Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection episode 386, 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 386…
Cool Comics Stuff!
About a month ago in the comments section of episode 382, legendary comic book creator Tony Isabella recommended Dreaming Eagles as a Black History month read. Beautifully produced by AfterShock Comics, I was able to find a hardcover edition, rather than trying to locate the original six issues. Thank you, Tony! I thoroughly enjoyed this story and recommend it (but please be aware that it’s a mature title with some language not fit for the little readers in your life). Anyone else in the Cool Comics crowd ever read this? Let us know in the comments section below.
Cool Comics Battle of the Week!
The Cool Comics Battle of the Week is Red Goblin versus Robin! 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 of Cool Comics features a fantastic piece of art by Robert A. Kraus (aka RAK) of Spider-Man and the Sinister Six! 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
#1946 — Red Goblin #1, Marvel, April 2023.
Cool Factor: Dylan Brock, son of Eddie and current Venom, wants some help and recruits Little Normie Osborne, giving him a symbiote to call his very own. The question is, will he be a hero or a villain? And just how long can he hide all this from his mom? Sometimes it feels like there are too many of these symbiotic creatures in the Marvel Universe, but I liked the first issue and I’m willing to give this one a try for a while.
Comic Book Credits: Alex Paknadel (writer), Jan Bazaldua (artist), David Curiel (color artist), Joe Caramagna (letterer), Inhyuk Lee (cover artist), Adam Del Re (senior designer), Tom Groneman (associate editor), and Devin Lewis (editor).
Price and Values: The cover price of Red Goblin #1 is $4.99, while the current value is $5.
Facsimile Edition Cool Comics
#1947 — The Amazing Spider-Man #238, Marvel, May 2022 (Original Cover Date: March 1983).
Cool Factor: When I was in college, I started my second phase of collecting comic books, but, unfortunately, I didn’t continue long enough to get my hands on the original issue of The Amazing Spider-Man #238. And with the current value listed at $525, I’m priced out. But thanks to Facsimile Editions, I was finally able to read this issue, complete with all the fun ads from the Eighties. My copy will never come near the original publication when it comes to monetary value, but for a small part of my day, I was able to travel back in time and enjoy reading about the origin of the Hobgoblin.
Comic Book Credits: Roger Stern (scripter), John Romita Jr. & John Romita Sr. (artists/cover artists), Andy Yanchus (colors), Joe Rosen (letterer), and Tom DeFalco (editor).
Price and Values: The cover price of The Amazing Spider-Man #238 Facsimile Edition is $3.99, while the current value is $4. The Key Collector Comics value is also $4.
Cool Comics Celebrates FCBD (Week 41 of 2022)
#1948 — Barbaric #1, Vault, May 2022.
Cool Factor: Like so many of you, I enjoy a good barbarian story, so I was looking forward to this Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) edition of Barbaric #1. And yes, this barbarian is quite Barbaric, as the title implies, making the original Marvel Conan run seem rather tame. The rating listed on back cover is Teen / 13+, and I disagree, thinking it should be considered for a more mature crowd, but you are welcome to agree with the publisher. If you like the genre, getting this one for free is a great way to test the waters.
Comic Book Credits: Michael Moreci (writer), Nathan Gooden (artist/cover artist/art director), Addison Duke (colorist), Jim Campbell (letterer), and Rebecca Taylor (managing editor).
Price and Values: The cover price of Barbaric #1 is free, while the current value is $1.
Cool Comics for the Young at Heart
#1949 — Richie Rich #28, Harvey Comics, November 1994.
Cool Factor: Though I was actively buying and reading comic books in 1994, Richie Rich wasn’t on my pull list. At the time, I was in the U.S. Army, and I don’t think many guys in the service have much of an interest in Harvey Comics. But as time has gone on, I’ve found that I enjoy the nostalgia of what has come before, especially when I long to feel young at heart. These days, when I have time and opportunity to dig in quarter bins, I don’t let Richie Rich comics slip from my grasp. This issue features several self-contained stories that should be appealing to anyone who wants to capture those innocent moments of childhood.
Comic Book Credits: Writers: Ralph Newman, Jim Miele, Carl Wessler, Charles Strauss, Stan Kay, and Lennie Herman; Pencils: Ernie Colon, Ben Brown, Dom Sileo; Inkers: Lee Donahue, Helen Cason, Ruth Leon, Jackie Roettcher, and Roberta Edelman; Editorial associate: Toby Brook; and Editor-in-chief: Sid Jacobson.
Price and Values: The cover price of Richie Rich #28 is $1.50, while the current value is $3.
Cool Comics from the 20th Century
#1950 — World’s Finest Comics #243, DC, February 1977.
