Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 271, 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 271…
Cool Comics News!
December came to Northeast Ohio with a lot of snow, not wanting us to get too comfortable with the mild weather we’d been experiencing this fall. Fortunately, the roads were clear enough to go pick up new comics this week, and I’m looking forward to diving in and escaping the snow piled outside my door. But aside from that blanket of whiteness, December means that Cool Comics will start bringing you some holiday cheer in the form of Christmas-themed comics. Though I don’t have any to talk about this week, Dr. Omnibus gets us started off on the right note.
Cool Comics Battle of the Week!
Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Usagi Yojimbo versus Tom and Jerry! 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!
Cool Comics proudly shows off the awesome art of John R. Smith! This beautiful piece of some classic X-Men is the perfect complement to our Contemporary Cool Comics selection for this episode! If you’d like to see more of John’s creations, be sure to visit his Facebook page at Smittys Art Stuff…especially if you want to acquire some of his awesome art! Additionally, his eBay page contains some cool collectibles you may want to add to your personal collection, along with some of his original creations.
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
#1371 — X of Swords: Destruction #1, Marvel, January 2021.
Marvel recently finished off their big mutant crossover event, X of Swords, with this special X of Swords: Destruction issue written by Jonathan Hickman and Tini Howard, while Pepe Larraz handled the penciling duties. This series is no lightweight comic tale, as it contains 22 parts and encompasses every current X-title in the Marvel Universe (X-Men, X-Factor, X-Force, Excalibur, Marauders, Wolverine, Hellions, Cable, three special editions: X of Swords: Creation; Stasis; Destruction, and a supplemental handbook). I admit that I wasn’t enjoying it much at the start, but the moment Wolverine took matters into his own hands…or claws…the story took a turn for the better and I finally cared to find out what was going to happen. I’m not saying it all turned out great, but it was interesting for sure. Beyond this, I do want to see what’s next for this line of titles, but I can’t shake the feeling that everything feels so different from the X-stories I’ve enjoyed in the past. In the current run, Charles Xavier seems a bit cold and distant. I’m not saying that’s good or bad, but I plan on sticking around long enough to see why. The cover price of X of Swords: Destruction #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5. The Key Collector Comics value is $7.
Cool Comics from the Quarter Bin
#1372 — Warriors of Plasm #1, Defiant Comics, August 1993.
When selecting a comic for this segment—which starts with pulling comics out of quarter boxes—nostalgia often rules the day. My third phase of comic collecting started 1993, while I was serving in the U.S. Army and stationed at Fort McPherson in Atlanta, GA, and surrounded by a fair share of comic book shops. I’d gone back to my happy place of four-color fun and was astounded by the shear amount of titles and companies. And this time around I wanted to try some newer companies, because, well, let’s face it: speculation was running rampant in the Nineties, and perhaps some unheard of company would produce the next Action Comics #1. I didn’t honestly think I’d get rich, but I did want to get a better feeling for what was on the comic shop shelves. Leave it to Jim Shooter to come up with the name Defiant Comics after working at both Marvel and Valiant. He’s also the writer of this issue, with David Lapham doing the pencils. I bought this when it originally came out, sold it at a mega garage sale, and when I saw it in a quarter box many months ago that old nostalgia magnet pulled me in. I’m not a fan of this series, but in a way, it was fun reading it over again 27 years later. The cover price of Warriors of Plasm #1 is $2.95, while the current values are $4 on CBR and $3 on ZKC. The OPG value is $4.
FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 20)
#1373 — Usagi Yojimbo, IDW, May 2020.
I had no idea who this samurai rabbit was when my wife and I bought the Playmates action figure many moons ago, and I still don’t know much about him. Yes, I did read this Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) issue, but one issue and action figure aren’t enough to tell the whole story. Therefore, I can’t really claim to be a fan, but I can say that I did enjoy the comic. Still, I won’t be searching out back issues or patiently waiting for new adventures to come out. Just because we like something doesn’t mean we’re suddenly fanatics. Maybe if I’d been born at a different time, this rōnin rabbit would mean something more to me; but alas, this adventure was plenty as far as I’m concerned. No offense to those who love him, though. I get it. We like what we like. The cover price of Usagi Yojimbo is free, while the current value is $1.
Cool Comics Kids
#1374 — Tom and Jerry #321, Gold Key, August 1979.
