Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 72, 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 72…

Cool comics in my collection #393: Suicide Squad Most Wanted: Deadshot and Katana #1 (Walmart Variant October 2016), March 2016.

This week’s cool comics episode wraps up the visible issues I bought as Walmart variants last month. While the two issues featured here aren’t part of DC’s Rebirth, they were included in this run of 3-packs. This issue originally came out in March of 2016, while the variant I have is listed as October 2016. While listed as variants, there aren’t a lot of differences on the covers, but those who like to collect such things will be wanting to head to Walmart to search these out. Of course, there were two additional comics in each of these packs, and while I didn’t get anything spectacular, there were some solid issues with good stories of the ones I’ve read so far. A far number of them contained issues of The New 52 comics, which I didn’t buy when they came out, so more fun stuff to read (again, constant readers of this blog know I quit buying comics monthly back in 2003…I still buy comics, mostly back issues, but I do have a subscription to Afterlife With Archie, and I don’t regret it!). I will say I’m not really a Deadshot fan, but it was fun getting this 3-pack along with the rest. The cover price of Suicide Squad Most Wanted: Deadshot and Katana #1 is $4.99, while the current value of this variant is $5.

Cool comics in my collection #394: Harley Quinn #21 (Walmart Variant September 2016), December 2015.

The Walmart Harley Quinn Variant cover issue took a little research to find out the original issue date, especially since it renames it as Harley Quinn and Deadshot #1. Eventually I found out that it’s a reprint of Harley Quinn Vol. 2, issue 21. I have no idea why DC decided to use an issue in the middle of a series for this, but they did. I enjoyed reading this comic a lot more than the one above, especially since it had lots of humor. And they used a line about Bat-Shark Repellent, harkening back to those days of yesteryear when Batman: The Movie was something special to a certain young boy. Oh yeah, you know I love comic book nostalgia, and this really hit those memory centers in my brain! By the way, this is the first Harley Quinn comic I’ve read, and I wouldn’t mind reading more in this series. The cover price of Harley Quinn #21 is $3.99, while the current value of this variant is $5.

Recently Read Digital Comics

As a longtime Thor fan, it was fun to see some of the happenings with the Asgardian since I’d last left him way back in 2003. The most noticeable change I see in Thor #604, on my digital screen, is the difference in his uniform. It definitely looks more like the one now used in the movies. Having not picked up his comics in so long, I figured the costume change first came from the movie, but it appears I’m wrong. The change is good, although I’m old school and loved the Seventies threads he wore. But no big deal, because Doctor Doom is in the issue, and he’s one of the greatest villains to come out of Marvel, and having Thor and Doom in the same issue is fanboy nirvana.

Captain America #1 from 2011 is a touching first issue that has Cap in his civilian guise as Steve Rogers, attending the funeral of Peggy Carter, along with Sharon Carter, Dum Dum Dugan, and Nick Fury. Peggy is being buried in France, and of course there is an assassination attempt on the gang and we are treated to several flashbacks, as someone from the past appears active once more. This is a series I wouldn’t mind reading further, if this first issue is any indication of what comes after. Captain America became one of my heroes back in the Seventies when I first started buying comic books, and this took me back to those simpler days. Great stuff for a free digital comic.

I’ve never heard anyone say they don’t like the Young Justice cartoon, and most folks are so excited that Netflix is giving it a third season. The show is full of teenage superhero angst, along with great plots, great villains, great art, and great scripts. But Young Justice used to be very different. This free digital comic I picked up on comiXology is issue #1, dating clear back to 1998 (it doesn’t seem that long ago when you’re my age!), and features just three characters: Superboy, Robin, and Impulse. Peter David was the writer, and if you’ve read him before, you know there will be plenty of humor. The tone is quite different from the cartoon series. I don’t know what subsequent issues were like, but it’s interesting to see just how different it was in the beginning.