Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection episode 378, 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 378…
Cool Comics Stuff!
Cool Comics In My Collection wishes all of you a very Merry Christmas!
Cool Comics Battle of the Week!
The Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Spawn versus Casper! 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!
Reader Josh Thomas provided a couple timely sketches for Cool Comics this week. Josh met Krampus comics artist Christian DiBari at a con a few years ago and picked up these pieces of original artwork. Thanks for sharing them with us, Josh!
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
#1906 — Batman/Spawn #1, DC, February 2023.
Cool Factor: Remember the excitement back in 1994 of not one, but two Batman/Spawn crossover team-ups? Well, maybe you’re not old enough, and some of you may not have been born yet, but the Nineties saw a lot of company crossovers, and of course Batman and Spawn were a bit of a big deal. I bought both at the time, but today I just own one of them. This new crossover nearly made me feel like I’d traveled through time, back to my days in the Army, stationed at Fort McPherson, near Atlanta, early in my third phase of comic book collecting. If you like these characters, I suggest you give this one-shot a try.
Comic Book Credits: Todd McFarlane (writer/inks/cover inks), Greg Capullo (pencils/cover pencils), Jonathan Glapion (inks assist), Dave McCaig (colors/cover colors), Tom Napolitano (letters), Ben Abernathy (editor), and Marie Javins (editor).
Price and Values: The cover price of Batman/Spawn #1 is $6.99, while the current value is $7. The Key Collector Comics value is $7.
Media Tie-In Cool Comics
#1907 — The Friendly Ghost, Casper #230, Harvey Comics, March 1987 (Original Source: Children’s Book).
Cool Factor: Being that we’re on the cusp of Christmas, I decided it was time to finally read this quarter bin find. As per usual with Harvey Comics, this issue contains several complete tales, mostly centering around the holiday. What I learned after deciding to include this cool comic is that it fits in the Media Tie-In category, since Casper first appeared in a children’s book. Perhaps you already knew that, but it was news to me. If you like reading holiday-themed comics during December (especially the ones that don’t include bloodshed, which so many do these days), then you can’t go wrong when you include The Friendly Ghost, Casper!
Comic Book Credits: No credits given. This issue contains the stories A Visit to Santa Land, untitled Wendy story, The Toy Thief, The Would-Be Santa Claus, untitled Casper story, untitled Spooky story, and The Husher.
Price and Values: The cover price of The Friendly Ghost, Casper #230 is 75¢, while the current value is $5.
Cool Comics Celebrates FCBD (Week 33 of 2022)
#1908 — Disney Masters: Donald Duck & Co., Fantagraphics, May 2022.
Cool Factor: One of my comic book philosophies these days is that you can’t go wrong with Donald Duck comics. In my mind, it’s a maxim that doesn’t need any sort of defense. Of course, this Free Comic Book Day (FBDC) issue also contains Super Goof, Fethry, the Big Bad Wolf, and others, but Donald and Uncle Scrooge are on the cover, leading the charge, boldly stating that they are the stars. If you’re a Disney comic collector, you may want to hunt for this one if you didn’t get it last May.
Comic Book Credits: Cover – Marco Rota (pencils/inks) and Egmont & David Gerstein (colors); Sore Losers (Donald Duck): William Van Horn (script/pencils/letters), Andrea “Casty” Castellan (inks), Michele Mazzon (inks), and Jo Meugniot & Digikore Studios (colors); Here Today, Gone Apollo (Super Goof): Joe Torcivia (script), Giorgio Cavazzano (pencils), Sandro Zemolin (inks), Disney Italia (colors), and Paul Baresh (letters); Fall Guy (Donald and Fethry): Dick Kinney (script), Al Hubbard (pencils/inks), Scott Rockwell & David Gerstein (colors), and Willie Schubert (letters); Family Feud (The Big Bad Wolf): Bas Heymans (script/pencils/inks), Pasqua Heymans (script), David Gerstein (translation/dialogue), Sanoma (colors), and Paul Baresh (letters). Edits by David Gerstein.
Price and Values: The cover price of Disney Masters: Donald Duck & Co. is free, while the current value is $1.
Cool Comics for the Young at Heart
#1909 — The Original Astro Boy #1, NOW Comics, September 1987.
Cool Factor: Way back when, in episode 191 in May of 2019, The Original Astro Boy #2 was one of our featured Cool Comics. It was the only issue I owned, but lo and behold, I found the first issue while diligently digging in a quarter box! If you look back at that entry (it’s Cool Comic number 942 in the link above), you’ll notice how I gush over the creator Osamu Tezuka and his other creations that meant so much to me, and the fact that Astro Boy wasn’t really on my radar. And it still wasn’t, even after reading issue #2. But now, having read the origin story in this comic, I have a better sense for who and what Astro Boy is, and I’m interested in reading more.
Comic Book Credits: Mike Dimpsey (script), Ken Steacy (pencils/inks/colors/cover pencils/cover inks), Paul Rivoche (colors), Deb Marks (colors/letters), and Tony Caputo (editor).
Price and Values: The cover price of The Original Astro Boy #1 is $1.50, while the current value is $4.
Cool Comics from the 20th Century
#1910 — Dazzler #1, Marvel, March 1981.
Cool Factor: Dazzler #1 came out about a year before I started my second phase of comic book collecting, so when I picked up a couple issues off the rack in 1982, I didn’t have a good feel for Allison Blaire. And being that I wasn’t reading comics when Dazzler made her debut in X-Men #130 either, I didn’t have much interest. But a few years ago, while looking through boxes of comics that were just a quarter each, I found a nice handful from this series and decided I should probably complete it. Then a few months later, in that very same comic shop, the owner had the entire collection on sale, and I pass up such a great bargain. It took a while before I finally decided to read an issue, but this one is kind of like a Christmas cover, with ornaments of the Enchantress, Nightcrawler, Iron Man, and Spider-Man, so it fits with a holiday theme. I’m not sure when I’ll get around to reading issue 2, but I enjoyed this trip back to 1981. By the way, some of you may know that there were some recalled copies of Dazzler #1. Two pages of advertising (pages 24 and 25) ended up being printed without color, and my copy is one of those error issues.
Comic Book Credits: Tom DeFalco (script), John Romita Jr. (pencils), John Buscema (uncredited pencils for the Dazzler character on page 1), Alfredo Alcala (inks), John McLeod (uncredited inks for the Dazzler character on page 1), Glynis Oliver (colors), Joe Rosen (letters), Bob Larkin (cover pencils, inks, colors), and Louise Simonson (editor).
Price and Values: The cover price of Dazzler #1 is 50¢, while the current value is $15 for the recalled printing error edition (which is what I have), and $12 on CBR and $15 on ZKC for the regular issue. The Key Collector Comics value is $10 for the regular issue and $15 for the recalled edition.
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!
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Merry Christmas, Ed, to you and your readers!
Tony, Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Thanks for being an important part of Cool Comics!