Take Your Kid to Work Day Debuts & Ms. Mystic Memories

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 258, 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 258…

Cool Comics News!

This week Cool Comics looks at a new comic book that came to us via Kickstarter, written by our own Dr. Omnibus! So make sure to check out Take Your Kid to Work Day #1 below. If you’ve had a crowdfunded comic book—past, present, or future—feel free to tell us about it in the comments section below and include links if applicable. The Cool Comics crowd loves to show its support to the creators of our favorite hobby!

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Invincible versus Green Lantern! 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. Chakan, the forever man, gazes at us imploringly, telling us to not forget that in the future there will be a Chakan Kickstarter with levels of pledges that will blow our minds! Stay tuned to future episodes of Cool Comics for more news on the upcoming Kickstarter. 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, an optional picture of yourself to go here, 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

#1306 — Take Your Kid to Work Day #1, Illuminatus Comics, Summer 2020.

Many moons before Dr. Omnibus became part of Cool Comics, I didn’t know much about his alter ego, Damian Starr. He was just a guy in some comic groups I belonged to, and he’d joined our Cool Comics Facebook group, also. I believe it was there that I first saw a posting for the Take Your Kid to Work Day Kickstarter. Over the past couple years, I’ve become a fan of the form, and especially like to support them if I have a connection to any of the creators. And for this one, not only was I Facebook friends with the writer (Damian Starr), but also with one of the variant cover artists, Cary Vallery, an extremely talented artist (be sure to check out his Kidferlife Collectibles page). Cary’s cover (pictured here…and if you click on it you can see the signatures and cover numbering on this Amazing Spider-Man #300 homage) was limited to just 30 copies, and I knew I wanted to get it as soon as I saw it. If you’re wondering if the story is any good, I certainly think so. Starr and artist Peter Goffstein give us a poignant, compelling story not only about a kid from a broken home, but also explore science gone wrong in ways that have me chomping at the bit to read Chapter 2! I’m guessing that the good people at Illuminatus Comics still have some copies available if you’re interested in giving this great story a try. The cover price of Take Your Kid to Work Day Chapter 1 is $4 for digital, $7 for a paper copy, and $20 for the variant cover I purchased.

Cool Comics from the Quarter Bin

#1307 — Ms. Mystic #1, Pacific Comics, October 1982.

More than likely if you’re a Neal Adams fan you’re familiar with this comic, and you probably own a copy. When this hit the shops July 1, 1982, I had no idea who he was, and I certainly didn’t know anything about Pacific Comics. As a matter of fact, I used to own a different copy than this one that I rescued from a quarter bin, but my memory can’t dig deep enough to come up with how it ended up in my collection. Yes, I was actively buying and reading comics when it hit the shelves, but during the summer away from Ohio State, a friend of mine (also named Ed, and probably one of the nicest guys I was fortunate enough to meet at OSU) was picking up comics for me at his shop in Toledo, OH, while I spent a couple months going through Officer Candidate School in Quantico, VA, with the U.S. Marine Corps. Because of an unfortunate injury I was discharged (honorably), but ten years later, at age 29, I became a soldier with the U.S. Army. While some athletes have played two sports professionally, and some comic writers have been blessed with so much talent that they’ve worked with several of the biggest comic companies, my claim to fame is having two honorable discharges. OK, back to the comic book! I think I ended up selling it at a giant garage sale several years ago, and when I saw it for just a quarter, I couldn’t resist grabbing another slice of nostalgia to share with all of you. The cover price of Ms. Mystic #1 is $1, while the current values are $5 on CBR and $4 on ZKC.

FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 7)

#1308 — Invincible #1, Image, May 2020.

When Invincible #1 came out, I didn’t buy it (and now it’s worth about $350-$550). I was starting to realize I had too many comics and I needed to get my finances in order. And even if I had bought the first few issues, I probably would have ended up selling them at my infamous comic book garage sale that I mentioned in #1307 above. Since I’ve gotten back to comics, I’ve heard really good things about it, and people recommend that I give it a read. And now, thanks to Free Comic Book Day (FCBD), I finally got my first introduction via this reprint of the first issue. So, did I like it? Yes, and I’ll read more, someday. Robert Kirkman never seems to disappoint me. I collect both Oblivion Song and his new Fire Power series, and I realized before I even picked this up that it would be entertaining. It brought to mind a short story I wrote for an anthology a few years back, but I don’t know how close it really comes since this was just the beginning of a series that ran for 144 issues. And by the way, you may already know this, but if not, Invincible is slated to be an animated series on Prime Video. The cover price of Invincible (FCBD edition 2020) is free, while the current value is $1.

