Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 272, 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 272…
Cool Comics News!
Marvel and DC are trying to make your holiday season even brighter with some cool crossovers, like King in Black (craziness with Knull and armies of symbiotes!) and Endless Winter (beware The Frost King!). While Marvel is continuing their story into the new year, DC is going with a December event, and then January and February will bring about Future State! In this episode, we take a look at the beginnings of both King in Black and Endless Winter, so grab a hot cup of your favorite beverage (black coffee for me, please), sit back, and enjoy another thrilling episode of Cool Comics In My Collection!
Cool Comics Battle of the Week!
Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is The Frost King versus Knull! 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! This cover of Heroes In Crisis #1 featuring Two-Face (Harvey Dent) even includes the villain’s infamous two-headed coin! 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
#1376 — Justice League: Endless Winter #1, DC, February 2021.
I admit I wasn’t overly excited about this short December event, but it turned out to exceed my expectations, which is all you can really ask for. Andy Lanning and Ron Marz handled the writing chores, while Howard Porter is the artist, with colors by Hi-Fi (I really like the coloring in this issue, but I’m clueless as to this Hi-Fi person…or conglomerate). The Justice League is up to their usual business of taking down some bad guys, and while they’re in the middle of it, Barry Allen, The Flash, starts asking other members how they handle family and the whole work-life balance thing, all while saving the world. He seems to think others may have a better grip on it then him, and he even pays a visit to Jefferson Pierce (Black Lightning), who gives some good advice while he and his daughters trim their Christmas tree (so yes, this is officially a Christmas comic). Meanwhile, things happen (what things? Buy the issue and find out!), and a guy called The Frost King, who seems to have absorbed some Kryptonian crystals left behind when the fortress of solitude was destroyed by Rogol Zaar (don’t worry, he has a new one), is now a major threat. This series started off fun and I expect the excitement to build in the coming weeks. The cover price of Justice League: Endless Winter #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5. The Key Collector Comics value is also $5.
#1377 — King in Black #1, Marvel, February 2021.
Last year, despite not caring much for Marvel’s symbiotes, I decided to give Absolute Carnage a try, and I’ve been a fan of Donny Cates ever since. Thor and Venom are both fantastic reads, along with his new series from Image, Crossover. Therefore, my expectations for King in Black were pretty high, and like a champ, Cates really came through with this first explosive issue. The action is fast and furious, yet the tempo doesn’t get out of control, slowing down just enough when we need to see the situation for what it is…which also allows us to glimpse small glimmers of hope while at the same time being extremely worried for the entire Marvel Universe. Are the stakes high? You bet! Unfortunately, one heavy hitter for the good guys can’t be found, and a surprise appearance by another doesn’t go as planned. This storyline is going to cross over into several regular Marvel titles and a few related limited series, but if you’re more budget minded, just grabbing the King in Black title will provide plenty of entertainment over the next few months. The cover price of King in Black #1 is $5.99, while the current value is $6. The Key Collector Comics value is also $6.
FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 21)
#1378 — Manhwa: Contemporary Korean Comics, Drawn & Quarterly, July 2020.
Does anyone know if these samples of Contemporary Korean Comics are representative of the popular/typical comics that are published each month in Korea? Or are they only representative of the kinds of comics that the company Drawn & Quarterly publishes? I just wondered, as there aren’t any superhero stories in this Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) edition; although I’m not surprised, either. And while these stories (which do contain some adult themes) aren’t of the type I usually read, I can understand how they might be fascinating to some people. Manhwa starts with a full page from the editor, who gives readers some background, along with an additional page of information from the translator. The stories are all black and white. The cover price of Manhwa: Contemporary Korean Comics is free, while the current value is $1.
Cool Comics Kids
#1379 — Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures #14, Archie, September 1990.
The older I get, the more I appreciate comics that are aimed at a younger audience. And while the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles may not satisfy the same crowd that reads Looney Tunes or Disney comics, I remember how turtle crazy little kids were in the late Eighties and early Nineties. There were cartoons, action figures, and all kinds of products with the TMNT characters slapped on them. And while I won’t be spending cash on new issues, I tend to find these older ones in quarter boxes, which is the perfect price, especially when building a comic book library for little ones. This fun issue gives us a flying, sentient cow head (Cuddly the Cowlick for those who want to know more) and an adventure in a tropical rainforest featuring Jagwar! Fans shouldn’t miss out on this one. The cover price of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures #14 is $1, while the current values are $5 on CBR and $3 on ZKC. The OPG value is $5.
Cool Comics Classics
#1380 — The Cougar #1, Atlas/Seaboard, April 1975.
When I pulled this comic out of one of my storage boxes, I didn’t think much of it at first glance. But when I sat down to read it, I noticed the words “Night Stalker” and “Vampire” at the bottom of the cover, and it gave me hope. It turns out that this is a fun read (at least for me) and did indeed make a vague reference to The Night Stalker movie…the first one, when Carl Kolchak goes up against vampire Janos Skorzeny. Our hero, the Cougar, is a professional stuntman, and while working on a vampire movie, a real vampire just happens to show up…thanks to a common error someone on the film crew makes…and which we’ve seen before in other vampire movies. Unfortunately, only two issues of The Cougar were published, but I also have the second one, which I’m sure will show up someday in another episode of Cool Comics. The cover price of The Cougar #1 is 25¢, while the current values are $20 on CBR and $15 on ZKC. The OPG value is $20. The Key Collector Comics value is $4.
Cool Moments in Graphic Lit with Dr. Omnibus
Klaus: How Santa Claus Began
There is so much to love about this story-it is surely one of the more thought-provoking Christmas comics I have read. Specifically, the change from being greedy and complacent in the midst of economic blight into actually caring for your fellow man appealed to me. It almost has a V for Vendetta (one of the greatest pieces of graphic literature ever) feel in some ways.
This book was published by BOOM! Studios. I read the trade paperback (TPB), but oversized hardcovers of this material do exist.
Generally, there isn’t much to say about the physical construction of a TPB. But this one is noteworthy because it smells so darn good. I’m one of those book smelling weirdos. This book is in the top 1 percentile of books I’ve read regarding quality of smell. This smell originates from the high-quality paper used. It also has a matte sheen on the cover, which reduces glare and feels better in your hand than a typical TPB cover.
If you’re not familiar with Grant Morrison’s writing, you should know this going into your first Morrison read: stuff is going to get crazy.
What grabbed my interest most was the incorporation of so many Santa-isms and having them feel natural and unforced. Things like how the toys are made or going down chimneys. Tying in these little bits of commonly speculated upon lore really helped the overall depth of this story.
Like all good Christmas stories, it teaches a lesson. I would hate to spoil this amazing story, so I’ll let you discover the lessons on your own, but I will say they are expertly laid out for you in this book.
I always like when an artist colors his own drawings. I feel like you are likely to get what was intended this way. Too many hands in the pot and it turns into a game of telephone where the message gets murky, then no one is happy. Dan Mora killed it on all fronts. The pencils are consistent. The inks are simple, yet still enhance the images. The colors set the dark tone of this story perfectly.
I can’t wait until my son is old enough to read this. It’s pretty graphic, so that is a ways off. This book is darn near perfect, but Morrison is an acquired taste. He puts some weird stuff in his stories and there is a weird one in this story, which seems unnecessarily over the top. But if you have never read Morrison, or have and weren’t turned off by his zaniness, then you should read this book.
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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