Is the Karate Kid…the Best Around?

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 244, 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 244…

Cool Comics News!

Comic shops are back in business and the new Previews is out! What are you waiting for? Get thee to a comic shop (but make sure to follow the guidelines put out by your state and store, such as masks, gloves, distancing, and capacity). Also, for you music lovers out there, I’ve got a couple phrases from songs in the blog this week. Even though they’re short, there’s a good chance you’ll recognize them, and if you do, tell me what you think they are in the comment section at the bottom!

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Cthulhu Jr. versus Donald Duck! 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!

During the Memorial Day weekend, my kids were sitting around the dinner table talking horror movies, and I mentioned how scary it was when my younger sister and I watched the 1972 made-for-TV movie Gargoyles. It’s probably considered hokey by today’s standards, but I’d just turned ten years old, and my sister was a couple years younger, and let me tell you, it was creepy! With that in mind, the cartoon version of Gargoyles, so well-captured here by Ed Griffie, is the perfect piece of art for Cool Comics this week. Ed is a lifelong comic book fan who started drawing Kawaii and Chibi style versions of pop culture icons and superheroes about five years ago. Through Facebook his work came to the attention of Daniel Hare, the owner of vintage toy and comic bookstore The Toys Time Forgot, who offered him a guest spot at Free Comic Book Day. Since then, Ed has been a regular at local conventions and comic bookstores, where he offers bookmarks, coloring pages, trading cards, and color prints featuring his unique artwork. You can check out his full catalog of work at toonist27.deviantart.com or contact him at edgriffiejr@gmail.com to commission an original piece of your very own.

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

#1241 — Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #1, Marvel, June 2020.

While I’m light years from being the biggest Star Wars fan, I do recognize just how much fun and joy it’s brought to so many lives, and I was there when it originally launched! And you know what else has launched? You guessed it, new comic books! Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #1 is better late then never, and it was a pleasure to go out and purchase this one yesterday. I have yet to read the Doctor Aphra series that preceded this but having read a couple volumes of the earlier Darth Vader series, I have familiarity with her and enjoyed this start to her new adventures. Through novels, comic books, and video games, Star Wars has built a big galaxy in which to immerse yourself, should you choose to. I recommend giving them a try. The cover price of Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #1 is $3.99, while the current value is $4. The Key Collector Comics value is $4.

Cool Comics from the Quarter Bin

#1242 — Karate Kid #5, DC, December 1976.

If you’re like me, hearing the name “Karate Kid” immediately brings actor Ralph Macchio, as Daniel LaRusso, to mind, rather than DC character Val Armorr. Not that Val would play second fiddle to Daniel-san, because he’d mop the floor (and probably paint the fence, too!) with the poor youngster from New Jersey. So why isn’t there as much name recognition for Val, who’s existed since 1966, springing from the mind of Jim Shooter? Hollywood, that’s why. While comic books are cool (we’ve always known that, right?), movies get all the glory and all the money. If the crowds who flock to the newest superhero hit would also buy some comic books, it would be a great boon to the industry. Anyway, as I admitted upfront, Karate Kid makes most of us think of the movies (not that there’s anything wrong with that), so it’s our job to let those who don’t know who Val Armorr is know just who he is and why he’s worth learning about (click on his name and find out for yourself!). Remember, kids, fishing around in quarter bins can lead to great discussion topics! The cover price of Karate Kid #5 is 30¢, while the current values are $10 on CBR and $8 on ZKC.

Halloween ComicFest Cool Comics

#1243 — The Adventures of Cthulhu Jr. and Dastardly Dirk, Source Point Press, October 2019.

Cthulhu Jr. and Dastardly Dirk is a winner for all ages! This is a fun story with some great familiar monster tropes, excellent writing, and art that will leave you wanting more. At first glance, you see this cover and think, “Nah, this isn’t for me,” but you might be wrong. And that’s part of the genius of these free comic book promotions. The reason I picked this one up last October for Halloween ComicFest is because I’ve met the writer, (Dastardly) Dirk Manning, on a couple of occasions at conventions and enjoyed his book Write or Wrong: A Writer’s Guide to Creating Comics, along with some of his Nightmare World comics. The price was right (free!), and the story delivers. The best news of all is that on the back of the comic it tells us that the full story is coming sometime this year! The cover price of The Adventures of Cthulhu Jr. and Dastardly Dirk is free, while the current value is $1.

Cool Comics Kids

#1244 — Donald Duck Adventures #22, Disney Comics, March 1993.

If you’ve been reading Cool Comics for a while, then you know that I’ve come to appreciate…no, that’s not a strong enough word…LOVE the Disney ducks! I can’t tell you why specifically, I just do. Yet for decades of my life, I didn’t really care. I’ve seen them on plenty of cartoons, but it took comic books to really make me care. On the cover we see that Donald is being proclaimed as a master landscapist, and it turns out-shockingly enough-he is! Yet no matter how good he may be, disaster always seems to strike. Then in the next story, oddly enough, we see his nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie trying to accomplish some yardwork at Donald’s house with broken down old tools. What happened to The Master Landscapist? These Disney duck stories are lots of fun, and if you’re putting together a library of comics for little ones, this is a great issue to look for (I found it in a quarter bin, so it can be found for cheap). The cover price of Donald Duck Adventures #22 is $1.50, while the current value is $4.

Cool Comics Classics

#1245 — Police Action #1, Atlas / Seaboard, February 1975.

