Cool Comics on the PROWL!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 238, 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

If you have any comments, please scroll to the bottom of the page to where it says, “Leave a Reply.” And now, Episode 238…

Cool Comics News!

Dr. Omnibus, the writer of our popular new Cool Collected Editions segment, is offering a chance for one of our newsletter subscribers to win all three trade paperback volumes of The Umbrella Academy (free U.S. shipping…if you are international and want to enter, you pay the shipping). So, if you aren’t signed up, make sure you do it now before you miss out! Because sometime next week we’ll send out a special newsletter announcement that will be your gateway to entering the contest!

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Spider-Man versus Plastic Man! 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 Creations!

This episode’s creation comes to us from Robert A. Kraus (aka RAK), creator of Chakan and many other fantastic works of art, along with cool games he’s developed. This awesome SUPERFREAKS art takes you back to the Sixties when Captain America gets thawed out and joins the Avengers! To learn more about RAK, be sure to visit his website at http://www.rakgraphics.com/.

You can have a piece of your art featured right here in Cool Comics Creations! Just send an electronic file in an email featuring one of your drawings, whether you’re a professional or amateur, (it can be just pencils, or inks too…or full color if you prefer) or a picture of a craft or sculpture that you’ve done, and as long as it’s family friendly (and not controversial…let’s try to keep this fun), you’ll be a part of an upcoming Cool Comics episode. We also want your name and any other background information you want to provide, such as a website or a way you can be contacted about your art (who knows, maybe someone will make you an offer for the original!). And then email it to edgosney62@gmail.com.

Cool Comics In My Collection

Contemporary Cool Comics

#1211 — Prowl #1, Midnight27 Studios, January 2017.

Saturday April 4, while most of the nation was social distancing due to COVID-19, I attended a comic convention. As far as I know, everyone in attendance maintained six feet. How was this possible? You see, Pajama Con, held by artist and writer Adam Fields, was live via Facebook at The Art of Adam Fields. The ongoing pandemic isn’t helping the comic book industry, but you have to love it when creators find ways to overcome adversities and sell products. Not only did I buy a package containing the first seven issues of Adam’s comic Prowl (just $30 for all seven), but I also bought a couple of his awesome cryptid prints (which I can’t wait to frame!). My copy of Prowl #1, as you can see from the cover (if the image is too small, just click on it), is a second print that was revised in June 2019, and sports Adam’s signature. As another plus, these comics came bagged (resealable bags) and boarded. It often takes Indie creators longer to get comics complete and ready for an audience (which should be no surprise since they also tend to hold fulltime jobs and are usually dependent on a small team of other people), so I find it pretty amazing that he recently put out #7. As for this first issue, we get to know a bit about the players, the town, and even a little history, all to set the scene for the appearance of the werewolf near the end. And that’s no spoiler, because you can see him right there on the cover. What is a surprise is that the werewolf…okay, I’m going to stop there! If you want to know what I was going to say, go to https://www.midnight27studios.com/ and order your own copy of Prowl. I’m really looking forward to reading the next six issues! With the halt in new comic production, this is a perfect opportunity to see some of the cool stuff others are producing. The cover price of Prowl #1 is $5.

Cool Comics from the Quarter Bin

#1212 — The Amazing Spider-Man #219, Marvel, August 1981.

As someone who’s been quarter bin diving for the last few years, it’s no lie when I tell you that finding older issues of The Amazing Spider-Man doesn’t happen all that often. Peter Parker’s alias has been one of Marvel’s most popular heroes since he first showed up on the scene in Amazing Fantasy #15 in 1962, so it’s no surprise that cheap copies of older issues aren’t as easy to come by. But this isn’t a typical Spider-Man story, as we see from the cover that Peter Parker is behind bars and we are told he’s a criminal! This issue was written by Denny O’Neil, penciled by Luke McDonnell, and inked by Jim Mooney. Now you know who to blame for your favorite hero being tossed in the slammer! The cover price of The Amazing Spider-Man #219 is 50¢, while the current values are $15 on CBR and $16 on ZKC.

FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 50)

#1213 — Under the Moon: A Catwoman Tale, DC Ink, May 2019.

Much like the DC Free Comic Book Day issue I covered in the last episode of Cool Comics, this preview sample is aimed at a younger audience…which is a good thing since we want our favorite hobby to grow. But could someone who grew up reading Seventies gems enjoy the simplistic stories contained here? You bet! The first tale (or perhaps tail would be more appropriate for it) here, written by New York Times bestselling author Lauren Myracle and illustrated by Isaac Goodhart, is called Under the Moon: A Catwoman Tale, and shows us a younger Selina Kyle, during her high school days, as she adopts a stray kitten that changes her outlook on what’s going on in her life. But things don’t always work out the way we hope they will. The coloring, which mostly uses blue, is very effective for the mood of the story. Next up is Teen Titans Raven, written by New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia and illustrated by Gabriel Picolo. Like the Catwoman story, this one also makes good use of color, along with a bit of a mystical feel. There are more in the series besides these two previews, so be on the lookout for the full graphic novels as they make great gifts for younger readers. The cover price of Under the Moon: A Catwoman Tale is free, while the current value is $1.

Cool Comics Kids

#1214 — Donald Duck #121, Gold Key, September 1968.

It will probably take a little work to find this gem from 1968 as cheap as I did (yes, I snagged this fun Donald Duck issue out of a quarter bin!), but if you do, you’ll more than likely feel it was worth the effort. If you’re like me and you really enjoy flipping through discount bins, these days of store closures due to COVID-19 should have you really appreciating the way things used to be. Still, you can try to find comics online, and this is a nice one to add to your Cool Comics Kids library. This issue comes with three complete comic stories, Gold Key Comics Club News, and a one-page short story that has a couple illustrations included. The first story, The Buffaloed Buffalo, is an adventure that the little ones in your life are sure to enjoy. The cover price of Donald Duck #121 is 15¢, while the current value is $48.

Cool Comics Classics

#1215 — Detective Comics #441, DC, July 1974.

I’ve mentioned on here before that during the Seventies, when I first started buying comic books, I was buying Marvel, with the exception of these DC “100 Pages For Only 60¢” issues because the store where my father worked as a pharmacist often had these on their magazine racks and I got a discount. At the time, I didn’t realize that many of the stories in each comic were reprints, which didn’t really make a difference because they were all new to my eyes. I liked the way they had characters featured on the covers, such as this one that has them in circles at the bottom. I can’t remember ever seeing this particular issue when it came out, but when I spotted it at a local comic shop a few months back for just $4, it was an easy enough decision to add it to my collection. Before this one, I didn’t own any of the eight issues of Detective Comics that came in this format. As a matter of fact, I have just 19 out of 96 of these 100-page comics that came out during this period…which means I have lots more fun to look forward to! The reprint stories in this issue include Plastic Man #3 (1946), Detective Comics #42 (1940), Ibis from Whiz Comics #95 (1948, originally published by Fawcett), House of Secrets #66 (1964), Crack Comics #25 (1942, originally published by Quality), and Batman #38 (1946). The two new stories are “Judgment Day,” featuring Batman, and “Cathedral Perilous,” starring Manhunter (Paul Kirk). You certainly get a nice variety of stories, and back when they were first published, the price made them a no-brainer. By the way, this issue contains the first appearance of Harvey Bullock. The cover price of Detective Comics #441 is 60¢, while the current value is $110. The Key Collector Comics value is $65.

Cool Collected Editions with Dr. Omnibus

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Shattered Grid DLX Hardcover

Dr. Omnibus score: 8 out of 10

Moving along in my journey through the Power Rangers comics, I find myself at what is the last collection I have, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Shattered Grid DLX Hardcover. You may recall that in episodes 231 and 234 I reviewed the first two hardcovers in this three book set. I liked the second volume more than the first and was looking forward to seeing some things play out in Shattered Grid….

