Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 310, 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 310…
Cool Comics Stuff!
If you appreciate comics, there’s a good chance you’re also an avid reader of books. And if that’s the case, I’ve started a new blog (via Substack, just like all those current comic book creators are now doing) that you may find of interest. I Read That Book! Is a personal 
journey in which I talk about books I’ve read at different periods of my life, covering a variety of genres. For example, if you are a Star Wars fan, then you don’t want to miss Page 2. While the blog is fairly young, I’ve already included a perennial classic, a Stephen King horror collection, a sports biography, a book about a pivotal year in U.S. history, and a much-loved western. Keep in mind that these are not reviews, but instead they’re musings about my experiences with each book, including a few fun extras that I’ve tossed in. Each new post is listed as a successive page number, while chapters are broken down by the current year. I’ve been enjoying the journey of talking about these books, and I hope you consider giving it a try (click the link below for the most recent Page…and scroll to the bottom of it for the previous Pages!). If you like it, please subscribe while you’re visiting so that you don’t miss a single Page.
Pictured below are a few new and noteworthy comics I didn’t blog about this week that you may want to check out:
Marvel Voices: Identity
Cable: Reloaded #1
King Spawn #1
Cool Comics Battle of the Week!
The Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Luke Skywalker versus King Shark! 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 week our feature creation is yet another super cool batch of sketch cards from a Star Wars trading card series, courtesy of illustrator Dan Gorman (and the timing couldn’t be better, since we have a Star Wars cool comic in this episode!), 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
#1566 — Darkhawk #1, Marvel, October 2021.
While I didn’t buy Darkhawk during the title’s original run in the Nineties, I did see Chris Powell sometimes appear in The New Warriors (which I read sort of sporadically). In essence, Darkhawk appeals to those who feel nostalgic about a much-maligned period of comic book collecting. And I’m one of those fans who feels the nostalgic pull. Back in 1993, I started collecting comics after eleven years away from the hobby, and I really enjoyed it. Superman was dead, Batman suffered from a broken back, and the Spider-Man comics went clone crazy (not to mention all the prism, die-cut, and hologram covers that flooded the comic book shelves). A few months ago, there was a Darkhawk one-shot that I really liked (Darkhawk: Heart of the Hawk – see episode 291), so when I heard there was going to be a new limited series, I knew I had to get it…even when I learned that it wouldn’t be the original Darkhawk (this Darkhawk is a guy named Connor Young). After reading it, I’m glad that I stuck to my guns, because I liked the story more than I anticipated. Did you try it? I want to give a big thanks to the following creators: Kyle Higgins (writer), Juanan Ramírez (artist), Erick Arciniega (colors), VC’s Travis Lanham (lettering), Iban Coello & Jesus Aburtov (cover), and Darren Shan (editor). The cover price of Darkhawk #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5. The Key Collector Comics value is $5.
Dynamically Discounted Cool Comics
#1567 — Star Wars #2, Marvel, August 1977.
A long time ago, in a comic book collection far, far away, I once owned the first two Treasury Size Star Wars comic books. Over time, I’d collected a nice stack of various titles in that larger dimension, but they weren’t the easiest when it comes to storage, and I ended up selling them. Sometimes I miss those overly large comic books, but I’m okay…really. Anyway, I never leave a Star Wars comic behind when I come across one in a quarter box, and this Star Wars issue is a perfect example. The cover is a mess, the inside is nothing to write home about, but it’s Star Wars, and it’s a blast (literally!) to read any of these early issues. I’ve read about the difficulties the creative team had, since several issues of the comic were to come out before the first movie hit theaters, so it was no surprise when I turned a page and discovered a Jabba the Hutt that is completely…well…alien. This is a great, fun piece of history, and I’m really glad I found it so cheap and got to read it! My copy is from a Whitman pre-pack and is listed on Comic Book Realm as “Whitman-B,” priced five cents more than the original issue. The cover price of Star Wars #2 is 35¢, while the current value is $10.
Cool Comics Celebrates FCBD (Week 3 of 2021)
#1568 — Suicide Squad Special Edition #1, DC, October 2021.
No, I haven’t seen the new Suicide Squad movie (yet), and yes, King Shark looks pretty cool on this cover. Alas, I once owned the first appearance of this toothy anti-hero, but I ended up selling it in a garage sale of gigantic proportions…and now many of those comics I sold that weekend are worth way more than what I got for them. But that’s life, isn’t it? You win some, you lose some. Still, I now own this nifty Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) issue, and the price was more than right! This freebie came with two stories that will leave you wanting more, more, and even more! Suicide Squad: King Shark is brought to us by Tim Seeley (writer), Scott Kolins (artist), John Kalisz (colors), Wes Abbott (letters), Trevor Hairsine (cover), and Michael McCalister (editor). The second tale is a preview of Suicide Squad: Get Joker, featuring the creative talents of Brian Azzarello (writer), Alex Maleev (artist), Matt Hollingsworth (colorist), Jared Fletcher (letterer), Bixie Matheiu (assistant editor), and Mike Cotton (editor). The cover price of Suicide Squad Special Edition #1 is free, while the current value is $0. The Key Collector Comics value is $0.
Cool Comics for the Young at Heart
#1569 — Bugs Bunny #201, Gold Key, October 1978.
When I watched Looney Tunes cartoons as a kid, Elmer Fudd annoyed me. Bugs was my guy, and Elmer just seemed to be a pain. But now that I’m older and reading these comic books for the young at heart, I have a new perspective on Elmer, and have no problem with the character – at least the way he’s portrayed in the comics. It’s been many years since I’ve seen any of the cartoons, so I may still see him as nothing but a foil for our rabbit hero if I ever watch them again. I really like the way Bugs and Elmer partner up in the opening story of this issue in an adventure named One Ghost Too Many. If you’re a Bugs Bunny fan, I recommend picking this one up, if you can find a copy (and it should be no surprise to constant readers that I found this one in a quarter box!). Credited creators include Ralph Heimdahl (cover), Don R. Christensen (script), Tom McKimson (pencils), and Tony DiPaola (inks/letter). The cover price of Bugs Bunny #201 is 35¢, while the current value is $8.
Twentieth Century Cool Comics
#1570 — Weird Suspense #1, Atlas/Seaboard, February 1975.
When I started my third phase of comic book collecting (which ran from 1993 to 2003), I bought a few Atlas titles from discount boxes. I didn’t have many, perhaps 3 or 4, but I recalled seeing a few on the shelves back in the Seventies…without ever bothering to pick one up. My money went to mostly Marvel capes and tights titles, along with The Planet of the Apes magazine and the occasional monster periodical (a couple of which, as it turns out, were Atlas/Seaboard productions – the first two issues of Movie Monsters, and I still have them!). And sports cards…and nonsports cards…and Dairy Queen (there was one right down the street from where I grew up) …and I didn’t have unlimited funds, so I always had a lot of decisions to make. Anyway, now that I’m on my fourth phase of comic collecting, the nostalgia bug has infected me, and I’m having a blast discovering these Seventies comics that I never read. Creators include Michael Fleisher (script), Pat Boyette (pencils/inks/letters), and Dick Giordano (cover). The cover price of Weird Suspense #1 is 25¢, while the current values are $18 on CBR and $10 on ZKC. The Key Collector Comics value is $15.
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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