Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection episode 376, 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 376…
Cool Comics Stuff!
If you like Christmas-themed comics, then make sure to get DC’s Grifter Got Run Over by a Reindeer #1, an oversized anthology edition that costs a little extra but…’tis the season. If you haven’t been paying attention to Superman lately, you may not have realized that he’s been off planet for a while, helping to free aliens from Warworld, only to be captured himself. Well fans, he’s back on Earth now, and this special issue marks the beginning of a new era for the Man of Steel. Both issues appeared in comic shops November 30, so get them before they are gone!
Cool Comics Battle of the Week!
The Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Power Girl versus Rogue! 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!
Here is an image of the original back cover of the one and only Chakan! RAK has a distinctive style that meshes so well with the heroes, villains, and monsters we grew up loving. As the creator of Chakan, the forever man, RAK is known around the globe and is a great friend to Cool Comics — it’s always a pleasure to show off his amazing art! Be sure to check out all the other fantastic creations, games, illustrated novellas, and comics at RAK’s website.
You can have a piece of your art (or an original piece of art that you own) 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
Cool Comics from the 21st Century
#1896 — Justice Society of America #1, DC, January 2023.
Cool Factor: Some of you may remember how I was praising the storytelling abilities of Geoff Johns in episode 373, and I’m here to tell you that Cool Comics is back with more from one of my favorite writers! If you’re a JSA fan, this is an issue (and probably entire series!) that you don’t want to miss. I loved everything about this comic and can’t wait for more! By the way, over the weekend, my wife and I went to GalaxyCon in Columbus, Ohio, and while there, we met John Wesley Shipp (who starred as the Barry Allen Flash on the TV series in the early Nineties and more recently as the Golden Age Flash, Jay Garrick, in several DC shows). He’s an unbelievably nice guy, and while chatting, he mentioned texting TV show stuff with Geoff Johns. I love it when the TV stars and comic book creators are buddies! Pictures? Do I have pictures from GalaxyCon? You bet. Be sure to check back next week to see all the fun people we met. In the meantime, grab Justice Society of America #1 if you haven’t already added it to your collection.
Comic Book Credits: Geoff Johns (script), Mikel Janín (cover, pencils, inks), Jerry Ordway (pencils, inks), Scott Kolins (pencils, inks), Steve Lieber (pencils, inks), Brandon Peterson (pencils, inks, colors), Jordie Bellaire (colors), John Kalisz (colors), Jordon Boyd (colors), Rob Leigh (letters), Marquis Draper (associate editor), Andrew Marino (editor), and Katie Kubert (senior editor).
Price and Values: The cover price of Justice Society of America #1 is $3.99, while the current value is $4. The Key Collector Comics value is also $4.
Media Tie-In Cool Comics
#1897 — Dragonslayer #1, Marvel, October 1981 (Original Source: Movie).
Cool Factor: The movie Dragonslayer appeared at theaters in 1981, but I don’t remember even having heard of it, let alone knowing that there was comic book adaptation. That year, I was at a place in my life in which I wasn’t buying comic books, and probably not paying a lot of attention to what was showing in theaters, since I was getting ready to go to college. I found this issue a while ago in a quarter box and decided to give it a read, since it’s most certainly a Media Tie-In comic, and found myself surprised a bit by how much I enjoyed the story. Which is no surprise when you see some of the creator names below. You may have noticed on the cover that it’s a Paramount/Disney production. And since Disney’s role was in handling the international rights, you’ll have to stream it on Paramount Plus, if you want to watch…which you may, if just to see actor Ian McDiarmid, who is best known as Palpatine in the Star Wars franchise.
Comic Book Credits: Denny O’Neil (script), Marie Severin (pencils, colors), John Tartaglione (inks), Irv Watanabe (letters), Earl Norem (cover painting), and Jim Shooter (editor). Adapted from the screenplay by Hal Barwood and Matthew Robbins.
Price and Values: The cover price of Dragonslayer #1 is 50¢, while the current values are $4 on CBR and $3 on ZKC.
Cool Comics Celebrates FCBD (Week 31 of 2022)
#1898 — Nottingham, Mad Cave, May 2022.
Cool Factor: Are you a fan of Robin Hood? I read an abridged version of Howard Pyle’s The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood when I was in grade school and before that, was a fan of the Disney cartoon version (yes, that’s right, the one in which all the characters were animals). A few years ago, my wife and I watched a BBC series that lasted a few seasons and really liked it. And who hasn’t seen the Costner movie version? There have been several movies since then (even versions with tights!) that some of you may remember fondly, and even a short-lived Mel Brooks series in the Seventies, When Things Were Rotten, comes to mind. I’m pointing all this out to show just how vibrant Robin’s legend has been throughout the last few decades, not to mention centuries. This Free Comic Book Day issue takes place between issues 5 and 6 of the regular series, and the setting is Christmas. That makes it both a Christmas comic (which is why I’ve been waiting on this until December) and an important part of the story for fans who’ve been reading it from the beginning. I knew nothing about the ongoing story but found this issue to be an intriguing page-turner, and if you like the legend of Robyn Hood, you may want to check it out. Also, please note that it’s rated Mature, so it’s not a comic for the kids in your life.
Comic Book Credits: David Hazan (script), Andrea Mutti (pencils, inks, colors, cover), and Justin Birch (letters), Chris Fernandez (editor), and Brian Hawkins (editor).
