For the Love of Cool Comics!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 177, 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.

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If you have any comments, please scroll to the bottom of the page to where it says, “Leave a Reply.” And now, Episode 177…

Cool Comics News!

This episode we’re going to have a little fun with Valentine’s Day, so I hope you enjoy our “romantic” little themes for each Cool Comic!

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Daredevil versus 007, James Bond! 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

Contemporary Cool Comics

#855 — Daredevil #1, Marvel, April 2019.

A couple episodes ago I was bemoaning the fact that Guardians of the Galaxy just started a new series, which is the fifth volume of the title (well, I really wasn’t upset, just pointing out how crazy it is that some popular titles keep stopping and starting all over again…does starting with number one issues really help pull in that many new readers?), and now here is Daredevil #1, volume…wait for it…6! Seems a little excessive, doesn’t it? At least the legacy numbering (#613) helps us track just how many issues we’ve seen through the years, but it kind of takes something away from it all. At least for me. Did Chip Zdarsky as writer and Marco Checchetto as artist really need to have that #1 slapped on the cover? I try to stay positive here at Cool Comics, but sometimes I just have to say what I have to say. And now that I’m done with all that, we’ll get to some fun. So why Daredevil on this Valentine’s Day episode? Because he wears red, of course! I really loved the writing, the story kept me turning page after page, the art is fantastic, and the ending…well, I’m not going to reveal it in case you haven’t red it yet, but something surprising happens. And we like surprises in our comics to keep us interested, don’t we? This issue is rated T+, so keep it away from the little ones. Aside from what made it T+, I’m interested to see what Zdarsky has planned for the next several issues. The cover price of Daredevil #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5.

FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 40)

#856 — James Bond: Vargr, Dynamite, May 2018.

When I decided to do a Valentine’s Day theme for this episode, I knew I might have some difficulty with the Free Comic Book Day category. And being that it’s week 40, I don’t have many remaining to pick through. But when I saw this James Bond issue, I figured that would work, since Bond is famous for his numerous dalliances. Bingo, I’m all set. However, upon reading it, I discovered that James isn’t shown in any romantic encounters, which was fine with me. Dynamite published this one, and I really appreciate that there are several companies using licensed characters. If a fan base already exists, that’s half the battle, right? You just have to make sure that your product doesn’t stray from what makes—in this case—James Bond, well…James Bond. From my perspective, it seems like Dynamite is doing a good job. The cover price of James Bond: Vargr is free, while the current value is $0.

Cool Comics Kids

#857 — Little Archie #88, Archie, August 1974.

Continuing a Valentine’s Day theme into our Cool Comics Kids category also proved to take a little work, as I had to dig out the box containing all my old Archie Comics and search through my Little Archie collection to find something romantic, yet innocent enough to belong here. Though it’s not Valentine’s Day in Riverdale, you can’t help but notice the symbolic hearts floating on the cover as Archie is helping Veronica plant some seeds. And astute observers have already noticed the scowl on Betty’s face. As long as she’s tromping around with that garden tool, Veronica better be careful! But don’t worry, this isn’t part of the Archie Horror line of comics, so this issue is safe for the little readers in your life. The issue contains a number of shorts, which is perfect for the limited attention span many kids have. We begin with a fun Archie and Jughead tale in which a Rhino may or may not be loose at school. Next, we get a two-pager with Little Sabrina and Jughead, followed by a Betty story in which she has hearts flying around her head, but by the end, she wishes it was only hearts! Then there is a Little Jughead story, Li’l Jinx, and we conclude with Little Archie as the lead. In between, there are a few activity pages. These Little Archie comics are good fun for kids, and I’m sure you can find them at decent prices at your local comic shop. The cover price of Little Archie #88 is 25¢, while the current value is $18.

Cool Comics Classics

#858 — Love and Romance #1, Charlton, September 1971.

