Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 269, 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 269…
Cool Comics News!
Do you have a favorite comic book company? Dark Horse, Vault, Image, IDW, DC, Archie, or Marvel, perhaps? Or maybe your favorite went out of business years ago, but you still yearn for the days of Gold Key, Charlton, and Harvey. While the excitement of new stories every Wednesday is a strong call for current collectors, there’s no doubt that nostalgia plays a role in keeping this hobby alive. We’d love to read what you have to say in 
the comments section below.
And as announced in Cool Comics episode 268, don’t forget that you can WIN a free copy of Chakan the Forever Man in The Toad King & the Insect Prince, 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 Punchline versus Judge Dredd! 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. In this image, Chakan, the forever man, leans on his sword, waiting to take on his next foe! 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
#1361 — Punchline #1, DC, January 2021.
Our Cool Comics Contemporary selection this episode came down to a battle of two baddies: Punchline and Taskmaster. I didn’t originally intend to get the Taskmaster mini-series, but grabbed the first issue on impulse, mostly because Jed Mackay is the writer, and he’s entertained me in the past. While the comic wasn’t bad, I probably won’t continue with it. And before I mention the obvious winner (Punchline), the weird thing with Taskmaster is that while the store date is November, and most websites have the cover date as January 2021 (because that’s what all other Marvel comics this month are listed as), the indicia has a date of June 2020. But COVID-19 pushed some titles back a bit (if not completely off their publishing schedule), and obviously this was already printed. Anyway, I have it listed as June 2020, because years from now, when you open it up and look at the fine print, that’s what you’ll see, and not many will remember it was delayed several months. Anyway, I picked Punchline for this slot, so I need to say a few words about it. As it turns out, it wasn’t anything like my preconceived notions of what this one-shot was going to be about. Written by James Tynion IV and Sam Johns, it goes much deeper into the character of Punchline and how some in society view her: as criminal, accomplice, or victim. At the end, we’re told this story is going to continue in 2021, so if you’re a fan, make sure to get this one and be on the lookout for whatever’s coming next! The cover price of Punchline #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5. The Key Collector Comics value is $6.
Cool Comics from the Quarter Bin
#1362 — Thor #269, Marvel, March 1978.
This Bronze Age Thor is a recent addition to my collection after spending some time digging through quarter bins. These days, it’s rare that I find any issues of the mighty wielder of Mjolnir for so low a price, but sometimes my devoted attention to boxes of hidden treasures pays off! I have many issues of the original run of Thor, and usually when I find some older issues in discount boxes, I already own them. But nay, I had this one not, which is cause to celebrate with the Warriors Three, Hogun, Fandral, and Volstagg! As you can see from the action-packed cover, Thor is battling an enhanced Stilt-Man, and having trouble bringing the big villain down! Written by Len Wein and illustrated by Walt Simonson, this story certainly falls into my comfort zone, as the Seventies are my favorite period of comics (yes, that’s when I first started collecting, and nostalgia reigns supreme when it comes to this hobby). The cover price of Thor #269 is 35¢, while the current values are $10 on CBR and $6 on ZKC. The OPG value is $10.
FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 18)
#1363 — Best of 2000 AD #0, Rebellion, May 2020.
Since watching the 2012 Judge Dredd movie several months ago with my son (I’m a bit behind on many things, but I eventually get there), I’ve become a bit of a fan. I really don’t know that much about the character, having only seen that move and reading just a handful of comics, but when I find Judge Dredd comics in quarter boxes (which I did just yesterday!), they leave the store with me. And while 2020 hasn’t been the greatest of years for many of us (earlier this week, our electricity was out for nearly 30 hours, and we had to jump through many hoops to save our frozen food, since we have a big freezer in our basement…not to mention packing up and moving in with my sister-in-law and her husband, only to find out an hour after getting there that the power was back on…and yes, we are blessed to have them in our lives!), Free Comic Book Day (which, as we know, became a bit of a weekly thing for several months since the day ended up getting canceled) provided some much needed Judge Dredd! This free issue contains four stories, and I really enjoyed diving a little deeper into this strange, terrifying world. The cover price of Best of 2000 AD #0 is free, while the current value is $1.
Cool Comics Kids
#1364 — Richie Rich & Casper #3, Harvey Comics, December 1974.
