Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection episode 382, 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 382…
Cool Comics Stuff!
We had to make a trip to the airport Sunday night, and while there, visited with an old friend. If you ever find yourself in Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, be sure to go to the baggage claim area and visit the Superman display!
Cool Comics Battle of the Week!
The Cool Comics Battle of the Week is the Avengers versus the Justice League of America! 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 the Sensational She-Hulk! 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 (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
#1926 — Avengers: War Across Time #1, Marvel, March 2023.
Cool Factor: Paul Levitz, who worked at DC in various capacities for 47 years, takes his first crack at writing in the Marvel sandbox and does an admirable job. This limited series takes place after Avengers #11 (December 1964) and is a fun trip back in time to a different era of the Avengers. Over the last few years, Marvel has found success in giving readers a look at additional tales that happened in the past—stories not previously revealed—and that magical force known as nostalgia has grabbed the attention of seasoned collectors. If you yearn for the early days of Marvel history, make sure to grab a copy of this fun comic book.
Comic Book Credits: Paul Levitz (writer), Alan Davis (art), Rachelle Rosenberg (colors), Cory Petit (letters), Martin Biro (assistant editor), Annalise Bissa (associate editor), Tom Brevoort (editor), and Matt Hollingsworth (cover artist).
Price and Values: The cover price of Avengers: War Across Time #1 is $5.99, while the current value is $6.
Facsimile Edition Cool Comics
#1927 — The Brave and the Bold #28, DC, January 2023 (Original Cover Date: March 1960).
Cool Factor: Running parallel with new adventures that took place in the past, there’s still demand for reprints of classic tales, as comic book collectors always have wish lists of titles that they want to own but can’t afford. And while reprints are nice enough, facsimile editions give us an altogether different experience, as we get to see the exact ads, letter columns, and other fun facts that filled the titles when first printed. The Brave and the Bold #28 ushered in the age of the Justice League of America, and I’m presuming that most of us don’t have the greenbacks needed to purchase an original issue, which is listed at $93,000 for a 9.4 grade at Comic Book Realm. Even a copy at the grade of 0.5 will set you back $465. Hence, facsimile editions are a great way to experience these classic issues without breaking your budget. If you’re a JLA fan, you need to find a copy of this for your collection.
Comic Book Credits: Cover – Mike Sekowsky (pencils), Murphy Anderson (inks), Jack Adler? (colors), and Ira Schnapp (letters); Starro the Conqueror! – Gardner Fox (script), Mike Sekowsky (pencils), Bernard Sachs (inks), and Gaspar Salidino (letters); Starro vs. Green Lantern – Gardner Fox (script), Mike Sekowsky (pencils), Joe Giella (inks), and Gaspar Salidino (letters); Starro vs. Wonder Woman and John Jones – Gardner Fox (script), Mike Sekowsky (pencils), Bernard Sachs (inks), and Gaspar Salidino (letters); Starro vs. the Flash! – Gardner Fox (script), Mike Sekowsky (pencils), Murphy Anderson (inks), and Gaspar Salidino (letters); and Starro vs. Justice League of America – Gardner Fox (script), Mike Sekowsky (pencils), Bernard Sachs (inks), and Gaspar Salidino (letters).
Price and Values: The cover price of The Brave and the Bold #28 Facsimile Edition is $3.99, while the current value is $4.
Cool Comics Celebrates FCBD (Week 37 of 2022)
#1928 — Equilibrium #1, Comic House, May 2022.
Cool Factor: This Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) adventure from Comic House shows us a future no one asked for! A creature known as Claw rules the world, and the heroes who fight for freedom do so at the peril of their lives. But fans, this FCBD issue is not a one-and-done story, as we find out at the end of the comic. And while I wouldn’t mind reading what happens next, I probably won’t find out any more about it since my comic book dollars only go so far. I enjoyed this harrowing adventure (although the only character familiar to me was Captain Canuck), furthering my appreciation of FCBD.
Comic Book Credits: Keith Champagne (script), Scott Brian Woods (pencils/inks), Mariano Morales (colors), Andrew Thomas (letters), Garrison Dominguez (cover pencils/cover inks), Warnia Sahadewa (cover colors), Nate Wells (additional interior illustrations), and Keith WTS Morris (editor).
