I think I understand what is missing....
In the Patent Drawing, element 14 is the formed tray that holds the comic (in direct contact with the comic). In this image, you don't see the single sheet of matching material that is sealed over the tray (no thermoforming/molding - just a perfectly flat optically clear sheet). That sealed INNER WELL suspends the comic inside the outer shell.
So, if when you opened the outside case, you were then able to leaf through the comic book, then something is wrong with that case. CGC either missed sealing the inner well together, or Zaneglor got to it and thought he could dupe you for far less than he usually works for (because he can just sell an ASM252 for far more).