Who knew that there was a Richie Rich & Casper comic book, two of the most fun and iconic Harvey characters! Well, many of you probably knew, but since I’m still rather a novice to the world of comics created for the younger set (I did read the occasional Dennis the Menace issue or digest when I was a kid), it’s fun for me to discover these, since they are new to me! And how, you may ask, did I find out about this cool title? By searching through the quarter boxes at a local comic shop! I can almost always find good stuff when I take the time to look, and when I spot Harvey Comics they immediately go in my “to buy” stack. As a matter of fact, I was fortunate enough to find three issues of this title, so I’ll be featuring the other two issues sometime in future episodes. This comic is great for both kids and adults alike (well, I enjoy them because they make me think of my childhood, especially with the ads of toys from the period) and contains several shorts, which is perfect for little ones with attention spans that may not make it through an entire issue in one sitting. The cover price of Richie Rich & Casper #3 is 25¢, while the current value is $22. The OPG value is also $22.
Cool Comics Classics
#1365 — Super-Team Family #15, DC, April 1978.
Super-Team Family didn’t last long, and the only copy I have is the last issue of the series. I was fortunate to find this one in a quarter box (yes, you get it already, I spend a lot of time searching through those deeply discounted bins!) and excited to see that it was written by Gerry Conway, who helped hook me on comics just a few years earlier. Arvell Jones did the pencils and really captured the cosmic craziness of this story in which we discover a giant Orion unconscious and floating in space! It’s aptly entitled “Gulliver Effect!” The story is a lot of fun and includes the Flash, several of the New Gods, and even, of course, Darkseid (the super-villain got two mentions last week, so we had to sneak him in again, as he’s proven to be hard to get rid of!). This is a thicker issue with a higher price than most from the time period, so maybe that’s part of the reason it didn’t last long. The cover price of Super-Team Family #15 is 60¢, while the current values are $26 on CBR and $18 on ZKC. The OPG value is $26.
Cool Moments in Graphic Lit with Dr. Omnibus
White Donkey: Terminal Lance
Last week we celebrated Veterans Day, so I figured it was time to finally write about White Donkey: Terminal Lance. I have always been fascinated by veterans. They have life experiences that I never will, and therefore are a group of people I cannot fully empathize with. I have found, in most regards, I can relate to most people’s experiences in some way, but my understanding of what veterans experience is just too little to say, “I can relate with that.” While in my endless thirst for knowledge and better understanding, I do desire to be able to have that relation; I am also thankful that I don’t have it, as I know not all military experiences are great. So, I would like to thank any veterans reading this, for doing what I did not, choosing the path you did, and shielding me and many others from more than we will ever know.
White Donkey: Terminal Lance is a story written by a veteran, which tells the tale of a man who enlists. It documents his time in service, and after. My focus will be on his time after.
So, our main character comes home and struggles adjusting to life after service. This results in a significant bout of depression and some heavy drinking. As a recovering alcoholic, I could relate with at least part of what this man was going through. The prison of active alcohol abuse was depicted in a very special way in this book. I consider this to be some of the most powerful imagery I have ever seen in graphic literature.
This image alone may not tell much of a story, but when this exact same image is printed into the book several times in succession it tells a bit more….
This 2-page spread was included four times. To me, this implies that our main character spent a long time like this. I can relate to that…turning to the bottle to escape reality. I’ve been there.
Aside from this single moment, there are many other very emotional scenes in the book.
This book was given to me by a friend who is a veteran. I once recommended the book to another veteran, and he later informed me that it was difficult for him to read as it hit too close to home. These two facts leave me conflicted about if I should recommend this book or not. I loved the book, from start to finish. It allowed me to peek behind the curtain I mentioned at the beginning of this article. But I hate the idea of being partly responsible for having someone relive something they wouldn’t choose to. Therefore, if you are a veteran and thinking about reading this book based on information learned here, please proceed with caution. This graphic novel addresses so much more than just the single image shown above: suicide, Jody, and a slew of other psychological issues. Additionally, if you are veteran struggling with depression, consider reaching out for help. It is said that 22 veterans per day commit suicide; that is 8,030 per year. That means that veterans make up 
approximately 20 percent of all suicides in America, whereas they are only 7 percent of the population. These stats say to me that veterans are three times more likely to commit to suicide than civilians. I don’t know how to fix that, but I know that I will make it a point to reach out to a veteran more often. And not just on Veterans Day.
Damian Starr is a graphic literature enthusiast and comic author.
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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Views: 452
Your very lucky with the 25cent bins.
Here in San Francisco the very few stores left don’t have bargain bins like that.
Maybe they have a 99cent bin on occasion.
John, you are so right. I know how fortunate I am! Most shops in my area do have dollar bins, but I find so many hidden treasures for just a quarter.
Thanks for being an important part of Cool Comics!
I am an average comic book fan but a huge fan and friend of Ed Gosney and Cool Comics in My Collection. I don’t read it every week but normally find something of interest when I do.
I have to go with DC as my favorite…Batman, Flash, Green Arrow Wonder Woman, SuperMan!!
Awesome! Dave, thanks for reading and chiming in about your favorite comic book company, my friend.
And thanks for being an important part of Cool Comics!