Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 305, 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 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). Not all my comics meet that grade. Some are probably better, and many are certainly worse. But to simplify it, that’s the scale I use. 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 305…
Cool Comics Stuff!
This week the 51st Edition of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide was released, so Cool Comics will no longer be listing prices from Overstreet, as there are no plans at this time to add the new edition to my library (which needs to be downsized!)
And it’s been a busy week, so that’s all (for this section), folks!
Cool Comics Battle of the Week!
The Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Moon Knight versus Uncle Martin from My Favorite Martian! 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!
This episode’s creation comes to us from Robert A. Kraus (aka RAK), creator of Chakan and many other fantastic works of art, along with cool games he’s developed. There’s a new He-Man and the Masters of the Universe streaming series currently showing on Netflix (I haven’t watched it), but this RAKified version just may be the best one of all! To learn more about RAK, be sure to visit his website at http://www.rakgraphics.com/.
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
#1541 — SHAZAM! #1, DC, September 2021.
I’ve always had an affinity towards the hero formerly known as Captain Marvel, dating back to the live-action Saturday morning show, Shazam! If you do your research, you’ll quickly learn that the show started in September 1974, which gives you a hint about just how young I am (at heart). My late father and I had some discussions about Billy Batson (the kid who becomes Shazam), as he loved the character, and at one time owned some of the original comics (alas, they are now destroyed, as they were on a battleship that was sunk during World War II). Yet even with all that love, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to bother with this four issue limited series (which happens to have a direct tie to the Teen Titans Academy series). And, you guessed it, it was worth the time and money. The creative geniuses behind this issue are Tim Sheridan (writer), Clayton Henry (artist), Marcelo Maiolo (colorist), Rob Leigh (letterer), and Mike Cotton (editor). The cover price of SHAZAM! #1 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.
#1542 — Moon Knight #1, Marvel, September 2021.
Last week saw another equally cool first issue, and since we’re still waiting for Free Comic Book Day 2021 in August, Cool Comics couldn’t resist celebrating Moon Knight #1 with you, the coolest comic book readers around. Marc Spector is no ordinary hero, and if you don’t know much about him, the start to this new series gives some background, allowing the uninitiated to jump onboard of this promising new volume. With the Disney+ series debuting (hopefully) sometime in 2022 (starring Oscar Isaac), it only makes sense that Marvel once again gave this wacky, exotic, mystifying character another monthly title. And yes, I still regret not buying Werewolf by Night #32 back in the summer of 1975, which contains the first appearance of Moon Knight. The creators of Moon Knight #1 are Jed MacKay (writer), Alessandro Cappuccio (artist), Rachelle Rosenberg (color artist), VC’s Cory Petit (letterer), Steve McNiven & Frank D’Armata (cover artists), and Tom Brevoort (editor). The cover price of Moon Knight #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5. The Key Collector Comics value is also $5.
Dynamically Discounted Cool Comics
#1543 — Archie’s Joke Book Magazine #202, Archie, November 1974.
Considering how long Archie, the eternal teenager, has been on the scene, you’d think that there would be lots and lots of his comics scattered throughout quarter bins – but it just isn’t so. Yes, I can find them sometimes (this issue is a perfect example), but not as often as one would think. Is it because they gave us so much entertainment and satisfaction during our youth? Or is it because so many of us are trying to recapture those days long gone when pocket change could buy you great entertainment? I’m not sure if there is just one reason, as everyone who has ever collected and then parted with some of their treasures probably justifies to themselves why some of their comics are okay to sell, while others never make it out the front door. I know that when I sold off over half of my collection, I never considered getting rid of my Archie comics. Archie’s Joke Book Magazine is full of single page gag strips, which is fun for quick hits when you don’t want to concentrate on longer stories. There appears to be no record of the creators who took part in putting this fun comic together, but if you click on ARCHIE, you can see just how many short gags are contained in this issue. The cover price of Archie’s Joke Book Magazine #202 is 25¢, while the current value is $8.
Cool Comics for the Young at Heart
#1544 — Richie Rich Diamonds #15, Harvey Comics, December 1974.