Price and Values: The cover price of Nottingham is free, while the current value is $1. The Key Collector Comics value is $3.
Cool Comics for the Young at Heart
#1899 — Jonny Quest Classics #3, Comico, July 1987.
Cool Factor: Jonny Quest was a favorite cartoon of mine when I was young, but the great thing about it is that it also has appeal for adults. The show was full of action, thrills, and intrigue, and it really stood out from other cartoons of the time. This isn’t the typical kind of comic book I usually talk about in this space (Cool Comics for the Young at Heart), and though it’s a bit more complex than, say, a Richie Rich issue, I discovered Jonny Quest on TV as a kid, and when I read this comic, it took me back to being a kid. Are you a fan of the comic book version, the cartoon, or perhaps both? What were some of your favorite cartoons from your childhood? We’d love to get your thoughts in the comments section below.
Comic Book Credits: Doug Wildey (cover painting, script, interior painted art, letters) and Diana Schutz (editor).
Price and Values: The cover price of Jonny Quest Classics #3 is $2, while the current values are $4 on CBR and $3 on ZKC.
Cool Comics from the 20th Century
#1900 — The Uncanny X-Men #185, Marvel, September 1984.
Cool Factor: Finding old comics in quarter boxes allows me to catch up on some comic titles I used to read monthly during different times in my life, but for one reason or another, I ended up abandoning them. In early 1982 I started reading The Uncanny X-Men, but by the time fall rolled around, my priorities became misplaced, and I quit comics cold turkey. To this day I still don’t completely understand why (well, I had a girlfriend and needed money to take her to dinner, etc., but it didn’t last, and I’d already sold some of my precious collection…ugh!), but thanks to a local comic shop and their famous quarter bins, I was able to purchase this piece of mutant history for mere pennies. The X-Men have gone through many trials, tribulations, odd changes, and sometimes stories that I don’t find fun, but they are almost always thought-provoking and give me a heavy dose of nostalgia when I want to reflect on the past.
Comic Book Credits: Chris Claremont (script), Dan Green (finished pencils & inks, cover inks), John Romita Jr. (pencil breakdowns, cover pencils), Glynis Oliver (colors), Tom Orzechowski (letters), Peter Sanderson (assistant editor), and Ann Nocenti (editor).
Price and Values: The cover price of The Uncanny X-Men #185 is 60¢, while the current values are $6 on CBR and $9 on ZKC. The Key Collector Comics value is $8.
Cool Comics Reader Reviews!
By Ed Gosney
Kolchak: The Nightstalker 50th Anniversary One-Shot
This comic book, which I initially didn’t order, is an add-on from a Kickstarter I supported for the Kolchak: The Night Stalker – 50th Anniversary Graphic Novel. Later, after the Kickstarter campaign finished, there was an opportunity to purchase this issue, and I’m glad I did, because this is one of my all-time favorite comic books. And yes, you read that correctly: This is one of my all-time favorite comic books!
I’ve read thousands of comic books throughout my life, and I like and enjoy different titles and storylines for various reasons, but Kolchak: The Nightstalker 50th Anniversary One-Shot hit my nostalgic sweet spot in a way that rarely happens. I have fond memories of watching the television show back in the Seventies and later watching reruns in syndication, and of course I own the DVD box set so that I can listen to that opening theme with the whistling and the strong, emotive chords, all of which bring back happy memories. Additionally, I love the movies and have read both the novels by Jeff Rice.
Yet for some reason, I’ve never read any of the other Moonstone comic books featuring Carl Kolchak. But when I saw the Kickstarter announced and that James Aquilone was the editor, I knew I had to support it, since I was excited about his Classic Monsters Unleashed anthology.
This issue contains three tales featuring our intrepid reporter at different periods of his life and career, and while reading them, I distinctly heard the voice of Carl Kolchak (actor Darren McGavin) during the entire experience (and yes, for some of us, reading this comic book is an experience). At the bottom of the inside cover, readers discover that it’s Dedicated to Jeff Rice, Richard Matheson, and Darren McGavin: the author, the screenplay writer, and the actor who gave life to the man in the seersucker suit.
The creative teams for this one-shot, along with a brief description for each of the three stories, are as follows:
The Funny Place
Writer – David Avallone
Artist – Julius Ohta
Colorist – Zac Atkinson
Letterer – Tom Napolitano
A young Kolchak gets his first taste of just how dangerous journalism can be.
The Package
Writer – Steve Niles
Artist – Szymon Kudranski
Letterer – Tom Napolitano
In 1974 (when the TV show was in full swing), Carl gets the surprise of his life, leaving me wishing that this had been one of the original episodes.
Satanic Panic ‘88
Writer – James Aquilone
Artist – Colton Worley
Letterer – Tom Napolitano
A somewhat more seasoned Kolchak, now working for a supermarket tabloid, explores the dark side of small-town America. This one has an ending that begs for a sequel.
Each story has a different creative team, yet they all channel Carl Kolchak so perfectly, from the art to the use of color to the dialogue and interior thoughts of our favorite reporter. And now I can’t wait until I get the hardcover Kickstarter edition in my hands!
Even though the Kickstarter campaign has ended, you can still get your own copy of this fabulous one-shot, or purchase Kolchak: The Night Stalker 50th Anniversary Graphic Novel, which contains all three of these stories, plus much more! Look them over carefully at Monstrous Books (the deluxe editions also contain prose stories) and make your selection today!
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!
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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!
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