Price and Values: The cover price of Equilibrium #1 is free, while the current value is $1.
Cool Comics for the Young at Heart
#1929 — Devil Kids, Starring Hot Stuff #11, Harvey Comics, March 1964.
Cool Factor: For many longtime comic readers, Harvey Comics tend to hold a special place in their hearts. Perhaps an issue of Ritchie Rich was the first comic book in your collection, or an older sibling handed off a pile of Casper comics to you. As much fun as these comics gave us during our formative years, it makes one wonder a little about this universe that was populated by ghosts, witches, devils, and an overly wealthy little boy. But regardless of who or what the characters are, it’s easy to end up loving the stories they’re featured in. And yes, for those of you who wondered, I found this issue in quarter box. Sometimes treasures can be had at a discount.
Comic Book Credits: Warren Kremer is credited for pencils and inks for several of the stories, Leon Harvey for editing, and Sid Jacobson for editing. For a complete look at story titles and partial credits, along with featured characters, please see the listing at Grand Comics Database.
Price and Values: The cover price of Devil Kids, Starring Hot Stuff #11 is 12¢, while the current value is $80.
Cool Comics from the 20th Century
#1930 — Archer & Armstrong #0, Valiant, June 1992.
Cool Factor: Back in the 90s, when I was in Phase 3 (1993-2003) of comic book collecting, I started buying Valiant titles when I could find them in discount boxes. And I found quite a few. Eventually 2003 rolled around and I quit purchasing both new and old comic books. I still loved them, but finances dictated that comics were a thing of my past. And when I realized that we needed more space in the house, I sold thousands of issues at a garage sale, including all my Valiant comics. But when I came back to comics in 2017 and discovered that old comics could be had for a quarter at a local comic shop, I started buying Valiant comics from the 90s once more. I’ve read only a few of these Valiant issues over the last few years, and this was my first reading adventure with Archer & Armstrong. And probably because of the lack of capes and tights on the covers, my expectations weren’t high. A quick look at my collection showed me that the earliest issue is this one, #0, and then I have #8 through to the last issue, #26. Good enough, I thought…until I actually read this issue and decided I needed to add 1-7. Maybe you’ve read the title and it didn’t strike you as anything special, and that’s understandable. I may feel the same way sometime down the road. But this story really grabbed hold of me, and I’m looking forward to reading more from the series…especially since I was able to order #1-7 over the internet and they finally got here!
Comic Book Credits: Bob Layton (story/editor), Jim Shooter (story/writer/editor-in-chief), Barry Windsor Smith (pencils/inks/cover), Ralph Reese (inks), Maurice Fontenot (colors), and Chris Eliopoulos (letters).
Price and Values: The cover price of Archer & Armstrong #0 is $2.50, while the current values are $10 on CBR and $4 on ZKC. The Key Collector Comics value is $5.
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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I loved Archer and Armstrong!
Glad to hear it, since I now have the full run! Thanks for being an important part of Cool Comics!
Justice League vs. Avengers? I wouldn’t have a clue. I don’t know who is in either group or what continuity is prevailing in their respective universes. I really wish I did. I wish someone would post monthly explanations of what’s what in the Big Two. I hate being so out of touch. Although…I’ve been told that some of the major writers at DC Comics have the same questions I do.
Also…with Black History Month coming up…allow me to recommend Dreaming Eagles (Aftershock) by Garth Ennis and Simon Coleby. It’s about the first African-American fighter pilots.
Hi Tony, I hope you are doing well. And I understand how it can be hard to keep track of what’s happening in the respective “Big2” universes. One website you may find helpful is League of Comic Geeks. You can see everything new that is coming out for each week, and click on the covers to read summaries, and also there are sometimes discussions from other fans and members. I’ve supplied the link that takes you directly to that page here: https://leagueofcomicgeeks.com/comics/new-comics
Also, thanks for the recommendation for Black History Month. I found a hardcover copy of Dreaming Eagles online for a good price, and ordered it. I’m going to try to fit it into my reading schedule so I can talk about it sometime in February.
Thanks for being an important part of Cool Comics!