Philflound

https://www.comics.org/issue/26546/ Use this site. It's pretty accurate. 36 pages indicated includes 4 sides of the cover.

Ok, since you're so knowledgable about these things, what was the purpose of making the blank UPC?

Actually how do you know that? Not everyone uses the chat boards, and not everyone looks at this specific section. It's also possible your magazines were holdered in a fault batch of hard plastics where the posts didn't seal sonically. As for the cracked plastics, there is no way QC would allow that out. Tiny crack, maybe they could miss, but cracks several inches long, no way. Not that I'm accusing, but causing cracks yourself would only support your case against CGC, so maybe you did it yourself out of frustration. Maybe you saw the open posts and magazine damaged and threw the cases against the floor out of anger and they broke. Cases don't magically crack that much without them being damaged in shipping. I'm on your side with most of this short of accusing the company of finding damaged cases just to put your magazines in to get back at you.

I do not have issue #7, but did look at copies of 10, 12 and 13. Was a bit of a struggle to get to those so that's all I checked. All those issues with blank UPC boxes does NOT mention anything about a reprint on the cover or in the indicia. They've always been known as Whitman packs along with many other Marvel issues during that time period with blank UPC boxes. They've pretty much been accepted as reprints through the years. Though that may not have been a correct assessment by the hobby. I'm assuming these were reprints, even if they didn't say it. If you follow along with Marvel in the 1980s, there were many books reprinted that did not say they were reprints. The Smurfs which I don't have in front of me at the moment had 3 printings. The way to determine them were by different later ads printed in the book/cover. For DC, Batman comes to mind where they were sold in 3 packs. Some said reprint or 2nd or later printing. Others had nothing but again, just different ads. You had to know what to look for to tell if a book was 1st print or not. So back to the blank UPC boxes. Even though they don't say it, I believe they are reprints. Maybe CGC should change the language on the label to say "Sold in Whitman collector packs" like they're doing for DC with those DC Universe reprints sold in DC Collector Packs.

Yes, the cavity is a well. The book sits in it, sometimes needs a wedge to hold it in place and the lid covers the well. The other book you displayed was a lid to lid. The book doesn't sit in anything but limbo. Some didn't have problems. I think people whacked their copies around to cause problems on purpose back then like books shifting or staple tears. The waves are a whole other story.

Then it was missed by the graders. A book's grade will not be affected by the peeling of the cover of the code. It should be noted on the label as such though along with if the comic was manufactured without the code altogether.

That cover looks so destroyed and possibly brittle, I can't see a cleaning doing anything for it.

Actually I agree with Bruce for reposting. I found it ridiculous with all the members on here going off with candy and such. It had nothing to do with him. Whether he went about his anger with the situation in a proper way does not matter. He had a right to ask opinion and vent his frustration. I am totally unsure how the cases would have cracked if safely in the box. Sealing on the other hand could have been a problem with the sonic sealer not sealing the posts correctly. My suggestion is take an inventory of each item that you have a problem with. Even if it's just a holder not properly sealed but your magazine did not get damaged. The least they would do is change the holder and hopefully your magazines will be fine. As for those which did get damaged, you should have declared an insurance value on each item. Talk with Harshen or whoever you have been in contact with. Compensation should be given or possibly a replacement item in similar original grade. I am sorry you had problems with your collection. Getting replacements or money actually does not help if you had attachment to your originals. Good luck. Do try and refrain from cursing though.

#34 seems to have better activity. With the 2nd movie in the future, these issues will probably climb a little, flatline, and then possibly drop. Picking them up now may gain some $$ and probably selling them right before the next movie comes out will be your best bet. After that, they'll probably come down. These issues have been steady for a long time and haven't moved much. Infinity Gauntlet 1-6 is where I saw the most activity.

I agree that many "limited editions" were just the original comic signed and possibly did include some bonus item like you mentioned a print, poster, trading card, etc. I can't tell you how many "limited edition" Comax comics I own that I purchased the autographed copy for a buck more if I remember correctly. Same with Everett Hartsoe with Razor, though I think some of those actually were true variants. I loved my indies back in the 80s and 90s.

Though some UPC stickers may be legit from the publisher, I also have seen many retail stores slap their own stickers on comics, graphic novels, and TPBs. Even if 2 copies showed up in different parts of the country, to me that means absolutely nothing since people move all the time, or sell stuff across the world, let alone across the country. I'm not saying this is not a valid item, but I put my doubts at times and would not put any stock into it. If you like it and want it, then sure buy it for yourself. Collecting is always about the collector's desire.

