Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection episode 322, 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 322…
Cool Comics Stuff!
As a comic book fan, what are you thankful for on this Thanksgiving Day? Perhaps it’s a recent acquisition of a “Grail” that you’ve been after for a long time, or maybe it’s news that one of your favorite characters is back in an ongoing series. Maybe you’re thankful for your local comic shop, or perhaps someone recently gifted you a box or two containing comics from your favorite period. There are many things to be thankful for in life, and when it comes to comic books, the things we can be thankful for sometimes feels limitless! One of the things I’m thankful for in the world of comics is the number of great people I’ve met who work in the industry, from the hard-working independents to those who’ve worked for the big two. It’s a hobby that I’m proud to be a part of! And the picture above? What’s that about, you ask? Why, I’m thankful for this box full of comics that cost just a quarter each!
Cool Comics Battle of the Week!
The Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Jimmy Olsen versus Donald Duck! 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 Star Wars trading card series, courtesy of illustrator Dan Gorman, a member of the National Cartoonists Society and one of the top sketch card artists on the planet. If you’re looking for things to be thankful for in this Thanksgiving edition of Cool Comics, you can be thankful for Dan’s delightful talents! 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
#1626 — Fantastic Four Anniversary Tribute #1, Marvel, January 2022.
For the last few years, DC has given us some pretty cool 80th Anniversary comics of their popular, long-lasting characters, usually packing about 10 stories into 100 pages by various creators. And now that the Fantastic Four has turned 60 (as of August…things tend to run late these days, which all of you probably know), Marvel gives us a different kind of “Anniversary Tribute.” This issue contains the now classic Fantastic Four #1 and Fantastic Four Annual #3, but instead of simple reprints, dozens of artists have contributed their renditions, per story page, while the writing credit by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby remain the same. Each included story contains a page that tells us who did page 1 of issue 1, page 2 of issue 1, and so on. I’m sure this took a bit of coordination, but it is a lot of fun to revisit these important stories in Fantastic Four history, and if you’re even just somewhat of a fan, I recommend picking this up. Consequently, I’m not going to try to squeeze all the creator names in here, but you can find the long list at Marvel Database. The cover price of Fantastic Four Anniversary Tribute #1 is $6.99, while the current value is $7.
Dynamically Discounted Cool Comics
#1627 — Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #161, DC, November 1973.
It’s not often that I find issues of Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen in quarter bins, so when I spot one, I don’t pass up the opportunity. And as you can see from the cover, the drama is ratcheted up because, as Superman himself tells Jimmy, “STAY AWAY! YOU’VE BECOME A HUMAN ATOM BOMB!” Imagine the horror if that happened to you…but unless your name is Olsen, you’re probably safe, since according once more to the cover, this is part of “The OLSEN EXPERIMENT.” The Jimmy Olsen stories are often wacky, but that’s part of the charm of this series that gives us covers that just BEG us to take them home and read them. At least that’s my excuse for buying them. The cover artist for this crazy comic is Nick Cardy and features a script by Leo Dorfman, with art by Kurt Schaffenberger. The cover price of Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #161 is 20¢, while the current values are $30 on CBR and $24 on ZKC.
Cool Comics Celebrates FCBD (Week 15 of 2021)
#1628 — Bountiful Garden #1, Mad Cave, October 2021.
Not long after I’d begun reading this Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) edition of Bountiful Garden, I got the sense of déjà vu. Or something very close to it. About 15 years ago I’d written down ideas in a notebook for a science fiction space trilogy I tagged as The Lost Agendas. Later, I typed up the notes for each of the three potential books and still have the Word file. And while Bountiful Garden and The Lost Agendas trilogy have plenty of differences, the similarities got me kind of excited about both the comic book and my possible future trilogy…that I’ll probably never write, as too many other projects now take up my time. But I sure had fun reading this FCBD issue and looking over my notes! The team that put this comic together includes Ivy Noelle Weir (writer), Kelly Williams (artist), Giorgio Spalleta (colorist), Justin Birch (letterer), Steenz (editor), and Diana Bermúdez (book designer). The cover price of Bountiful Garden #1 is free, while the current value is $1.
Cool Comics for the Young at Heart
#1629 — Walt Disney’s Comics & Stories #579, Disney Comics, January 1993.
It’s hard to go wrong with a Disney comic book, regardless of what company published it, and if you celebrate Thanksgiving and are a fan of Disney Ducks, then this is a comic you probably want to add to your collection, if you don’t already own it. Donald’s nephews often enjoy pulling a fast one on him, and this story is no exception when the dapper duck dresses like a Pilgrim in his quest for a turkey cheaper than the prices at the local butcher. Also in this issue we get a story with The L’il Bad Wolf, and then Mickey Mouse and Goofy in “Ridin’ the Rails.” If you only read one Disney title, this is the one to get, due to the variety of characters and stories. The Grand Comics Database is a great place to go for all the creator credits, since there are several stories in this issue, so make sure to check out the link. The cover price of Walt Disney’s Comics & Stories #579 is $1.50, while the current value is $4.
Twentieth Century Cool Comics
#1630 — Famous Funnies #148, Eastern Color Printing, November 1946.
I always enjoy perusing through back issue boxes, and often I’ll flip through comics that are unknown commodities for me. When I saw this issue of Famous Funnies, I decided it was easily within my budget ($8 for this previously owned comic book…and in 1946 this was 52 pages for a measly dime), and I wanted to sample what this title was about. As it turns out, this is now, to the best of my recollection, the oldest comic book in my collection (does it show that I’ve been reading about that rhyming rapscallion, The Demon, in the newest Back Issue magazine?). Between the covers we find a variety of stories featuring Buck Rogers, Invisible Scarlett O’Neil, Chief Wahoo and Steve Roper, Napoleon, Dickie Dare, Scorchy Smith, and Oaky Doaks. And I’m surmising that you probably recognize the name Buck Rogers, but the rest of these characters from the Forties are perfect strangers…although you may have figured out that Chief Wahoo is the guy on the cover with the turkey (did you eat your Thanksgiving Day turkey yet?) roosting on his feet. This comic certainly comes from a different time and place, and it’s nice to be able to take a look at the kinds of stories your parents or grandparents may have read. While I may not be able to afford a Superman comic from 1946, comics like this are still fun to experience. Once more, as Famous Funnies is an anthology with a myriad of creators, the best way to find out about the writers and artists is by visiting the Grand Comics Database. The cover price of Famous Funnies #148 is 10¢, while the current value is $125.
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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What better way to honor Jack Kirby than to have lesser artists redraw his work! And, yes, that is sarcasm.
Tony, you come to this from a totally different perspective than most of us, as a former industry insider, so I can appreciate your feelings here.
From a fan’s perspective, this is titled as a tribute, not a reprint (and these stories have been reprinted a number of times over the years, allowing readers to see the original art), and it was interesting to see the ways different artists paid tribute to Jack Kirby’s art. Plus, the comic made sure to give full creator credits to Stan and Jack. And maybe some newer fans decided to get this issue, starting a lifelong love for classic comics! As always, I try to look for the positive in this great hobby.
Thanks for writing and being an important part of Cool Comics!