James J Johnson

Without the benefit of a full front cover, straight-on scan it makes identifying a possible issue in this case slightly more daunting. I wanted to see the overall symmetry of the book. What I suspect is that the issue may be the top edge itself and not color added. O don't see any tells for added inks, but the edge itself has indicators of a possible issue. Trim. The top edge is cut at an angle, and curiously, the edge of the top left corner of the cover (not the cover and the pages, but just the cover) is almost perfect. The top of that black line is perfectly square! That perfect top of the black line completely flush with the top of the cover, and yet a stark contrast to the top right corner in its state. Of course, it's possible that more wear was incurred by the top right corner, rounding it, or blunting it in production by any number of things including a "top edge corner chip". But those are two indicators, along with the angle of cut that stand out to me as a tell for trim. Which would be very narrow and angled up from the left corner (a deeper cut there) to the "elevated" top right corner (a shallower cut there. Now I'm working here with a partial scan (top half only) that I can't resolve to my liking to be 100% sure, but what may have occurred or something that no one else has yet suggested. That CGC did call the book correctly, it is not unrestored, but somehow a clerical error ocurred and the wrong note was printed on the label. At any rate, the book should be sent back to CGC for a second look. While helpful for identifying potential restoration, an image is nowhere near as conclusive as the book examined by the eyes of a competent CGC analyst in person. It's definitely worthwhile sending, whether for review, if possible, or as an entirely new submission, which is the route I would suggest. Note: If someone tags me and I don't answer, I'm not being rude. Sometimes thereare periods of two or more weeks when I can't reach the sign-in page. That sign-in link bringing me to an ad page instead. My older browser is probably the reason.

Could you please post an image of the entire book? Like this, but all of it. Same straight-on perspective? Would be helpful to see the whole.

+1 with an edge to a 4.5

hmmmmm... an aristocrat!

As suspected, this is a secondary forum account? A shill created specifically for this purpose should the need arise?. Do you have anything to add about the subject of the thread? Any opinions you can offer about the staples, the paper, the comic in question? You are aware that is a comic and this is a comic forum where hobbyists come to ask for advice, is that right?

Exactly. Nicer back cover than the front (7.0) pulls up the 5.0 to a 5.5, with an outside shot at 6.0 (25% chance).

+1 Same here. Either 1.8 or a 2.0, good call.

+1 Either 1.8 or a deuce. Which one depends upon how it presents on the grading table.

The helpful advice is mine. I didn't get that advice from any of those aforementioned, but I can well imagine that your comment isn't the end of something here in this thread. It's just the beginning. Another thread of value to the community soon to become derailed despite moderation requesting otherwise. Have at it if you insist.

I agree. Most of that spine wear appears to be rough storage induced. Rubbing, scraping, from sliding in and out. Not flaking and color-breakage from reading/handling. Seeing it from the opposite side solidifies my initial impression that the staples are original and have not been unseated and replaced.

In my estimation, the staples are original and are the same two staples as issued. However, the pictures are inconclusive s to whether or not they were removed and then reinserted, possibly some type of reinforcement as the cause. The staples appear to me to be unusually tightly seated, like what one would expect to see on a book that hasn't been opened given the mild to moderate degree of spine fractures present, which is why I wanted to see the way the spine looks from the view of the front cover at those points.

Carl, could you please post images showing exactly the areas from the same angle as these, but from the front cover view? That would be most helpful.

Is there any ink bleed through at the spine, near INTRODUCING THE MIGHTY THOR? Looks like color touch in the N of IND, the number 1 of 12c, in the purple area aforementioned, couple other areas too but those being the main areas that appear suspect to me based on these images.

Very slick when the drummer "cuts" (halves) time during bars 9 through 12 of each chorus causing that momentary break in propulsion! Very nice effect not often done in pop.

+1

Assuming this was, as you hypothetically stated, 9.8 quality. If this was a CGC slabbed 9.8 (no apparent wear) and auctioned consecutively, say 5 minutes or less apart from a well centered one CGC 9.8, the inferior eye-appeal of this due to a severe miswrap, IMO, this 9.8 would bring 75% the result of the well centered one. A month from now, someone would look at GP and might fathom that the value of the book had taken a dip, not knowing the full reason as to why. And now this happens!

Yes. The smart play. Avoid shaking, although, on the way back to CGC or repositioning of the MC paper, it may shake itself back into place!

Not pressed in the sense of "professionally", using heat, pressure, and possibly moisture. Looks completely untweaked to me.

+1 Not trimmed. Normal production edges.

That's what she said!

Me too. I couldn't load the sign in page with Microsoft Edge for almost a month! Just tried again today and there it was, I logged in, I'm back.

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More? What the... OK. At this point it's becoming obvious that this is just as much about sorcery, time travel, or both, as it is about comics!!

Absolutely. I've seen some nice ones but never a concentration of them like this with this type of incredible paper quality.

Yes. Depending upon how the surface feels and looks raked to the light, 3.5/4.0, having it in hand would fine tune the grade.