What would a Valentine’s Day theme be without some romance comics, right? If you thought you’d never see one here at Cool Comics, you’re right…sort of. Because I’m bringing you two! First up is Love and Romance #1, from Charlton. I honestly never thought I’d be buying a romance comic, and when I decided to run with the theme, I was very happy to find a number one issue for just $2 at my local comic shop. It’s not that I’m unfamiliar with romance (hey, I’m a married man and I’ve watched some Hallmark movies with my wife), but when it comes to comic books, I’m definitely more of a superhero kind of guy. We start off with a story called, “Please Darling,” in which a small town couple learns what happens when one of them wants to live in the big city while the other doesn’t. Yes, you guessed, heartbreak ensues and tears flow. Next up is “Marry Me Now, My Love.” This one teaches us that when dating in college, the romance sometimes needs to take a back seat, because the consequences aren’t always pretty. “Turnabout” is a one-pager that has the “don’t judge a book by its cover” theme. Sometimes father knows best, right? I mean, there was even a TV show by this name. And in “Do Your Thing,” dad knows a good guy when he sees one, even if it takes his daughter a little longer to come to that realization. In “Tonight, My Darling” we learn that sometimes it’s not wise to push too hard too early in a relationship. Finishing out the comic is an advice column called “Just Jeannette” for those who may want a little extra help. All in all, it was actually kind of a fun read. The cover price for Love and Romance #1 is 15¢, while the current value is $35.

#859 — Young Romance #143, DC, September 1966.

Young Romance is considered the first romance comic to be published. Prize Publications brought them to adoring fans for 124 issues, from 1947 until it was bought by DC in 1963. The company that brings you Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman then went on to romance readers for another 84 issues, so obviously there was a market for it. But perhaps the most interesting piece of trivia centers around the creators of Young Romance #1: Joe Simon and Jack Kirby. That’s right, the same two guys who brought you Captain America and so many other heroes and villains also launched the roses and box of chocolate genre into the public eye. Much like the comic above, I was able to get a good deal on this one for just $2.50, so I wasn’t too worried if the stories weren’t very good, which was kind of my expectation. Yet again, the tales of love and misery filling these pages turned out to keep my full attention. “Save a Part of Your Heart – For Someone Else!” teaches us that sometimes when you see your significant other with someone else, it might only be his sister. “Betrayed” is a story of love so deep that even bankruptcy won’t keep this couple apart. And in “I Want Our Love to be Different!” a jealous ex-girlfriend tries to keep her former beau and his new girlfriend from tasting the love she couldn’t have. Also, there is a one-page column devoted to solving “Your Beauty Problems.” And I also have to mention that I always appreciate the ads in these old comics. The cover price of Young Romance #143 is 12¢, while the current value is $50.

Recently Read Digital Comics

We haven’t had a digital comic since Episode 170, so we’re overdue, and this fun comic with the same title as one from long ago fits our Valentine’s Day theme perfectly, with Madam Mask in her red uniform! Exciting Comics #1 was published in April 1940 by Better-Standard Publications (I know, the name isn’t familiar to most of us), and now Antarctic Press brings us a new #1 (it came out yesterday), sneaking in a tiny “70” underneath the 1, since the original run lasted for 69 issues. If it’s good enough for the competition and their “Legacy” numbering, why not, right? If you were fortunate enough to tell your local comic shop to pull it for you (it’s currently on back order and eBay prices are on the rise), you’re in for a treat, as the three stories are a lot of fun. First up is Black Jaq, written by Bradley Golden and John Crowther, with art by Carlos Tron. When a gang of toughs start charging protection money to small businesses, Black Jaq tries to protect them, but while fighting the leader, did she go too far? The next story is about the Crimson Scorpion, written by David Furr, with art by Salvatore Cuffari. This one feels like a cross between Indiana Jones and The Scorpion King, so you just know it’s packed with comic book fun. Last, we meet Madam Mask, written by David Doub, with pencils by Spike Jarrell. This story is action-packed from the beginning and doesn’t let up. By the end, things don’t look so good for her, but we’ll have to wait until April to see what happens next. For all of them. These three stories are all listed as Part 1 in the table of contents, and that’s really good, because after reading this, you’ll definitely want more! Just a word of caution that these stories are not for little ones. On the cover, the label says, “Antarctic Comics Are Cool,” and Cool Comics agrees!

ComicBooks For Kids!

ComicBooks For Kids! (CB4K) is a charity that Cool Comics In My Collection is honored to be working with. CB4K provides comic books to kids in hospitals and cancer centers all across the Unites States. You can check their website and see if your local hospital is included and if not, you can work with them to get them included! If you like what you see, please help them out and follow/like their Facebook page. Their link is https://www.facebook.com/comicbooksforkids/

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