Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection episode 313, 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 313…
Cool Comics Stuff!
One of the reasons I enjoy publishing Cool Comics each week is because you never know just who might be reading it, along with the impact it can have on fans, collectors, and creators. Early last week I was contacted by comic book writer Pedro Angosto, asking me if I’d be willing to tell you about one of his newest efforts, Knights of Justice, which is featured in Big Bang Adventures #8. Pedro made sure to get a copy for me to read, along with a very nice press release.
And I had a blast reading Knights of Justice! it reminded me of the recent release of The Heroes Union #1, stories that are made for today’s readers that harken back to the thrilling adventures of yesteryear. This exciting, fun adventure left me wanting more!
The following italicized text is a portion from the press release, which gives you an idea of the history behind this comic book.
The catch was that the pastiche heroes (DC and later on, Marvel ones too) starred in adventures written and drawn as they were back in the Golden and Silver age, with artists emulating the original art styles of their creators, or even being done by those creators themselves!
During its thirty years of story -forty if you count Ultiman/Megaton- Bing Bang Comics has published the works of legendary creators like Curt Swan, Murphy Anderson, Shelly Moldoff, Marty Nodell, Rick Buckler, Dave Cockrum, Sal Buscema, Ron Frenz, Alex Ross, Mike W. Barr, Chris Samne, Stephen Bissete, Jim Valentino among many others.
BIG BANG COMICS lasted forty-plus issues at Image, then was self-published as BIG BANG COMICS PRESENTS for half a dozen. AC Comics put three BIG BANG COMICS UNIVERSE issues out and BB is now currently back as BIG BANG ADVENTURES at INDYPLANET.COM, both as digital and print-on-demand.
Written by Pedro Angosto (Round Table of America: Personality Crisis), with art by Pablo Alcalde and color by Simon Loko, plus a huge pin-up gallery and an alternate cover by JORGE SANTAMARÍA (Avengers: Celestial Quest).
Gary Carlson, Chris Ecker and Pedro Angosto are available for interviews. Please contact us at bigbangcomics@sbcglobal.net
If you want to see what happens when the Knights of Justice take on the Alliance of Evil, then wait no longer and click the link now! https://indyplanet.com/big-bang-comics
Hall of Fame City Comic Con
Another great show in Northeast Ohio! Don’t miss this terrific one-day event.
Cool Comics Battle of the Week!
The Cool Comics Battle of the Week is the Human Torch versus Hawkman! 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!
As Cool Comics celebrates the 60th Anniversary of the Fantastic Four, this RAKified version of Marvel’s First Family really captures the event! This episode’s creation comes to us from Robert A. Kraus (aka RAK), creator of Chakan and many other fantastic works of art, including cool games he’s developed. 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
#1581 — Fantastic Four #35, Marvel, November 2021.
Though this issue missed the actual anniversary date of August 8 (which also happens to be my wedding anniversary) …and didn’t even get the comic into our hands until mid-September…it’s still worth the cost for this wonderful tribute to 60 years of FANTASTIC adventures. The title that ushered in the Age of Marvel Comics has produced some great runs over the last six decades, and I always appreciate these celebratory big issues that so often seem to yank the money right out of my wallet. The story the creators came up with, which includes time travel and tributes to different periods of the Fantastic Four, is clever and had me turning page after page, not wanting to quit until I reached the conclusion. Lots of people were involved in putting this giant issue together, so if you want to see all the creators, characters, and covers, click HERE, and all will be revealed. If you appreciate comic book history, and especially if you’re a fan of the Four, don’t miss this issue! The cover price of Fantastic Four #35 is $9.99, while the current value is $10. The Key Collector Comics value is $5.
Dynamically Discounted Cool Comics
#1582 — Hawkman #3, DC, October 1986.
