Holy cow?! How did Robert outdo himself? I don't know how he did it, but somehow, he did.
Here, let me enumerate the ways:
1. This amply-sized box of comics was taped about all open edges. Not too much, not too little. It was Goldilocks good. Even more, I opened the box and found two pieces of foam cut to fit the interior. The comic itself, a slab, was enclosed in the obligatory cardboard sandwich and sitting on top of packing peanuts. Oh man, that black foam. That did it. The perfect pack job.
2. Even better, I can now use the same box and packaging to send him the comics that he's due as part of our transaction. He doesn't even know this, but he's gonna get that sweet box and those sweet custom-cut foam blocks back in his crib.
The usual stuff is usual. The book is what he said it is, it looks even better in person, and it fills an unsightly gap in my collection.