Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 297, 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 297…
Cool Comics Stuff!
Happy June, comic book fans! With many restrictions lifted (you know, restrictions that were in place due to COVID-19…you’ve probably heard a thing or two about the pandemic, unless you’ve time-traveled from the past or are visiting from another planet), comic book conventions are finally happening. Is there a particular one that is your favorite? Do you prefer cons with Hollywood-level celebrity guests, or do you favor smaller ones so that you can spend your time searching through back issues or chatting with creators? I feel fortunate that there are some great local cons in Northeast Ohio, such as Akron Comicon, Hall of Fame City Comic Con, NEO Comiccon, and Adventure in Comics Comic-Book and Toy Show! We’d love to hear what you think in our comments section below.
Cool Comics Battle of the Week!
The Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Stargirl versus Firestorm! 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!
Though summer is officially more than two weeks away, many of us feel like it begins when we flip our calendars to June. Which means it’s beach season, right? And you know what else comes with that? Sharks! This week our feature is sketch cards from a Sharknado 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
#1501 — Stargirl Spring Break Special #1, DC, July 2021.
I didn’t know much about Stargirl (Courtney Whitmore) when her CW television series premiered last year, but I really enjoyed it. It was a neat way to tie-in old Justice Society of America characters with modern day superheroes…at least in my opinion. I do remember when Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E., the comic book featuring Stargirl, came out in 1999, but at the time I had no interest. This time I wasn’t about to let the Stargirl Spring Break Special slip past me. I enjoyed the story, which enabled me to learn a little more about some of these heroes from days gone by, and I hope that DC holds to its implied promise of a new Stargirl series. Geoff Johns, who created Courtney Whitmore with artist Lee Moder, wrote this issue, while Todd Nauck handled the art, HI-FI is credited as colorist, Rob Leigh did the lettering, and the editor is Andrew Marino. Additionally, there is a very short story at the end also written by Johns, with art by Bryan Hitch, the colorist is Alex Sinclair, Rob Leigh also did the lettering for this one, and it, too, is edited by Andrew Marino. The cover price of Stargirl Spring Break Special #1 is $5.99, while the current value is $6. The Key Collector Comics value is also $6.
Dynamically Discounted Cool Comics
#1502 — All-New Captain America #1, Marvel, January 2015.
A couple months ago I found this issue while digging around in a quarter box at a local comic shop. Usually, I’m searching for comics that date from the Eighties or earlier, but sometimes if a newer issue looks interesting enough, I’ll toss it on my pile of stuff to purchase. And when I did that with this one, I barely gave it a glance…because it screamed “Captain America” in red, white, and blue letters across the top, so it seemed like a no brainer. So, pardon me for not realizing that this is the first solo series with Sam Wilson (the Falcon) as Captain America. It never bothers me when I discover that I have some issues with historical significance in my collection (and especially so when the price is right!). Rick Remender did the writing, Stuart Immonen penciled it, Wade Von Grawbadger handled the inks, Marte Gracia and Eduardo Navarro gave us the colors, and the edits were done by Tom Brevoort. The cover price of The All-New Captain America #1 is $3.99, while the current values are $30 on CBR and $25 on ZKC. The OPG value is $4. The Key Collector Comics value is $30.
Cool Comics Celebrates FCBD (Week 46 of 2020)
#1503 — Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess/Splatoon: Squid Kids, Viz Media, May 2020.
If I were a gamer and played the Legend of Zelda, I’d probably be looking for more comic books like this one. Even though I have no background with this Nintendo game, as a comic book reader, I appreciate the art in this Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) issue, and I’m sure the story would be more meaningful to me. These manga FCBD comics keep me on my toes, as most of them are read from right to left, and you start at (what most comic books consider) the back. Zelda’s story and art is by Akira Himekawa and translated by John Werry. The second feature is Splatoon Squid Kids, with story and art by Hideki Goto and translated by Tetsuichiro Miyaki. This adventure seems to be geared towards a much younger crowd, but it had some entertaining moments. The cover price of Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess/Splatoon: Squid Kids is free, while the current value is $1.
Cool Comics for the Young at Heart
#1504 — Yosemite Sam #23, Whitman/Gold Key, September 1974.
I enjoy the Looney Tunes characters as much as the next guy, but Yosemite Sam has never been one of my favorites. And yet, once I started reading his comic book adventures in Gold Key (and later Whitman comics; however, this issue is from the Gold Key era when the Whitman label published each issue simultaneously, but were marketed towards different outlets…read all about it at Mike’s Amazing World of Comics), I seemed to gain a new appreciation. This issue has five complete stories of varying length, and unfortunately, not much is known regarding creators for this issue. John Langton is listed for a few stories, credited with both pencils and inks. Like so many of these older Cool Comics for the Young at Heart, I was able to find this one in a quarter bin (hence, the condition is not good, but it’s good enough for me to read…which goes right along with my family motto: It’s good enough for Gosneys). The cover price of Yosemite Sam #23 is 25¢, while the current values are $16 on CBR and $8 on ZKC. The OPG value is $16.
Twentieth Century Cool Comics
#1505 — Firestorm, the Nuclear Man #100, DC, August 1990.
It’s been a while since we last visited Firestorm, hasn’t it? By actual count, the last time Ronnie Raymond and Martin Stein were in Cool Comics was episode 116, which dates back to December 14, 2017! I’ve been reading through the 100-issue second series (including five annuals) off and on for a while now, and finally reached the end. And since Firestorm holds a special place for me in my history of comic book collecting (I bought The Fury of Firestorm #1 fresh off the rack when I was a college freshman), I felt it fitting to pay tribute to this series by including issue 100 here. The character went through several changes over the years, and it was enjoyable for the entire run. For this last issue (which contains a whopping 64 pages) John Ostrander did the writing, Tom Mandrake handled the art, J.W. Ghastly did the lettering, Nansi Hoolahan gave us the colors, and the editor was Dan Raspler. The cover price of Firestorm, the Nuclear Man #100 is $2.95, while the current value is $4. The OPG value is also $4. The Key Collector Comics value is $3.
Cool Comics Reader Reviews!
Would you like to write a review of a comic book or graphic novel for all the Internet to read? 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: 284
Must. Have. Sharknado. Cards.
Tony, Dan Gorman is really great at what he does!
Thanks for being an important part of Cool Comics!