Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 98, where we take a nostalgic look at comic books I currently own, and in some sad cases, ones that I let get away.

For each of the comic books I include in this blog, I list the current secondary market value. This is according to the listings at the website www.comicbookrealm.com. They list out the near mint prices, which are on the comic book grading scale of 9.4. If you go to the website to look up any in your collection, you can click on the price and see the value at different grades. Not all of my comics are 9.4. Some are probably better, and some are worse. But to simplify it, that’s the grading price I use here. And remember, a comic book is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

Have you considered being a guest host for Cool Comics? You can do a theme or just pick any of your comics for inclusion (this blog is for all ages, so please keep that in mind), with a maximum of seven issues. Repeat guest hosts are permitted and encouraged. Send your completed blog to edgosney62@gmail.com.

If you have any questions or comments, please scroll to the bottom of the page to where it says, “Leave a reply.” I hope you enjoy seeing these as much as I do writing about them. And now, Episode 98…

Cool Comics News!

That’s right, friends, it’s time for me to rip open another DC Walmart 3-Pack and see what’s hidden under The Flash comic that’s on top. On a personal note, my wife and I celebrated 30 years of marriage this week. I’m blessed to have someone put up with me for so long. And she even likes comics, cartoons, and superhero movies! But she especially loves our Funko Pop! Collection.

Cool Comics

Cool comics in my collection #469: The Flash: Rogues Reloaded #1, July 2017.

The Flash: Rogues Reloaded, is another number one labeled variant from a DC Walmart 3-Pack. This issue is actually #14 in the ongoing Flash Rebirth series. I now have issues 1, 9, and 14, all with variant covers, and all have been decent jumping on points for new collectors. Sometimes I complain on here about some of the comics stuffed into these 3-packs, but DC has been making some good choices as far as the variants go. They’re probably hoping that fans of the TV show gravitate towards this one, with Captain Cold on the cover. Smart marketing decisions can breed new comic book buyers. I think people familiar with Flash and the DC Universe in general will have fun with this comic, considering the rogues gallery included. The bummer with buying only these 3-Packs instead of ongoing monthly titles is that I miss out on a lot of story. But still, it’s fun to buy these when they suddenly show up at my local Walmart and to get a peek inside. The cover price of The Flash #14 is $2.99, while the current value of this variant is $5.

Cool comics in my collection #470: Green Lantern #35, December 2014.

When I was collecting comics in full force from 1993 to 2003, variant covers were rampant, and some people complained that they were actually ruining the hobby. Here we are over a decade later, and variant covers are still a thing, like them or hate them. Every once in a while I get one in these Walmart 3-Packs (besides the top copy for the DC collections, which are always variants). This Green Lantern variant cover isn’t more valuable than the regular cover, but this makes it easier to find at a decent price for those Green Lantern lovers who must have them all! To be honest, this cover is quite freaky, especially those pointy teeth. Looks like Hal Jordan needs a better dental plan, that’s for sure. I’ve never been a total Green Lantern fanatic, and maybe that’s why I actually enjoyed the early exploits of Kyle Rayner, back when Hal went a little off the deep end…many years ago. So in this comic I find out that Kyle is referred to as the White Lantern. Okay, too many changes since I last tuned in! The cover price of Green Lantern #35 is $2.99, while the current value is $3.

Cool comics in my collection #471: Animal Man #28, April 2014.

Time for another exciting episode of Manimal! That’s what I thought of when I looked underneath the Green Lantern comic book and saw Animal Man. Although I must admit that I don’t think I ever saw an episode of the 1983 TV series. To add to that, this is my first ever issue of Animal Man. It was a Vertigo title during my last collecting phase, and I never picked it up to try it out. So this comic was really new to me, and being that it’s issue 28 of 29 total, I realize I missed out on a whole lot. Are there any fans out there who love Animal Man? Seems like it would be fairly easy to collect most of the Animal Man volumes since he entered the comic book scene in the Eighties and has had just a few short runs. The cover price of Animal Man #28 is $2.99, while the current value is $3.

Cool Comics Classics

Cool comics in my collection #472: The Forever People #2, May 1971.

During a recent trip to my local comic shop, I had a few goals in mind of back issues I wanted to get. But you know how that goes. More often than not, none of what we’re looking for is available. And when they are, they’re quite often out of our price range. I had The New Gods #1 in mind, the original 1971 issue, especially considering that Jack Kirby’s birthday is at the end of this month. No surprise that I struck out, but I did manage to snag a really cool cousin of the comic in The Forever People #2. This short series lasted just 11 issues, and now that I’ve read this one, it would definitely be fun to get all of them (eventually). When you read The Forever People, there’s no doubt it’s early Seventies, so if you like that time period, you’ll enjoy this comic. By the way, Darkseid is in this issue, along with the first appearance of Desaad and Mantis, and of course, a Mother Box, along with some far-out ad pages. How can you resist? The cover price of The Forever People #2 is 15¢, while the current value is $55.

Recently Read Digital Comics

If you’re a fan of Batman: The Animated Adventures, whether the cartoon or comic book, then Batman: Gotham Adventures, is right up your alley. It takes place in the same universe, and features art that matches. I got this number one issue from comiXology for free, so it’s a great way to see if you want to read the series. This issue dates back to 1998, and the title ran through 2003, with DC putting out 60 issues. These are nice introductory comic books for younger readers, and if little Tommy, Betty, Johnny, or Sue has a tablet and is growing tired of playing Fruit Ninja or whatever, maybe it’s time to introduce them to some cool comics, so help them load the comiXology app and grab this one while it’s free. There are some more mature titles on the app that can be downloaded free, so you may want to give the kiddie tablets an occasional audit.