Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection episode 367, 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 367…
Cool Comics Stuff!
Welcome to October, the month in which the comics tend to get a little spookier! But sometimes, as these cool Wendy and Casper candles at the Gosney home show us, October can represent friendly fun without being too scary. Anyone interested in seeing more of our amazing Halloween decorations? Let us know in the comment section below.
Cool Comics Battle of the Week!
The Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Spidey and His Amazing Friends versus Count Duckula! 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!
In this episode, Cool Comics shows off Ed Griffie’s version of Freddy Krueger! 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
#1851 — DC Horror Presents: Sgt. Rock vs. The Army of the Dead #1, DC, November 2022.
Cool Factor: So which Cool Factor matters the most with this issue? That it features Sgt. Rock, or that the comic is written by Bruce Campbell? For many of us, probably a combination of the two. Campbell did a nice job writing this, but as the author of the legendary blog Longbox Junk points out (and this is in my words, not his), it lacks in giving the uninitiated a background on Sgt. Rock and Easy Company. This is the first of six issues, and hopefully readers will stick around to see where this creepy war tale is going. By the way, I strongly suggest reading Atom’s take on this issue, so please click Longbox Junk and give it a read.
Comic Book Credits: Bruce Campbell (writer), Eduardo Risso (artist), Kristian Rossi (colorist), Rob Leigh (letterer), Gary Frank & Brad Anderson (cover), Ben Meares (associate editor), and Katie Kubert (editor).
Price and Values: The cover price of DC Horror Presents: Sgt. Rock vs. The Army of the Dead #1 is $3.99, while the current value is $4. The Key Collector Comics value is also $4.
Media Tie-In Cool Comics (Original Source: Novel)
#1852 — Ape City #1, Adventure Comics, August 1990.
Cool Factor: I knew my life had changed forever when I saw the commercial for the television premiere of the movie Planet of the Apes. I don’t recall what year that was, but I decided I had to watch it. It was kind of creepy, it made a young me very nervous, and I was shocked by the big reveal at the end, but yes, indeed, it had a profound effect on me. This comic is certainly not the first Planet of the Apes comic book (many of us remember the wonderful magazine from the Seventies that had both comics and articles), but when I came across some back issues of this title in discount bins (it came out during a period in which I was not actively reading comic books), I knew I had to have them!
Comic Book Credits: Charles Marshall (writer), M.C. Wyman (penciller), Marvin Perry Mann (inker), Steve Miller (tonework), Pat Brosseau (letterer), Mitch Foust (cover painting), Mickie Villa & Dan Danko (editorial assistants), and Chris Ulm (editor-in-chief).
Price and Values: The cover price of Ape City #1 is $2.50, while the current values are $2.50 on CBR and $3 on ZKC.
Cool Comics Celebrates FCBD (Week 22 of 2022)
#1853 — Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, Marvel, July 2022.
Cool Factor: This Free Comic Book Day issue contains less story than the typical issue of Spidey Super Stories (thanks to The Electric Company), but it’s perfect for much younger readers. And it hits all the right marks when it comes to the cuteness factor. If you have young Spidey fans in your life, you may want to see if you can still find some copies of this for them.
Comic Book Credits: None given in comic nor found at online sites.
Price and Values: The cover price of Spidey and His Amazing Friends is free, while the current value is $1.
Cool Comics for the Young at Heart
#1854 — Count Duckula #4, Marvel, May 1989.
Cool Factor: Several years ago, while digging through quarter boxes, I ran into some issues of Count Duckula, a comic title I didn’t know existed. It looked both fun and silly, and I decided they would be great to put here in Cool Comics in October, and that’s what I’ve done for the last three years (if memory serves). If you like your four-color fun on the less serious side, you should give this title a try.
Comic Book Credits: Warren Kremer (cover pencils & inks); for both No Time Like the Present and Bats All Folks – Michael Gallagher (script), Warren Kremer (pencils, inks, colors), Grace Kremer (letters), and Sid Jacobson (editor).
Price and Values: The cover price of Count Duckula #4 is $1, while the current value is $4.
Twentieth Century Cool Comics
#1855 — Ghosts #106, DC, November 1981.
Cool Factor: I never get tired of these spooky anthology titles that DC published way back when. And like so many of them that I’ve showcased here at Cool Comics, I blundered upon these in quarter bins. If you commit yourself to the chase, you’ll more than likely find lots of great stuff in discount boxes. And Ghosts is great for late night October surprises!
Comic Book Credits: Joe Kubert (cover pencils & inks) and Tatjana Woods (cover colors); Ghosts – Robin Snyder (script), Howard Bender (pencils), and Adrian Gonzales (inks); To Kill a Ghost – Robert Kanigher (script), Keith Giffen (pencils), Sam Grainger (inks), Jerry Serpe (colors), and Milt Snapinn (letters); Sorcerer’s Sword – Bill Kelley (script), Fred Carrillo (pencils & inks), Jerry Serpe (colors), and Esphid Mahilum (letters); Remembers Big – Robin Snyder (script) and Angel Trinidad (pencils and inks); The Waterfront Saint – John Sech (script), Adrian Gonzales (pencils and inks), Jerry Serpe (colors), and John Costanza (letters); and Dave Manak (editor).
Price and Values: The cover price of Ghosts #106 is 60¢, 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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I Read That Book!
Please check out my newest blog, I Read That Book! Periodically, I discuss a book I’ve read in an entertaining, positive manner. It’s not a book review site, but instead a fun way to look at many of the books that have been a part of my life (and perhaps yours, too!), through anecdotes, quotes, weblinks, fond memories, pictures, and other surprises!
Views: 659
I visited my local comic shop & they’re pulling every one of the “DC Horror Presents: Sgt. Rock vs. The Army of the Dead” …I humbly admitted to NOT having collected anything for 30-35 years & they were so cool about it!
The guy behind the counter did ask, & totally understandable question, what brought me to pick up the mini-series (along with upcoming Justice Society of America) & I told him it’s simple — any chance to see Sgt. Rock in action, under whatever circumstances, & “I’m IN!!”
Matt, I’m glad to read that your local comic shop is able to help you out, and thanks for letting us know just how much you enjoy Sgt. Rock!
Next week I’m showing off a new title that has military ties, and seems to be very vet friendly. So don’t miss out!
Thanks for being an important part of Cool Comics!