Old Stuff, New Stuff, & Why You Should Care About Mississippi Zombie!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 157, 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 157…

Cool Comics News!

October is right around the corner, and as I think more about some of my favorite old Universal Monster movies, I’m also excited about a Kickstarter project called Mississippi Zombie. If you love monsters, The Walking Dead, zombies, and comic books, why not consider helping out these talented creators like I did? For a $10 pledge, you get both the print copy and a PDF for digital reading. There are other pledge levels too, including advertising. As of this writing, Mississippi Zombie is behind on its goal, so I’m hoping you will click the link (here it is, Mississippi Zombie), find out more about the project (there’s even a video you can watch), and choose to pledge before time runs out. Oh, by the way, the fabulous artist who made my Cool Comics logo, Dan Gorman, is involved, which is another reason for Cool Comics readers to get excited about it! Want another reason to get involved? Ten percent of the proceeds from this Kickstarter are going to St. Jude Charity.

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Hyperion versus Thor! 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

#746 — Squadron Supreme, Vol. 1, Marvel, August 1997.

I bought this trade paperback when it was released, having ordered it via Previews back in 1997. And it has sat on my shelf until earlier this month. Why did I wait so long to read it? I have no idea, but now that I’m finished, I have an even deeper appreciation for the creative genius of the late Mark Gruenwald, who wrote the twelve issues of the original series (this edition also contains Captain America #314, which Mark wrote). And yes, in case you were wondering, this is the edition in which Mark’s ashes were mixed with the printer’s ink. Some may find that off-putting, but Mr. Gruenwald was a tremendous lover of comic books, especially team books, possessing a deep knowledge of characters and stories, so it’s a fitting tribute. The original limited series was published before The Watchmen, and while there are a few philosophical similarities, these are different stories, both worth taking the time to read. This is one of those stories that all comic book fans should read at least once. The cover price of Squadron Supreme, Vol. 1, is $24.99, while the current value is $25.

Cool Comics Done Dirt Cheap

#747 — Gunfire #1, DC, May 1994.

This week I plucked Gunfire #1 from my legendary longbox, written by late comic book legend Len Wein, a fitting tribute as Len passed away about a year ago in September 2017. Granted, this is the only issue of this title I’ve ever read, but it was pretty good, making me wonder why the series lasted only 13 issues. Then again, I’m still wondering why Omega the Unknown made it to just issue 10 back in 1977. Cool Comics insider info: If you’re a new reader, the referenced “legendary longbox” is, basically, a comic book longbox stuffed with 419 issues I bought from my local comic shop for just $20 (making the cost of each comic book less than a nickel), sight unseen, which continually has produced entertaining stories for over a year-and-a-half. Someday the box will be empty, but as of today, it feels like it’s infinite. The cover price of Gunfire #1 is $1.75, while the current value is $3.

FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 20)

#748 — Silver, Dark Planet, May 2018.

Though I skipped the Free Comic Book Day entry last week, I don’t need to double up yet to avoid crashing into FCBD 2019. But the Free Comic Book Day issue we have for this episode packs a mighty punch in the darkening fall days we love so much here at Cool Comics, as it has ties to the Dracula mythos. Our free issue introduces us to James Finnigan and his team of con men who are out to rob items from a children’s charity in 1931 (this is a black and white comic, which seems fitting considering the time period). But immediately we are drawn into the story by learning that the items were owned by Jonathan and Mina Harker, names that any self-respecting King of the Vampire fans would recognize. This comic brought to mind the movie National Treasure and the Doctor Who Episode “Blink” in a few of the panels. It has mystery, action, and excitement, and I was happy to find out that volumes 1 and 2 of the trade paperback graphic novels are available, with more to be released in the future. This is a story I may continue with at some point, because at the end there is an article entitled, “What Happens Next?” and it sounds fun, as Rosalynd Van Helsing (another familiar last name) enters the fray. The cover price of Silver is free, while the current value is $1.

Cool Comics Classics

#749 — The Twilight Zone #15, Gold Key, May 1966.

Cool Comics Classics is probably my favorite section of the blog, and perhaps you feel the same way, so for this episode we are starting the fourth year of Cool Comics In My Collection with three classics! Old comic books often hit me with a wave of nostalgia, sometimes from remembering the actual reading of them back in the Seventies, and sometimes they help me recall other kinds of memories, such as this issue of The Twilight Zone. It was always exciting to find a TV station with Twilight Zone reruns when I was a kid. Some of the episodes were downright spooky, while others brought a smile to your face. And sometimes they just made you sit up and ponder the consequences. Gold Key did a nice job bringing these feelings to the world of comic books, and whenever I can find back issues at good prices, I make sure to grab them. This issue contains several stories, including narration by the comic book version of Rod Serling, so how can you go wrong? The cover price of The Twilight Zone #15 is 12¢, while the current value is $75.

#750 — Thor #332, Marvel, June 1983.

A couple weeks ago, when I decided to include Superman #344 (which is officially Cool Comics In My Collection #744) in Cool Comics Episode 155, I stumbled upon another comic book I knew I had to include, and soon. If you remember, the Superman issue had the Man of Steel facing off against Dracula and Frankenstein’s monster. The other comic I saw was Thor #333, with Dracula on the cover! Now I’d have a chance to see how an Asgardian would fare against the Prince of Darkness. When it came time to read, however, I noticed that the story was a continuation. Drats. But not one to give up easily, I pulled open the top drawer of an old file cabinet where my unread Thor issues currently reside, flipped through, and by golly, I had #332, which has a frightful cover with bats battling the Mighty Thor! It’s a fun issue, but at the end, our concern grows as Dracula has captured Lady Sif. I have a suspicious feeling you’ll be able to find Thor #333 as a Cool Comic sometime in October! The cover price of Thor #332 is 60¢, while the current value is $8.

#751 — The Amazing Spider-Man #127, Marvel, December 1973.

When I started reading comic books way back in 1973, I really didn’t understand how often they came out, so for a while, my collection was spotty. The first one I bought was The Amazing Spider-Man #125, and then I’d find other titles I wanted, like Marvel Team-Up, Marvel Tales, Captain America, Thor, and more. And for some strange reason, I didn’t purchase another issue of The Amazing Spider-Man until issue 132 came out. Understandably, I was just ten years old, and had no one to explain any of this to me. Once I got older, I’d sometimes buy back issues whenever I could find them, only to go through periods of life in which comics weren’t a part. And sometimes, shockingly, I’d sell some comics. But never The Amazing Spider-Man issues. This past summer, a local comic shop ran a one-day sale, with dozens of boxes of comics, all for just a dollar each, and I couldn’t believe it when I stumbled upon this one! Slowly but surely, I’m finding these gems at reasonable prices and filling in the gaps. The storytelling was different back in those days, and while modern readers may not appreciate it, this issue took me back to the simpler days of my childhood, which is definitely worth more than a dollar. The cover price of The Amazing Spider-Man #127 is 20¢, while the current value is $100.

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