Celebrating Five Years of Cool Comics In My Collection!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 260, 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), along with the 50^th Edition of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide (OPG) using their 9.2 NM scale. 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 260…

Cool Comics News!

Can you believe that Cool Comics is now, with this very episode (yes, I’m trying to create some dramatic tension here, because this is about comic books, after all!), five years old? We’ve gone through changes and grown for the better, but our goal to entertain you and to sometimes take you back to those nostalgic feelings of yesteryear, whether you’re ten years old or hitting the century mark, remains the same. We appreciate those who have submitted art, reviews, and comics over the years; we love your comments on the blog; and most of all that you make the decision each week to spend a little time reading Cool Comics In My Collection.

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Ultraman versus Power 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 illustrator Dan Gorman, a member of the National Cartoonists Society and one of the top sketch card artists on the planet. This card, featuring Luke Skywalker, is one of the 50 plus sketch cards Dan created for the Topps Star Wars Masterworks 2019 Set. For more about Dan and his art, please visit www.dangormanart.com. It’s fitting that Dan is our Creator for this Special Anniversary edition of Cool Comics, as he is the artist of the Cool Comics logo!

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

#1316 — Superman #25, DC, November 2020.

Is it mere coincidence that Superman is celebrating 25 issues of its current volume (constant comic book readers know just how much companies love to overemphasize their titles each time you can divide them by 25) while we celebrate five years of Cool Comics? Perhaps not. You see, Brian Michael Bendis, the writer of Superman, hails from Cleveland, Ohio, and the national headquarters of Cool Comics is just a short trip south from there to Copley, Ohio. Surely Bendis is more than aware of our humble existence, right? How sly of him to arrange his publishing schedule to coincide with the Cool Comics family of writers and artists! All kidding aside, it’s fun to hit this milestone hand-in-hand with the grandaddy of all superheroes. If you aren’t a regular reader of the Man of Steel, you may be surprised at some of the changes he’s had in his life since Bendis took over the writing chores. And now, in this “Extra-Sized Anniversary Issue!” he faces a new threat, SYNMAR. Want to know more? Check with your local comic shop to see if they still have the issue in stock. The cover price of Superman #25 is $5.99, while the current value is $6. The Key Collector Comics value is $4.

#1317 — The Rise of Ultraman #1, Marvel, November 2020.

What? No Cool Comics From the Quarter Bin this week? I can’t make the excuse that I’ve run out of quarter issues, because I have enough to see the blog through the next couple decades. Instead, I want to mention another Contemporary Cool Comic and still keep this list limited to five issues, because it’s easier to manage, and the numbers look good this way…sort of like what I mentioned above about companies and their anniversary issues. Anyway, my wife has great memories of watching Ultraman on TV from her childhood, but I can’t recall ever seeing a single episode, so I thought it would be neat to get something she’s familiar with and connect myself to it via my favorite entertainment field, comics! Not having a background with the show didn’t keep me from enjoying the start of this mini-series, and I’m hoping my wife will give it a read it, too, bringing back some fun memories for her. There are a few goofy “extras” inside, but the main story is intriguing and I’m looking forward to issue 2! The cover price of The Rise of Ultraman #1 is $5.99, while the current value is $6. The Key Collector Comics value is $6.

FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 9)

#1318 — Jack Kirby: The Epic Life of the King of Comics, Ten Speed Press, September 2020.

Whether or not you appreciate his art, creativity, and storytelling, there’s no getting around the fact that Jack Kirby deserves the moniker, “King of Comics.” He’s the architect and/or co-creator behind some of the most iconic characters in the four-color world of funnybooks, along with being the inspiration behind the publishing company TwoMorrows. And now Tom Scioli presents us with this Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) preview of his graphic novel that reveals the Jack Kirby story, panel by panel, which is a fitting tribute. This is very well done, and if you’re not sure if you really want this freebie as it sits on the rack amongst all the colorful offerings, I suggest you give it a try. In my younger days, I was fairly oblivious to who was writing and drawing the comic books I loved so well, but now as I consider myself a student of comic book history, I understand how important it is to learn about the men and women who have brought so much joy to our lives. Yes, Kirby’s story is a worthy edition for our Fifth Anniversary episode! Get this one while it’s still available, and perhaps, if you like it, buy the entire story in graphic novel format. The cover price of Jack Kirby: The Epic Life of the King of Comics is free, while the current value is $1. The Key Collector Comics value is $0.

