Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 308, 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 308…
Cool Comics Stuff!
Were you able to go out and get some of the Free Comic Book Day offerings this past Saturday? I sure did, and I also took advantage of the great sales that so many comic book shops offer for this occasion. Besides adding a couple high grade Captain Marvel issues to my collection (seven more and I’ve completed the 1968 series!), I also spent some quality time digging through quarter boxes (my apologies if you don’t have any quarter boxes at a shop near you). Just a few weeks ago (episode 305), while discussing Cool Comic #1543, I mentioned that I don’t find many Archie Comics in quarter bins. Well guess what? I struck gold and came away with 63 issues of various comics featuring America’s ageless teenager. While this sounds expensive, simple math tells us that for just 25 cents each, my total cost for Archie Comics was $15.75. Mind you, they weren’t the only quarter comics I bought that day, but for that price, they are always hard to resist.
Cool Comics Battle of the Week!
The Cool Comics Battle of the Week is the Defenders versus the Teen Titans! 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!
Ed Griffie’s Casper takes many of us back to our Harvey happy place! Ed is a lifelong comic book fan who started drawing Kawaii and Chibi style versions of pop culture icons and superheroes about five years ago. Through Facebook, his work came to the attention of Daniel Hare, the owner of vintage toy and comic bookstore The Toys Time Forgot, who offered him a guest spot at Free Comic Book Day. Since then, Ed has been a regular at local conventions and comic bookstores, where he offers bookmarks, coloring pages, trading cards, and color prints featuring his unique artwork. You can check out his full catalog of work at toonist27.deviantart.com or contact him at edgriffiejr@gmail.com to commission an original piece of your very own.
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
#1556 — Defenders #1, Marvel, October 2021.
In the Seventies (I started collecting in 1973), when I discovered and first fell in love with comic books, for some unexplainable reason I had no interest in The Defenders. Then later, in 1978, I was finished with the hobby. I had other interests, and my comic books were stored in a box that was shoved into the back of my closet. Come 1982, as fate would have it (just like in a comic book), one of my college roommates guided me back to the four-color world we all love so much. And that’s when I bought my first issue of The Defenders. Unfortunately, this second phase of collecting lasted less than a year; but a little over a decade later, when I once again came back to comics, I started buying back issues of The Defenders. Which (with lots of other details left out) brings us to the present with this start of a new limited series, in the tradition of my Defenders memories. We tend to romanticize the past, and sometimes there’s nothing wrong with that. I just have to keep in mind that these are different creators and enjoy these new stories for what they are. So, a big thank you goes out to storytellers Al Ewing (writer) & Javier Rodriguez (artist/cover artist), Alvaro López (inks), VC’s Joe Caramagna (letters), and Will Moss & Sarah Brunstad (editors). The cover price of Defenders #1 is $3.99, while the current value is $4. The Key Collector Comics value is also $4.
Dynamically Discounted Cool Comics
#1557 — Teen Titans #32, DC, March 2006.
As I continually dig through quarter bins, I tend to find more treasure than trash…although some curmudgeons may think otherwise. Teen Titans, in the form of New Teen Titans, became one of my favorite comics during my short second phase of collecting (see above for more comic book collecting “phase” stuff…I’m sure many of you have gone through the same thing). And when I see Teen Titan comics for such bargain basement prices, they’re certainly hard to resist, regardless of the decade in which they were published (I tend to prefer Seventies comics the most, but all eras are welcome in my white storage boxes). My third phase of comic book collecting came to a close in 2003, and it looked like the end…gasp! But resistance really was futile, although I managed to resist until 2017 (when I started buying new comics again). The point is, I missed out on a lot during those 14 years, so it’s fun to see some of the cool stories that came out back then, and this is one of them. And you know what? I tend to like stories written by Geoff Johns, so it was worth that quarter (this issue has lots of cool characters!). Other creators of this issue include Todd Nauck (penciller); Sean Parsons, Nelson, Lary Strucker (inkers); Phil Balsman (letterer); Jeromy Cox (colorist); Jeanine Schaefer (asst. editor); and Eddie Berganza (editor). The cover price of Teen Titans #32 is $2.50, while the current value is $3.
Cool Comics Celebrates FCBD (Week 1 of 2021)
#1558 — Valiant, Valiant Entertainment, August 2021.
