14-16, be sure to come to my panel on Sunday, Sept. 16, at 11 a.m. in the Fandom Forever hall. Comic Book Nostalgia: Reflections on Our Collections will take you back in time as we discuss great finds and sometimes sad stories about our involvement in the hobby. Also, I’ll be giving away comic books and some Cool Comics In My Collection merchandise, and free is always good, right? I hope to see you there!

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Superboy versus The Thing! What do you think would happen if they faced each other in a titanic tussle, and how do you see the winner achieving victory? Let us know in the comments section below.

Cool Comics in My Collection

#735 — Hunt For Wolverine: Dead Ends #1, Marvel Comics, October 2018.

After four months of searching, between four teams of heroes, we get “Dead Ends.” Doesn’t sound promising for Wolverine, does it? Did anyone else out there jump on any of the “Hunt for Wolverine” mini-series? I didn’t intend to read them, but I like a mystery as much as the next guy, so I figured I’d go for the ride. Having been away from new comics between the last half of 2003 until the last part of 2017, reading the “Hunt For Wolverine” comics allowed me to catch-up with some characters and learn about others, and I did enjoy that aspect. But now each investigative team wrapped up their missions, and most have gathered at the X Mansion to discuss what they’ve found out. While this may not sound too exciting, there is an attack from above and suddenly the stakes are extremely high. And out of this, the mystery, partly, is solved. The cover price of Hunt For Wolverine: Dead Ends #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5.

#736 — Batman Eternal #21, DC Comics, October 2014.

DC must have had a bundle of Batman Eternal comics left over from the New 52, because it seems like every time I buy a special bag of comics (you know, like the Walmart three for $5 vacuum sealed ones and the 4 Packs for $4 from Five Below) I end up with Batman Eternal issues. I’m not complaining, because they’ve been pretty interesting stories, despite the fact that I’ve ended up reading them way out of order since a bag of comics is sort of like a box of chocolates. The thing is, we all know that Batman is the most popular non-super powered hero in existence, so the philosophy seems to be something like, “No one will complain about another Batman comic book.” This issue, one from a Five Below deal, gives us an interesting look at Alfred in action, so if you’re a fan of the man who basically raised Bruce Wayne, give this comic book a try if you haven’t already. The cover price of Batman Eternal #21 is $2.99, while the current value is $3.

Cool Comics Done Dirt Cheap

#737 — Superboy #11, DC Comics, January 1995.

For some reason, comics from the Nineties seem to get bashed more than any other period. Superman dies, and speculators jump all over it; Image makes its debut and collectors buy multiple copies of the comics; and new superheroes and comics make valiant efforts (yes, you caught that!) to capture the market, many disappearing after a few short years. I’m guessing that all of this plays into some of the reasoning behind fans slamming the Nineties, but as a reader, I really enjoyed a lot of what came out during this period and have fond memories of discovering comics like Ultraverse, Marvel 2099, and Milestone. Yet things go right and things go wrong in the world of comic books every decade, so why focus so much on the negative? I enjoyed the Superboy clone comic books, and maybe you did, too! I’m happy to report that my Legendary Longbox has a few more Superboy issues tucked away, which means I’ll get more Nineties memories in the future. The cover price of Superboy #11 is $1.50, while the current value is $3.

FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 18)

#738 — Doctor Who: Free Comic Book Day 2018 #00, Titan Comics, June 2018.

While I’ve watched a number of Doctor Who episodes on TV (very occasionally I’d watch bits and pieces of it in the Seventies; since the series rebooted, I’ve watched everything up until part-way through the Matt Smith Doctor…I’m unsure where I left off, but I’ll probably go back to it again someday), my experience with the Doctor in comic books is extremely limited. As a matter of fact, besides this one, I also have a Free Comic Book Day 2015 issue, and that’s all. Based on an interior add, it appears that Titan Comics puts out a variety of adventures using a variety of Doctors, so if you’re a fan of a particular actor, maybe those are the issues you really want. The stories in this freebie were decent, and at the very end of the issue it leads to the next incarnation of this amusing alien from Gallifrey. The cover price of Doctor Who: Free Comic Book Day 2018 #00 is free, while the current value is $1.

Cool Comics Classics

#739 — Fantastic Four #261, Marvel Comics, December 1983.

Did you read the cover? Reed Richards is missing! Believe it or not, just like Wolverine in Cool Comics #735 above, this is a plot device that’s been used a time or two. I remember when it looked like Reed was dead in the Nineties, and I’m sure many of you can think of other comic stories in which a hero is either dead or missing, only to show up again within a few months, or sometimes years later. Superman, the Green Goblin, and the Gwen Stacy clone immediately come to mind (oh yeah, Jean Grey, too!). So, who you gonna call when a member of Marvel’s First Family vanishes? Lo and behold, why not the Watcher? Still, the question is, will they be able to reach Reed, if he still exists, in time? I had a lot of fun reading this one, including seeing the ads from 1983. It was a period in which I wasn’t reading comic books, so it’s always interesting to step back in time to see what I missed the first time around. The cover price of Fantastic Four #261 is 60¢, while the current value is $6.

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