Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 283, 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 283…
Cool Comics News!
We’ve nearly reached the end of the month, which means that Previews is out, and it’s time to start selecting your comics for the month of May! It’s always fun to flip through the catalogs (both the regular Previews and Marvel’s own version of it) …or click, as is the case with DC Connect. And while I’m all for advancing technology, the electronic version of DC just isn’t as much fun as having a physical copy to read over. Do you have a preference of hard copy or digital?
Cool Comics Battle of the Week!
Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Kobra versus Blade! 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!
Ed Griffie has the coolest art, and here he shows us the power of Ororo Munroe—Storm—she who controls the winds, lightning, and more! Ed is a lifelong comic book fan who started drawing Kawaii and Chibi style versions of pop culture icons and superheroes about five years ago. Through Facebook, his work came to the attention of Daniel Hare, the owner of vintage toy and comic bookstore The Toys Time Forgot, who offered him a guest spot at Free Comic Book Day. Since then, Ed has been a regular at local conventions and comic bookstores, where he offers bookmarks, coloring pages, trading cards, and color prints featuring his unique artwork. You can check out his full catalog of work at toonist27.deviantart.com or contact him at edgriffiejr@gmail.com to commission an original piece of your very own.
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 if 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
#1431 — Marvel’s Voices: Legacy #1, Marvel, April 2021.
As constant Cool Comics readers know, I’m a fan of the anthology format, and Marvel’s Voices is a great way to get bite-sized stories that are deep and rich with meaning. The cover states at the top left “Celebrating Black History Month With A Star-Studded Lineup!” and they back this up by giving us stories from creators such as John Ridley, Nnedi Okorafor, Saint Bodhi, and more, along with characters like Miles Morales, Blade, Storm, and others. With Black History Month nearly over, I was able to just squeeze this one in to meet our rigid publishing schedule (well, I do allow myself some flexibility, but this is about comic books, so we like to be a bit melodramatic at times). I’m a big fan of themes, whether we’re talking holidays or month-long celebrations (we also featured Punchline the criminal clown from Hero Tomorrow Comics and Marvel’s Black Panther in episodes this month), so I was glad that this comic arrived before the last Thursday of the month! I really enjoyed the stories and look forward to more editions of Marvel’s Voices. The cover price of Marvel’s Voices: Legacy #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5. The Key Collector Comics value is $5.
Cool Comics from the Quarter Bin
#1432 — Kobra #4, DC, September 1976.
I have a big stockpile of quarter comics that I can use for this category of Cool Comics, and many that I found are several years old now (searching through quarter bins is an addiction and I’m not sure if I want whatever cure may be out there!), but when deciding what to include here each week, the date of acquisition doesn’t play a roll. Why did I say all that? Because I bought this issue just a few short weeks ago, and while I didn’t feel in any hurry to read it, something tugged at me to pull it out of one of my many storage boxes of unread adventures and give it a try. I’d never heard of this short-lived series (it lasted only 7 issues, and I was able to get issues 4 and 5 the same day), and though my first impression was that I wouldn’t care much for it, I was completely bamboozled by this comic book and absolutely had a great time reading it. I really like the connection between Kobra and his twin, and that they can feel each other’s pain. Though quite different, this reminded me of the connection between James-Michael Starling and Omega the Unknown, over at Marvel. Perhaps you’ve read this issue, or the entire series, and could care less, but something about it really resonated with me, and I’m keeping my eye out for the remaining five issues! The cover price of Kobra #4 is 30¢, while the current values are $10 on CBR and $6 on ZKC. The OPG value is $10.
FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 32 of 2020)
#1433 — Lumberjanes: Farewell to Summer #1, BOOM! Box, May 2020.
I’ve now read two issues of Lumberjanes, both being Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) editions, and it’s doubtful that I’ll ever read another. The regular series ended its six-year run in December, and with that, they probably won’t put out another FCBD issue…unless, of course, they want to promote collected editions. Obviously Lumberjanes had a pretty good following to last as long as it did, but this comic really wasn’t meant for me, as it features girls during summer camp. I don’t mind reading titles that are so different from my usual genres (superheroes with the occasional science fiction series), but I don’t go out of my way to buy them. And that’s the beauty of FCBD – you can discover comics you’d never consider and perhaps end up enjoying them, and if not, you can always pass them off to someone else you know who just might. And since they’re free, you’ve got nothing to lose. Additionally, if you are a fan, I’ve seen online that a series is being developed for HBO Max. The cover price of Lumberjanes: Farewell to Summer #1 is free, while the current value is $1.
Cool Comics Kids
#1434 — Mickey Mouse #1, IDW, June 2015.
This first issue of Mickey Mouse from IDW has 32 pages and contains a fun adventure that runs the majority of the issue, followed by three shorter tales. This was part of a sealed package of 10 comics for $5.99 that I bought at an Ollie’s Bargain Outlet. I grabbed three of these deals, all containing comics just perfect for Cool Comics Kids, and it’s been fun exploring them. I like the solid, thicker pages used by IDW that ideally seem to be better for little readers (and even big readers like me!). IDW also does a really nice job with their coloring, which I think gives them a more attractive look that all Disney fans would appreciate. For those who’ve been collecting Disney comics regardless of the company publishing them (and there have been quite a few), IDW gives us the legacy numbering (310) on the cover next to the #1. Story 1, The Lost Explorers’ Trail, is a fun adventure, the kind we typically find in Mickey Mouse comics, and I think most little ones will enjoy reading it. If you can find some of these IDW Mickey Mouse comics, I strongly recommend you add them to your Cool Comics Kids library. The cover price of Mickey Mouse #1 is $3.99, while the current value is $4. The OPG value is also $4.
Cool Comics Classics
#1435 — The Avengers #186, Marvel, August 1979.
Around the same time that I found the Kobra issues (see #1432 above), I was able to snag this old Avengers comic from a quarter box. During the Seventies, I bought an occasional issue of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes (along with Marvel Triple Action, which contained reprints of earlier stories), but during my “on and off again” periods of collecting, I’ve never been the biggest fan of the comic, and ended up selling most of my collection at a garage sale. And now, as the days, weeks, and, most unfortunately, years, seem to fly by, I’ve become more nostalgic and when I see older Avengers comics in quarter boxes, it’s an easy decision to make the purchase. Nothing about this issue struck me that it was important when I put it in my pile of issues to buy, but not long after I came into possession of it, I noticed that it’s become a much-coveted comic, due to what’s happening on the WandaVision streaming series. The story takes place in Wundagore and sheds light on the origins of the Scarlet Witch and her brother Quicksilver, and contains the first appearance of Chthon and Magda, who is implied to be the wife of Magneto and mother of the twins. And though it’s pretty cool that I found this for just a quarter, the condition of the comic is nothing to write home about…but then again, reader copies help many of us add to our collections with some awesome issues. The cover price of The Avengers #186 is 40¢, while the current values are $12 on CBR and $50 on ZKC. The OPG value is $12. The Key Collector Comics value is $65.
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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