Though COVID-19 keeps trying to throw a wrench into our lives, Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) is still with us. For 20 years now the industry has attempted to woo us by giving away special issues, and while it works for some, others refuse to be enticed. You can argue all you want about whether it helps your local comic shop or not, but for me, as an individual who enjoys writing about comic books each week, it’s a fun way to continue providing information about companies and titles both familiar and unfamiliar. When I get the entire set each year, I then must decide which issue to showcase in each episode throughout the year. And, if FCBD moves back to celebrating this event on the first Saturday of May, I won’t be able to cover all the new 2021 issues. If we should happen to run into that problem, I’ll at least show you what issues remain via Cool Comics Stuff! And as you can see, for week 1 I decided on Valiant’s issue that contains snippets of stories from Ninjack (Jeff Parker and Javier Pulido), X-O Manowar (Dennis Hopeless: writer; Emilio Laiso: pencils), Shadowman (Interview with Cullen Bunn), and The Harbinger (Jackson Lanzing & Collin Kelly: writers; Robbi Rodriguez: art). Though I haven’t read many comics from Valiant, I have a hefty collection, thanks to quarter boxes. And The Harbinger tends to grab my interest the most, so I’m looking forward to the new series this fall. The cover price of Valiant is free, while the current value is $0.
Cool Comics for the Young at Heart
#1559 — The Flintstones #46, Charlton Comics, June 1976.
Earlier this week I finished reading the newest edition of Back Issue! magazine (#129), and wonder of wonders, it featured articles on comics that came to us as cartoons. I’ve mentioned before how much of an influence the magazine is when it comes to buying previously owned comic books (whether from the quarter bin or the regular back issue boxes with higher price tags), and this issue was no exception. Though many different cartoons were a part of my life growing up, The Flintstones were most certainly one of my favorites. From the catchy theme song to the fun and clever stories, it was the rare occasion that I’d turn the dial (yes, I’m so old we had to turn a dial to get different TV stations…and the choices were slim) if I saw them on TV. If you click on the cover image to enlarge it, you’ll notice a price sticker in the right corner near the top. Can you believe that some store was selling it for just 13 cents? I know many collectors would be aghast that this sticker is marring the cover, but I paid just a quarter for the issue, and I think it adds a certain charm and sense of nostalgia. The cover price of The Flintstones #46 is 30¢, while the current value is $22.
Twentieth Century Cool Comics
#1560 — Toby Tyler, Gold Key, February 1965.
I’ve had this Gold Key Walt Disney comic in my filing cabinet of unexplored adventures for a while now (probably two or three years…it’s hard to pinpoint an exact date since I’m always snooping around quarter boxes – yes, I paid just 25 cents for this!), and as I perused my many gems in the hunt for something fun and different, I couldn’t resist the tug from Toby Tyler any longer. I never saw the original 1960 movie, nor do I recall seeing it on The Magical World of Disney where they broke it up into two parts (season 11, episodes 10 and 11), but with a young boy and a chimp on the cover, and the reveal that he runs away and joins the circus, this sounded like the kind of adventure the 12-year-old living inside me would enjoy. And I was right. A little research shows that Dell Comics originally published this in 1960, but after it aired on TV via The Magical World of Disney near the close of 1964, Western Publishing, under its Gold Key imprint, put it back on comic book racks for kids to enjoy once again. The only creator credit I could find is Nat Edson (pencils and inks). The cover price of Toby Tyler is 12¢, while the current value is $32.
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!
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Views: 229
cool comics battle:
if we are talking about the Dr. Strange, Hulk, Namor and Silver Surfer defenders team, then this is no contest.
Robin is a non-issue for any member of the team, not to discount his Leadership role which would be the only hope the Titans had.
Starfire taken down by Silver Surfer. She can’t mess with the Power Cosmic….
Cyborg could pose problems, but ultimately he could never stop Hulk.
Raven and Strange would be the big toss up. I would assume Strange could overcome Raven, but things arent so black and white in magic/demon stuff.
Changeling would potentially be a nuisance and perhaps Namor would struggle in one on one combat, but eventually Surfer and Hulk could pick up that slack.
all said and done, if Robin were able to dictate the match ups as he desired MAYBE the Titans would stand a chance, but really I don’t think Surfer or hulk would be stopped.
Dr. Omnibus, it’s great to see your name once more on the web pages of Cool Comics! And I love your assessment of the battle of the week. You did a great job in breaking this down as you see it.
Thanks for continually being an important part of Cool Comics!