As Cool Comics Turns 6, Unexpected Things Are Happening!

Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection episode 312, 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 312…

Cool Comics Stuff!

This episode marks 6 years of Cool Comics In My Collection. Thank you, readers, for all the support, as it really means a lot to me that you choose to spend time each week on my website.

I never have enough time or space to list all the cool comics I read each week, so here (pictured above) are a few that deserve some attention: Conan the Barbarian #25, which is Legacy #300 – this issue features several stories from different creators and is a nice tribute for Conan fans; Ka-Zar Lord of the Jungle #1 sees Kevin Plunder back from the dead, with new abilities…I’m not sure yet how I feel about this; and Betty and Veronica: Friends Forever Halloween Spooktacular #1 may have arrived a little early in the season, but it’s a great way to start things off, especially if you enjoy the fun side of the spooky holiday.

Cool Comics Battle of the Week!

The Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Mirror Universe Captain Picard versus Speedball! 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!

I finally got to meet Ed Griffie in person last Saturday at the Adventure in Comics Comic-Book & Toy Show in Akron, OH! He’s such a nice guy, and it was fun when Ed met Ed. This episode Cool Comics is showing Ed’s super cool Shazam cover! 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

#1576 — Star Trek: The Mirror War #0, IDW Publishing, August 2021.

I haven’t been getting any Star Trek comic books recently, although I often buy old issues when I find them in quarter boxes. But when I saw The Mirror War listed in Previews a few months ago, I figured I should “seek out new life and new civilizations. To boldly…” read comic books I’ve never read before! What I didn’t realize is that this is the fourth arc in a series of Mirror adventures from IDW, and me being me, I found the story so intriguing that I had to locate a trade paperback edition that contains the previous three storylines (Star Trek: The Next Generation: Mirror Universe Collection – collects Mirror Broken, Through the Mirror, and Terra Incognita). The trade is about 400 pages, and I’m not sure when I’m going to read it, but I’m looking forward to it, along with the next issue of this series. If you’re a Trek fan and enjoy the Mirror Universe, you don’t want to miss out. The creative team includes Scott & David Tipton (writers), Carlos Nieto (artist), DC Alonso (colorist), Neil Uyetake (letterer), and Megan Brown (editor). The cover price of Star Trek: The Mirror War #0 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

Dynamically Discounted Cool Comics

#1577 — Speedball #1, Marvel, September 1988.

How can you not be a fan of Speedball? He’s fun, he’s goofy, he’s a teen with strange powers (and might make you think of early Spider-Man), and he’s a breath of fresh air compared to all the other dark characters from the Eighties. Still don’t think he’s cool? Fair enough. But if you haven’t read this first issue, which contains his origin, you may want to give Robbie Baldwin the benefit of the doubt by taking a look between the covers. While the title didn’t last long (10 issues), and no one is clamoring for a Speedball Disney+ series, there’s a certain charm to this comic book…at least for me. And it’s not like you’ll be breaking your budget to get a copy. I plucked this one out of a quarter bin, so if you keep an eye out, you can probably find it on the cheap. The creative team includes Steve Ditko (co-plot/pencils), Roger Stern (script), Jackson Guice (inks), Jack Morelli (letters), Tom Vincent (colors), Howard Mackie & Terry Kavanagh (editors) and Tom DeFalco (co-plot/chief). The cover price of Speedball #1 is 75¢, while the current values are $6 on CBR and $2.25 on ZKC.

Cool Comics Celebrates FCBD (Week 5 of 2021)

#1578 — Archie: Past, Present & Future Fun, Archie, August 2021.

Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) is celebrating 20 years, we’ve now seen 80 years of Archie, and Cool Comics turns 6 with this episode! I started reading comics featuring Archie and his Riverdale pals back in the Seventies, and I bought more of these titles then I realized. Which means that I could have spent that money on capes and tights comics instead…but I’m happy with the decisions I made in my past, because Archie stories, while very different, are just as good in their own way. It seems like the teens always find a way to make themselves relevant to current readers, and while some may not care for the Archie Horror line, you can still find plenty of Archie stories that will make you feel young again. And if you’re a fan, make sure you get a copy of this FCBD issue. For the story Archie in Crisis on the Riverdale Earths (okay, now you’re intrigued!), creators include Bill Golliher (writer), Pat & Tim Kennedy (pencils), Bob Smith (inks), Jack Morelli (letters), Glenn Whitmore (colors), and Victor Gorelick (editor/co-president), while Happy Archieversary! was created by Angelo Decesare (writer), Pat & Tim Kennedy (pencils), Jim Amash (inks), Glenn Whitmore (colors), Jack Morelli (letters), and the editorial team of Jamie Lee Rotante, Vincent Lovallo, and Stephen Oswald. The cover price of Archie: Past, Present & Future Fun is free, while the current value is $0.

Cool Comics for the Young at Heart

#1579 — Woodsy Owl #5, Whitman/Gold Key, November 1974.

Give a Hoot! Don’t Pollute! was a battle cry oft repeated on TVs across the nation on Saturday mornings during my childhood, but until recently I had no clue that there was a comic book series featuring Woodsy Owl. I stumbled across this issue while frantically searching quarter boxes one sunny afternoon, although at the time, I didn’t pay much attention to my find and just added it to my expanding pile of purchases. Then, lo and behold, while recently reading a copy of Back Issue (a great magazine for all comic fans who have an interest in the Bronze Age), I came upon a section of an article that featured our winged hero, the anti-pollution owl! I took this as a sign and dug through my boxes full of unread comics that cost just a quarter, and there it was, issue #5. While the story brought back memories of those public service jingles of my childhood, I also decided that a little Woodsy goes a long way. The good news is that instead of one long story, we instead are treated to several Woodsy tales in small doses. Creator credits are scarce, as usual for this publisher, but what I could find has Paul Norris doing pencils for the cover and Larry Mayer doing inks and letters for the cover, and Paul Norris getting pencil and ink credit for the interior stories. The cover price of Woodsy Owl #5 is 25¢, while the current values are $12 on CBR and $6 on ZKC.

Twentieth Century Cool Comics

#1580 — The Unexpected #124, DC, May 1971.

You can always expect the unexpected at Cool Comics, but can you expect The Unexpected? The answer is “Yes you can,” because here it is, straight out of the quarter box from which I found it! And how unexpected is it that we’ve seen The Unexpected before? Any doubters can check out episode 262, published on October 1, 2020, which helped launch last Halloween season at Cool Comics. I really dig these fright anthologies from years gone by (especially when they have a great Neal Adams cover!), and this one contains the following tales of dread and woe: These Walls Shall Be Your Grave (written by Jack Phillips, aka George Kashdan, with art by Jerry Grandenetti); Gift of the Ghouls! (written by George Kashdan, with art by George Tuska); Smiles From the Supernatural! (art by George Tuska, with letters by John Costanza); and The Incredible Rebirth of Martin Phipps! (story by Carl Wessler, with art by Jack Sparling. The cover price of The Unexpected #124 is 15¢, while the current values are $48 on CBR and $40 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/

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