Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 202, 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 202…
Cool Comics News!
City of Bane, Absolute Carnage, Dawn of X, Year of the Villain…these and other events are taking place in the two biggest comic book sandboxes, so what’s a fanboy to do when there just isn’t enough cash to go around? Besides picking and choosing which titles you can’t live without and which need to be scratched off your pull list (and this always leads to lots of anxiety, right?), there are other options. Recently I gave a talk at my monthly comic book gathering about digital comics and how to get started. So fear not, comic book friends! If you need to read more than you can afford, DC Universe and Marvel Unlimited may just have the answers to your anguish (along with solving storage dilemmas). But they aren’t the only companies with digital comics. If you haven’t explored digital comics, start with comiXology, create a free account, then download some of their free issues and see if you like the experience.
Cool Comics Battle of the Week!
Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Batman Who Laughs versus Reed Richards! 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
#1004 — The Batman Who Laughs #7, DC, September 2019.
When I think about my first experience with Batman (the Batman ’66 TV series) and then place it next to The Batman Who Laughs and all the insanity that is packed in the pages of this mini-series, it’s pretty jarring. Which most people can probably state, regardless of when they started reading the adventures of the caped crusader. This series is now at the end after reaching the seventh issue. But wait a minute, it seems to me that when I initially ordered it from the best comic shop around, it was listed as a six-issue series. I don’t know if DC decided that sales were too good to not throw another issue out there, or Scott Snyder realized a little too late that the story couldn’t be wrapped up in six. And yet, even though I’m telling you it’s over, the new Batman/Superman series that is scheduled to start this month is a continuation of this series, an ongoing story about the craziness of the loony Batman from the Dark Multiverse. You probably should keep this series and that one away from the little kiddos who just love Batman but aren’t ready to see him like this. These kinds of comics aren’t what I typically read, but yet I keep doing so. The cover price of The Batman Who Laughs #7 is $4.99, while the current value is $5.
#1005 — Fantastic Four #12, Marvel, September 2019.
Because of all the craziness that constantly happens in the Marvel Universe, Ben Grimm and his new bride Alicia had to put off their honeymoon for a while, but now they are finally going to get that peaceful getaway they’ve been dreaming of. Only some big, green, hulk of a monster has to go and spoil all their fun. And in a twisted way, that means more fun for us readers! Who doesn’t like a good Hulk/Thing brawl? Yet something beyond the pale is at the root cause and is the very catalyst of the Hulk’s rage. What could it be? And just when things seem “grim(m),” old orange brick Ben (you know, “the ever-lovin’, blue-eyed Thing”) puts up his dukes and is finally ready to go toe-to-toe (even though he’s already taken a bit of a beating). “It’s clobberin’ time!” right? But it’s not. The story ends. What? This is a thicker issue, so I was really counting on more of this cool battle when instead it closes early, and we get a little Future Foundation story. Although I enjoyed the Power Pack comic that was part of Cool Comics Done Dirt Cheap recently, the Future Foundation preview didn’t do much for me. I understand why they did this, because issue number 1 released just one week after this issue, but when you’re counting on Hulk vs. the Thing, you don’t want interruptions. The cover price of Fantastic Four #12 is $4.99 while the current value is $5.
Cool Comics Done Dirt Cheap
#1006 — Fate #1, DC, November 1994.
Parts of the DC Universe are still somewhat of a mystery to me, including Doctor Fate. I’ve read a smattering of comics in which he’s included, but certainly not enough to have a good handle on the character. And back in 1994, it seems that DC tried to “Lobo up” the character. Just look at the cover if you don’t understand what I’m talking about (and if Lobo is an unfamiliar character to you, it’s time to Google). For those of you who’ve read it, I wonder what you think of this interpretation? Not the Doctor Fate you grew up with or wanted? A cool new Nineties twist to the character? I’m sure there are varied opinions. It was sort of fun to read, but I usually prefer my characters to remain more traditional. Part of the fun of 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) is getting to explore comics I wouldn’t ordinarily read. The cover price of Fate #1 is $1.95, while the current values are $2.50 on CBR and $2 on ZKC.
FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 14)
#1007 — Spider-Man/Venom, Marvel, May 2019.
With the start of Absolute Carnage (the first issue came out yesterday…look for it here next week!), I just had to include this Free Comic Book Day issue for episode 202. For Venom and Carnage fans, you’ll want to get your hands on this comic as soon as possible if you haven’t already, since it’s a direct tie-in (it ends with the words, “TO BE CONTINUED IN ABSOLUTE CARNAGE!” so there’s your proof), and who knows what effect this will have on the speculator market. To be honest, while I love Spider-Man, I’m not the biggest fan of the symbiotes, but to each his own. The second story in this freebie gives us a fun little tale with both Spider-Man and Spider-Man getting ready to square off over…pizza? “Friendly Neighborhood Rivalry” is a story more to my liking, and after troubles with the Shocker subside, Miles Morales and Peter Parker get together at the end for even more pizza! The cover price of Spider-Man/Venom is free, while the current values are $4 on CBR and $6 on ZKC.
Cool Comics Kids
#1008 — Muppet Babies #21, Marvel, September 1988.
