The Lions Den

And every once in a while, the labels themselves can vary slightly in hue and saturation...

I think your concerns are valid...

Regardless of how it happened, I'd be very careful when handling this book to keep those tears from getting any worse...

To err is human...

Even if it was color touch, removing it likely wouldn't affect the overall grade...

This is actually one of the most common locations for color touch...

Since the book has a bit of a mis-wrap, the black border line along the spine is wrapped over to the back cover, and it's very common to see color touch on that black border. Since notes these days are generally selected from a menu, it's often tough to pinpoint the exact location the graders are referring to, but that black line would be my first choice...

To be honest, the highest grade I've ever seen a potential 9.4 book achieve with one slightly rusted staple was a 9.2. Since we're looking at a staple that appears to be extremely rusty, I'd personally be more comfortable around the 7.0 range. And if both staples are severely rusted, the grade could go even lower. And EastEnd is correct---that staple appears to be on the verge of complete disintegration. I'd be very careful when handling this book---that's exactly what a rusty staple looks like before rust turns to dust...

Think of it as a science experiment...

Looks to be an attractive VG...

No worries. Fading can be a tough call, but I'd probably keep this book as a reading copy...

I like the work he did for Skywald and Web of Horror, too...

But loved by collectors...

On a purely artistic level, it's one of my favorite issues. I only wish that Neal Adams had been the cover artist as well...

Having looked at the front cover of this copy a little closer, I'm a bit surprised at the grade...

This cover has a lot going on, doesn't it?

I really like this one, but it does seem that Corben's early Warren art is still in the "underground comics" mode. But I'm fascinated by his work and I'm glad he progressed the way he did...

Like so many things in our society, the graders are strongly encouraged to pump up the volume...

Praise the Lord...a reader!

I don't think 5.0 is completely crazy, but 4.5 seems more reasonable given the accumulation of defects...

Sometimes the notes will be from more than one grader. The pre-grader will put their notes in first and then the finalizer will add any notes they feel are relevant. And in my view, the conservation/restoration notes and the detached centerfold should also be written on the label...

I agree this should have been a Conserved label, but don't the notes indicate the centerfold was reattached?

I see nothing here to correct...

According to what I've read, I believe that's exactly what it was...