All the points you just mention here are dead on. I do have one that doesn't have the glossy finish. Also, the excessive glue along the spine or sometimes on the cover keeps away from being a 9.8.
Actually, the "Jonah Hex Other Western Tales" digests #1 through 3 are notoriously to have allot of printing defects. DC comics really did a poor job when printing those books out. I believe they're the most difficult ones to get in 9.8's.
Have to agree they did do a poor job, as you can see my copy has nothing like the Gloss as on that 9.8
That still looks like a very nice copy. How is the back cover?
Not too bad but think the corners will drop it down a bit