Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection episode 325, 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 325…
Cool Comics Stuff!
I’d be remiss if I didn’t promote a couple of fantastic local (greater Akron, Ohio, area) creators and their newest comic books. Dan Gorman (who, as many of you know, did the famous Cool Comics In My Collection logo) gets creator credits in Turkey Day as the colorist and is also one of the writers. This is a wild tale of aliens, turkeys, and tradition. It’s rated Mature (violence) and is unlike any Thanksgiving tale I’ve ever read! Ted Sikora (writer) wraps up Bloom with issue #4 (also rated Mature). Hero Tomorrow Comics has built quite the entertaining universe, and the Bloom run brings us an important part of its history. I’m always looking forward to new things from both Dan and Ted!
Cool Comics Battle of the Week!
The Cool Comics Battle of the Week is The Jack of Hearts versus The Flash! 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 episode, Cool Comics features a “Flash” mob, thanks to Ed Griffie’s quick pencils and Cool Comic #1645 below! 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
#1641 — Archie’s Holiday Magic Special #1, Archie, February 2022.
It’s always interesting to see modern takes on characters who have been around for decades, and Archie and his pals are celebrating 80 years of comic book fun. Personally, I’ve enjoyed all the different looks of the Riverdale gang, even when they’re zombies (although Archie during the Seventies is my favorite period since that’s when I started reading the different titles). This issue also includes a Little Archie story, which are always fun. If you like a splash of Archie with your Christmas, why not give this one a try? I’m going to cover the creators for each of the stories in this fun issue, so here we go: Home for the Holidaze – Micol Ostow (story) and Gretel Lusky (line art); Yes, Little Archie, There is a… – J. Torres (story) and Gretel Lusky (line art); It’s a Wonderful Latke – Micol Ostow (story) and Arielle Jovellanos (line art); and Return to Riverdale – Michael Northrop (story) and Dan Schoening (line art). Other credits include Matt Herms (coloring), Jack Morelli (lettering), Jamie Lee Rotante (editor), Stephen Oswald (associate editor), Vincent Lovallo (assistant editor), and Gretel Lusky (cover). The cover price of Archie’s Holiday Magic Special #1 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.
Dynamically Discounted Cool Comics
#1642 — The Jack of Hearts #1, Marvel, January 1984.
Created by Bill Mantlo (writer) and Keith Giffen (artist), the Jack of Hearts seems to have been dealt a bad hand (okay, you can stop groaning now). I’ve rarely seen this character, and for all I can remember, this may be the only comic book I’ve read that features Jack Hart (being that I’ve read thousands of comic books in my life, don’t hold me to this statement, please!). He’s angry, sympathetic, and powerful, and the story left me wanting to know what happens next…and it just so happens that I found all four issues of this mini-series in a quarter box a few months ago! Hence, I was able to get the entire run for a measly dollar. Bill Mantlo gets script credit, while George Freeman did the pencils and inks for both the interiors and cover. Other creators include Nick Burns (colors) and John Morelli (letters). The cover price of The Jack of Hearts #1 is 60¢, while the current values are $4 on CBR and $3 on ZKC.
Cool Comics Celebrates FCBD (Week 18 of 2021)
#1643 — Rent-A-(Really Shy!)-Girlfriend #1, Kodansha, August 2021.
This manga Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) edition comes with the title story, along with a really short look at another tale named A School Frozen in Time. And while I’m not a big fan of these kinds of stories (I’m certainly not the target market!), I recognize that there are plenty of readers out there who love these comics. Another thing on the plus side is that after several years of FCBD manga comics, I’m starting to get the hang of reading them back to front, right to left. And if this issue had a guide on how to read it, which they sometimes do, it wasn’t necessary…I feel like I’ve really accomplished something! Rent-A-(Really Shy!)-Girlfriend is written and illustrated by original creator Reiji Miyajima, while A School Frozen in Time is written by Mizuki Tsujimura and illustrated by Naoshi Arakawa. The cover price of Rent-A-(Really Shy!)-Girlfriend #1 is free, while the current value is $1.
Cool Comics for the Young at Heart
#1644 — Walt Disney’s Holiday Parade #2, Disney Comics, Winter 1991.
This is another ultrathick Disney anthology that brings us delightful winter tales featuring Donald Duck, Li’l Bad Wolf, Grandma Duck, Chip ‘N’ Dale, Super Goof, Mickey Mouse, and more! One of the best things about my copy is that it was gifted to me, which is always a great way to build your collection. If you’re a Disney fan and love holiday stories, start digging through back issues at your local comic shop! It took tons of creators for all the stories in this extra thick special: Rick Hoover, Gail Bailey, Bob Gregory, Carl Barks, Susan Daigle-Leach, Garé Barks, Carl Fallberg, Frank McSavage, Janice Cohen, Don R. Christensen, Riley Thomson, Joan Goldman, Paul Murry, Valerie Dal Chele, Bill Spicer, Werner Wejp-Olsen, Josep Tello González, Carl Gafford, Al Hubbard, Jo Meugniot, and Harvey Eisenberg. Story credit per creator can be found at The Grand Comics Database. The cover price of Walt Disney’s Holiday Parade #2 is $2.95, while the current values are $4 on CBR and $3 on ZKC.
Twentieth Century Cool Comics
#1645 — The Flash #283, DC, March 1980.
Look kids, it’s December, and Cool Comics is featuring the man in the red suit! Okay, he doesn’t say, “Ho, Ho, Ho!” or travel by reindeer, but he moves every bit as fast (probably faster) as Santa Claus on Christmas Eve! This is a fun issue that goes back over 40 years, and as you can see on the cover, Barry Allen is giving his time-traveling treadmill a terrific workout. Cover credits belong to Ross Andru (pencils), Dick Giordano (inks), Tatjana Wood (colors), and Todd Klein (letters). The story, Flashback, quickly comes to us from Cary Bates (script), Don Heck (pencils), Frank Chiaramonte (inks), Gene D’Angelo (colors), and Ben Oda (letters). The cover price of The Flash #283 is 40¢, while the current value is $8.
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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Views: 303
Thanks for another great post!
Lots of good stuff here, but what caught my eye the most was your spotlight on the underrated late Bronze Age cosmic hero, Jack of Hearts! I did a Longbox Junk review on his 4 issue mini and quickly became a fan of this practically-forgotten Marvel hero. It’s nice to see Jack getting a little attention in Cool Comics!
Thanks for keeping comics fun!
Atom, I am so fortunate to have found the entire series for just $1. I’m pretty spoiled that one of the local shops has lots of quarter boxes each week when I visit.
Thanks so much for your comments, and for being an important part of Cool Comics!