House of X Delivers, Jane Foster Fights on, & Freak Force is Fun!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 201, where we 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. I hope you have as much fun reading about them as I had writing about these cool comics!

For each of the comic books I include here, I list the current secondary market pricing (with the exception of digital issues, which don’t have collectible value). This is according to the websites ComicBookRealm.com (CBR) and Zap-Kapow Comics (ZKC), using the comic book grading scale of 9.4 (if both sites have the same price, you’ll find just one price for that issue). Not all my comics meet that grade. Some are probably better, and some are certainly worse. But to simplify it, that’s the scale I use here. And remember, a comic book is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

Did you know that you can be a guest host for Cool Comics? It’s your chance to show off some of your favorite comics in your personal collection! 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. To submit your completed blog (or if you have any questions), write to edgosney62@gmail.com.

The Cool Comics In My Collection Facebook Group is a place where you can discuss the comics you love, your favorite titles, and the characters that keep you coming back for more. Also, creators are welcome to share news about what you are working on, including Kickstarter campaigns. And don’t forget the prizes. Yes, Cool Comics gives away cool prizes. Be sure and join today!

If you have any comments, please scroll to the bottom of the page to where it says, “Leave a Reply.” And now, Episode 201…

Cool Comics News!

Did you grab your copy of Previews yesterday at your favorite comic shop? There are some awesome things coming out in October, so make sure not to miss your chance to order them!

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Valkyrie versus Wonder Woman! 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

#998 — House of X #1, Marvel, September 2019.

During Phase III (1993-2003) of my comic collecting ventures, the X-Men family of comics were hugely popular, and it seemed like everyone was reading all gazillion titles that came out each month, me included. So when I started Phase IV in 2017, it surprised me that the X-Men didn’t seem like such a big deal any longer (maybe it had something to do with the movie rights). Titles were out there, such as X-Men Gold; Blue; Red; Astonishing; Uncanny came back, and X-Force started hitting shelves. Then Jonathan Hickman signed on with Marvel to relaunch the franchise and suddenly it seems like everyone has X-Fever! Social media is abuzz with people raving about this first issue and others asking if it’s time to jump back onboard the Blackbird and go for an X-ride. And I say yes, if you’ve ever liked the X-Men, this feels like it’s going to be good stuff. I wasn’t around for all the other tales woven by Hickman, but I’m excited to see where all this is going. The cover price of House of X #1 is $5.99, while the current value is $6.

#999 — Valkyrie: Jane Foster #1, Marvel, September 2019.

Much like Loki #1, Lois Lane #1, and Aero #1 over the last few episodes, I don’t have Valkyrie: Jane Foster on my LCS pull list. If there was a copy on the shelf when I walked in the store, I figured I’d purchase the first issue. And like Loki, I ended up buying a variant cover. Typically, I just get the regular cover edition, but since I’m not going to continue with this series, it seems cool to own the variant. Jane Foster has been put through the ringer over the last few years, having battled cancer during her time as Thor, basically dying, coming back, then getting to fight once more during the War of the Realms. And now she has become a Valkyrie. The issue was entertaining, which wasn’t surprising, considering the writers for the series are Jason Aaron and Al Ewing, and the artist is CAFU (Carlos Alberto Fernandez Urbano), for those who like to know these things. It’s interesting how Marvel seems to be building on their Asgardian characters with the addition of Loki and Valkyrie to their monthly titles. The cover price of Valkyrie: Jane Foster #1 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

Cool Comics Done Dirt Cheap

#1000 — Freak Force #6, Image, June 1994.

At one point in the mid-Nineties I was able to find the first six issues of Freak Force in discount boxes, but eventually ended up selling them at a big garage sale a few summers ago when I thought I was through with comic books. I’m pretty sure I hadn’t read any of them before I sold the small collection, because I didn’t recognize anything about the series while reading this issue from my legendary longbox (over a year ago, I bought a longbox that was stuffed with 419 comic books for just $20; hence, Cool Comics Done Dirt Cheap). I’m not sure what others who’ve read this series think about it, but I’ll admit that this issue was kind of a fun read. It turns out that just before a hero died, his powers ended up accidentally getting passed to a female nurse, who changed into Mighty Man. For a while she isn’t sure how to change back so that she could resume her own life. I wouldn’t mind reading more from this series. The cover price of Freak Force #6 is $1.95, while the current value is $3.

FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 13)

#1001 — The Dark Age/Afterburn, Red 5 Comics, May 2019.

Are you familiar with Red 5 Comics? I can’t say I remembered seeing the company listed in Previews, but as I wrote this entry, I grabbed a nearby copy and bingo, there it is. This is why I appreciate Free Comic Book Day, because I can discover comics I’ve missed along the way. The first story, The Dark Age, takes place in a near future in which all forms of metal have pretty much turned to dust. So it’s sort of like starting all over again for humanity, and you just know everyone is going to be all about staying calm and helping each other exist in this harsher environment…only you know I’m kidding, because what would be the fun in that? In Afterburn, much of the world has been scorched by a solar flare, radiation ran rampant, and lots of living things either died or mutated. Fun times, once more. Both of these stories held my interest and I certainly wouldn’t mind reading more of either. The cover price of The Dark Age/Afterburn is free, while the current values are $1 on CBR and $5 on ZKC.

Cool Comics Kids

#1002 — Heathcliff #12, Star Comics, November 1986.

This is the second Heathcliff issue I’ve read for Cool Comics Kids, and while many of you out there wouldn’t dream of adding any of these comics into your collection, I have to admit that I’ve had fun reading them. In the first story, “Spaced-Out Cat,” Heathcliff’s antics of digging in garbage cans nearly leads to an alien invasion, but the clever feline ends up saving all of humanity in the end! The second story also shows us just how resourceful this fluffy orange cat can be in “The Kitnap Kaper,” when a resident’s prize-winning cat comes up missing. And to close it out, we get a one-page tale (or tail, right?) in which Heathcliff shows some mice who the boss is in “Knight Life.” Like most of my comics in this kid category, I was able to snag this issue out of a quarter box. I think the younger readers in your life will appreciate this issue. The cover price of Heathcliff #12 is 75¢, while the current values are $4 on CBR and $3 on ZKC.

Cool Comics Classics

#1003 — Wonder Woman #287, DC, January 1982.

I’ve read a few dozen issues of Wonder Woman comics over the years, but when I needed to sell thousands of comic books in order to regain living space, I gave my small collection featuring Diana Prince to my oldest daughter. But a few months ago while digging around in a discount box at Kenmore Komics & Games, I found this issue that guest-stars The New Teen Titans and couldn’t resist plunking down my quarter. This issue was published just a month or so before I began Phase II of comic collecting, and includes The New Teen Titans, so just seeing the cover had my brain flooding with memories from those days. Don Heck did the art, while Marv Wolfman wrote the story. But what I ended up really liking was the backup story in this issue, featuring the pre-Crisis Huntress. A few weeks ago, in Cool Comics Episode 196, I featured the post-Crisis first issue of The Huntress, my choice having been influenced by Back Issue magazine #113. So now I got to read a tale with Helena Wayne, and I really enjoyed experiencing the first version of the character. The Huntress tale credits the storytellers as Paul Levitz and Joe Staton. The cover price of Wonder Woman #287 is 60¢, while the current value is $7.

Recently Read Digital Comics

And finally, I’ve finished the last two issues of All-Star Superman. Thanks again to J.C., writer of The Review Basement, for convincing me to read it.

In All-Star Superman #11, Lex Luthor goes to the electric chair. No kidding, he’s sitting on it, strapped in, the lever is lowered, and the electricity surges! What happens next? That would be telling!

 

 

 

 

In All-Star Superman #12, the Man of Steel is nearing the end, but still has a mission to accomplish when a super-powered baddie enters the scene. This was certainly a fun series that you should give a try if you haven’t already.

 

 

 

 

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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