Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 280, 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 280…
Cool Comics News!
This week saw the Kickstarter launch of Bloom #1, part of Ted Sikora’s Hero Tomorrow Comics Universe. And it certainly didn’t take long to get fully funded, which is great news for the creative team, and also great news for fans. Readers of Apama the Undiscovered Animal won’t soon forget the mysterious Regina (aka Bloom), introduced in issue #5, so click the link, watch the intro video, then scroll down the page to see all the reward levels offered, such as variant covers (along with the ability to get multiple variant covers), trade paperbacks of other Hero Tomorrow Comics, T-shirts, graded issues, and more. Additionally, you can read several preview pages, and after looking over the beautiful art, you’ll find it hard to resist Bloom and find yourself making the difficult decision of deciding which reward to back! With just 24 days left in the campaign, why wait any longer?
Cool Comics Battle of the Week!
Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Jughead Jones versus Naruto! 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 once again proudly shows off the awesome art of John R. Smith! His rendition of archenemies of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will have you breaking out your old action figures and pulling VHS copies of the cartoon out of that old cardboard box in your storage closet! 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
#1416 — South Side Serpents #1, Archie, March 2021.
This special from Archie Comics is aimed towards fans of the Riverdale TV show, and if you’ve watched the live-action, quirky drama long enough, you’ll probably appreciate the story more than those who know Jughead as Archie’s buddy whose main goal in life is to eat hamburgers at Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe. Though the indicia indicates the title is just “South Side Serpents,” I appreciate the “Riverdale Presents” at the top of the cover, telling readers that yes, this is more relatable to fans of the show, along with the nostalgic factor DC and Marvel aficionados feel when they see Presents in the title. Please keep in mind that this one-shot is rated Mature, though it read more like a Teen+ title to me. And, for those who like to know such things, this is “Cover B,” which I thought looked a little cooler. The cover price of South Side Serpents #1 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.
Cool Comics from the Quarter Bin
#1417 — Thrillkiller #2, DC, February 1997.
One fine day when I was pulling cool comics out of a quarter bin, I had the misfortune to find just the second issue of this three-part Elseworlds story. Perhaps I could find issues 1 and 3 if I but flipped through some regular back issue boxes, but often I just don’t take the time. Besides, part of the thrill of finding Thrillkiller #2 is getting it for just a quarter! Although when you start reading in the middle of a story…well…that can be rough. Still, it’s Robin and Batgirl, right? Well, maybe wrong in this case, because, after all, this is an Elseworlds adventure. Written by Howard Chaykin, with the always awesome art of Dan Brereton, this alternate action-adventure (which is on the mature side) is a tale that modern fans and readers may want to add to their collection. The cover price of Thrillkiller #2 is $2.50, while the current values are $3 on CBR and $4 on ZKC. The OPG value is $3.
FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 29 of 2020)
#1418 — Naruto/Samurai 8, Viz Media, September 2020.
I know pretty much next to nothing when it comes to Manga…except that I’ve learned to read from back to front, and right to left. When it comes to these Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) issues that are outside of my comfort zone, I applaud the companies that give us a directional reading guide, and Viz Media is one of them, making my life just a bit easier. Besides, once you start reading from the wrong end, it should become apparent that something is…wrong…but if you aren’t used to these comics and characters, you might just think it’s because of that when you can’t follow the story. If you’re familiar with Naruto, you probably made sure to get this FCBD issue when it came out, and it also contains a bonus story, introducing Samurai 8, which, as it states on the cover, gives readers “SAMURAI ACTION FROM THE CREATOR OF NARUTO!” If you missed it, happy hunting. The cover price of Naruto/Samurai 8 is free, while the current value is $1.
Cool Comics Kids
#1419 — Tweety and Sylvester #89, Gold Key, January 1979.
As constant Cool Comics readers know, phase one of my comic book collecting days ended sometime in 1978, with phase two lasting about nine months in 1982. And when I find issues that fall in between these years, I always enjoy getting a taste of what I missed throughout that time. Yet I was never buying Tweety and Sylvester in the past, so they’re all new to me. What makes this issue special is the ads. I love seeing the old advertisements in comics and magazines, and this issue is no exception! There are ads for: Hostess Twinkies (with Thor!); Fun Factory Super Gifts & Gimmicks (a full page of stuff a kid would be interested in); Grit (yes, I was a Grit delivery boy!); Slim Jim meat snacks; T-Shirts with photos of the coolest stars, like Shaun Cassidy and Parker Stevenson; Spider-Man T-Shirts; and, well, you get the idea! If you’re building a Cool Comics Kids library, this issue contains four complete stories, along with these wonderful old ads. I found my messy, well-loved copy in a quarter bin. The cover price of Tweety and Sylvester #89 is 35¢, while the current values are $8 on CBR and $5 on ZKC. The OPG value is $8.
Cool Comics Classics
#1420 — Alpha Flight #1, Marvel, August 1983.
Alpha Flight #1 hit the stands a little less than a year after I’d given up comics for the second time (I’m still trying to figure out why I turned my back on them!), but when I returned to the hobby once more (phase 3…my collecting is sort of like movie sequels) in 1993, I started buying the title, especially after seeing them on the animated X-Men cartoon I watched each Saturday morning. I can’t say I was a super fan, but I did have an appreciation for this team of heroes from Canada. On a few occasions I’d grab some of their back issues in discount boxes, but years later, I had a massive garage sale, and Sasquatch and friends didn’t make the cut. Now, because of the nostalgia bug, I sometimes buy copies that I find in quarter bins, and I have added several dozen to my collection. Lucky for me I was able to snag this first issue for just 25 cents! Written and illustrated by John Byrne, this often-underappreciated series has some fine moments. The cover price of Alpha Flight #1 is $1, while the current values are $20 on CBR and $15 on ZKC. The OPG value is $16. The Key Collector Comics value is $10.
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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That cover for “Bloom” is outrageous! Such wonderful colors and detail!
Thrillkiller is one one of my favorite nuggets of Longbox Junk! It seems to be sort of forgotten as a relic of the 90’s, but I think that the hard-boiled story (and that fantastic painted art) stand up pretty well. There was even a one-shot sequel. . .ThrillKiller ’62. . .that you can find pretty easily in the bargain bins if you keep an eye out.
Thanks for another great post and thanks for keeping comics fun!
Atom, I’ll certainly be keeping my eye out for that Thrillkiller ’62 one-shot, along with issues 1 and 3!
I’m excited to read Bloom, as I’ve enjoyed everything produced by Hero Tomorrow Comics.
Thanks for being an important part of Cool Comics!