Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 285, 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 285…
Cool Comics Colloquialisms!
Remember back in the old days when direct edition comics hit the scene? It seemed like that’s what everyone wanted at the time. You could tell which was which because instead of the UPC code that newsstand editions had on their covers, the direct editions featured logos or characters (such as Spider-Man) in the little rectangular box, which made them look cooler. Or at least that’s what some of us thought. And if you had doubles and wanted to get rid of some extra comics at a garage sale or show, you’d get rid of your newsstand editions if you had the same in a direct edition. And now it turns out that it was all a mistake because collectors would rather have the newsstand editions, as they are rarer. I guess this has been a thing for several years, but I was oblivious to it until I started noticing higher prices listed for newsstand editions. But I’m not going to worry about it, since I collect for the love of the stories. Of course, I’m never offended if a comic I own has a nice secondary market value (I do put those listings here each week because for some people this is very important, while for others it’s just a “nice to know” sort of thing), but it did sting a bit when I discovered that my Amazing Spider-Man #300 would be worth several hundred more dollars if I owned the newsstand edition.
By the way, Steve “Atom” Baum, a frequent Cool Comics Reader Reviews contributor, and author of the amazing blog Longbox Junk!, brought up this topic in the comments last week, and deserves a shout-out for reading my mind, as it was next on my Colloquialisms list.
Cool Comics Battle of the Week!
Your Cool Comics Battle of the Week is BRZRKR versus the Incredible Hulk! 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 Superman villains will have you searching through your Superman comic collection as the memories come flooding back! 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 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
#1441 — BRZRKR #1, BOOM! Studios, February 2021.
There were a few other contenders for this spot, as last week saw the release of Infinite Frontier #0, The Swamp Thing #1, and Demon Days: X-Men #1, but the last-minute decision to purchase BRZRKR #1 ended up winning. BRZRKR hit the scene as a Kickstarter last year and raked in a gargantuan $1.4 million (that’s not a mistake…the evidence is HERE) with 14,571 backers. Why did so many people participate in the Kickstarter? Curiosity, perhaps, about this Keanu Reeves creation, not to mention that he has oodles of fans. But the commitment was a bit costly, as you had to back three volumes of graphic novels for $50 (that was the cheapest reward level). For those of us a little more-budget oriented, single issues are a great alternative, and I read that somewhere around 600,000 to 700,000 copies were ordered via Previews. It’s a mature rated title, and I didn’t order it, although, as previously mentioned, I decided to give it a try when I found copies still available. It’s an intriguing story, and I don’t want to give anything away (especially considering the surprise ending of issue one – 12 issues are scheduled), but if you don’t want to see graphic violence, stay away. Some of the cool aspects are that the title hero looks like a beefed-up Keanu, and if you’ve seen a few of his movies, you can hear his voice in your head while you’re reading it. The cover price of BRZRKR #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5. The Key Collector Comics value is $4.
Cool Comics from the Quarter Bin
#1442 — The Terminator: Secondary Objectives #1, Dark Horse Comics, July 1991.
Have you watched the TV series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, which ran for two seasons, starting in 2008? I saw season one when it came out, but circumstances prevented me from seeing the second season, so a long time ago I bought both DVDs. My wife and I watched season one a few years back, and though we really liked it, life got in the way once more of watching season two. Well, now we’re finally taking the time to enjoy it, and it’s even more fun since we got to meet one of the stars in 2018 (Summer Glau–photographic evidence included). 
The cast is great, the episodes are smart and fantastic, and it’s my favorite show/movie when it comes to the franchise. I don’t consider myself to be a huge Terminator fan, but I really like it (and let’s be honest: no one wants to live in a world with Skynet and the Terminators!), and I buy any comic books having to do with it whenever I spot them in quarter boxes. This is the only issue I have from this mini-series, and I’m hoping to find the other three at some point in my collecting life. The cover price of The Terminator: Secondary Objectives #1 is $2.50, while the current values are $4 on CBR and $3 on ZKC. The OPG value is $4.
FCBD the Cool Comics Way (Week 34 of 2020)
#1443 — Mean Girls: Senior Year, Insight Comics, May 2020.
I saw the movie Mean Girls from the comfort of my home (which is how most of us see all movies these days) a long time ago, but I don’t remember anything about it. Possibly my kids wanted to see it, but maybe I did, too. At any rate, this Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) issue did nothing to jolt my mind into remembering anything about the plot or characters. And come to think about it, I read this comic last week and can’t recall much of it now. Which isn’t surprising, as I do a lot of reading and it’s hard to retain everything that I’m not overly excited about. I’m sure that part of the reason is because I’m a far cry from the intended audience of this comic book. The cover has “TEEN” written in the bottom right corner, and I’m several decades removed. Additionally, I’d say it’s more appropriate for older teens, considering some of the content, but maybe that’s just me. If you’re a fan of the movie(s), you may want to add this to your collection. The cover price of Mean Girls: Senior Year is free, while the current value is $1.
Cool Comics Kids
#1444 — Tom & Jerry #1, Harvey Comics, September 1991.
When searching through quarter bins, you never know what you’re going to find. This Tom & Jerry #1 issue from Harvey features art and stories by Carl Barks, with a couple characters I’m not familiar with: Barney Bear and Benny Burro. Maybe you know who they are, but I can’t recollect ever seeing or reading any stories with them before. They take up the last two stories, while the first adventure features Tom and Jerry. Though there is a long, rich history with this duo, there are probably kids today who don’t know them, and there’s nothing wrong with using this comic book as an introduction. While most people my age probably aren’t paying attention to these comics aimed towards a younger audience, I grab them whenever I find them in discount boxes because I’m really enjoying building my Cool Comics Kids library and revisiting my past. Someday, I’ll look forward to passing these on to smaller hands. The cover price of Tom & Jerry #1 is $1.25, while the current value is $3. The OPG value is also $3.
Cool Comics Classics
#1445 — Marvel Team-Up #54, Marvel, February 1977.
Yet another great acquisition for just a measly 25 cents! I’ve always been a big fan of Marvel Team-Up and started collecting them early in my comic book years, back in 1973, but by the time 1977 rolled around, I’d pretty much decided to spend my money elsewhere for a while. As crazy as that sounds, it’s most unfortunately true. But quarter bin diving pays dividends sometimes, and I found this one a few weeks ago. I was happy enough with it by the cover alone, because who doesn’t love a story with both Spider-Man and the Hulk? But once I found out “The Man-Brute called Woodgod” was also part of this adventure, I was assured that my quarter was well-spent! Woodgod doesn’t pop up often in the Marvel Universe (just 44 appearances, according to Comicvine), and though he’s a bizarre creature, he makes me think of my early years of collecting and it brings a smile to my face and warms my heart. This issue is written by Bill Mantlo (co-creator of Woodgod) and penciled by John Byrne and is now proudly part of my Cool Comics collection! The cover price of Marvel Team-Up #54 is 30¢, while the current value is $10. The OPG value is also $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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