Welcome to Episode 28 of Cool Comics In My Collection! My name is Gary Wilton and I’ll be your guest host this week as we take a look at 6 comics in my collection that I find to be really cool and 1 that wasn’t cool enough and I let it get away. First, a little about myself. I’ve been collecting for about 26 years. My love of comics started with The Savage Sword of Conan. My mother would pick it up every month and then we would read it together. Eventually, one title a month wasn’t enough, and my interest in the hobby grew from there. I currently run an eBay store called Legend Gary’s Comic Books & Games. I’m planning on opening a comic store in the near future.

Cool comics in Gary’s collection #1: Sea Bear & Grizzly Shark #1, June 2010.

Before Sharktopus vs. Pteracuda or Sharknado, there was Sea Bear & Grizzly Shark. I’ve always been a big fan of cheesy Sci-Fi/Horror films so this comic was right up my alley. You have a Grizzly Bear that prowls the ocean depths and a great white shark that lurks in woods. Plenty of gore in this one. Although they are two separate stories, maybe we will get a crossover one day. It currently books at $5. Before Sharktopus vs. Pteracuda or Sharknado, there was Sea Bear & Grizzly Shark. I’ve always been a big fan of cheesy Sci-Fi/Horror films so this comic was right up my alley. You have a Grizzly Bear that prowls the ocean depths and a great white shark that lurks in woods. Plenty of gore in this one. Although they are two separate stories, maybe we will get a crossover one day. It currently books at $5.

Cool comics in Gary’s collection #2: Wonder Woman #219, September 2005.

Wonder Woman vs. Superman! This is one of my favorite issues by my favorite writer, Greg Rucka! Marvel as Wonder Woman goes toe to toe with Big Blue! Superman having the weak mind that he does gets mind controlled by Maxwell Lord. Wonder Woman decides to intervene and a fight breaks out. Being the trained warrior that she is, Wonder Woman is getting the better of Superman. He ends up breaking her arm at some point and she realizes that although she is the better fighter, Superman will never get tired so she will eventually lose. She uses her tiara to cut Superman’s throat which buys her enough time to make the hard decisions that Batman and Superman can’t make. She practically twists Maxwell Lord’s head clean off. With Max dead the mind control on Superman is broken. As usual the Kryptonian has a hissy fit about killing and Wonder Woman gets arrested. If you are not a Wonder Woman fan after this read, you probably never will be. This issue books at $3. Wonder Woman vs. Superman! This is one of my favorite issues by my favorite writer, Greg Rucka! Marvel as Wonder Woman goes toe to toe with Big Blue! Superman having the weak mind that he does gets mind controlled by Maxwell Lord. Wonder Woman decides to intervene and a fight breaks out. Being the trained warrior that she is, Wonder Woman is getting the better of Superman. He ends up breaking her arm at some point and she realizes that although she is the better fighter, Superman will never get tired so she will eventually lose. She uses her tiara to cut Superman’s throat which buys her enough time to make the hard decisions that Batman and Superman can’t make. She practically twists Maxwell Lord’s head clean off. With Max dead the mind control on Superman is broken. As usual the Kryptonian has a hissy fit about killing and Wonder Woman gets arrested. If you are not a Wonder Woman fan after this read, you probably never will be. This issue books at $3.

Cool comics in Gary’s collection #3: Daredevil #163, March 1980.

The reason I think this comic is so cool is because of the fight between Daredevil and the Hulk. Up until I found this issue at a used book store, all of the hero vs. hero stories I had read ended in a draw. There was never a definitive winner. That all changed with this book. Not only was there a clear winner but it wasn’t even the main character. Daredevil does well considering who he’s fighting. He is managing to avoid all of the Hulk’s blows while landing a bunch of his own. The Hulk finally manages to connect once and that’s the end of the fight. The issue ends with some paramedics scraping Daredevil off of the street. The reason I think this comic is so cool is because of the fight between Daredevil and the Hulk. Up until I found this issue at a used book store, all of the hero vs. hero stories I had read ended in a draw. There was never a definitive winner. That all changed with this book. Not only was there a clear winner but it wasn’t even the main character. Daredevil does well considering who he’s fighting. He is managing to avoid all of the Hulk’s blows while landing a bunch of his own. The Hulk finally manages to connect once and that’s the end of the fight. The issue ends with some paramedics scraping Daredevil off of the street. Comicbookrealm.com currently lists this issue for $60.

Cool comics in Gary’s collection #4: Lobo Paramilitary Christmas Special #1, 1991.