Cool Comics Kids

#1319 — Uncle Scrooge #131, Gold Key, August 1976.

No friends, it’s not “fowl” weather just because ducks were featured on the cover of last episode’s Cool Comics Kids section also…we just like ducks! While so many other bird comic characters can be somewhat annoying (Tweety, Woody Woodpecker, and the Road Runner, just to mention a few), I’ve become a big fan of the Disney ducks, along with good old Daffy of the Looney Tunes gang. And while I enjoy them, someone(s) been getting rid of their collection, because I’ve found so many of them over the last couple years in quarter boxes! So, factoring in that I have many Duck issues and I enjoy reading these comics, I felt justified in selecting this issue of Uncle Scrooge for our 5^th Anniversary episode. And the fact that this issue hearkens from the Seventies—my favorite comic book era—is icing on the cake! The reality is, in 1976, I wouldn’t have given this Gold Key comic a second glance. Or any Gold Key comic, as far as that goes. But times and attitudes change, and now I enjoy selecting and reading these treasures aimed at a younger audience. If you’re building a library of comics for young readers, you can’t go wrong with Disney Ducks! The cover price of Uncle Scrooge #131 is 25¢, while the current value is $45. The OPG value is $45.

Cool Comics Classics

#1320 — Defenders Annual #1, Marvel, November 1976.

I confess that I didn’t purchase this when it came out in 1976. At that time in my comic book collecting life, I was busy buying The Amazing Spider-Man, Marvel Team-Up, Captain America, Omega the Unknown, a few Fantastic Fours, and sometimes a few Archie comics. And probably a smattering of other titles here and there. But not The Defenders. For some reason, I wasn’t interested at the time. But now…yes, now, the nostalgic pull of things I missed out on during the Seventies is strong, and I picked this one up in a shop for just half the price of the $10 sticker that’s on the bag it’s stored in. Hence, I ended up paying ten times the original price. However, many of today’s new comics are priced at $4.99, so this wasn’t a bad deal at all. Plus, the cover makes it worth every penny! The creative crew for this exciting annual combined the wondrous writing of Steve Gerber and the amazing artistry of Sal Buscema and Klaus Janson. Though I’m 44 years late in reading this awesome annual, victory has finally been achieved! The cover price of Defenders Annual #1 is 50¢, while the current values are $40 on CBR and $20 on ZKC. The OPG value is $40.

Cool Moments in Graphic Lit with Dr. Omnibus

Grief – Prayer (spoiler heavy and may not be suitable for some children) 

Grief is a pretty special comic in my opinion. It is an anthology written by Frank Gogol (Dead End Kids, No Heroine). It tells several short stories, several of which are completely heart-wrenching. Here is a bit about one of those short stories.

As mentioned a few weeks back, I am a recovering alcoholic. I don’t mean to repeat myself and bring that up at every chance I get, but I feel its relevant in many scenarios. It plays a big part in how I perceive certain stories and is a very formative detail of my life. Other important details that impact my perception of this story: I love and collect Christmas comics and I am a parent.

In this particular story we see a young woman named Diane and her son walk into a 12 step meeting. When she speaks at the meeting, we learn that Diane was unable to provide a decent birthday for her son, due to being unemployed as a result of her criminal record, which was obtained during her days of active addiction. Not only that, but Christmas is tomorrow, and she will be unable to provide in those respects as well.