The Book Itself

Much the like the previous two volumes, this one has a beautiful graphic cover, this time featuring the white ranger, and the spine matches perfectly with the other volumes. Also, like the two before it, this one features an extensive cover gallery, but it is not annoyingly large this time. I did have some trouble with the binding. In two spots, the signatures (individual sections of a book) are separating from the binding glue. This is pretty disappointing, but if it worsens, I am confident in my ability to fix it.

The Words
By Kyle Higgins

This story blew me away. It had just about everything I could ask for in a Power Rangers story, including all sorts of time travel and interdimensional super “meta” sci-fi fun. The story centered very much on a couple Rangers, and the others were very much just supporting characters. This worked well and provided a way for Mr. Higgins to finally get me to care about one of these kids. It did get confusing at times, since we meet dozens of Power Rangers from across all of time and space, and sometimes I felt they were thrust upon readers without enough introduction. But I can overlook that, because to properly introduce all these Rangers would take several series of comics.

The Pictures
By lots of people

The first thing I noticed when pulling this off my shelf was that Hendry Prasetya was not involved in the volume. This instantly made me fearful, as I really enjoyed his work in the previous volumes. This was further exacerbated by the fact while I was relaxing the spine, I saw a few pages that just weren’t in a similar style at all to what I had been expecting. Well, as it turns out, my fears were for naught. The art throughout the book is just fine, and although it’s maybe a small step back from the previous volumes, overall, it’s an adequate substitute for the original.

The Gist

Each volume of this series is better than the one before it. That being the case, I think anyone who starts Power Rangers needs to read at least this far. It’s only about 30 to 40 issues, and the payoff is worth the journey. If I’m not mistaken, there is another hardcover coming out this fall. I suppose I’ll pick it up since each volume has gotten consistently more enjoyable. At C2E2 2020, I had the opportunity to meet Kyle Higgins, and I told him I was not a fan of Power Rangers before reading the comics and that now he was well on his way to making me one. I mentioned that I had just finished reading “Year 2” and that I really enjoyed the growth in the story and where it was heading. He laughed and said, “If you liked Year 2, you’re going to love Shattered Grid.” He was right.

Damian Starr is a long-time collector of comics who, in recent years, has converted his focus to reading—almost exclusively—trade paperbacks, hardcovers, and Omnibus editions. Additionally, he is a frequent contributor to the MCBCFA Play Network YouTube channel (check out his Dr. Omnibus playlists). To add one more layer to his geekery, he is an amateur comic author and co-founder of Illuminatus Comics.

Cool Comics Reader Reviews!

Nova #1 (Marvel 1976)

 By Steve “Atom” Baum

A bit of introduction. I’m Steve “Atom” Baum and I write comic reviews that nobody ever asked for. I don’t usually write reviews of new comics or comics that would be of interest to collectors for how much they are “worth.” To me, the “value” of a comic is in the enjoyment of it.

If you like what you see here, then join me on a journey through the forgotten depths of those dusty longboxes of dollar back issues in the rear of your local comic shop and visit my blog LONGBOX JUNK where you’ll discover HUNDREDS of reviews you never asked for!

And now an exclusive “Short But Sweet” Longbox Junk Retro Review for the Cool Comics Crowd!

WRITTEN BY: Marv Wolfman
ART BY: John Buscema & Joe Sinnot
COVER BY: Rich Buckler

I know, I know. . .this ain’t exactly a dollar comic. I found it in my comic-lovin’ daughter’s collection while trying to find some stuff a little on the lighter side of things. She didn’t realize it was “worth” a few bucks (it’s in really nice shape, too), and doesn’t really care. Neither do I. I just think it’s a pretty fun comic that’s worth a Longbox Junk look-see. Let’s do it!

THE COVER:
Pure Bronze Age glory! I mean, just LOOK at it! The colors! The composition! The action! THIS is a beautiful example of a spinner rack eye catcher. It’s the sort of thing that takes me on a ride in that sweet paper time machine back to the days when comics were sold in every grocery store, and I could buy three of them for a buck earned from raking the yard.