Cool Factor: As I’ve mentioned numerous times, the only DC Comics I bought in the Seventies were the 100-Pages for 60¢ issues that I could get discounted at the pharmacy where my father worked (although I may have bought an occasional DC off the racks, because I distinctly remember buying an issue of the short-lived Blitzkrieg). And because of this, I’ve been having a blast over the last several years when I’m able to get fun DC issues like this one from quarter boxes. They don’t tug at my heartstrings the way Marvel Comics do from this same era, but I feel like I’m filling in gaps of neat stuff that I missed out on.
Comic Book Credits: Bob Haney (story), Curt Swan (pencils), Al Milgrom (inks), Jerry Serpe (colors), Ben Oda (letters), Rich Buckler (cover pencils), John Calnan (cover inks), and Denny O’Neil (story editor).
Price and Values: The cover price of World’s Finest Comics #243 is 30¢, while the current values are $16 on CBR and $12 on ZKC. The Key Collector Comics value is $5.
Cool Comics Reader Reviews!
For those who are still pining away for that special someone, though boxes of chocolate may be empty, and flowers wilting, reviewer extraordinaire Steve Baum is back with a gift that will last much longer…a special Longbox Junk review that beats any of those gifts all to shame!
I’m Steven “Atom” Baum and I write comic reviews that nobody ever asked for! I find the “value” of comics in the enjoyment of them, rather than how much they are “worth” to collectors. Crazy, right?
If you like what you see here, then join me as I dig deep into those boxes full of dollar back issues found at your local comic shop by visiting my blog LONGBOX JUNK ,where you’ll discover HUNDREDS of reviews you never even knew you wanted to read!
I know, it’s been a little while since I did one of these, but here’s an exclusive “Short But Sweet” Longbox Junk Comic Review for the Cool Comics Crowd!
How about a little something off the beaten path? Since it’s February, let’s check out a Star Wars Valentine comic!
Yes. . .there’s an actual Star Wars Valentine comic. No, really. I promise. Here it is!
STAR WARS: A VALENTINE STORY
Dark Horse (2003)
BREAKING THE ICE
SCRIPT: Judd Winick
PENCILS: Paul Chadwick
INKS: Paul Chadwick
COVER: Paul Chadwick
THE STORY:
Set three years after the events of the original Star Wars movie and a few months before Empire Strikes Back, the story begins with Han Solo and Princess Leia at odds over Han’s plans to leave the Rebellion in order to pay off the large bounty on his head.
Han and Chewbacca accept an assignment to ferry two ships to the surface of Hoth, with Leia along as Han’s co-pilot despite Han’s reluctance to be alone with the Princess. The ships are caught in a storm, are separated, and crash land on the icy planet.
After having to rescue Han when he tries to find Chewbacca on foot during the raging storm, Leia and Han are forced to spend a long freezing night together in their wrecked ship. As the hours pass and Han tells stories about his and Chewbacca’s friendship, Leia slowly begins to realize there might be more to the scoundrel Han Solo than she’d thought.
When the morning comes, Han and Leia are rescued by Chewbacca and a rebel patrol. Han decides to stick around with the Alliance a little longer. Leia tries not to show it, but she feels like there’s something good beginning to grow between them.
The End.
THE REVIEW:
Not a bad little one shot at all! It’s a different sort of Star Wars story. . .very character based instead of action and adventure, but it’s well written and serves nicely to expand on the growing affection between Han and Leia that finally fully blossomed in Empire Strikes Back. As a big Star Wars fan: I really enjoy stories that fill in parts of the story that were left in the background of the movies like this comic tells.
On the art side of things: It’s. . .pretty good. I find it hard to believe that the art on the wonderful cover and the serviceable story art are done by the same person. The interior art has a few good moments, but mostly it just tells the story and doesn’t try very hard to go above that.
That said, I LOVED the coloring by Ken Steacy on this comic! The bold and unusual coloring choices definitely elevate the art up a notch. Check out the page scanned below, and how the colors go from cold to warm as Han and Leia get closer. Very nice example of using color to help tell a story!
CONCLUSION
What we have here is an unusual Star Wars story that fills in a little bit of the character development that was left in the background of Empire Strikes Back. If you’re a Star Wars fan that likes the sound of that, then you’ll definitely want to find this comic. If you aren’t already a Star Wars fan, this probably won’t be a great place to start.
I’ve only seen this actual issue one time over the years, so it might be a little hard to find. It’s been included in a couple of collections (Dark Horse’s Star Wars: Empire vol. 4 & Marvel’s Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Rebellion vol. 5), so it’s out there if you want to take a look at this offbeat story without haunting the back issue bins.
Until Next time, Happy (belated) Valentine’s Day and remember that comics are worth more than money!
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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