Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection episode 314, 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 314…
Cool Comics Stuff!
I had a blast this past Saturday at the Hall of Fame City Comic Con in Canton, Ohio. The show gave me a chance to catch up with old acquaintances and friends, along with meeting people face-to-face I’d previously only communicated with over the Internet. Below are some pictures I snapped from my time there (you can click them for a closer look).
Doctor Chopper’s Codakhrome Comic Shop 3D Comic Collages www.CodakhromeComicShop.com
World famous artist Robert A. Kraus (RAK), creator of Chakan
Aaron Archer, artist and builder of worlds, storylines, and characters for iconic properties, such as Transformers, GI Joe, Star Wars, Batman, Jurassic Park, and Alien
Sean McArdle and Jon Judy, writers/creators of the Eisner Award Nominated series The Führer and the Tramp (below are all five issues, signed by both Sean and Jon, that I brought home with me!)
One of the most well-known comic book writers on the planet, Mark Waid
Cool Comics Battle of the Week!
The Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Batman versus Black Goliath! 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 Cool Comics Creation features sketch cards from The Jungle Book trading card series (my local comic book club, Adventure in Comics, discussed Jungle comics at our last meeting on September 28!), courtesy of illustrator Dan Gorman, 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
#1586 — Death of Doctor Strange #1, Marvel, November 2021.
They’re killing off Doctor Strange?! Since when did comic book companies decide it was okay to eliminate characters that we’ve spent so many hours of our lives with? All kidding aside, this certainly didn’t get all…or any…of the pomp and circumstance that Superman received back in 1992. And if you weren’t paying too much attention, you possibly missed it. Along with the death of the Scarlet Witch. Kind of. And a bunch of mutants have kicked the bucket over the last year or so, only to be resurrected. Death certainly isn’t what it used to be when poor Uncle Ben was shot and killed. At least he stayed dead…right? Wait a minute…what did you just say? You’ve been reading the new Amazing Fantasy limited series and Uncle Ben is in it? Now I don’t know what to think! I guess the question here isn’t so much, “Will Doctor Strange come back from the dead,” but more along the lines of “How long do you think Stephen Strange will stay dead?” Regardless of how much fun we can poke at comic books when it comes to death, I still enjoyed this comic and look forward to seeing what happens next! This issue was written by Jed MacKay, art by Lee Garbett, colors by Antonio Fabela, lettering by VC’s Cory Petit, cover by Kaare Andrews, and edited by Darren Shan and Kat Gregorowicz. The cover price of Death of Doctor Strange #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5. The Key Collector Comics value is also $5.
Dynamically Discounted Cool Comics
#1587 — Cyberpunk: Book Two #1, Innovation, May 1990.
When you’re a comic book archaeologist and dig long and deep in discount boxes, sometimes what you come home with is not unlike a paleontologist finding a dinosaur bones, but unsure of where it goes on the skeleton and what breed of dinosaur it belongs to. While this may sound like an odd description, I’ll bet some of you know just what I mean. Which leads me to the issue at hand, Cyberpunk: Book Two #1. When I decided to read this issue for Cool Comics, I understood that there might just be a disconnect since I wasn’t familiar with the first series. Initially I thought I didn’t even own it, but as it turns out, I do own #2 of the first series (according to my comic book Word doc), but it’s hidden in one of my many quarter boxes. Still, this is the one I pulled out, and the Cool Comics deadline was fast approaching so it was too late to switch! Now some of you may wonder what prompted me to spend a quarter on this title in the first place, and that’s a fair question. You see, the company, Innovation was located in Wheeling, West Virginia, and I spent many childhood days there. I grew up in Ohio, but only a river stood between me and Wheeling, so besides shopping trips with my parents, I’d walk (or drive, when I got older) across the bridges with my neighborhood pals and we’d go to the movies or search stores for comic books and monster magazines. Hence, I always buy Innovation comics when I find them in discount boxes. Nostalgia is a powerful force! And while it would have been easier to understand had I read the first series, I still enjoyed it. The creators are Scott Rockwell (story), Doug Talalla (art), and Vickie Williams (lettering). The cover price of Cyberpunk: Book Two #1 is $2.25, while the current value is $3.
