Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 120, where we take a look at 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.

For each of the comic books I include in this blog (except for digital issues), 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 120…

Cool Comics News!

I saw a conversation in a Facebook Comic Book group about the lack of dollar boxes these days. The person who started it mentioned that he’d driven to many different comic shops during 2017, and discounted back issues seemed to be a thing of the past. What’s it like where you live? I’m fortunate, because my local comic shop always has some fantastic deals (such as Darkhawk #1 in last week’s episode). I’m continuing to show off a couple of my discounted comics today, which took me back to the Saturday mornings of my youth.

Cool Comics in My Collection

#571 — Astonishing X-Men #7, Marvel Comics, March 2018.

It’s been a few weeks since the last Marvel Legacy “first” issue of any title has come out (at least of the ones I’ve been getting), and this one caught me by surprise. I didn’t notice that Astonishing X-Men had “Legacy” written across the top, but when I discovered a Marvel Value Stamp inside (Captain America!), I had to take a second look at the cover. I’m not sure why they took so long for this comic, but my guess is that Marvel wanted to wait until the end of the first story arc. At any rate, I’m glad I started getting Astonishing X-Men, because within the pages, we’ve been seeing Charles Xavier. Or at least his mind, trapped within the realm of the Shadow King. But things change in this issue, and if you’ve a fan of the mutants, I suggest you give this title a try. The cover price of Astonishing X-Men #7 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

#572 — Dastardly & Muttley #1, DC Comics, November 2017.

Did you watch Dastardly & Muttley In Their Flying Machines on Saturday mornings as a kid? Okay, probably most of you aren’t as old as I am, but maybe you saw them in syndication, reruns, or DVDs. At any rate, I remember them trying catch the pigeon when I was a kid, and seeing this comic book at my local shop in a 50-cent box (yes, some places still have value boxes, and I’ll be reporting on more of my recent acquisitions in upcoming episodes!) brought a flood of memories, so I had to get it. Readers know that I love comic book nostalgia, but you don’t always have to purchase old comic books to relive the memories. But don’t expect a repeat of the cartoon. DC puts its own spin on this title, and they did a pretty clever job. I hope DC made enough money on this limited series to continue this trend. I’ll have to see if I can find some more issues from this series. The cover price of Dastardly & Muttley #1 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

#573 — Wacky Raceland #2, DC Comics, September 2016.

Look! I hit Saturday morning nostalgia pay dirt again! Wacky Raceland was born from the cartoon Wacky Racers (which in turn spawned from the 1965 comedy movie The Great Race), another memory from my childhood. I’m telling you, it pays to go through discount boxes at your local comic book shop when you have the time, because I also snagged this comic for just 50 cents. Again, we have Dastardly & Muttley as participants, but this is not your father’s Wacky Racers. This time it’s Wacky Raceland, as we see drivers navigating a post-apocalyptic scenario that certainly wouldn’t have aired for kids on Saturday mornings in the Sixties. This title, along with Dastardly & Muttley above, are targeting us folks who fondly remember munching away on a bowl of Super Sugar Crisp, trying not to knock over our TV trays, while enjoy the best part of the week. Except now that we are adults, these stories are edgier and darker, appealing to the cynicism that starts oozing from our cerebral cortexes once we begin paying our own electric bills. Nah, I just made that up. These comics appeal to us because they’re fun and remind us of our carefree childhood days. The cover price of Wacky Raceland #2 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

Cool Comics Done Dirt Cheap

#574 — The Shadow #1, Dark Horse Comics, June 1994.

Does anyone else have Will Eisner’s The Spirit come to mind when they hear The Shadow? Maybe it’s because I’m not that familiar with either character, and I associate them with the past. Both have had not-so-successful movies made, and while The Spirit started in comics, The Shadow had his beginnings in the pulps. And of course The Shadow radio program was a big hit. Why? Who knows? “The Shadow knows.” Okay. I had to do that. Frankly, this comic, the first of a two-parter based on a 1994 movie, didn’t move me much. And I honestly can’t remember if I ever saw the movie. Anyone out there recommend it? The comic rated low on my “Cool Meter,” but for $0.047 (you read that right), it’s hard to complain. Both parts came in that $20 long box I keep mentioning, so the second issue will show up here next week (maybe I’ll like the closing scene better than the opening). However, I’ve started taking more of an interest in comics before my time, and while the character is much older than me, this comic book is a movie tie-in from 1994, so it doesn’t fall into that category. The cover price of The Shadow #1 is $2.50, while the current value is $4.

Cool Comics Classics

#575 — Black Lightning #6, DC Comics, January 1978.

When you can pick up Seventies comics for decent prices (I got this one at my local shop for just $2), it’s a good thing. I’ve had a few Black Lightning comics featured here over the last few months, especially considering that Tony Isabella and Trevor von Eeden were at the Akron Comicon and I had a chance to grab some autographs from them and have a couple quick conversations. So why have another Black Lightning? Because next Tuesday, January 16, this superhero will be starring in his own TV show on The CW! Will the small screen help the comics to go up in value? Perhaps, but the intention of comic books is for them to be read, so if the TV show gets you interested, by all means seek out some Black Lightning titles and learn about the character. By the way, Mr. Isabella is in the middle of writing a Black Lightning 6 issue series, and while it’s good, my heart goes out more to the original series from the Seventies, because…nostalgia…and childhood memories. Some of you know exactly what I mean. The cover price of Black Lightning #6 is 35¢, while the current value is $10.

Recently Read Digital Comics

When Marvel announced its Legacy initiative, I decided to give new comic books a try once again. During my youth, Spider-Man always seemed to be the character I gravitated to the most. So it was a no-brainer I’d be jumping back on the Spider-Man bandwagon, and started buying The Amazing Spider-Man with issue #789, where Legacy began for that title. It was kind of strange the way Legacy numbering ran on many titles. The Amazing Spider-Man issue #32 came out one month, and the next, it was #789. The titles all had a page explaining the new (old) numbering system. Unfortunately (at least for me), this was Volume 4 of The Amazing Spider-Man. Why all the starts and stops? I guess the philosophy is (or was) that number ones sell. People want to start from the beginning. Yet the Legacy concept is sort of taking a step back, as far as this idea is concerned. Legacy began with the “Fall of Parker” storyline. Peter Parker finally made it big and had his own company, but now it was crashing in on him. Issue #789 didn’t give me much background on what Peter’s life had been like while rich, and I’d read just a few digital comics during this period to give me a real feel for what Peter Parker was like in the 21st Century. When Amazon had a big sale on some Marvel collections, I bought Amazing Spider-Man: Worldwide Vol. 1 (as it turned out, I bought through Volume 6, which took me two issues short of where Legacy launches). In some ways, it was nice seeing Peter Parker have money for a change. Yet fundamentally (at least for me), this wasn’t Peter Parker. His world is certainly different in these first five issues that make up the collection. Mary Jane is gone (she’s in Iron Man’s world now), replaced by Mockingbird. S.H.I.E.L.D. is now part of Parker’s Universe. And Spider-Man is his bodyguard (Hobie Brown, the Prowler, lends Peter a hand with this). Most people don’t like change, but sometimes we have to give it a chance. Did it work for Marvel? Perhaps for some people, but Marvel saw the need for Legacy, and I’m good with that.