For those of you who want to introduce your younger kids to comics, Muppet Babies might be just what you are looking for. This is the second issue we’ve featured here for Cool Comics Kids, and once again there are no disappointments. The first tale, “The Weirdest Show on Earth,” has a familiar penciler for those who pay attention to creators. It’s none other than Marie Severin, a Marvel legend. The story starts off with some basic Muppet goofiness, but once it gets moving, you’ll find yourself fairly entertained, regardless of your age. “Do You Sea What I Sea?” (also penciled by Severin) has our furry friends taking an imaginary trip that includes pirates, so batten down the hatches and watch out for Miss Piggy! The cover price of Muppet Babies #21 is $1, while the current values are $5 on CBR and $3 on ZKC.
Cool Comics Classics
#1009 — Four Color #1072 (Marge’s Blythe), Dell, April 1960.
How often have you found a 1960 comic book in a quarter bin? Seriously, when you find comics with a cover price of 20¢ or less, pull them out of the box and put them in your purchase pile! From what I’ve seen online, it’s the rare store that even has quarter discount boxes these days. Seems like most discount bins are a dollar. This Dell title that I was fortunate enough to find is part of their Four Color series, which is difficult to distinguish, because it says “Marge’s Blythe” on the cover, and the same at the indicia inside. But with a little online digging, most decent comic book sites will help you find the answers you are seeking. Marge’s Blythe is a teenage girl you might as easily find in an Archie comic from the same period, and features her adventures with friends and potential beaus, along with a little parental involvement. As it turns out, this issue is missing the center page, containing possibly 4 pages of comics (there certainly could be an ad page on any of them), so one story came to an end that I missed out on and in the next story I missed the beginning. And this may be why I found it in the quarter bin. Still, this anthology of teenage fun was worth every penny I spent, even with the missing pages. The cover price of Four Color #1072 is 10¢, while the current value is $80.
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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Spector says
We must share some sort of comic mental brainwave or something along those lines.
I was mulling over the multitude of great stories, that also happen to cross over multiple books and feeling a little let down, knowing I won’t be able to keep up with them all. I have not as of yet attempted a digital comic viewing. I need to get out of the old school mindset and just give it a chance. I am sure that I will be pleasantly surprised. My main guff aside from being able to afford to keep up, (in my own head with the vapors of Orwell’s 1984 passing though)..is that I don’t want to see the paper books disappear. If digital becomes the norm, it very well may happen. Supporting the digital book is still supporting the art form, just doing it as another medium. I digress…lol
Like most new books/crossovers, I try to at least get the first issue to hang on to. I did that with Year of the Villain, and got 2 covers. I mentioned before I had flipped from reading Batman, to reading Detective. Now the City of Bane storyline does tickle my fancy, and picked up the 2nd installment of it. The small LCS sold out of House of X #2, and I was too tired to run over to the main shop, but the story in #1 was so good, I may venture over there this weekend.
I have not read Who Laughs yet, but initially purchased #1-5 for my son, and then picked up the next 2 issues. He absolutely loved them, and I may have to check them out near in the future.
The LCS manager did make mention of the big Hulk vs Thing rematch, but I passed on it to save some money. It didn’t sound like it was too much of a brawl from the review, so I feel a little better about not getting it now.
Thank you for the Fate review. I have always dug the character since first discovering him in All-Star Squadron when I first began collecting comics. I have a pretty big run of this series, getting it from a long box purchase awhile back, but have not gotten a chance to read them yet.
The Spider-Man Carnage FCBD book was a good read. One of the first ones I picked up on FCBD.
Ah! Muppet Babies! I did have a guilty pleasure of watching the cartoon when it was on the air. Funny stuff, and can bet the book is the same too.
Ed Gosney says
When the crossovers are good and they hit comics I already read, they can be lots of fun, but expensive. That’s always part of the dilemma. Someday I may just have to go the Marvel Unlimited route so that I can read them all!
I have just one other issue from that 90’s Fate run, so I may have to search for me, since it seems to be popular.
Thanks for reading!
Atom says
Thanks for another great post!
Fate is one of those 90’s-Tastic relics that are a unique product of their time. I’ve thought a few times about doing a Longbox Junk series review on Fate (it actually went on a pretty good run of 22 or 23 issues) because it’s actually better as it goes on than one would think from reading the first few issues. Just remember it’s not DOCTOR Fate and it’s actually a pretty good story.
As far as digital comics go. . .I realize that’s the direction we’re going with this hobby of ours, but reading comics on a screen just isn’t the same for me, and I’ll hold out as long as I can!
That said, I’m also a bit of a hypocrite because I do have a Comixology subscription and if I have 3 out of 4 issues of a mini-series or something along those lines, I WILL read that missing issue online. I’ll also read the first issue of new series online to make sure I want to buy into it. So I’m tiptoeing into the digital age.
Thanks again for keepin’ it fun!
Ed Gosney says
Could there be a Fate Longbox Junk somewhere in the future? I certainly hope so!
Digital does have it’s place, and advantages at times. I still think the elimination of paper is a long way off.
Thanks for reading!