Cool Comics Celebrates FCBD (Week 7 of 2021)
#1588 — Batman Special Edition, DC, October 2021.
Batfan alert! Proceed immediately to the Batpole, jump in the Batmobile, zoom out of the Batcave, and head straight to your local comic shop to see if they have any issues of this Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) Batman Special Edition left. But who am I kidding? If you’re a Batfan, you already picked this up back in August. Though if you did miss it, you’ve probably already read the first story in the regular ongoing Batman comic, and possibly you’re reading the new I Am Batman limited series, where the second story in this issue comes from. And while it’s nice to get these glimpses of what’s coming with FCBD, if you read them all a week apart like I do (and I get all the FCBD issues, which is a lot), and you discover something you can’t live without, it might take a little work to find the back issues. The creators for the first story (Batman Fear State) are James Tynion V (writer), Jorge Jimenez (artist), Tomeu Morey (colors), Clayton Cowles (letters), Dave Wielgosz (associate editor), and Ben Abernathy (editor). Creators for I Am Batman include John Ridley (writer), Travel Foreman (pencils), Norm Rapmund (inks), Rex Lokus (colors), A Larger World (letters), and Ben Abernathy (editor). The cover price of Batman Special Edition is free, while the current values are $0 on CBR and $1 on ZKC.
Cool Comics for the Young at Heart
#1589 — Back to the Future #2, Harvey Comics, January 1992.
I think just about everyone I knew saw the movie Back to the Future when it came out in 1985. It was a blend of fun science fiction, rock-and-roll, and great music, and it captured the hearts of so many people that a couple sequels followed, along with a cartoon, and some comic books. Well, I saw the sequels, but not the cartoons. And I never read any of the comic books until this issue, which someone gave to me (always a great way to build your collection). And while I’m a couple years older than the intended audience for this comic book (okay, stop laughing), I still got a bit of a kick out of it, despite the corniness. But what we need to remember is that with a franchise like this one that repeatedly gains new fans as those much younger than us discover the fun, this new generation just may look for more things Back to the Future, and decide they need the comic books. So maybe the value of this issue will someday skyrocket! Okay, it won’t, but at least I felt young at heart while reading it. The creators for this comic include some familiar names: Dwayne McDuffie (writer – based on a TV script by Earl Kress), Nelson Dewey (penciler/inker/coloring), and Gil Kane (cover artist). The cover price of Back to the Future #2 is $1.25, while the current value is $3.
Twentieth Century Cool Comics
#1590 — Black Goliath #1, Marvel, February 1976.
After 1,589 individual Cool Comics that I’ve included in this blog, I’m actually repeating this one. You see, way back in Cool Comics In My Collection episode 11, my 77th entry was “One That Got Away,” Black Goliath #1. And while these days I rarely include comics that I no longer have as part of my collection (it’s been a really long time, I think, since I’ve last done this), sometimes when you get one back it’s a cause to celebrate! I was able to get this from Kenmore Komics & Games at a great price, so it’s back where it belongs! And it was a lot of fun reading it 45 years later, coming from a different place in life, with a vastly changed perspective on things from when I was a kid, yet full of familiarity. People love to quote the title of Thomas Wolfe’s novel You Can’t Go Home Again (which I’ve never read…but I did read Wolfe’s novel Look Homeward, Angel, and recommend it if you’re interested in early 20th Century American literature), and while it’s true in some respects, comic books often help to at least give us the impression of being young again and reliving those carefree days of superhero adventure. I want to give a big thanks to the creators for helping fuel so much fun, and they include Tony Isabella (writer, who is also credited with conceiving it), George Tuska (penciller), Vince Colletta (inker), Irv Watanabe (letterer), Michele Wolfman (colors), and Marv Wolfman (editor). The cover price of Black Goliath #1 is 25¢, while the current values are $35 on CBR and $20 on ZKC. The Key Collector Comics value is $22.
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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