Cool Comics Kids

#1309 — Beetle Bailey #114, Charlton Comics, January 1976.

Though Beetle Bailey seems to poke fun of the Army and Army life, as an Army veteran I take it all in stride, especially since creator Mort Walker served during World War II. When I was a kid and read the Sunday Funnies section of our local paper, the Beetle Bailey strip happened to be mandatory reading for me. But as far as comic books go, Beetle falls way short in number of individual issues published when compared to some of the other characters we’ve featured here in Cool Comics Kids. Which I suppose is reflected in only having found three in quarter bins over the last few years. Another thing about Beetle Bailey is that you could question whether a military comic belongs in this category for kids, but believe me, this is a far cry from the adventures of Sgt. Rock and Sgt. Fury. Basically, these are slices of life of goofy things that take place on an Army Post. I like the memory paths I go down when I read stuff like this, and you just might, also. And Mark (see name at the top of cover picture), wherever you are today, thanks for giving me the opportunity to buy your beat-up old copy of this comic for the same price you paid! The cover price of Beetle Bailey #114 is 25¢, while the current value is $10.

Cool Comics Classics

#1310 — Justice League of America #167, DC, June 1979.

The original Justice League of America series lasted 261 issues, from October 1960 to April 1987. And out of 261 issues, I own just 15. At one point I had 11 more in my collection, but, yes, I sold them at a garage sale. I’m not crying over those comics that are no longer part of my stash, because I’ve never been a big Justice League reader, but the point is that there are many more issues out there, somewhere, that I can still read for the very first time. I found this one in a quarter bin. As a matter of fact, I’ve found a number of issues from this series for just 25 cents, which is, at least for this issue, less than cover price! When I read these, I think back to being a kid in the Seventies and reading the “100-Pages for 60 cents” issues of the Justice League of America, which were the only ones I bought back then. I have memories of sitting at the kitchen table in the evening, eating a bowl of cereal while everyone else is watching TV, and getting lost in the adventures. The writer of this issue is Gerry Conway, while Dick Dillin and Frank McLaughlin are credited with the art. The cover price of Justice League of America #167 is 40¢, while the current value is $30. The Key Collector Comics value is $20.

Cool Moments in Graphic Lit with Dr. Omnibus

Last year I read the Knightfall trilogy in its entirety. For the most part that was a lackluster experience. The biggest exception to that was the first issue of the 1,900-page saga. Batman: Vengeance of Bane is the first issue of the first volume of the three thick trade paperback set. It tells the origin story of Bane; his origin is dark and beautifully told.

Bane’s father, Edmund Dorrance, was a rebel in a Latin country (Cuba, if memory serves me), but he managed to evade the local authorities. In his absence it was decided that his child would have to serve out punishment for his crimes against the state. This resulted in Bane being ripped away from his mother and placed into prison to serve a life sentence for a crime he did not commit. Did I mention that he was a baby at the time?

So, Bane literally grows up inside the walls of a prison, as a prisoner. This is not a white-collar prison where he got to experience anything even remotely like a normal life. This is a maximum-security facility for the worst of the worst. Having none of the distractions that a normal youth would have, he was able to dedicate his existence to learning how to survive in a harsh environment and bettering himself mentally and physically.

Through the years, Bane also found himself tormented at night, in his dreams, by a bat.

As Bane grew into a man, he found himself to be king of the castle in the prison in which he had spent his entire life thus far. That is, until the government decided to rid themselves of the problem that Bane had become. He was “selected” to participate in the medical testing of a drug called Venom. Being part of this test was akin to being executed, as no one had survived the tests before. Being made of sterner stuff than most, Bane did in fact survive, and the Venom granted him an even greater enhancement to his already above average strength.

Using his superior intellect and enhanced strength, Bane was able to escape the prison and set his eyes on Gotham, where he would go on to challenge the personification of his dreamtime tormentor, Batman.

Watching the life of a young boy growing up in prison was simply amazing. This origin story left me with a newfound respect for Bane, who I had previously thought just to be a strong guy, but he is an extremely layered and deep character. Unfortunately, the rest of the Knightfall trilogy was for the most part horrible, although it did have Tim Drake, the best main continuity Robin. It also featured a smorgasbord of appearances from other members of Batman’s rogues gallery. Overall, I would say you can skip the breaking of the bat storyline, but Batman: Vengeance of Bane is a must-read issue.

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 your review, along with a cover image of the comic. Additionally, you may provide a picture of yourself and any other biographical information you want published in Cool Comics. Send all this 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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