The poor little rich boy, Richie Rich, seems to be bored out of his mind, so his mother tries her best to help her son find fulfillment. But gadgets, fine art, and even blimps weren’t what Richie needed. It was friends. And while it’s rare that I share spoilers (even when the comics are decades old, like this one), I wanted to point out that this is the very reason that Richie Rich is appealing to readers of all ages. Regardless of how much pocket change this wealthy kid is carrying, he’s still a child, and kids, like all of us, need friends. If you’re sitting at home and feeling like a curmudgeon, a dose of Richie Rich comic books may be just what the doctor ordered! And if you can find issues that came out when you were young, all the better, because when you see the ads inside, you won’t be able to wipe the giant grin off your face the moment you see something that reminds you of those golden days of your childhood. Who knew a Richie Rich comic could be so good for your inner peace? On the unfortunate side, I was unable to find any creator credits for this issue. The cover price of Richie Rich Diamonds #15 is 25¢, while the current value is $12.
Twentieth Century Cool Comics
#1545 — My Favorite Martian #9, Gold Key, October 1966.
I can recall watching reruns of My Favorite Martian (the show originally aired from 1963-1966) as a kid, but I honestly don’t remember much about it. Were you a fan? Some of you may never even have heard of it, but perhaps you recognize the co-stars from the cover picture: Bill Bixby and Ray Walston. I’m often influenced by Back Issue magazine, and #128, which is cover dated July 2021, was their Bronze Age TV Tie-Ins Issue, which sent me digging through back issue bins at my local comic shop in search of fun comic books that would hit that nostalgic sweet spot in my heart. If you want to take a trip back to the Sixties, this is a great way to do it (and without much expense, as I bought this issue for just $3.50). Again, it’s a shame that not much is known about the creators of many of these old comics. The Grand Comics Database has Mike Arens listed for both pencils and inks on the two main tales, but there is no further information. The cover price of My Favorite Martian #9 is 12¢, while the current value is $90.
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: 259
Went away from this site for a while…nice to see you are still doing these great posts. Several questions for you….
1. What do you do with your Overstreets? Do you see any worth to the actual prices or perhaps trending articles….are you reading it?
2. How many comics are in your collection?
3. Battle of the week For you…step back 20 years..Overstreet Price Guide vs Wizard the Guide to Comics.
Inty, glad to see you’re back!
My responses to your questions:
1. I’ve read some of the articles in the 50th Anniversary Price Guide, and used it for the last year to track values for the comics I list in the blog. But I can’t speak to the guide and rising prices of comics, as this is the first time I bought one in a few decades. It’s a lot of fun to flip through, but not necessarily the best way to keep up with current values because of changing prices throughout the year. Still, it’s a fun book that is fun to use to discover titles you never knew existed.
2. I have over 10,000 comics in my collection, not counting trades and graphic novels. At one time I had about 15,000, but then sold a few hundred on eBay and thousands (maybe 8 or 9 thousand) at a huge garage sale, and gave some to my kids. My collection was fairly small at that point, perhaps 3,000. But in 2017 I started collecting again, and I’ve been raiding quarter boxes a few times a month…and now I probably have too many again (if that can even be possible). It’s a small collection compared to many people, but I’m really having fun with the hobby.
3. There’s a lot of negativity these days when Wizard enters the conversation, but I bought it nearly every month during my third phase of comic collecting (1993-2003). I always read it cover to cover, along with several other comic magazines I’d occassionally buy. So if we step back 20 years, Wizard wins, because that’s what I was reading. Today, my go-to magazine is Back Issue, since it covers my favorite era of comics, the Seventies, when I first started. With apps, websites, and blogs, there are plenty of ways to keep up on modern comics without needing a monthly magazine. Of course, I like to think that reading Cool Comics each week is fun and entertaining for collectors due to the variety and positivity I show towards comic books.
Thanks for your support, Inty. It was fun answering your questions, and we hope you enjoy our weekly impressions of the world of comics. You are an important part of Cool Comics!