Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 268, 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 50th 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 268…
Cool Comics News!
Chakan the Forever Man in The Toad King & the Insect Prince is the first published Chakan graphic novella in which I’m listed as editor, and when I learned that author and creator Robert A. Kraus (RAK – and yes, that’s him holding up the copy YOU can win) was going to be appearing at Pandemicon 2020 with newly printed copies in hand, even a pandemic couldn’t hold me back! The combination of story and art (by Aaron Archer) make this an epic in the annals of Chakan, and I highly recommend it, even for those of you who are 
unfamiliar with the character. And RAK would love for you to learn about Chakan so much that he gave me an extra copy of this new story with the express purpose of awarding it to a Cool Comics reader! That’s right, you can WIN a free copy, signed by RAK (and the editor will sign it also, if you want him to!) and mailed directly to your home. All you have to do (there’s always a catch, isn’t there?) is join the Cool Comics newsletter. Simple, right? We’re giving everyone a few weeks to get signed up, but don’t wait too long, because once December rolls around the deadline to sign up closes. After that, keep an eye on your email so that you can enter the contest and WIN!
Cool Comics Battle of the Week!
Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Sinestro versus Asterix! 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 week our Cool Comics Creation comes to you from Sydney Walton! It’s no joke when the Joker’s in town, and Sydney does a great job of capturing the craziness of this dreaded Batman villain. The art is all hand-painted with acrylic paints. Syd said he’s been painting covers for a few years now and likes to think that he was one of the first to do so. Syd is always taking commissions, so don’t hesitate to contact him for a cool cover or other fantastic creations. You can find him on Facebook at Syd’s Altruistic Art, or contact him via email at swaltoniii@aol.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
#1356 — Crossover #1, Image, November 2020.
I decided to give Crossover a try because I’m enjoying the storytelling of Donny Cates so much in both Thor and Venom…plus the concept sounded fascinating. It’s basically our world with the sudden appearance of…comic book characters. Imagine how you’d feel if you looked out your window one day and Darkseid and Thanos were out taking a stroll together! In Crossover, every fictional comic book character imaginable shows up, and chaos reigns. It seems like this is going to be a fun series, and it has potential to be talked about years from now. I’m not saying it’s the next Watchmen, but I think readers are going to ponder over the implications for a while. With all that said, there were a few things I wasn’t all that keen on, including some stereotypes that have grown old, in my opinion. But grab a copy before they’re all gone and judge for yourself. The cover price of Crossover #1 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.
Cool Comics from the Quarter Bin
#1357 — Secret Society of Super-Villains #5, DC, February 1977.
As longtime readers know, I didn’t collect much in the way of DC during the Seventies, so it’s always fun to find cool issues in quarter bins. And besides seeing Sinestro up to no good on the cover, when we flip it over to page 1, who do we lay eyes on? None other than Darkseid (that’s our second reference to the ruler of Apocalypse this episode…I think the guy owes me a favor or two at this point)! What more can you ask for in a comic book that focuses on super-villains? While I realize that not everyone has a comic shop within easy driving distance of their house, let alone one that typically has thousands of old comics for just a quarter each, it is possible to find great reads for less than today’s typical cover prices. Sometimes it just takes a little extra work, such as hitting local garage and estate sales, consignment shops, and online deals. But for me, my local comic shop has been providing great entertainment at shockingly low prices for years, and I believe that’s always the best place to start. The cover price of Secret Society of Super-Villains #5 is 30¢, while the current values are $14 on CBR and $10 on ZKC. The OPG value is $14.
FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 17)
#1358 — Asterix, Papercutz, May 2020.
Are you a fan of Asterix, or are you like me and this Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) issue introduced you to these characters as if it were their first appearance? When you flip the comic open, you’ll find (on the inside cover) a short informational article about the comic, the characters, and the creators. It turns out that this series has been around for a long time, created by a couple guys from France, and Papercutz is helping to bring these older stories to a wider audience. By the way, the editor-in-chief of Papercutz is Jim Salicrup, a name familiar to many of you readers out there. And what is Asterix, exactly? He’s an enhanced guy (thanks to a magic potion from a druid…who apparently gave this potion to many people) from a Gaulish village, who, along with his buddy Obelix, is the mightiest warrior. It takes place in 50 BC, and our heroes must continually drive back the Romans. It’s kind of goofy and fun, so if you like humor books, this might be just what you’ve been searching for. The cover price of Asterix is free, while the current values are $0 on CBR and $1 on ZKC.
Cool Comics Kids
#1359 — Donald Duck #10, IDW, February 2016.
