Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 293, 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 293…
Cool Comics Colloquialisms!
If you love comic books, toys, exciting fiction, creator interviews, and all different kinds of collectibles, then Collectorzine just might be right up your alley. Billed as “A Pop Culture Collectibles Fanzine,” this new comic book-sized, full color quarterly is now available for purchase (and it comes complete an exclusive Cool Comics column!). If you live in the Northeast Ohio area, be sure to check with your local comic book shop to see if they are carrying it. If they don’t have any copies, never fear, because the publishers want to make sure you don’t miss out, and have provided the following:
HOW TO ORDER COLLECTORZINE BY MAIL
Contact Collectorzine@gmail.com with your name, address, and the quantity of your request. You will then be invoiced via PayPal. Each issue is $3, along with the shipping prices as indicated below.
1 or 2 copies will ship at a flat rate of $5.00 (First class mail well protected).
3 – 10 copies ship priority mail at a flat rate of $7.45
Orders over ten issues will be sent at a rate of priority (medium) boxed rate USP or, a less expensive rate if applicable.
For further questions contact Bob at email Collectorzine@gmail.com
If you’ve already gotten your copy, let us know what you think in our comments section near the bottom of this episode of Cool Comics!
Cool Comics Battle of the Week!
The Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Vulture versus The Falcon! 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!
Tuesday of this week we celebrated Star Wars Day (May 4), so our Cool Comics Creations had to have a tie-in, so this week our feature is sketch cards from a Star Wars trading card series, courtesy of illustrator Dan Gorman, a member of the National Cartoonists Society and one of the top sketch card artists on the planet. For more about Dan and his art, please visit www.dangormanart.com. Additionally, Dan is the artist of the Cool Comics logo!
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
Modern-Day Cool Comics
#1481 — The Marvels #1, Marvel, June 2021.
It’s hard to believe that the limited series Marvels was published 27 years ago. Seen through the eyes of photographer Phil Sheldon, these original four issues captured the wonder of what a world with super-heroes might be like. Starting off in 1939 and ending in 1974, this was one of the highlights of Nineties comic books and alerted many of us to the genius of painter Alex Ross. This new, ongoing series, done in the same spirit and covering the full scope of the Marvel Universe, is once again written by Kurt Busiek, with interior pencils by Yildiray Cinar and colors courtesy of Richard Isanove. But fear not, fanatics of Alex Ross, as he is creating the regular covers for the series. I enjoyed the first issue and don’t regret my purchase one iota and recommend that fans give this a try. The cover price of The Marvels #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5. The Key Collector Comics value is $4.
Dynamically Discounted Cool Comics
#1482 — Captain America #204, Marvel, December 1976.
If you’re a fan of Jack Kirby—and even if you aren’t—you are probably well aware that he’s the co-creator and original artist of Captain America. Back in the early days (The Golden Age) when Marvel was a company named Timely, writer Joe Simon and artist Jack Kirby gave the world the star-spangled hero in 1941, several months before the USA entered World War II. And now, when you think about it, how neat is it that Kirby was writing, drawing, and editing Captain America during our Bicentennial? This issue, featuring the villain Agron, puts us in the middle of a story that certainly makes more sense if you’ve been reading this title sequentially, but if you happen to run across this issue, don’t let that stop you from buying it…especially if you run across it in a quarter bin, like I did. I was getting Captain America every month for a while in the mid-Seventies, and during part of 1976, but for some crazy reason I stopped for a while and missed out on this issue. But that’s been rectified now, and much to my delight, because reading this was a blast! I’m excited for you to read it, too, because the Falcon is…okay, hold on, wait just a minute…I’m not going to spoil this comic for you, even though it’s nearly 45 years old. The cover price of Captain America #204 is 30¢, while the current value is $14. The OPG value is also $14.
Cool Comics Celebrates FCBD (Week 42 of 2020)
#1483 — Only a Matter of Space-Time, RH Graphic, August 2020.
Do UFOs exist? I’ve seen things in the sky that I couldn’t identify, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t originate on Earth. Comics books have been giving us stories for decades about flying saucers, aliens, alien invasions, and aliens who have superpowers. This episode’s look at Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) involves a reality with not only aliens, but kids from our planet get an opportunity to train for outer space missions with friendly aliens. Only a Matter of Space-Time is geared towards younger readers, and this free issue is a great way to see if they like it enough to purchase more adventures featuring Jide and Petra. If you’re looking for some fun adventure stories for any kids in your life, give this black and white adventure a try. The cover price of Only a Matter of Space-Time is free, while the current value is $1.
Cool Comics for the Young at Heart
#1484 — Donald Duck #147, Gold Key, January 1973.
My copy of Donald Duck #147 isn’t going to win any prizes for the condition it’s in, but that’s just fine with me. Typically when I’m looking through quarter boxes, I won’t pull out any issues that are noticeably torn or badly chipped on the cover, but this one slipped past my notice, because the damage is at the bottom. However, I bought it, so I decided to read it for this episode, and the poor condition didn’t interfere with the story at all, and it turned out to be a worthy entry to my growing collection of Disney Duck comics. This issue comes with three complete stories and includes guests such as Chip ‘N’ Dale, Daisy, and Uncle Scrooge. Creators for this fabulously fun issue include Carl Barks, Dick Moores, and Phil De Lara (although the credit to him is in question). The cover price of Donald Duck #147 is 15¢, while the current value is $26. The OPG value is also $26.
Twentieth Century Cool Comics
#1485 — The Adventures of Bob Hope #96, DC, December 1965-January 1966.
While some readers may have a vague idea of who Bob Hope was, I grew up watching him on television, entertaining the masses, and sometimes entertaining the troops overseas…not to mention all the movies he starred in. And while I think it’s both cool and fun that DC published this ongoing series from 1950 to 1968, it won’t be long before this title means very little to the collector community. This is the only issue in my collection (which I purchased for just $3.50), but I wouldn’t mind getting a few more. And while I didn’t like it as much as the issues that I’ve read of DC’s The Adventures of Jerry Lewis, I still enjoyed the experience of seeing Bob Hope in a comic book, along with a character named Super-Hip (if you grew up or studied this time period, it makes a little more sense!). As a fan of classic monsters, I certainly like this cover done by Robert Oksner, who also penciled the interiors, while Arnold Drake is the writer. The cover price of The Adventures of Bob Hope #96 is 12¢, while the current value is $80. The OPG value is $95.
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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Views: 374
Collectorzine looks great! I plan on putting in my order as soon as I figure out how to set up one of them new-fangled Paypal things. Congrats on getting Cool Comics into actual print!
Star Wars is what got me into comic collecting, so I love seeing Star Wars-related stuff in the merry month of May! Those cards from Dan Gorman are FANTASTIC! I especially like the C-3PO card.
I can second your recommendation for “The Marvels”. Marvels was (and still is) one of my favorite comic stories, and this new series seems like it’s going to be a worthy sequel. I’m just a bit sad that Alex Ross isn’t doing the art, but Yildiray Cinar (never heard of him before now) has a nice, clean, classic art style that I don’t mind one bit.
Thanks for another great post, and thanks for keeping comics fun!
Atom, thanks for writing! Collectorzine has been selling well, and before you know it, issue 2 will be out. I’m already getting material to edit for the third issue and people are inquiring about how they can be a part of the fanzine.
Dan Gorman’s art is always fun to sit back and admire, especially when the focus is on something you love, like Star Wars!
And how about that, readers, another positive note on The Marvels. If you haven’t gotten a copy yet, don’t wait too long!
Thanks for being an important part of Cool Comics!