Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 220, 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 (except for 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. And for those who enjoy the additional fun of knowing some of the more important issues in your collection, I recognize each Cool Comic that is listed in Key Collector Comics
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.
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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 220…
Cool Comics News!
You know what’s flying up faster than the Flash? Christmas! Time to make your comic book gift purchases before the stores run out. But if you don’t know what to buy for that certain collector in your life, gift certificates are always nice, too, and many comic book shops offer them. What kinds of comic book gifts do you like to give, and to receive? Tell us about it in the comments section below.
Cool Comics Battle of the Week!
Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Quasar versus Captain Comet! 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
#1113 — Superman #18, DC, February 2020.
It’s no secret in the comic book universe that the granddaddy of all superheroes, Superman, spills the beans to the world that he’s also Clark Kent, mild mannered reporter. I’ve seen some online chatter that this is it, fans are going to quit buying comic books featuring the Man of Steel, and that this makes for a perfect jumping-off point. All before even having read the issue. Well, I’ve just read it (normally, when I blog about a new comic, it goes in my blog a week and a day after having hit the comic shops, but I decided that since this is hot news—and controversial to some readers—that I wouldn’t wait that long), and I’ll tell you that if you’re going to have a reveal party, writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Ivan Reis knocked it out of the solar system! They hit all the marks, with early warnings of what’s to come for certain characters (meaning that Clark, for example, tells Perry White who he is before making his big announcement to the world), do a nice job of capturing the emotions of those in Superman’s circle, and even give us a reaction from…well, you may figure out who, but I won’t take this any further. If you’re a “Super” fan, then don’t miss out on this issue. The cover price of Superman #18 is $3.99, while the current value is $4. The Key Collector Comics value is $4.
#1114 — Vampironica: New Blood #1, Archie, January 2020.
You can’t keep a good vampire down! It’s been proven time and time again in cinematic history, books, and even comic books. And when it comes to Riverdale and vampires, Vampironica rules…the undead. Fresh from her crossover with Jughead (the Hunger) in his werewolf form, Veronica finds herself back in her own Archieverse Riverdale…and because of a shared kiss with her lupine enemy (albeit in human form), she’s suddenly developing a crush on the guy with the goofy hat who can’t seem to stuff his face with enough hamburgers. This first issue is full of building blocks of what’s to come, so it doesn’t have as much action as some may want, yet the story has intrigue, suspense, and a few surprises. The cover price of Vampironica: New Blood #1 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.
Akron Comicon Cool Comics
#1115 — Lab Rats #4, Empire Comics Lab, Spring 2019.
A while back (last episode, to be exact…okay, I’m just full of hyperbole with that statement), Cool Comics brought you a fun little ashcan-sized comic picked up at Akron Comicon 2019, and we’re pleased to tell you that we were able to get not only the 2018 Free Comic Book Day issue from Empire Comics Lab, but also the newest edition! This issue tells a story about a comic book shop owner, his wish for more customers, a food vendor, rude people, and the fate that just may await those who aren’t so nice. As mentioned in our last episode, I got this comic from Andy “Shaggy” Korty (a very nice guy), who did everything for this issue except the writing. To find out more about Empire Comics Lab, be sure to visit their website by clicking here. The cover price of Lab Rats #4 is free.
Cool Comics from the Quarter Bin
#1116 — Quasar #1, Marvel, October 1989.
If you’ve read some comics here and there that feature Quasar (the Wendell Vaughn version, that is…because there are a number of Quasars in Marvel history) and you’ve always wanted to know his origin, this is the issue to grab, comic book fans! And yes, I snatched this one straight from the jaws of the quarter bin. During my third phase of comic book collecting (1993-2003), I’d find various issues of Quasar in discount bins and buy them. Finally, a few years back, I decided to read what I had. And I really enjoyed the character and the stories. While Quasar doesn’t have a huge fan following, the late writer Mark Gruenwald did a nice job in finding ways to entertain his audience and make Wendell Vaughn’s title a comic worth coming back to. The cover price of Quasar #1 is $1, while the current value is $6. The Key Collector Comics value is $3.
FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 32)
#1117 — Grumble vs. The Goon, Albatross Funnybooks, May 2019.
This Free Comic Book Day issue is what it’s all about, a chance for readers to sample what else is out there that they may have never read before…or even seen. I’ve noticed The Goon in Previews (the monthly catalog for comic book orders) before, but if Grumble has been there, it hasn’t stuck in my mind. This was a rip-roaring adventure that features Tala (she’s the girl with elf ears on the cover) and Eddie (he’s the dog) on the run and jumping into another dimension, one that contains The Goon (the tough guy with the wrench!). Eddie talks, has a bit of a gambling problem, and steals the show in this FCBD bundle of fun. The cover price of Grumble vs. The Goon is free, while the current values are $0 on CBR and $1 on ZKC.
Cool Comics Kids
#1118 — Bugs Bunny #2, DC, July 1990.
A couple episodes ago, Cool Comics brought issue #1 of this three-part miniseries to you, and because it was fun, I didn’t want to wait too long, so now we’re presenting issue #2! Though Bugs Bunny gets top billing, this series has so far featured an all-star cast of your favorite Looney Tunes characters, including such characters as Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, Speedy Gonzales, and Foghorn Leghorn. Bugs and Daffy are on a worldwide hunt for Head of Fudd statues (I’m not spilling too many beans here, so if you want to know why, pick up this series!) and keep running into opposition (they have to make it interesting, right?). While this series seems like a great edition for your Cool Comics Kids collection, there are a few things in the first couple issues that may offend some sensibilities (perhaps we are getting too sensitive these days…no one said the Looney Tunes are the guardians of polite culture), so if you plan on collecting these for a young person, you can always read them first to make sure they’re a good fit. The cover price of Bugs Bunny #2 is $1, while the current values are $3 on CBR and $4 on ZKC.
Cool Comics Classics
#1119 — The Secret Society of Super Villains #2, DC, August 1976.
Last week Cool Comics Classics brought you Super-Villain Team-Up from Marvel, and this week we delve into DC’s The Secret Society of Super Villains! And while it may seem like I’m turning to the dark side of the force, don’t worry, frantic fans, we still love our heroes best. But a fun comic book is a fun comic book, and when the opportunity strikes to purchase something a little different from that historical age of the Seventies (for just $1.75!), we take it! As I’ve said before, when I bought comic books during this epoch, Marvel was the company I always thought of first. And yet, whenever I visited my father’s place of employment (he was a pharmacist at SuperX Drugs), the magazine stand often had those DC 100-Pages for 60¢ issues, which my dad graciously bought for me, so I did have some knowledge of the DCU. And now that I’m a more experienced and wiser comic book reader, I enjoy buying and reading those DC comics I missed during that period. If you’re a fan of the Super Villains, this issue is chalk-full of badness, including Captain Comet (he can’t really be a villain, can he?), Mirror Master, Captain Cold, Gorilla Grodd, Mantis, and more! The cover price of The Secret Society of Super Villains is 30¢, while the current values are $14 on CBR and $10 on ZKC.
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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Visits: 222
Action Ace says
I can neither confirm nor deny that I have a shrine to Funky Flashman in my house.
SSOSV #2 was my first issue of the series as a kid. I liked Captain Comet so much that I wanted him in the JLA. He is my answer when someone asks, “who’s your favorite mutant super-hero?”
I can’t comment on Superman #18 yet since I will be getting it during DC’s Super Comic Spectacular Blowout next week.
Ed Gosney says
Action Ace, I’m glad that Captain Comet is a favorite of yours! It was a trip back in time for me while reading it. Nothing like those Seventies comics.
What is DC’s Super Comic Spectacular Blowout? I’m not familiar with it, so I’m at a complete loss here.
Thanks for being an important part of Cool Comics!