What I find interesting about the whole DC Universe is looking at the list of confirmed issues out there (I know there are a few that aren't though). Some titles seem to be missing one or two issues in between larger runs. I can't see a reason why DC would skip an issue or two. My guess is that these probably exist. Just looking at the top of the list, Animaniacs to me should have a 3 & 8, Batman should have 513 & 525, Catwoman should have 8, 10, & 14, etc. I'll be on the hunt in a few places soon and will report any new findings. I'm sure stuff is just sitting out there with dealers who are unaware or don't care about them.

This book has a tendency of acquiring fingerprints on the back cover. Usually reflects on an angle, silver-blue. If yours has fingerprints or these colored smudges, you may want to try and take a tissue and wipe off as much as possible. This is a defect that will lower the grade and is something you can remove most of the time, or at least clean it up some.

If your book grades 8.5 complete, it will grade 8.5 with a green qualified label. All the qualified means in this instance is that your book would be an 8.5 if everything was there, but since it isn't, the label is green. Asking for a universal label with a complete page missing is going to kill the book. If a Marvel Value Stamp or coupon is cut out, or someone cut out a small panel or a piece is missing and affects art/story, then you can get the book graded blue but it will still be low grade. A smaller piece missing would not yield a 0.5 blue label. My suggestion is to track sales of qualified books in similar or near grades to what you think it is. Most of the time, unless it's a real key, it's not worth grading if incomplete.

Depends on the size of the tape. Not all tape hides flaws, that's definitely not true. Sometimes a piece of tape accidentally sticks to the cover and owner decides to leave it instead of pulling it off and leaving a tape pull. Yes, most tape is used to seal tears. Tape detracts slightly or greatly from the grade if there was no tape, depending on the size again. Very small probably won't affect anything, especially if it's in lower grade. An entire spine taped, even if not completely split will drop a grade much more. Sometimes it's better if the tape has dried and come off and leaves just a stain/residue.

I find that funny since I see lots of 2nd print directs and don't command much at all. I picked up 2 copies a couple of weeks ago for a buck a piece.

Guess no one has any interest or just don't want to say.

Batman Shadow of the Bat #1 comes to mind with a bagged edition and not bagged.

Actually you are wrong with your statement about incentive variants in the 1990s. I used to have a store from 1993-1997 and I remember having to order so many copies of the regular issue to get one variant. One item I do remember is the Venom Lethal Protector #1. I ordered I believe 50 copies to get one gold. I remember this distinctly because since I did not pay for the incentive book, I used to raffle it to my customers. I think there were Valiant books like this too. Don't quote me on that one, but the Venom is a definite. Since it was so long ago, I can't remember much. Posted this before reading your latest reply. But you are choosing not to include any deluxe vs regular editions in your list? There were plenty of those. I don't know if Sandman 8 would be a variant. I don't know the history behind why they changed the whole editorial thing, but that doesn't seem to be an incentive for anything.

I picked this up I think last year. If you look back many many pages in this thread, I think I took a photo. Think it was rather high grade too.

Not true. Any low grade book will have notes, even if it's just 2-3 to denote which defects affect the grade the most. Tape is always noted as are extra staples or removed staples. Split spines are usually noted as they affect a grade more so than bends or light creases. If you own any books that went through value tier, go and look at the notes and you'll see what I mean. The only time notes may be skipped would be 9.4 or higher.

Of course they exist. They're on Ebay right now. I've been picking up Image newsstands for 2 years now pretty much every time I see them. I don't discriminate any title, but will pass on beat up copies of stuff.

Looking up Ebay offerings on gold and black and white versions, there seem to be more of these at about 8 total of each. The newsstand and ashcan seem to be about 6 each, though the ashcan is priced the highest of all. I think the newsstand is much harder to get than the gold or black and white. I did a specific search on ns though so regular listings may have newsstand copies without putting such in title.

I would get it graded. It looks like the outer cover has several spine dings. If the inner covers are better, then you can possibly get a 9.8 or even higher. Each cover is listed on the label with their respective cover grade. The overall grade of the book most of the time is the highest cover grade. Exception to this is if a book interior has flaws that would lower the overall book below the highest cover grade. Things like large or multiple tears, centerfold detached, or coupon/mvs stamp cut out are examples where a comic would grade lower than the cover grades. Some people have that misconception that the highest cover grade will be the overall grade. BTW: the interior cover is not always the higher grade. Interior touches the page, which usually will lead to tanning on the interior cover where the other cover interiors remain white or close to it. The middle covers usually will be the best, especially on older books. The most I've seen is 7 covers.

I'm looking to try and get a census on how rare Superman #50 2nd print newsstand is. So far RockMyAmadeus is the only person I've seen with any interest with this book. I'm asking anyone on here 1. Have you seen a copy of this book for sale anywhere? 2. Do you have a copy of this book in your collection? 3. Do you think there would be interest in this book if it showed up on the market? My guess is that this is much rarer than Batman #457 2nd print newsstand. Feel free to respond.