Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection episode 318, 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 318…
Cool Comics Stuff!
Here we are on the last Thursday in October, and the end of our Cool Comics Halloween Celebration. Do you have any plans for the weekend? Perhaps you have a party to attend, or you’re taking some kids trick-or-treating. Maybe you stay in and watch scary movies, or it could be that you prefer more friendly Halloween shows like It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. It’s also a great weekend to enjoy some fun, frightful reading. My favorite Halloween short story of all time is Yesterday’s Witch, by Gahan Wilson, closely followed by Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. If you’ve never experienced either, this is the perfect time of year! Additionally, I now have a favorite Halloween comic book. Fantastic Four #37 (it came out last week) is fun, slightly frightful, and emotional. If you haven’t added it to your collection and you’re a fan of Halloween, grab a copy…if you can still find one.
Oh, one more thing-the videos. We at Cool Comics are curious to know if you, our favorite readers in the world, like them and want them to stay as part of the blog, or if we should retire them.
Cool Comics Battle of the Week!
The Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Ghost Rider versus Herman Munster! 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 a trading card series based on the Netflix hit (along with several comic books) Stranger Things, 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
#1606 — Batman: The Long Halloween Special #1, DC, December 2021.
What a fantastic gift fans of Batman: The Long Halloween have received this spooky season! There are some people out there who love to pick on comic books from the Nineties, but every decade of this fantastically fun hobby has produced seminal works, and Jeph Loeb (writer) and Tim Sale (artist) hit a homerun with this 13-issue limited series that started in the latter half of 1996 and concluded late in 1997. My third phase of comic book collecting ran from mid-1993 through mid-2003, so I was right there each month, studying Previews and writing out my orders for my comic shop in Atlanta, Georgia, guaranteeing I wouldn’t miss out on anything worthwhile. But for some unknown reason I neglected to collect it (thinking back on the dates, it’s probably because we’d just had our second child and I needed more diaper money). However, a couple years ago, I purchased the digital collection and immediately became a fan. Now, many years later, Loeb and Sale have once again given us another terrific chapter in this amazing story. And if you’ve never read the original, start there first if you want to get the most out of this new Halloween classic. Aside from Loeb and Sale (who also did the cover art), the other creators include Brennan Wagner (colorist), Richard Starkings (lettering & design), and Ben Abernathy (editor). The cover price of Batman: The Long Halloween Special #1 is $7.99, while the current value is $8. The Key Collector Comics value is also $8.
Dynamically Discounted Cool Comics
#1607 — Ghost Rider #3, Marvel, July 1990.
Sometime in the Nineties, after I’d decided to start reading monthly comic books once again (the last time dated back to 1982), I discovered that there was a new Ghost Rider, which caught me a bit by surprise. But I came to enjoy the adventures of Danny Ketch, too, and collected the title for a while. Yet I didn’t have this earlier issue, so I was more than happy to add it to my collection from a quarter box a while back. If you haven’t kept up with Ghost Rider, there are more iterations than you can imagine. For details on Danny Ketch, be sure to watch the video below. While Ghost Rider isn’t your typical Halloween monster, he can be scary enough for his enemies. My advice is to never look a Ghost Rider in the eye! The creators for this issue include Howard Mackie (writer), Javier Saltares (penciller), Mark Texeira (inker), Michael Heisler (letterer), Gregory Wright (colorist), and Bobbie Chase (editor). The cover price of Ghost Rider #3 is $1.50, while the current value is $5.
Cool Comics Celebrates FCBD (Week 11 of 2021)
#1608 — Red Room, Fantagraphics, August 2021.
If you’re completely up with Internet lore, especially concerning the Dark Web, then you may be familiar with what a Red Room is. Until I read this Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) issue, I was among the uninitiated when it comes to this level of horror and violence. Do they really exist? I think the jury is still out, and if they do, perhaps we’re better off not knowing. And if you want to know what a “Red Room” is, you can google it, or read this comic book title. But unless you enjoy your horror with a little more shock value, you’re probably better off not knowing…and now you’ll probably look it up anyway. To be honest, though, for a mature rated comic (so keep this issue out of the hands of little ones), this wasn’t as gross or bad as many that I’ve read. I realize that Red Room has a fan base, but I’m not part of that demographic; however, I did enjoy the story Juniper much more than I thought I would. Ed Piskor did the heavy lifting and is credited as writer, artist, colorist, designer, letterer, and cover artist. Eric Reynolds is the editor. The cover price of Red Room is free, while the current values are $4 on CBR and $1 on ZKC.
Cool Comics for the Young at Heart
#1609 — Bugs Bunny’s Halloween Parade #2, Dell, October 1954.
One day earlier this year (I believe it was in the spring) I decided to dig around in back issue boxes at my local comic shop to see if I could find some older cool comics that would be a perfect fit for those who enjoy feeling Young at Heart, and this beautiful Dell Giant caught my eye. As anyone who reads Cool Comics knows, I love to feature holiday and seasonal comics when I’m able to, and Bugs Bunny’s Halloween Parade is a perfect fit for late October. The price was listed at $7, and graded as fine, and it certainly looked good enough for Gosneys (our family motto, for those who’ve never seen me mention this before). Obviously, it’s a previously owned comic book, and there are a few puzzles inside for youngsters that have been filled in by pencil, but that just adds to the history of this old classic. The ultra-thick issue is packed with Looney Tune fun featuring Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Sylvester & Tweety, and many more. The cover credits belong to Ralph Heimdahl (pencils) and Don MacLaughlin (inks and colors). There are lots of stories contained inside, and while not every creator credit is known, some of the interior artists listed at the Grand Comics Database include Ken Champin, Phil de Lara, Pete Alvarado, Vic Lockman, Vivie Risto, Gil Turner, Tony Strobl, John Liggera, Fred Abranz, Ralph Heimdahl, and Don MacLaughlin. Click the link to see all the stories and known credits. The cover price of Bugs Bunny’s Halloween Parade #2 is 25¢, while the current value is $185.
Twentieth Century Cool Comics
#1610 — The Munsters #5, Gold Key, January 1966.
Wouldn’t you know it that on the same day I found that wonderful Bugs Bunny comic book above, I also came across one of fandom’s favorite families, The Munsters! I think everyone in my neighborhood watched this frightfully fun show in syndication, and although we sometimes thought ourselves to be more sophisticated when it came to horror, this little shot of comedy helped keep us grounded. From the fun theme song (watch the video below!) to the silly plots to the make-up and costumes, the show produced such great memories that I was excited to find this old comic for just $6. Gold Key did a great job with their photo covers, and the interior art nearly has you feeling like you’re watching an episode on TV. Unfortunately, the creator credits seem to be lost somewhere in the past. I think this issue is a great way to wrap up October (Happy Halloween!). The cover price of The Munsters #5 is12¢, while the current value is $160.
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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