Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 66, 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 66…

Cool comics in my collection #379: Thor #275, September 1978.

It’s Thor, it’s Loki, and it’s a comic from the Seventies! This is the kind of stuff I love, and you just might, too. I’ve sung my songs of praise for comics from this era a number of times here, and it won’t stop anytime soon. It’s the period I first started reading comics, and in my mind, they can do no wrong. Although you’ll notice that the price is a whopping 35 cents! My typical favorites cost a quarter, but that’s just nitpicking. Admittedly, I didn’t buy this one new, but instead out of a back-issue box in Atlanta, Georgia, in the mid-Nineties. The cover price of Thor #275 is 35 cents, while the current value is $10.

Cool comics in my collection #380: Batman #259, December 1974.

As we come to the end of 2016 and my last blog of the year, I have to include another 100-page DC comic. These extra thick issues contain reprint stories, but when they came out, it was the easiest, cheapest, and best way to add the older stories to your stack of comic books. This particular issue features the famous pulp character, The Shadow! I bought this at my local shop, Kenmore Komics, a few months ago, as part of my goal to eventually own all the 100 page comics that DC published. If you are a fan of Batman, this is definitely a fun one you’ll want to add to your collection. The cover price of Batman #259 is 60 cents, while the current value is $120.

Cool comics in my collection #381: Captain Marvel #7, November 1968.

I really like these old Captain Marvel comics when he is still sporting his green and white uniform. As much as I love the comics from the Seventies, it’s cool to have older issues, especially from the sixties, the era when I was born. If you enjoy collecting older characters and comics, your local comic shop probably has some affordable back issues. Sometimes the prices are in your range, and sometimes not, but I’m sure you can find some affordable issues to add to your collection to read and enjoy! The cover price of Captain Marvel #7 is 12 cents, while the current value is $55.

Recently Read

ComiXology has now become a regular thing for me, so I’m a digital reader as well now. I bought a few Christmas comics to read last week, which included Marvel Holiday Special 2004 and DCU Infinite Holiday Special #1 from 2006. I got a few others at low prices and will save them for next year. One of the features I like on both comiXology and the Marvel App is the archive option. Once I’ve read a digital comic, I can select for it to be archived so I don’t accidentally read it again a few years down the road when I may no longer remember! I don’t mind a rerun every now and then, but with so many out there to read, why repeat unless it’s purposeful? As for the comics, if you enjoy short features and seeing your heroes in holiday situations, these can be fun. Also, reading them on a tablet is a breeze, and I can turn off my bedside lamp, which my wife appreciates.

Upcoming

This past week I was at Kenmore Komics and the owner mentioned a long box completely stuffed was only $20. I snapped it up, and have found lots of cool comics I’ve never read. I’m still sorting through all of them and capturing secondary values in a spreadsheet, which I’ll report on once I’m finished. I did a quick count, and it appears that there were 421 comic books in this box, so it’s taking me a while. Do you have any cool stories about comic book finds? Feel free to share them with us below where it says, “Leave a reply.” Happy reading, and see ya next year!