This is one of my favorite comics off all time. I knew nothing about Lobo or even heard of him when I purchased this issue. I bought this issue because the cover had Santa lying on the ground bleeding from a stab wound while some maniac stood over him grinning. I thought, with that cover this book has to be good. Boy was I right. The Easter bunny takes out a contract on Santa and mayhem ensues. Full pages of elf brains being blown out of their heads, limbs flying in every direction and a couple of decapitations. I couldn’t believe that there were comics of this caliber and I had been missing out on them. I became an instant fan of the Main Man. You can own this amazing issue for less than $5. This is one of my favorite comics off all time. I knew nothing about Lobo or even heard of him when I purchased this issue. I bought this issue because the cover had Santa lying on the ground bleeding from a stab wound while some maniac stood over him grinning. I thought, with that cover this book has to be good. Boy was I right. The Easter bunny takes out a contract on Santa and mayhem ensues. Full pages of elf brains being blown out of their heads, limbs flying in every direction and a couple of decapitations. I couldn’t believe that there were comics of this caliber and I had been missing out on them. I became an instant fan of the Main Man. You can own this amazing issue for less than $5.

Cool comics in Gary’s collection #5: G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #21, March 1984.

It was hard for me to decide which G.I. Joe issue to include just because I’m such a huge G.I. Joe fan but I went with #21. This issue is known as the silent issue but it is also the first appearance of Storm Shadow. For those that don’t read G.I. Joe Snake-eyes can’t speak and this issue is all about him infiltrating a Cobra base. He runs into Storm Shadow and a whole bunch of action takes place. There aren’t any speaking lines in the issue, the story is told with the art. I thought it was a really cool idea. Fast forward some years later to an article in Wizard magazine. They were counting down some “worst of” things or something like that. This issue made the list because of the “lack of writing.” Wizard slammed it pretty hard at the time. Then after 9-11 Marvel put out several silent issues and Wizard praised them. I just thought, you dirty dogs, after ripping one of my favorite G.I. Joe issues a new one you turn around and give praise for the exact same thing. It currently books at $30. It was hard for me to decide which G.I. Joe issue to include just because I’m such a huge G.I. Joe fan but I went with #21. This issue is known as the silent issue but it is also the first appearance of Storm Shadow. For those that don’t read G.I. Joe Snake-eyes can’t speak and this issue is all about him infiltrating a Cobra base. He runs into Storm Shadow and a whole bunch of action takes place. There aren’t any speaking lines in the issue, the story is told with the art. I thought it was a really cool idea. Fast forward some years later to an article in Wizard magazine. They were counting down some “worst of” things or something like that. This issue made the list because of the “lack of writing.” Wizard slammed it pretty hard at the time. Then after 9-11 Marvel put out several silent issues and Wizard praised them. I just thought, you dirty dogs, after ripping one of my favorite G.I. Joe issues a new one you turn around and give praise for the exact same thing. It currently books at $30.

Cool comics in Gary’s collection #6: Iron Man #55, February 1973.

The first appearance of Thanos! After reading the Infinity Gauntlet mini-series in the early 90s I had to know more about Thanos. I started buying every issue with him in it. He became my favorite Marvel character. It took a few years for me to justify spending the money on this issue but in 1999 I finally forked over the $80 for this issue. It instantly became my most prized comic. Unfortunately, I just had it graded so I can’t read it to refresh my memory. I know the Blood Brothers are running around and Thanos has a few laughs at Iron Man’s expense. CBR values a 9.4 at $1800. The first appearance of Thanos! After reading the Infinity Gauntlet mini-series in the early 90s I had to know more about Thanos. I started buying every issue with him in it. He became my favorite Marvel character. It took a few years for me to justify spending the money on this issue but in 1999 I finally forked over the $80 for this issue. It instantly became my most prized comic. Unfortunately, I just had it graded so I can’t read it to refresh my memory. I know the Blood Brothers are running around and Thanos has a few laughs at Iron Man’s expense. CBR values a 9.4 at $1800.

The one that got away: Daredevil #168, January 1981.

The first appearance of Elektra. I actually owned this issue for a short time. I found it at a used book store for $1. I wasn’t an Elektra fan at all, but I knew it was a key issue. I kept it until the Daredevil and Elektra movies came out. I sold it shortly after for $20 because I figured those movies killed any interest anybody had in this character. Then Netflix picked up Daredevil and this book has steadily gone up. Current book value, $220. The first appearance of Elektra. I actually owned this issue for a short time. I found it at a used book store for $1. I wasn’t an Elektra fan at all, but I knew it was a key issue. I kept it until the Daredevil and Elektra movies came out. I sold it shortly after for $20 because I figured those movies killed any interest anybody had in this character. Then Netflix picked up Daredevil and this book has steadily gone up. Current book value, $220.

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