Bomber-Bob

This thread has my vote for Thread of the Year !!! So much fun ! Thanks.

I agree, very nice job. I only notice the faint trace of the sticker because I know it was there. I'm glad they did not adjust the spine, for me realigning the spine is too aggressive. It probably would not have improved the grade either. You got a generous grade. I would have graded it 6.0 but I bet the book is really nice in hand, clean BC, cover gloss, etc. Congrats !!!!

In this scenario, the winner would be the one that found the best candidate, not who did the best job.

Regarding your 'what if' grading questions, I don't know either. Unfortunately, there's really not a CGC rulebook we can refer to. I would like to add a couple additional comments about popped staples. There are 'degrees' of popped staples for CGC. A staple can be popped to the front cover but still attached to the back and vice versa. I once received a Blue Label 9.0 on such a situation. My reference to a 6.0 as being about the highest grade was for a completely popped staple. Also, a clean staple pop may be considered bindery in nature. A staple pop with signs of stress or tears at the staple will be considered impact and may be down graded more than a clean pop. So, as with all things CGC, there is a lot of 'it depends' in the equation. Hope this helps.

Thanks. Nice to get them right occasionally but I thought this one was easy. A really nice book otherwise, with a subscription crease, is usually a very predictable 5.5 .

And the reference to the Jack Kirby sig is on the label, very cool !

You can ask 50K for a ham sandwich but it doesn't mean anything. Unless these books actually sell for those prices, there's nothing to comment on.

Kav, you are NOT a bad person and neither is Joey. If he gave any advice at all, it would generate more questions and requests for info. He is smart for not responding. BTW, I liked your 'see what you started' comment to the OP, funny !

So you submitted it and it got a 5.5 ?

I agree that the upper left corner will probably prohibit an upgrade. Also, there appears to be some red overspray on the upper right corner pages. The light overspray doesn't cause a downgrade but with a nice 'tweener' book like this (9.6 - 9.8 range) it probably holds it at 9.6 . Nice book.

Seems like a worthwhile book to try it on, an easy double if you get the 9.8 . I'm not sure about the 2014 timeframe but I think they were starting to tighten up.

Okay, the 2 minute clean job that apparently got lost in the conversation about the Supes book. Yes, it did look better.

Thanks, I agree. I got this on the Boards from the David2000 8.0 collection. As a long time Boardie, you may remember his liquidation sale a number of years back. Like this ASM #11, there were many stunning, undergraded books in his collection. I wish I had bought more. I promised him I was buying it as a true collector and would not CPR the book. I have kept my promise.

Yes, I think if you confined your cleaning to the white areas, especially in the Back cover spine area (as you mentioned) it would have been better. The mistake was getting too 'greedy' and going for the color areas also. Much like pressing, I think a good cleaning job is when you can't detect it. For me, the yellow cover color loss just stands out, hits me in the face. It's all I can focus on when looking at the book.

No, I do not think you ruined the book. However, I don't think you improved the book either. It's just not a good example to show someone that is asking for advice.

This makes sense. I think you may be right.

I understand. IMO, whether he is successful or not, does not matter. It's what happens to the books. Will they be discarded ? Will they be sold with dislosure ? Why encourage anyone who asks to start erasing at will. Does the world need more comic book cleaners ?

I've had notes that cut off in mid sentence, on the very first sentence no less. Obviously, it was finish the notes or get to the bathroom ! Unfortunately, you don't know this until after you have paid. In the early years you could call up and get the notes. They would also tell you what grade each of the 3 graders assigned. Unfortunately, that is how I found out it is only the opinion of the finalizer that really counted.

ASM #11 may be the most difficult ASM book to find in grade. Thanks for the compliment !

It's free. It's on the main menu of the website under an option called Census, you can see it in my screenshot. No signon required.

I thought CGC, for insurance reasons, takes a picture of all Walkthrough Tier books, something these must have been submitted under. I would hope CGC does not make these pics public domain. Maybe nobody ever asked for the pics? HA may be the only auction house to warehouse pics of past sales and probably do so only to promote their make an offer program.

I acknowledge your reference. It's like Heritage has added one SS 9.8 to both books. I can't imagine someone would actually get an FF1 or ASM1 in 9.8 signed, that's crazy. BTW, my reference is the CGC website census. Heritage must be wrong or perhaps outdated.

It's funny that threads of this nature, always go off track and end badly. With no intent on your part, you have become a Troublemaker !!! LOL.

I apologize. I now understand your before and after post . Good stuff, good memory !!!

Now I understand !!!