There are certain creators I’m always happy to see listed on the cover of comic books, and when I’m on an archaeological dig to find great back issue treasures of the past in quarter bins, those names make my buying decisions that much easier. For instance, this early Modern Age Artifact (which, by some accounts, is also considered the Dark Age, while others refer to this as the Copper Age…gets a bit confusing, doesn’t it? Who’s in charge of this? I couldn’t tell you, but for more information, click HERE and HERE…and oh yeah, HERE) tells us at the very top that Tony Isabella is the writer, so there was never any doubt, since I didn’t previously own this issue, that it was coming home with me. I’ve seen Tony at local comic cons (we both live in Northeast Ohio) and have chatted a bit with him on several occasions over the last few years, not to mention that he’s given me some blogging advice, and he also inquired about my health when I went through a medical issue last year. So yes, I want more comics written by Mr. Isabella in my collection. Other creators in this issue include Richard Howell (penciller), Don Heck (inker), Milt Snapinn (letterer), Michele Wolfman (colorist), and Denny O’Neil (editor). The cover price of Hawkman #3 is 75¢, while the current values are $4 on CBR and $3 on ZKC.
Cool Comics Celebrates FCBD (Week 6 of 2021)
#1583 — All-Star Judge Dredd, Rebellion, August 2021.
I wasn’t a Judge Dredd fan until I saw the 2012 movie Dredd, starring Karl Urban. Although to be fair, I hadn’t been reading any of his comics, so I didn’t know much about the character. A couple years ago or so, my son wanted to watch it with me, and though it’s a very dark world full of danger in a future that no one would want to be a part of, it’s a fascinating story. Still, I’ve probably read less issues than the number of fingers on either of my hands (and just for the record, I have four fingers and a thumb on each hand…at least that’s what I’m currently telling everyone). When I’m fortunate enough to spot Judge Dredd comics in quarter boxes, I purchase all that I find, including some past Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) issues. At some point I’ll start reading them, but I do enjoy building up my runs before digging in. But I read a FCBD issue each week, and I didn’t wait too long before pulling this one out to enjoy. This special issue comes with three stories: Judge Dredd – The Lawyer (writer: Al Ewing; artist: Caspar Wjingaard; letterer: Simon Bowland); Hershey (writer: Rob Williams; artist: Simon Fraser; letterer: Simon Bowland); and Dreadnaughts (writer: Michael Carroll; artist: John Higgins; Colors: Sally Hurst; letterer: Simon Bowland). The cover price of All-Star Judge Dredd is free, while the current value is $1.
Cool Comics for the Young at Heart
#1584 — Dennis the Menace Giant #34, Fawcett, September 1965.
Like so many older comic books, the name on the cover doesn’t match the series title (which isn’t even listed in the indicia…yet the issue number is listed there), but to top it all off, this is a reprint of #14, which came out just three years before this one. I guess they figured that most Dennis the Menace readers who had the earlier version had already graduated to more sophisticated titles. Still, this extra thick issue was a great value back then, and Fawcett gave readers seven complete stories, along with activity and coloring pages, and a section about training your dog. I was fortunate to find a copy listed in Fair condition for just $2. Ruff certainly isn’t my favorite comic book/comic strip dog, but I do enjoy seeing Dennis, his family, and pals sometimes, as these characters make me think back fondly on my childhood. I couldn’t find any creators listed for this issue, and I don’t know if the creator of Dennis the Menace, Hank Ketchum, had a hand in the comic books or not. Perhaps one of you readers know and would like to inform us in the comments section below? The cover price of Dennis the Menace Giant #34 is 25¢, while the current value is $35.
Twentieth Century Cool Comics
#1585 — The Monkees #8, Dell, January 1968.
Many of us spent hours of our youth watching the antics of The Monkees on television, but what some of us didn’t realize (and perhaps I’m the only one) is that they were also available for performances in comic books at your local newsstand, or wherever you bought your four-color fun so many decades ago. I was fortunate to find this in a back issue box for only $4. This issue gives us three complete stories, full of the usual…monkey business you get from this gang of guys. If you haven’t watched the show in a while and you decide to read this comic, it may seem even stranger than what you remember seeing on your TV screen. But believe me, thanks to YouTube, you can relive those quirky moments from the past. As for creator credits, I found just one name associated with this issue, that being Jose Delbo for both pencils and inks for all three stories. The cover price of The Monkees #8 is 12¢, while the current values are $95 on CBR and $30 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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