Cool Comics Christmas Spectacular 2019 Edition!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 221, 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.

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 221…

Cool Comics News!

Since this is the last episode before Christmas, I thought it was fitting to include some comics that feature the treasured holiday. But if you don’t celebrate, Cool Comics has still brought you some awesome four-color adventures that you can enjoy. Regardless, we wish all you readers out there a very Merry Christmas! Stay safe, be good to each other, and read lots of comic books.

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is The Metal Men versus The 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

#1120 — The Tale of the Christmas Elf, RAK Graphics, December 2003.

If you’re not familiar with The Tale of the Christmas Elf, you’re missing out on a heartwarming story that, once read, you’ll treasure and lovingly take out of your comic storage box for rereads on an annual basis. Yes, Robert A. Kraus (aka RAK) not only writes and draws fantastic fights featuring everyone’s favorite grey warrior, Chakan, the forever man, but he also knows how to tug at your emotions in a completely different way…the mark of a great storyteller. While I have a printed copy, this Christmas story is also available in electronic format…free at his website! No kidding, folks, click here and read this fantastic illustrated holiday tale that the entire family can enjoy (my printed copy is signed by RAK, so there are certain advantages to paper!). The cover price of The Tale of the Christmas Elf is $10.

Akron Comicon Cool Comics

#1121 — The Big Book of Christmas Eve, Cool Yule Comics, August 2019.

Last year, at Akron Comicon 2018, I bought a Christmas comic book (Happy Holliday’s Christmas Dance Party) from George Broderick, Jr., part of his Cool Yule Comic line (episode 168). It was fun, obviously seasonal, and I liked it so much that I made sure to purchase something else from him this year, which turned out to be this very nice hardcover edition that collects his Christmas Eve stories. These adventures are not only fun for kids, but they are so witty that adults will enjoy reading them (at least I did). Christmas Eve is made by magic, has magical abilities, and will bring a smile to your face and joy to your heart. Perfect for the Christmas season. You can find this book on Amazon, if you don’t get it directly from George (and George was gracious enough to sign the copy I bought from him). The cover price of The Big Book of Christmas Eve is $29.95.

Cool Comics from the Quarter Bin

#1122 — DC Comics Presents #4, Whitman/DC, December 1978.

It’s truly amazing what you can find in quarter bins these days (I’ll preface that by adding that condition isn’t always as high as you may desire, but often good enough to read and claim as part of your collection), but you have to be willing to put in the time, the sweat, and the possibility of finger cramps as you flip through the offerings. And if you’re like me and want to find Bronze Age beauties, the top edge of the comics is often an indication when you see all white…or even some yellowing. If you prefer high grade comics, then you probably won’t have much luck (but sometimes you find some pretty good stuff that looks nearly perfect, like I did a couple weeks ago when I snagged a Flash #1 from 1987 that looks…to my uneducated eye…as just about perfect), but if you’re less picky, then invest in a few more storage boxes and have at thee! This copy of DC (or is it Whitman?) Comics Presents has some cover wrinkling, no tears, and pretty nice pages. But it’s a Whitman variant. And doggone it, I wanted the original DC version, right? But wait, as it turns out, the Whitman cover is rarer and therefore worth more than double the value. I’ve found lots of Whitman variants over the years and grab them whenever I see them. If you enjoy the Metal Men, then this is a comic you probably want to add to your personal collection. Len Wein is the writer, and the art is by Jose Luis Garza-Lopez. The cover price of DC Comics Presents #4 is 40¢, while the current value is $25 for the Whitman cover and $12 for the DC cover.

FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 33)

#1123 — Star Wars Adventures, IDW, May 2019.

With the new Star Wars movie launching this week (not to mention all the buzz around The Mandalorian…featuring…you knew it was coming…Baby Yoda! Wait, he’s not Yoda, just a 50-year-old baby from the same species. Yet, the kid has the Force…and the Clone Wars and all that technology came before this show, so could it really be Baby Yoda, the cloned version? Or Yoda’s child, perhaps?), I figured it was the right time to break out Star Wars Adventures as our Free Comic Book Day feature for this episode. This is a rousing tale starring your favorite Star Wars bad boy, Han Solo. Truth be told (here comes the hate…I can feel it vibrating through the ‘net…sort of like the Force), I’m not a Han Solo fan. He has his role in the stories, and I saw each of the original trilogy movies at the theater as they released. It’s just…I don’t like him much. Regardless, this is a fun comic book, and I hope you were fortunate enough to grab one last May. The cover price of Star Wars Adventures is free, while the current value is $1.

Cool Comics Kids

#1124 — Heathcliff #6, Star Comics (an imprint of Marvel), February 1986.

Since starting this Cool Comics Kids section, I’ve come to have a lot of respect for this fluffy orange cat. Everyone talks about Garfield, but Heathcliff deserves plenty of catnip toys, too! His stories are not only fun for kids, but witty enough to keep adults entertained also (or maybe it’s just me…I may be slightly regressing, since these comics take me back to my childhood days). This Christmas issue contains three stories, the first of which makes up about half of the comic and it’s a worthy Christmas read, as Heathcliff gets into mischief while sitting on the roof of the house in a “Santa Lookout Station.” Following that, in keeping with the Yuletide Spirit, we get a revamping of “The Night Before Christmas,” Heathcliff style. The last story, while fun, is not holiday centric. And for those who like to know such things, I deftly grabbed this issue from the quarter bin. Comic book fans, if you’re building a junior level library, you can’t go wrong with this cat. The cover price of Heathcliff #6 is 65¢, while the current values are $5 on CBR and $3 on ZKC.

Cool Comics Classics

#1125 — The Thing #1, Marvel, July 1983.

As Cool Comics readers know, one of my favorite things is to diligently search quarter boxes whenever one is sighted. A few months ago, I found several issues of Benjamin Grimm’s solo series, The Thing, during one of my searches in quarter bins. And while issue #1 couldn’t be located so cheaply that day, lo and behold, a couple weeks later during a sale I was able to add this first fantastic comic to my collection for less than $6. Since the Bronze Age is my soft spot for the hobby, I see this as a valued addition to my collection. The Seventies may be my preferred era, but the entire Bronze Age is worthy in my mind. In many ways the Thing seems to be the heart and soul of the Fantastic Four, and the fact that he’s featured in Marvel-Two-In-One and this, his own titled series, is further proof. The cover price of The Thing #1 is 60¢, while the current values are $15 on CBR and $10 on ZKC. The Key Collector Comics value is $15.

Recently Read Digital Comics

If you yearn for those deliciously delightful Christmas comics of yesteryear, The Great Treasury of Christmas Comic Book Stories is a wonderful collection that will help bring those memories back. Though my copy is digital, which I purchased through Amazon and read on my comiXology app, you can also buy it in both trade paperback and hardcover. Released in October 2018, this heartwarming holiday anthology contains 176 pages of Christmas stories dating back to the forties. The art is fantastic, the tales are perfect for the holiday season, and the stories will take you back to your childhood, no matter how young you may be. Safe for all ages, you can get it through Amazon or IDW, who is credited as publisher, along with Yoe Books. Pricing varies, depending on format, but this is a fun one for kids and grandkids, so you may want to get yourself a print copy that you can share.

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 United 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/

Never Miss an Episode of Cool Comics!

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