newshane

The seller also stated in the auction: "These comics are in various conditions please view the scans provided." I guess the OP didn't read that part. Also another part that reads "see scans." And they provided front and back (albeit slightly cropped) pictures. The scans show all the problems described by the OP. And $17 is fair for the condition. No argument! Would have been better for the OP to have quit while he was ahead.

Agreed.

Exactly. And the seller couldn't tell there was tape all along the binding from looking at the picture? As someone said previously, you might want to stick with looking at comics in person.

Also, not sure what you're expecting from a $17 copy of that book. I don't fault the seller here. Sorry. The pics show all the issues. And "nice" is a rather vague term. Next time, take the time to look at the picture and ask specific questions about the condition of the book. Getting five bucks back from the seller on this deal is very, very generous. Let him keep the money ($17 seems like a fair deal to me) and chalk this up as a lesson learned.

I don't think you could ever "upgrade" an Okajima comic. One day...

That will be all for tonight. Must decide what else to post (lots of choices) and when to post it.

FOR SALE - one copy of Spawn 265 Red Sketch Edition (blank cover) - limited press run of 1500 copies - signed and sketched by Tim Sale - CGC 9.8. SOLD!

FOR SALE - one copy of Alien Worlds 1 - CGC 9.6. $35 -->$26

FOR SALE - one copy of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1 - CGC 8.0 - double-signed by Frank Miller and Klaus Janson. SOLD!

FOR SALE: One copy of Venom 150 Mattina "Virgin" Edition signed by Francesco Mattina - CGC 9.6 SOLD!

HERE IS THE DEAL: It's time to refocus my collecting habits for the new year and beyond. I've picked up some really cool stuff here and there, as you will see, but I'd like to move these items in order to raise money for other pursuits within the hobby. I will have many items for sale this year and I am going to try to list them here in a single thread. Please know that I intend to take my time with his thread. I will simply place various items up for grabs if and when it excites me to do so. In short, please keep checking back! I may end up parting with some super special stuff here within the next few months and hope to offer a little something for everybody!

TERMS OF SALE: * * * PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE TERMS OF SALE BEFORE PLACING A BID. I DO NOT MAKE EXCEPTIONS TO THE TERMS LISTED BELOW * * * I will not conduct business with members on the probation list, members listed in the hall of shame, or members on my ignore list. I do not participate in third-party deals. When you enter into a contract with me, you acknowledge that you are directly responsible for the deal. First in the sales thread wins. Private sales can be arranged and negotiations are entertained via PM, but the most secure and incontestable way to win is to post the directly in the public thread. PAYMENT: Please pay within 72 hours of receiving your invoice. I reserve the right to cancel the deal if this condition is not strictly met. I accept PayPal Goods and Services as a preferred method of payment. Please contact me via PM prior to bidding for information regarding payments with personal checks, cashier checks, or US POSTAL money orders. SHIPPING AND HANDLING: I will only ship to the United States. Slabs will usually ship the next business day via USPS Priority Mail at a cost of $14 for up to three slabs. Certain high-value items may require a signature from you at no extra cost. Raw books and lots will ship via USPS First Class Mail at exact cost. If the package arrives damaged, please take photographs or video of the unpacking process. Damaged items will be refunded under my personal insurance policy, but I must be able to prove that the item was damaged during shipment. RETURN POLICY: Unless stated otherwise for a specific item, I accept returns for any reason, as long as the following conditions are strictly met: 1. You must use PM to notify me of your intention to return the item and I must receive this notice within 72 hours of your reception of the package as indicated by tracking. 2. I must receive the returned item in the exact condition in which it was sent. Refunds will only be issued after I receive the item in question. 3. You must mail the item back to me postmarked as "shipped" no later than 7 calendar days after your reception of the package as indicated by tracking. 4. You must cover the cost of shipping the item back to me. If any of these generous conditions are not met, I reserve the right to refuse the return. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ I've done many deals with various board members over the years. My kudos can be found by going HERE. I look forward to doing business with you!

Partially. The guy in the picture probably injects synthol into his muscles to pump them up like that. Google it and marvel at the stupidity of manking.

Haunt of Fear really does it for me. Graham Ingles.

My grail? I'll never be able to afford it. But here is my favorite piece of drek. Happens to be one of the rarest modern era comics out there. Only a literal handful floating around in this condition, and the census has stayed frozen at that number for years. Another copy is currently for sale on eBay for over 12,000 bucks! Put it to you this way, if the house was on fire, this would be the comic I'd grab first.

It's not oil. It's an optical effect that often occurs when two different types of plastic come in contact. It's called a "newton ring" and the topic has been heavily discussed. The board has a search function if you'd like to read more about it. In short, this poses no danger to the book inside; however, the effect is certainly unpleasant from an aesthetic point-of-view. An old trick is to carefully insert a piece of paper into the side of the slab, between the inner well and the inside of the outer case. People have had mixed results but have generally seen improvement by using this technique to remove the contact point between the two plastics. Welcome to the boards!

The smell of a comic can provide clues regarding the decomposition of the paper inside. Overtime, the breakdown of cellulose and lignin found in paper adds to the mix of volatile compounds (VOCs) present since the day of manufacture. A book's smell largely depends on the VOCs released from paper and the mix of adhesives and ink used during the printing process. Benzaldehyde, for example, has an almond smell. Vanillin produces a vanilla-like odor. Books can also smell sweet or bitter like vinegar. And yes, I've smelled books that gave off a strong doo-doo smell. Matter of fact, if I close my eyes, it's pretty easy to recall the stink. Comics don't pick up that kind of smell sitting by the toilet. Assuming the absence of actual feces on the paper, the smell can be attributed to the VOCs released during the decomposition process. It's also important to note here that the index section of the Overstreet Guide to Grading Comics notes a "pickle smell" a "mothball smell" and a "vinegar smell" and provides the following details. PICKLE SMELL - the odor of acetic acid, often associated with browning and/or brittle paper. MOTHBALL SMELL - some comics from specific collections can be identified by this characteristic odor, which infuses some comics because of their storage with moth balls. VINEGAR SMELL - the smell of acetic acid in newsprint that is deteriorating. Now, there isn't a POOP SMELL listed, but I can guarantee what you are smelling is a mix of various compounds associated with the slow decomposition of inks, glues, and paper used to manufacture your comic. SMELL MATTERS! It can give you clues about the state of the paper in a comic. In fact, there was one third-party grading company (can't recall which) that listed the odor of the book on the label! What can be done to remove the odor? The cat litter trick is fine. You could also try an ozone machine. Even though it is designed to trap some of the VOCs, I don't think microchamber paper would remove the odor. Or you could just sell the book as is. After all, does anyone actually open and read their comics anymore?

I'm officially done collecting new release comics or any comics released after 2000 because the variant game has absolutely burned me out.

Overstreet says that no larger than a "1/4" inch square of the back cover may be missing" in the grade of 1.8 (GD-). Up to a tenth of the back cover could be missing in the grade of 1.5 (FR/GD).

This thread is a total hot mess. I will say, however, that the photographs look legit. Look at the tear pattern at the bottom of the label as it runs across the slab. Looks genuine to me. Serial number runs okay. But everything else, and I mean everything else, about the dealer is rather shady.

From my collection..

Easy. Spawn 156 and 212 in CGC 9.8 please. Then my run will be complete.

If a person is unable or unwilling to provide references, then there is no way that I would buy from that person.