THE STORY:
Seventeen-year-old Richard Rider is a bit of a loser with no self-confidence. He’s bullied and taunted on a regular basis and has convinced himself he’ll never amount to anything. BUT THEN. . .A mysterious alien ship comes into Earth orbit and the dying pilot sends out a powerful thought blast that circles the planet, seeking a worthy person to take on his power and avenge his destroyed homeworld.

The beam strikes Richard Rider, sending him into a coma where he has strange mental visions as the dying alien communicates telepathically. He is told that he has been chosen to take on the powers and rank of Centurion Nova-Prime, and that he is to avenge a dead world by defeating the evil Zorr, who has come to Earth and will destroy that world as well if Rider fails in his new mission.

After he recovers from the coma, Richard is convinced that it was all a dream. . .until he begins manifesting strange abilities, such as the power to instantly solve complex math problems. It’s not long before a blast of energy completely transforms the bullied teen into the powerful form of NOVA!

Richard quickly learns that he now has the power to fly, has super-human strength and ability to resist damage, and can pick up radio signals through his helmet. He realizes that he has been given these powers for a purpose, and that he must use them for the greater good by seeking out and defeating Zorr before he destroys Earth.

It isn’t long at all before Richard Rider. . .now Nova. . .has the chance to make good on his vow. Zorr The Conqueror is attacking New York City! Nova attacks the evil alien and a brutal battle begins. Due to his inexperience, Nova almost causes the death of a building full of people, but he manages to save them while also fending off Zorr.

But then, in the middle of their fight, Zorr mysteriously disappears! Nova is confused, but WE, the reader, learn that the dying alien in orbit above Earth used the last of his power to defeat the weakened Zorr before finally perishing himself, leaving the huge empty vessel abandoned and undetected above Earth.

The End.

THE REVIEW:
In the comic, there’s an introduction page by Marv Wolfman where he explains that he wanted to create a new hero not connected with any other hero or team. One that would take him back to the Silver Age days of fun and adventure and inspire him to create stories that would inspire others just as he had been. Due to the fact that Nova is still around in a starring role 44 years later, I’d say that he succeeded!

This story is actually a pretty humble beginning, and truthfully a bit by the numbers. There’s definite shades of Green Lantern to be found here, but Wolfman himself admitted he had to stand on the shoulders of others before he could expect others to stand on his. I don’t see anything wrong with that admission.

So, beyond a familiar feeling to the origin story itself, I found this to be a great read. It’s extremely condensed, with Richard Rider going from nobody to Nova in a matter of pages, but that’s Bronze Age (or Silver Age homage) storytelling. I have practically no knowledge of Nova beyond a very basic sketch based on appearances in other comics (Like Guardians of The Galaxy), so I can say that this was a great introduction to the character for new readers. I think he’s transformed over the years, but THIS introduction was good enough to make me want to read some more comics about THIS Nova.

As far as the art goes, I really shouldn’t have to say more than that it’s by the legendary John Buscema. It’s Bronze Age superhero art at its best. . .but I actually found the scenes between the action to be the best showcase of Buscema’s skills.

CONCLUSION
What we have here is a Bronze Age throwback to Silver Age superhero adventure with a sci-fi twist and great art by one of the legends of the industry. It’s a nicely condensed introduction to a (then) brand new hero that has stood the test of time, presented in an extremely new reader-friendly way.

There’s really nothing more I could ever ask for from a comic book!

Is it the best comic I’ve ever read? No. But it IS a really fun and very readable example of Bronze Age superhero comics that I would certainly recommend for anyone who wants to get into a bit of that Mighty Marvel 70’s nostalgia. . .whether you (like me) are a child of the 70’s or just want to get a little taste of what it was about.

So, until next time, stay safe and remember that comics are worth more than money!

Would you like to write a review of a comic book or graphic novel for all the Internet to see? Our Cool Comics Reader Reviews section is looking for fans just like you to submit reviews of 500 words or less (introductions about yourself don’t go against the word count), along with a cover image of the comic, to edgosney62@gmail.com. Please keep in mind that we reserve the right to decide what will and won’t go in the blog, so keep the language clean, pick out a comic that won’t cause controversy (we try to have fun here!), and start tapping away on your keyboard!

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/

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