Four Star Spectacular, The Defenders, & Bang!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 242, 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 242…

Cool Comics News!

Comic book fans, with stores starting to open once more in many locations and new comics now shipping, it’s time to support your local comic shop once again! Also, there’s a special campaign, with multiple phases, that is focusing on helping comic shops recover after the financial hardships they faced due to COVID-19. Read the details at this link and see how you can participate in these worthy efforts!

If you’ve been enjoying our recent Cool Comics additions, which include art and reviews from pros and fans alike, please consider submitting a sketch or review for an upcoming episode. It’s a fun way to show off your talents to your family and friends and to let them know just how cool comics really are! For details, see the italicized sections of Cool Comics Creations and Cool Comics Reader Reviews below.

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Namor versus Wonder Woman! 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 features the Justice League of America! 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

#1231 — Bang! #1 (Ashcan), Dark Horse Comics, December 2019.

By far, most of comics books that I read and collect are published by Marvel and DC, and currently I’m not reading anything published by Dark Horse Comics. It’s not that I have anything against the company, but aside from their first Stranger Things mini-series, nothing they’ve put out has grabbed my attention. But a few months ago, the owner of my local comic shop happened to slip me this ashcan of Bang! (which I put off reading for a while), and I’ve gotta say that this was a really intriguing, fun read. And an extremely short read, too. Currently, comiXology has issue #1 free, so you may want to give this full digital edition a try (I’m looking forward to it since the Ashcan has just seven pages of story…but it was enough to get me wanting to know more!). I read more capes and tights comics than anything else, but this action/adventure/crime comic by Matt Kindt and Wilfredo Torres has really caught my interest. The cover price of Bang! Ashcan edition #1 is free, while the current value is $5. The Key Collector Comics value is $25.

Cool Comics from the Quarter Bin

#1232 — The Defenders #52, Marvel, October 1977.

Misunderstandings are a way of life in the four-color world of superhero comics, and perhaps no one is more misunderstood-and misunderstands others more often-than old Jade Jaws himself, the Incredible Hulk! And when we mix the oft-confused Hulk with the Avenging Son, Namor the Sub-Mariner, it’s usually not long before they come to blows. These two hotheads have stood side-by-side in battle over and over, serving as Defenders, but they’ve also given us great fights against each other over the years, and this issue, plucked straight from a quarter bin, is no exception as they pummel one another with mighty blows that will have you shaking your fist and shouting “Imperious Rex!” This gem from the Seventies was brought to us by writer David Kraft and artists Keith Giffen and Chic Stone. The cover price of The Defenders #52 is 30¢, while the current values are $5 on CBR and $6 on ZKC.

FCBD the Cool Comics Way

#1233 — We Can Never Go Home / Young Terrorists, Black Mask Studios, May 2016.

If you don’t mind your comics being packed with violence and bloodshed (not to mention language that isn’t meant for younger readers), this might be something you’re interested in. While this Mature Rated Free Comic Book Day issue isn’t really my cup of tea, I understand that these kinds of stories do have an audience, and during FCBD in 2016, Black Mask Studios gave fans an opportunity to sample what they were offering. And there were certainly some intense, intriguing moments in these stories that will keep readers turning pages. “We Can Never Go Home” is written by Matthew Rosenberg & Patrick Kindlon and illustrated by Josh Hood, while “Young Terrorists” is written by Matt Pizzolo and illustrated by Amancay Nahuelpan. The cover price of We Can Never Go Home / Young Terrorists is free, while the current value is $1.

Cool Comics Kids

#1234 — Mickey Mouse #57, Dell, December 1957.

After reading several of these older Mickey Mouse comics over the last couple years, I wanted to be sure to mention how impressed I am with the variety of adventure stories the writers and artists have given us. More often than not it seems that Mickey isn’t looking for an escapade, but ends up on one because Goofy decides to sell his house (seems to be a recurring theme!) to buy something outrageous with the money, and being the good pal that he is, Mickey goes along with him to keep a watchful eye on his friend. This time around, Goofy buys a steamboat in Alaska, and of course Mickey tags along. “River Race to Blubber Bay” is a fun story that I think older kids will enjoy. This issue also gives us a one-page Chip & Dale prose short story; The Li’l Bad Wolf in “The Big Boo Boo”; and the issue closes with Mickey Mouse in “Run-Around Rock-Hounds,” which I’d previously read as a reprint in a Gold Key issue. You can’t go wrong with Disney comics, regardless of date or publisher, when it comes to building a Cool Comics Kids library! And all this issue cost me was a quarter…that’s right, quarter bin diving always pays off. The cover price of Mickey Mouse #57 is 10¢, while the current value is $75.