When Martin Goodman left Marvel Comics in the early Seventies, he wasn’t too happy when his son didn’t get the position the new owners promised. Hence, he started up another comic book company. But to compete with Marvel, he knew he’d need to bring in talent and to pay higher rates. Unfortunately for him, the venture didn’t turn out well, and the Atlas / Seaboard line was just a blip on the radar screens of collectors (if you want to know more, click the link at Altas / Seaboard and sit back for an interesting comic book history lesson, courtesy of TwoMorrows). As a matter of fact, Police Action is tied with several other titles for putting out the second most amount of issues, which, unfortunately was just three (another handful produced 4 issues each). If you missed out on these comics in the Seventies, and you feel that pull of nostalgia, you might just find yourself digging through back issue boxes at your local comic shop, like I do. The stories in this issue, while not ground-breaking entries into the Comic Book Hall of Fame, are, none-the-less, fun and entertaining. The first story features Sam Lomax, N.Y.P.D., written by Jack Younger, with pencils by Mike Sekowsky. And even though the comic title is Police Action, the second story features a private investigator, Luke Malone, Manhunter, by artist-writer Mike Ploog. The cover price of Police Action #1 is 25¢, while the current value is $18. The Key Collector Comics value is $5.

Cool Collected Editions with Dr. Omnibus

Saga of the Swamp Thing by Alan More Vol 2 (DC)

Dr. Omnibus score: 8.5 out of 10

So far, Alan Moore has proven to be one of, if not my favorite, comic writers. That opinion is based mainly on the awesomeness that is V for Vendetta and Watchmen, but recently I started his Swamp Thing run, so let’s see how this ongoing title stacks up against his epic maxi-series works.

The Book Itself

Still just a bare bones trade paperback on newsprint. There was a very small art gallery in this volume, though, which shared some covers and poster art.

The Story
By Alan Moore

I am feeling a bit less lost this time, and I feel very comfortable with the characters now. Interactions between Abby and Swamp Thing feel very real and believable. This volume seems considerably more like a horror book; I enjoy that because it further breaks my superhero comic expectation that I had going into this. There was one issue that really broke theme and went pretty silly. Anthropomorphic characters from space come to earth seeking a suitable planet to sustain them. Just a bit too cutesy for me in a horror title.

The Art
By Stephen Bissette and John Totlebean

The art is still magnificent, although the colors seem a bit brighter in this one. Still, this is a gorgeous book to look at.

The Gist

The quality was so consistent with that of the first volume, so I think I’m going to just write the rest of the series as one review, instead of doing each TPB as its own. I am super excited to move on to the next chapters; this has been a real page-turner. The final issue in this TPB is possibly one of the most powerful comic stories I have read. It is the perfect marriage of beautiful images and well-chosen words telling a powerful story.

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!

Jungle Action #23 (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 longboxes of dollar back issues in 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!

A LIFE ON THE LINE (Reprinted from Daredevil #69, 1970)

SCRIPT: Roy Thomas
PENCILS: Gene Colan 
COVER: John Byrne

THE COVER:
Legendary artist John Byrne knocks it out of the park with a stunning character portrait of Black Panther framed perfectly with contrasting deep black and bright, rich yellow. THIS is the kind of cover that makes me buy a comic book without even opening it up!

THE STORY:
Daredevil and Black Panther cross paths after Daredevil foils a warehouse robbery where a young boy named Lonnie is injured. At the hospital, Black Panther reveals that he is the boy’s high school teacher (in his secret identity as Luke Charles) and that he has been tracking the same street gang after Lonnie’s big brother joined up with them and Lonnie quit school to follow.

After learning that they are on the same trail, Daredevil tells Black Panther he can lead him to the gang’s next robbery. The two heroes agree to team up to take them down once and for all. Later, during a brutal battle in another warehouse, Black Panther is surprised to find Lonnie’s big brother joining the heroes in fighting the gang. When it’s all over, Daredevil reveals that Lonnie’s brother was working as an informant for the D.A.’s office and is not a gang member at all.

Back at the hospital, Lonnie and his brother are happily reunited. Daredevil and Black Panther agree that there’s more to this gang than meets the eye, and they need to work together to get to the bottom of things.

The End.

THE REVIEW:
Overall, it’s a pretty simple story. Heroes team up to take down a street gang and reunite two brothers is what it boils down to. I was pleasantly surprised to find myself liking the Daredevil/ Black Panther team a lot. They work very well together, and I was getting some serious Green Lantern/Green Arrow (from the same era) vibes from this comic in the gritty, street-level story focus and in the banter between the two heroes.

Although well-written, you can DEFINITELY tell that this story is firmly fixed in the 70’s from the outdated slang and somewhat forced and preachy “Street Issues” of racism and poverty that were a fixture of the more “grounded” comics of the time (like Green Arrow/Green Lantern). As a Bronze Age child myself, I found it 70’s-Tastic. Others might find it a bit too “in your face.”

Like the story, the art is dark and gritty…bringing us right down into the dirty streets and into a low-level adventure that the Avengers probably wouldn’t have the time for. Gene Colan is one of my favorite Bronze Age artists, and every panel on every page of this comic is a fantastic example of his work. This is one GREAT looking comic!

From the awesome John Byrne cover, to Roy Thomas’ gritty street-level story, to Gene Colan’s dark and fluid artwork, this issue is a fine example of Bronze Age superhero comics at their best! There are those who might find some of the story beats to be a bit forced and preachy, but other than that fair warning, I highly recommend this comic for anyone looking for a fun 70’s-Tastic team-up in the mighty Marvel style!

Until next time, 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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