Cerebus3000

The grade range from the Official CGC Guide to Grading Comics for Missing Pieces (which includes chews) is 0.5 to 9.8 so...that's helpful. The guide also indicates (although in a convoluted way) that as long as the comic is otherwise 3.5 or higher, and the missing interior piece does not impact an area of 2 x 2 of the story or ad, then a comic may receive a qualified grade. I look forward to you posting your results on this so we can all learn how this is actually treated.

It’s hard to grade through a case via pictures. Spine ticks and edge wear are visible, maybe some smudges (above the ´a ´ in cowabunga?). Black covers like that are fingerprint magnets. What are the grading notes? Perhaps a clean and press will help. If it is just the edge wear and spine ticks I think that could be a 7.0-7.5.

Some more context from the CGC Guide: "Marvel chipping is one of the most notorious printing defects in comic book history...due to a dull trimming blade at the printers, the right edge of many comics developed multiple tears...ultimately turned into missing pieces by being pulled or torn off through handling". So I guess Marvel chipping is considered a printing defect, but as zzutak says it still required handling to produce the actual chipping.

From the Official CGC Guide to Grading Comics: "Marvel chipping historically had less of an impact on grade than traditional missing pieces, but this has changed over time. Because of it's impact on visual appeal, it is now treated the same as regular missing pieces. Its severity can range from one very small piece out (9.6) to chipping that runs the entire length of the front cover's right edge (4.0)."

I am thinking that one corner, plus the spine ticks, puts it in an 8.0-8.5 range (unless the photos are exaggerating the actual impact of the defects). I have no idea if that sort of book can be improved with a press.

Is the colour of the spine soiling or tanning? Is that staining on the back (the slightly whiter patches)? Tanning and staining could hold it back, but a clean and press should improve presentation significantly. The spine stress and tears are not too bad for a mid grade book. I think 5.0 is probably the worst case scenario.

Yep. I think this is in the 3.0 range.

Two bullseye and I still ended up with 5 points...at least it was sticking to the theme of the round.

Bloody indeed.

Sorry to always be submitting at the last minute. I do have better intentions but I am also easily distracted.

After second and third guessing my gut instinct I am prepared to be confounded.

Congrats! Nice book which I do indeed envy. I have checked back a few times on this to see if the grade was posted. I was thinking for the ticks I identified I gave an overly harsh grade. Looks like you have some case scratches to try and buff out

Please sign me up.

Grades submitted.

This contest has been a struggle for me. Another round of 8. Three over graded and two under graded. I used to think 5 points per round was a win for me, but I think getting by with eights this time is not too bad.

Grades submitted.

Grades are in. I would like to preemptively say "I can't believe I was off by so much" and "what were those graders thinking, that was clearly a more egregious and/or insignificant flaw".

Nice press and grade! Congrats!

9.6

I’m not sure about rules discussing cleaning and pressing on the forums, but there are definitely things that can be attempted. However, if skin oils have broken the gloss it is permanent. It’s probably best to consult a professional (which I am not).

Compared to your copy A there seems to be a line extending out to the right from the last peak of the rock. Possibly a more faint line a little below that and extending to the left. If those are nothing then 8.5 after clean and press.

I’m optimistic that a press will take care of those wrinkles. However, I think there are enough colour breaking tics, plus the rear top left crease that it will be an 8.0.

There appears to be a two or three finger prints on the rear cover right over Wolverine’s crotch area. If what I am seeing is real then it will depend on how well that can be cleaned. With successful cleaning 9.0. With embedded fingerprints 8.0.

Clean and press for 6.5 to 7.0.

Proceeding with self flagellation.