Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 210, 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.
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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 210…
Cool Comics News!
This past weekend, the Cool Comics In My Collection Facebook Group celebrated another milestone and gave away some very cool comic books, such as Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #8 from 1984 and the Star Wars: Return of the Jedi mini-series issues 1-4 from 1983-1984. If you want a chance to win some comics when we have our next drawing, be sure to join today!
Cool Comics Battle of the Week!
Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Blade versus Man-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
Contemporary Cool Comics
#1049 — Strikeforce #1, Marvel, November 2019.
Cool Comics readers know that I really enjoy the old horror comics like Tomb of Dracula and House of Secrets, especially during the month of October! So I’m really excited to start off the month with this new series from Marvel that features Blade, Hellstrom, Angela, Spectrum, The Winter Soldier, Spider-Woman, and Wiccan in what looks to be an Avengers style comic with a supernatural twist. Tini Howard is penning this new, scary comic, with art by Germán Peralta, and if the first issue is any indication, readers are in for quite the ride. The story starts off with shades of Stephen King’s The Stand, and the action ramps up from there as the Avengers enter the fray, stumbling upon a group of heroes who have no idea how they got into a hidden research compound. After being sequestered in Avengers Mountain, Blade teleports this confused group of heroes to the rainforests of Indonesia, and Strikeforce is born. Issue #2 can’t arrive soon enough! The cover price of Strikeforce #1 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.
#1050 — Hotshot #1, Freestyle Komics, August 2017.
At the Cleveland Comic & Toy Show a few weeks ago, I was able to meet creator Michael Watson of Freestyle Komics and picked up Hotshot #1. Michael and the others on the team have published several issues in this series, along with other ongoing books via Freestyle Komics. To put out independent comics you have to wear many hats, and conventions are a must in order to get the word out. I was curious to learn more, so I visited their Facebook page and found lots of cool photos from a wide range of conventions they’ve attended, so there is no doubt they are putting in the work. The story was fun and intriguing, and like any good serial, ends on a cliff-hanger that has you wanting to find out what happens next! The cover price of Hotshot #1 is $4.99.
Cool Comics Done Dirt Cheap
#1051 — R.E.B.E.L.S. #3, DC, January 1995.
In looking over my all-time comic book list (I keep a lot of lists for all sorts of things…one being every comic book I’ve ever owned, even if I’ve later parted with it…unfortunately I used to delete them from the list once they were gone, but I’ve added back what I can remember, along with starting a newer list containing just my current comic collection), it looks like I bought the first issue of this series and no longer have it, but there were a handful of issues stuffed into 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), so I guess I get to revisit this series that I don’t really remember. One of the tough choices in life is deciding whether or not to retain comics that came in the legendary longbox. I suppose the deciding factors include: Did I enjoy them? Is the condition decent? and are they worth anything? I didn’t really know many of the characters in this issue, but Vril Dox is involved, and he always proves interesting to me, and Lobo makes an appearance, too. I think I’ll hang on to it for a while. The cover price of R.E.B.E.L.S. #3 is $1.95, while the current value is $3.
FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 22)
#1052 — Deadly Class: Killer Set, Image, May 2019.
Admittedly, I don’t know much, if anything, about a good many of the Free Comic Book Day issues that come out the first Saturday of May each year. In the past, I would simply choose several of the titles I’m familiar with, but starting in 2018, Cool Comics now has access to every free issue that comes out. It’s fun to get a look at comics and companies I wouldn’t ordinarily read. Deadly Class, published by Image, is a comic I’ve never read, nor have I watched any of the episodes of the television series on SyFy. Hence, I can’t make any comparisons, so I don’t know which is better, the comic or the show. Over on IMDB, Deadly Class has a 7.8 rating, so it must be pleasing those watching it. This FCBD issue brought to mind The Kingsman movies and The Umbrella Academy Netflix series, both of which have their roots in comic books, but I’ve never read them. If this FCBD issue or the series in general sounds interesting, please keep in mind that this comic is rated M for Mature. The cover price of Deadly Class: Killer Set is free, while the current value is $1.
