Welcome to Cool Comics in My Collection Episode 110, 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 110…

Cool Comics News!

I’ve got a couple exciting news items this week! First up, books 3 and 4 of Superheroes and Vile Villains are available on Amazon today. Book 3 is Collateral Damage: A Superhero Anthology, and I’ve got a new story in it named “Mindhopper.” It’s about a socially awkward man with powers who has always used them for his own selfish gain, with no desire to be a superhero. But when he becomes a target, what will he do? Book 4 in the series is Ha!Ha!Ha!: A Supervillain Anthology, and guess what? I’m in that one, too! “Counterclockwise” is a short story I’d previously published on Amazon, but now it’s exclusively available in the anthology. If you like time travel tales, be sure to check it out, along with all the other stories in the two editions by some of today’s most exciting authors!

My other news this week is that I’m going to be a part of Akron Comicon. On Sunday, November 5 at 1 p.m., I’ll be leading a panel discussion called Comic Book Nostalgia: Reflections on Our Collections. If you plan on going to the con, come to my panel as I have some fun giveaways planned, along with some great conversation that will transport you back in time to those memories you have of hopping on your bike with a pocket full of change to buy the latest funny books. If you’re still not sure if you want to go, check out all the fantastic creators that will be there by clicking Akron Comicon.

Cool Comics

Cool comics in my collection #530: Captain Marvel #125, December 2017.

The only Legacy comic book that released October 25 I bought was Captain Marvel. When I started collecting comics (again) a few years ago, I took an interest in comics from the 1970s, the first era I started buying in when I was growing up. Ms. Marvel wasn’t a title I read at the time, but over a dozen years ago I picked up a few in back issue boxes, and since it’s a short run of just 23 comics, I worked on finishing the series, and enjoyed getting to read it in order. Obviously, there have been some changes since 1979 when it ended. She’s no longer Ms. Marvel, but instead Captain Marvel (spoiler alert…Captain Marvel, the Kree soldier, died…a long time ago), and works with Alpha Flight, a Canadian team that seems a bit different in today’s comic book world from what I remember. I have a lot of catching up to do. The story was okay, and I’ll keep getting it for a while before I decide if it stays or goes on my pull list. The Marvel Value Stamp for this comic is Spider-Gwen (another character I know nothing about). The cover price of Captain Marvel #125 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

Cool Comics Done Dirt Cheap

Cool comics in my collection #531: Paradiso (Ashcan edition), October 2017.

I guess I’ve been living right, because my local comic shop owner slipped another free ashcan into my weekly pile of books at Kenmore Komics. Like the previous two, this is an Image comic, only this time the pages are full color, giving the reader a better impression of how this will look when the regular-sized version comes out. As I tend to do when talking comics here, I give a word of warning when some of the language is on the more adult side. There isn’t much here, but just enough that you may want to be careful who’s hands this may fall into if you pick up the series. And if you enjoy post-apocalyptic stories, and hunger for it in your comics, then look no further than Paradiso. Civilization goes haywire due to some destructive event, and now…well, there’s still a lot to discover in this world. An interesting alternative to the typical heroes in spandex. The cover price of this Ashcan edition of Paradiso is free (limited to one per store), while the current value is $5.

Cool comics in my collection #532: Action Man #4, September 2016.

With just one Legacy comic book this week, I pulled another cheap issue from my long box I bought for $20 nearly a year ago. This IDW comic book, Action Man #4, is based on a Hasbro toy. I’m not familiar with the toy, or the comic book (you’ll notice this came out just over a year ago, before I started getting my monthly Previews once more), so I had to do a little Internet research in preparation for reading it. And of course it’s issue 4, so yeah, there was a fog bank rolling in with this one. But I ended up enjoying it, to the extent I could understand the action. It seemed like there was a lot of “explaining” going on by one of the characters, almost as if she knew I might need help. Again, no superheroes in this one. Instead we get James Bond like spies. Not a bad read for a comic I paid less than a nickel for. By the way, for those who might have read this and know the series, the issue I bought has the variant subscription cover. The cover price of Action Man #4 is $3.99, while the current value is $4.

Cool Comics Classics

Cool comics in my collection #533: Swamp Thing #12, October 1974.

When it comes to Swamp Thing, I almost feel a need to apologize. I’ve never been a Swamp Thing reader, and when this issue was on the stands back in 1974, I probably didn’t give it more than a quick glance. Monster comics weren’t my thing when I was younger, and now I wish I’d picked up some along the way. I did buy a Swamp Thing Annual issue when I was in college, and this was my first intentional Swamp Thing purchase since then. A few months ago, comiXology had Swamp Thing #1 for free, and I downloaded it, read it, and figured I would be buying some back issues on occasion, so here we are. If you like time travel, this issue has that in full, as Swamp Thing’s getting tossed around to all different periods, running into a certain starry-eyed man each time. This story will probably leave you feeling a little sad, but then, Swamp Thing is a bit of a sad character, is he not? The cover price of Swamp Thing #12 is 20¢, while the current value is $38.

Recently Read Digital Comics

I’d never heard of Arcana Comics before downloading a free copy of The Evil Tree #1 on comiXology, but this issue really got my attention. The atmosphere for this story is great for some Halloween reading, but considering the snow storm going on in the comic and the imminent approach of winter, this could be just what you’re looking for in the next month or two. Misha is having strange dreams, and some sleepwalking issues, just as her friends are helping her move into a big house in an isolated area. Elements of this story reminded me of the underrated movie Wind Chill (anyone out there see this movie?), and if you like spooky mysteries, I suggest giving this a try. There is a little language in it, along with some horror elements and blood, so beware. Issues 2 through 4 are just 99¢ each, so the series is rather inexpensive. The art was interesting and fit the mood, in my opinion. There are a lot more Arcana Comics available through comiXology, so I probably have some exploring to do.