Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 307, 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 307…
Cool Comics Stuff!
This Saturday, August 14, is Free Comic Book Day (FCBD)! Traditionally it’s held the first Saturday in May, but in 2020, with COVID-19 changing so many aspects of our lives, this fun event was instead spread throughout the summer, with titles arriving at comic shops each week. And this year it’s being held in mid-August. Will 2022 put FCBD back on its regular schedule? We live in a world with a lot of unknowns when it comes to future events, so we’ll just have to wait and see. Starting next episode, I’ll be doing my annual coverage of all the releases…unless the next FCBD occurs before I can fit them all in. So just in case this happens, if you click the link above you can see everything that’s coming out this Saturday (which happens to be the 20th Anniversary of FCBD) and make plans for what you want to add to your collection! And by the way, it’s also nice to make a purchase, big or small, at your local shop, since they funded your free comic books.
Cool Comics Battle of the Week!
The Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Aquaman versus Spider-Man! 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 our Cool Comics Creation comes from Sydney Walton as he gives us another look at Morbius, the Living Vampire! If you missed his first rendition, be sure to click HERE to see it. The art is all hand-painted with acrylic paints. Syd said he’s been painting covers for a few years now and likes to think that he was one of the first to do so. Syd is always taking commissions, so don’t hesitate to contact him for a cool cover or other fantastic creations. You can find him on Facebook at Syd’s Altruistic Art, or contact him via email at swaltoniii@aol.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
#1551 — Spirits of Vengeance: Spirit Rider #1, Marvel, October 2021.
While I’m sure there are some fans who bought this comic because it’s written by Taboo and B. Earl, I admit that I wouldn’t know them if they were standing directly in front of me. Perhaps if I were a few decades younger I would see this as a big deal, but instead I bought this comic because I enjoy a good Ghost Rider tale every now and then. And this story also involves Kushala, a Sorcerer Supreme from the 1800’s, along with Doctor Strange himself. It’s an interesting and fun one-shot you may want to check out for yourself if you like any of these characters. Other creators involved include Paul Davidson (artist), Dan Brown (color artist), Jeffrey Veregge (“Leviathan Origin” artist), VC’s Joe Caramagna (letterer), Takashi Okazaki & Rico Renzi (cover artists), and Sarah Brunstad (editor). The cover price of Spirits of Vengeance: Spirit Rider #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5. The Key Collector Comics value is also $5.
Dynamically Discounted Cool Comics
#1552 — Adventure Comics #447, DC, October 1976.
I’ve had this stored away for nearly a year in a longbox full of DC comics I bought for just a quarter each (I was able to purchase several issues of Adventure Comics during one fine day of browsing) and decided that I needed to give this one a read. The cover gives us action, intrigue, and an extra! That’s right, down at the bottom it says, “Extra! The Creeper takes a Deathwalk!” So how could I resist? All this excitement for just 25 cents! The Aquaman story is plotted by Paul Levitz, Martin Pasko wrote the script, Jim Aparo provided the art, color comes to us from Carl Gafford, and Joe Orlando did the editing. Creeper’s caper comes to us via Martin Pasko (writer), Ric Estrada & Joe Staton (artists), Carl Gafford (colorist), Ben Oda (letterer), and Joe Orlando (editor). And be sure to check out the back of your copy for a great ad featuring The Green Machine from MARX Toys! The cover price of Adventure Comics #447 is 30¢, while the current value is $10.
#1553 — Man of War #1, Malibu Comics, April 1993.
It’s a complete coincidence that last week I had another comic that was published with an April 1993 cover date…or is it? When it comes to the four-color world of graphic storytelling, truth is often stranger than fiction. So why did I pull out Man of War #1 from one of my boxes stuffed full of exotic adventures that cost me just a quarter each? If I think about it, probably because just like last week, I still have the Nineties in my head. A lot happened in my life during that decade, and comic books were a large part of what I did. Though I don’t know a lot about the characters and stories Malibu Comics produced at the time, this took me back to days that now seem so long ago, leaving me feeling a bit wistful. Without creators, comic books wouldn’t exist, so we thank Dan Danko and Tom Mason (writers), Bryan Lee (penciller), Emir Ribeiro (inker), Tim Eldred (letter), and Roland Mann (editor). The cover price of Man of War #1 is $1.95, while the current value is $3.
Cool Comics for the Young at Heart
#1554 — DuckTales #1, Disney Comics, June 1990.
While Gladstone published the earliest issues of DuckTales, Disney later decided to produce their own comics (which didn’t last long) and by golly if I don’t have their first issue of these adventuresome ducks. Best of all, I didn’t pay a penny for this comic, as it was a gift last year. As longtime Cool Comics readers are aware, I’ve come to appreciate ducks on the comic book page (especially of the Disney variety), so the kid residing in my soul is happy to have this in my collection. Are you a fan of the cartoon version? Well, I can’t say that I am, because I’ve never watched it. I’m not part of the demographic the cartoon was aimed at, and just never caught an episode. Besides, I’m all about the comics, not the cartoons. This fun issue is written by Marv Wolfman, while C Quartieri and Robert Bat did the art. The cover price of DuckTales #1 is $1.50, while the current values are $4 on CBR and $10 on ZKC.
Twentieth Century Cool Comics
#1555 — The Amazing Spider-Man #250, Marvel, March 1984.
As someone who has years of experience when it comes to digging around in quarter bins at comic book shops, believe me when I tell you that you don’t often find copies of The Amazing Spider-Man, regardless of the year of publication. When I see them, I typically buy them, whether I already own the issue of not (they make great gifts for like-minded friends and relatives). My favorite period of collecting the title are any issues from the beginning up to #200, but if I bought nothing but those issues, there are lots of cool stories I would have missed out on, such as this SPECIAL NORMAL-SIZED 250TH ISSUE (it says it right there on the cover!). Also, I’m more of a Green Goblin guy, but in a pinch, Hobgoblin is good enough for Gosneys (see, Spider-Man comics and the Gosney family motto go hand-in-hand). I didn’t buy comics off the shelf often in the Eighties, and I love adding missing issues to my Amazing Spider-Man run as much as the next web-head fan. We have the following creators to thank for this issue: Roger Stern (writer); John Romita Jr. & Klaus Janson (artists); Joe Rosen (letters); C. Scheele (colorist); and Danny Fingeroth (editor). The cover price of The Amazing Spider-Man #250 is 60¢, while the current values are $16 on CBR and $20 on ZKC.
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/
Never Miss an Episode of Cool Comics!
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