I can remember watching a lot of Tom and Jerry cartoons as a kid. It wasn’t because I was a big fan, but it just seems like they were on TV a lot back then. They weren’t my favorites, but they were certainly entertaining. And I certainly got my fill…but when I’m fortunate enough to find some of their comics in quarter bins, I can’t resist the pull to go back to my childhood. This issue contains three feature-length stories and a one-page filler. The stories were enjoyable but would probably be more fun to much younger readers. What did I like about the issue? The advertisements. I always get a big kick out of the ads in these old comics, and this one took me down memory lane with Hostess Cup Cakes and Twinkies (complete with baseball cards you could cut off the boxes!), Flipit…FLY IT, TOSS IT FLIPIT LANDS ON ITS FEET, Sea-Monkeys, toy soldiers, and much more! So yes, add it to your Cool Comics Kids collection. The cover price of Tom and Jerry #321 is 40¢, while the current value is $10. The OPG value is also $10.
Cool Comics Classics
#1375 — Batman #329, DC, November 1980.
It’s bad enough that Batman’s on trial, but to have to suffer with Two-Face as the judge is just too much! And as if that’s not bad enough, the cover tells us that “…IN TWO-FACE’S COURT, THERE’S ONLY ONE SENTENCE–DEATH!” Way back in Cool Comics episode 165 we took a look at Batman #328, and now we get the stunning conclusion in TWICE DIES THE BATMAN!, brought to us by Marv Wolfman, Irv Novick, and Frank McLaughlin. And if you have enough nerve to continue reading after finishing this story, we get yet another Batman bonanza in THE CASE OF THE HIJACKED HEART!, presented by the creative talents of Mike W. Barr, Richard F. Buckler, and Frank McLaughlin. These are a couple of classic tales that you don’t want to miss! The cover price of Batman #329 is 50¢, while the current value is $15. The OPG value is also $15.
Cool Moments in Graphic Lit with Dr. Omnibus
Batman: Noël
This is a reimagining of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” starring Bruce Wayne/Batman as Scrooge.
With guest appearances from Cat Woman as the Ghost of Christmas Past, Superman as the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Joker as the Ghost of Christmases Yet to Come.
I read this digitally, so I have no notes on the physical construction of this book. But I have ordered the OHC since I love this story so much.
This awesome tale was written by Lee Bermejo (adapted from Dickens). I can’t imagine it was easy for Lee to figure out how to incorporate certain aspects of Dickens’ tale into a Batman story. But he did so beautifully. Although, there were times I struggled to connect the dots concerning Scrooge giving Bob (Tiny Tim’s dad) the day off. Thinking back on it, it is actually quite genius, but in the moment, it was hard to digest. All the ghost visits were well done, but lacked the emotion of the source material.
Noel features some wonderful pencils covered with some of the best coloring I have ever seen. The only time the art distracted me from the 
story was when I had to stop to admire its greatness.
If you love Batman and/or are a fan of the Dickens classic, then this is a must read. This definitely makes the cut to be an annual re-read each December.
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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Harvey Dent was probably upset with Batman impersonating him a couple of years earlier.
And now the Warriors of Plasm #0 story.
They decided to do it as a combination comic and collectable cards. Every page was a 9 panel grid and then you bought the cards to fill in the comic. Of course, to complete a puzzle you have to know what the end is supposed to look like. So they printed a copy of Warriors of Plasm #0 in the Previews catalog. I took the story, cut the pages out with a knife and then stapled them together. Now I had the issue and didn’t need to buy the cards.
Good thinking on that #0 issue, lol!
USAGI YOJIMBO is one of the best comics of modern times. I’ve called Stan Sakai our greatest living cartoonist. The epic saga of this honorable warrior’s life includes humor, monsters, romance, political intrigue, historical information and action. I recommend you see if your local library system has copies of the trades. That way you’ll get a good chunk of story. I hate to see a friend of mine denying himself one of the best comics series of all time.
Tony, thank you for further details about Usagi Yojimbo! I really appreciate your insight into both the creator and the series. I looked around at several sources online, and I think my best option is to read some of it via comiXology. The first seven volumes are all included as part of their unlimited plan for $5.99 a month. I have a tablet dedicated to digital comics, so I’ll probably sign-up for the service in the near year and give this series a try.
Cool Comics always appreciates suggestions of what people like to read so that all of us can continually find that next great read! Thanks, friend, for being an important part of Cool Comics!
I’m not going to say that Usagi Yojimbo is my FAVORITE comic, but thanks to my comic lovin’ daughter, who is a big fan, I’ve read quite a few issues. It’s one of those comics where the writing is what matters the most. The art is pretty good, for what it is, but the attention to detail in the story is where the nuggets of comic gold in Usagi Yojimbo are at.
I think you might have accidentally done yourself a bit of a disservice by being introduced to the character through IDW. It’s the same creator, but I think the older stories are superior, and the art just doesn’t look right in color, in my humble opinion.
Thanks for another great post, and thanks for keeping comics FUN!
Atom, I appreciate your thoughts on Usagi Yojimbo also! The good news is that comiXology has the first seven volumes from Fantagraphics as part of their unlimited service…which you can read for the low price of $5.99 per month!
Thanks for being an important part of Cool Comics!