Cool Comics Kids
#1053 — Woody Woodpecker #161, Whitman/Gold Key, October 1977.
Did your childhood include The Woody Woodpecker Show? I looked on YouTube for the opening theme, and found several foreign language intros, along with newer iterations (well, relatively newer, compared to the original!), but couldn’t find the one I remember watching in the Sixties and early Seventies. But that’s okay, because I can replay it in my mind whenever I want, and this 1977 comic book helped boost those fun memories. This issue, which is a nice introduction to the character for younger readers who may not be familiar with him, contains three complete stories, along with a one-page comic ad for Twinkies featuring The Incredible Hulk, and who doesn’t like that kind of fun thrown in? As per my usual modus operandi, I snagged this one out of a quarter box. Sometimes you just need to be in the right place at the right time. By the way, this is one of those Gold Key comics that has Whitman on the cover, as it was part of a multi-bagged special. The cover price of Woody Woodpecker #161 is 30¢, while the current values are $9 on CBR and $8 on ZKC.
Cool Comics Classics
#1054 — Man-Thing #3, Marvel, March 1980.
We opened this first October episode with a horror comic, and we’re going to close with a monster. When Man-Thing’s first series debuted in 1973, I paid no attention to this strange-looking creature. This was the year I started buying comic books for myself, and I was spending my precious dimes on Spider-Man and Captain America, along with a few other costumed heroes. I had no extra change for monsters. And by the time 1979 rolled around and the second series started, which this issue is from, I’d abandoned the world of four-color fun. But now that I’m older and wiser, I realize my mistakes of the past. So whilst digging around in quarter boxes, I found this fabulous issue from 1980, which contains hairy Snowmen of the Himalayas. How could I not get it? The cover price of Man-Thing #3 is 40¢, while the current value is $6.
ComicBooks For Kids!
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Views: 325
I am at a loss with the battle this week. The undead vs. whatever kind of monster Man-thing is. Blade definitely couldn’t bite him, with all the toxins Man-thing has in his body. I also don’t think the fear stare would do jack to Blade. I would have to end this one in a draw. Really cool match up. Interested to hear other’s takes on this fight.
The Strikeforce book looks like a winner. Nice mesh of heroes, demons, loners and the like. I didn’t think to look for this one today, but may check it out next visit to the LCS.
Nice classic book with the Man-thing. Yes, he is probably Marvel’s counterpart to DC’s Swamp thing, but he is still one interesting character. I try to grab higher grade Man Thing books for cheap when I happen upon them. Unfortunately my stash is maybe one or two books lol.
Spector, it is an interesting battle! I hope some others have opinions on it, as it would be fun to see.
I think, if I remember without looking it up, that Man-Thing premiered the month before Swamp Thing, but everyone agrees that it was just a coincidence.
I liked Strikeforce, but a friend of mine mentioned that he gave it a try and won’t be getting anymore. He reads more DC, so perhaps these oddball Marvel characters were too unfamiliar to him.
Thanks for reading and writing, and for being an important part of Cool Comics!
I’m not much of a Marvel reader, nor much of a horror fan, so I don’t know too much about Blade or Man-Thing. Can Blade set him on fire or is it magical non flammable plant material?
I don’t recall too many Woody Woodpecker cartoons. He wasn’t a favorite and I don’t think his cartoons were shown much in my area.
The only time I bought an issue of LEGION/ REBELs was when it crossed over with Superman.
I’m a real Debbie Downer this week. LOL
Action Ace, not every comic is for every person, so don’t worry about being a Debbie Downer! And to be honest that woodpecker could get on your nerves after a while. For me a lot of childhood memories come flooding back just by thinking about Woody.
Hopefully we’ll have something more to your liking next episode! Thanks for being an important part of Cool Comics!