Cool Comics Classics

#1235 — Four Star Spectacular #5, DC, December 1976.

This reprint anthology DC published in 1976 was, unfortunately, short-lived. Out of the six issues, I’ve found #4 and #5 in discount boxes, but before I’d found them a couple years ago, I wasn’t even aware this series existed. DC has a long, rich heritage, and while I try to learn as much as I can about this hobby, the one thing I’ve learned for certain is that there is so much out there that I’ll never be able to read it all. But I never give up the fight! This issue contains “The Man Who Hunted Superboy” from Adventure Comics #303 (1962), “The Unlucky Horseshoe” from Adventure Comics #194 (1952, featuring Vigilante Greg Sanders of Earth-2), “The Rainbow Archer” from Adventure Comics #246 (1958, featuring Green Arrow and Speedy), and “Demon of the Depths” from Wonder Woman #7 (1953). Back when this was published, there weren’t as many ways to get your hands on older comics, so these were fun additions for those who appreciated the history of the characters. The cover price of Four Star Spectacular #5 is 50¢, while the current values are $12 on CBR and $10 on ZKC.

Cool Collected Editions with Dr. Omnibus

X-Factor Epic Collection Vol. 1 (Marvel)

Dr. Omnibus score: 7.5 out of 10

Continuing with My Marvel mutant chronological read-through…I am now to the dawn of X-Factor. The first half of this collection runs concurrently with the second half of the Uncanny X-Men issues in X-Men Ghosts, which I reviewed in episode 236. As a kid in the 90’s, X-Factor was my favorite Marvel mutant title. So, when I got back into collecting about six years ago, one of the first runs I went after was X-Factor. Granted, the issues I loved featured a team led by Havok, but I am a completionist, so I started at the beginning. I did read all these issues a few years ago, but I am not letting that stop me from doing so again during this massive read-through I am working on.

The Book Itself

Epic Collections are pretty awesome. They are a line of thick trade paperbacks that reprint all of the Volume 1 runs of many Marvel titles. Most are 400-500 pages, and each series collects or will collect the entire first volume. The spines are very well matched up within each series and will look fantastic on your shelf. This one collects Avengers (1963) #263; Fantastic Four (1961) #286; X-Factor (1986) #1-9, Annual #1; Iron Man Annual #8; Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #282; and material from Classic X-Men #8 & 43.

The Story
By Bob Layton and Louise Simonson 

Unfortunately, I can’t talk about this series without giving away one big spoiler……Jean Grey is back. The Fantastic Four and Avengers tell the story of how she came back. What a mess that is, but oh well, it’s comics, these things happen. Bob Layton wrote the first five issues of X-Factor, and they sure feel like Bob Layton wrote them. They are very reminiscent of his run on Iron Man. Overall the whole story was just a bit sloppy. The exception being X-Factor Annual 1, as that issue was great. Then, in issue 6, Louise Simonson takes over the book and she starts to course correct.  She takes on the task of fixing a couple pretty remarkably glaring plot holes, and she does it pretty well. Both writers did a great job of painting a picture of how much the general populace fear mutants, which is the main theme of the story, and I look forward to reading further into the series to see if that is maintained until the new team takes over in issue 71.

The Art
By Jackson Guice

Jackson did issues 1-7 and I found the art to be underwhelming. It was fine, but I just wasn’t into it. The art in all the tie-in issues and issues 8-9 were better, still nothing too amazing though. I always feel like I am a harsh critic of any comic art done before the mid 90’s, and I don’t mean to, it’s just not my thing.

The Gist

Many times while reading this I thought to myself, “This reminds me of a soap opera,” which sounds horrible, but it is actually something I lump into the pros column for this book. What makes soap operas so appealing to those who enjoy them? That’s right, excessive drama!  Drama brings up those feelings I love to have when I read. Bob Layton gave me no shortage of reasons to think Cyclops is the worst person on the planet. He really wrote Cyclops as a hateable character in this. Honestly, unless you are a huge Apocalypse fan, or care about the lead-up to Mutant Massacre, most people can probably skip this, but for me it is a must read.

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!

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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