Last week our Cool Comics Kids entry (Toyetica) came from Ollie’s Bargain Outlet as part of a 10-pack of comics, and adoring fans across the globe clamored and raved so much about it that we decided to reach inside that polybag once more and came out with this devilishly delightful issue of Donald Duck! Okay, there’s no doubt I told a few tall “tails” in the preceding sentence, but it came across as rather exciting, didn’t it? Anyway, this IDW published comic contains the first USA publications of a couple fun stories in the Duckverse of Donald, the first having been published in Denmark in 2013, while the latter story sprang from Dutch Donald Duck published in 2008. These IDW editions are so much nicer than the old comics from my childhood, with slick, sturdy pages, vibrant colors, and easy to read lettering. But the drawback is the price. Another thing I appreciate is IDW giving us the legacy issue number on the cover (377). And while this segment is about comics for kids, and most kids reading Donald Duck won’t care, we older collectors always enjoy a bit of history and continuity. The cover price of Donald Duck #10 is $3.99, while the current value is $4. The OPG value is also $4.
Cool Comics Classics
#1360 — Elfquest #1, Epic Comics/Marvel, August 1985.
I’ve probably had this comic in my magical filing cabinet of unread adventures for close to two years now and wasn’t sure when to include it in Cool Comics. Admittedly, it’s the first (and at this point the only) Elfquest comic I’ve read, although I know the series has been around for decades. And while I’m typically a reader of fantasy, I don’t care for it that much in my comic books. So why now? Because of TwoMorrows. Specifically, the Summer 2020 issue of Comic Book Creator (#23 for those with inquiring minds), which focuses mostly on Wendy Pini (although Richard Pini is certainly not left out). When you read such a magazine, you can’t help but want to explore some of the material generated by these gifted creators, and once I finished (and I read my magazines cover to cover), I knew I’d have to get out my single copy of Elfquest, and soon! It may not be an original number one issue, but my Epic edition (you probably know about Marvel’s Epic imprint, but if you don’t, HERE is a summation for your further education) came straight out of a quarter bin, convincing me that it would be worth 25 cents to see what this elf universe is all about. But the best thing of all was that I enjoyed the story. The cover price of Elfquest #1 is 75¢, while the current values are $5 on CBR and $3 on ZKC. The OPG value is $5.
Cool Moments in Graphic Lit with Dr. Omnibus
Superman For All Seasons by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale
I don’t often read Superman; in fact, it is highly unusual. I have always felt that Superman was too powerful to be interesting—perhaps that is why the only Superman-centric story I recall reading in the recent past is The Death of Superman. But I heard good things about For All Seasons, so I picked up the OHC (oversized hardcover) and let it sit on my shelf for a couple years. This past weekend, I needed a break from my current Marvel reading, so I dusted this off and gave it a shot.
Off the bat, I had a bad impression due to the way Superman was drawn on the cover. I opened it up and saw some amazing art, though. The backgrounds and every character other than Clark/Superman looked fantastic. I am not sure why, perhaps it was a metaphor of sorts in reference to Superman’s larger than life reputation…I don’t know. But Clark/Superman was just drawn to be 40 percent larger than everyone else. He towered over everyone. It was weird.
Now, onto the good. Early on we come to find out this is a coming-of-age story, and I love coming-of-age stories. If you have read my portions of this blog over the past year, you know why…because they are full of strong emotions.
We see a young man grappling with his purpose in life and not understanding what it is he is supposed to be. This makes the bulletproof man scared. It humanizes Superman. That is what my perception of the character had been missing all these years. Sure, he can’t be injured, but he can still feel. And just like any person, he needs to come to terms with what he is.
Once he knows what he must do, he moves to Metropolis, where he may be of maximum service to humanity. There just aren’t enough people in Smallville for him to be the hero he thinks this world needs.
While in Metropolis, he saves a young boy, and during their brief exchange, Superman shows that he is still just a momma’s boy. This is touching. Maybe it’s silly, but a grown man taking pride in his mother’s craftsmanship just feels right with Superman.
Once Clark has been in Metropolis for a while, he grows homesick and is still unsure of himself. If these types of exchanges had been with any other character, I would think little of it. But to see the vulnerability of he who is invulnerable is just what I needed to care for Superman.
My only other note on this story is that at first Clark seemed very cold towards Lex, despite them not having a tremendous amount of history. This felt unwarranted at first, but the more I thought on it the more fitting it was. Superman is supposed to be the pinnacle of purity, the embodiment of all that is good, so how can he show so much outward disdain for someone he hardly knows? Well, You don’t always have to 
know someone all that well to be able to determine the calibration of their moral compass, and it just didn’t take Clark long to figure out that Lex’s motivation was always Lex, whereas Clark’s motivation was always humanity. Clark is just standing his ground against someone who he thinks should be doing better.
Damian Starr is a graphic literature enthusiast and comic author. His current project can be previewed here.
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!
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Secret Society of Super Villains was a wild ride. Writers, artists and villains coming and going and creative directions changing every third issue or so. It even changed earths by the last issue. The series did give me two characters I absolutely loved, Captain Comet and Funky Flashman.
While Tim Sale did go a little over the top, Superman is often portrayed as larger than life around other characters. He’s officially listed as 6′ 3.” Tim Sale reigns it in a bit when he draws Superman: Kryptonite written by Darwyn Cooke.
Action Ace, thanks for your thoughts and comments. I was fortunate to find a few issues of Secret Society of Super-Villains, so look for more here in the future. I really enjoy getting to experience comics I missed in my youth!
Thanks for being an important part of Cool Comics!