As an alcoholic I know a thing or two about how my addiction hurt those I love; as a parent I know the fear and pain that come with falling short of your own expectations of being a parent. One thing I love about this scene is that when she shares, she takes accountability for her involvement in these shortcomings. She isn’t asking for handouts or pity; she is just talking about her real-life struggles in recovery. She never mentions that these struggles have her on the verge of relapse or anything like that. But her thoughts are still relevant, because in 12 step programs, people are expected to apply the principles of the program in all of their affairs, which means sometimes something may seem “off-topic” by not relating directly to addiction, but it is in fact “on-topic” because addiction is simply a symptom of a greater problem, according to these 12 step programs, anyway.

In the end, the members (or a member) of the 12 step group dropped off some gifts for the boy, and Diane was able to provide a Christmas like what her son was expecting.

My perception of a Higher-Power, which I choose to call God, speaks to me through other people. God also does for me what I cannot do for myself. Both of these themes are expressed in this story. The generous members of the group heard the opportunity when Diane spoke, to help someone, God showed them how they could exercise His will, and they carried it out, thus doing for Diane what she could not do for herself. While I certainly wouldn’t share something like what Diane shared with the expectation of people coming to my aid in that regard, it certainly wouldn’t surprise me if the members of a certain 12 step program did come to my aid if my situation were similar.

There are many other great stories in this anthology, some relating to addiction, some tackle other issues, and most are very moving stories. Don’t be surprised if I feature a different story from this book in the future. I need to go hug my kids now.

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!

Hello, Steve Adams here again. It’s been a little while since my last review, but I think this book is worth it. After finishing the original Darth Vader run from Marvel, I went back to my superhero roots with the latest Fantastic Four title. However, this book crept into my memory, and I got the collected version from the library to read again.

Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars, a mouthful of a title, began publishing in 1984, and ran for 12 issues. It was a true landmark in that it was the first true crossover encompassing the entire Marvel universe, and 12 issues was a long run for a miniseries. It starred the Fantastic Four, minus a pregnant Invisible Girl, The Avengers, The X-Men, Hulk, Spider-Man, and Magneto against some of Marvel’s toughest and most dangerous villains, led by Doctor Doom. Essentially, they were all transported across space by the omnipotent Beyonder, and set against each other in all-out war to the death. The legendary Jim Shooter wrote it and did a masterful job. The series was really just a mass marketing ploy to sell action figures. Honestly, Shooter could have just mailed it in and written a pedestrian story that quickly became a footnote. Instead, he changed the Marvel Universe forever. How? Let me count the ways. First, the black costume for Spider-Man would eventually become Venom, who is still one their most popular characters 36 years later. Magneto began his journey towards heroism here, amid much mistrust from the other heroes. The Thing left the FF, and actually stayed on Battleworld in his solo book for almost three years, which put She-Hulk into a very prominent role as his replacement. Spider-Woman, introduced in #7, would join the West Coast Avengers, which started shortly after the War concluded, and the heroes returned. Other nice touches included Wolverine, of all people, giving a very thoughtful and impassioned speech on mutant rights against those of “normal” humans. There were a number of great character moments for every hero involved, and even a few of the villains. There is some comedy involved as well, most notably the way in which Ben Grimm (not the Thing) and Hawkeye managed to subdue The Lizard and Klaw. Galactus was given the spotlight early, and his nature and role in Marvel was examined very closely. In a war, deaths are expected, and that happens here, although none of the deaths were permanent. Captain America alone died three times in the final issue!

As Marvel’s first major crossover, there were some negatives that would be smoothed out in future stories. First, as the series ran for 12 months, the rest of the Marvel Universe ran as scheduled. As a result, the black costume made its first appearance in Amazing Spider Man #252, just a couple weeks after issue 1 hit the shelves. Readers had to wait seven more months, however, to see it in Secret Wars. With all the heroes returning to their titles before issue 2 released, none of the deaths in MSHSW could be presented with any real sense of peril or finality. While the lingo is very dated, the story itself does hold up very well. However, the Human Torch comes off very badly, seeming to be an irredeemable chauvinist. If you have not read this before, I strongly suggest you do so. It really is an incredible story, even if it is a bit heavy on repeated exposition. For their first mega-event, Marvel hit an absolute home run.

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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