Dick Pontoon

No, I believe his was the next one over. Carbo was either admiring the mystery dealer's taste or seeing dollar signs flashing before his eyes as he encountered a seemingly noob seller with one of the most desirable books in the hobby.

Carbo was hanging about it when I went by that table. It was still there when I made another pass. He had a Marvel Mystery on his wall rack, too, but I'm not schooled in those enough to pick out issues numbers by the cover, especially with so many Torch covers.

While we're waiting to hear.... I did pretty well. I picked up a nice, small stack of books. The previous show I got a mid-grade X-Men #10, but nothing major for me this time, mostly run-fillers and upgrades. Prices at some tables were a bit aggressive, although out of touch may be more like it. The show seemed well-attended and some tables were difficult to squeeze into but the aisles were at least navigable which was not the case in Boston a few weeks back. I don't really do detailed reports with photos like I used to, but here's some of my pickups:

ASM Annual #1 I think, though I don't have time to check my copy.

When in Rome... Here's mine. I think it presents quite nicely for a 4.0.

Iron Man 141 - 7.5 Ow $2 I just scrubbed the FF #92, I was thinking/looking at the #85 which was sold.

Hulk 209 - 7.0 CROW $2 FF 139 - 6.5 OW $4 Peter Parker 17 - 7.0 OW $3

Defenders 50 - 5.5 OW $1

Peter Parker 14 - 6.5 OW $2 Peter Parker 5 - 5.5 OW $2

It's really tough for me to see problems through a slab, especially with reflections. First and foremost, I'd recommend scans and photos before you send any books off. It's just a good idea - you want to be able to document the condition in case any damage happens along the way. I also have never seen that red streak on the "S" before. Was that there before you sent the book off? Looks almost like crayon. The upper right corner is bent and has some color loss. What's that piece of paper sticking out? Tear on an interior page? Looks like an impact ding upper left corner. There's a few spine tics. Looking at the back cover, the upper edge looks a little wavy to me. Did it get squished nice and flat by your presser? The upper edge of the front cover has a small tear, but it might be production related. Structurally it looks nicer than a 6.0. If that red streak is foreign matter, we know that CGC doesn't take kindly to stains.

Severin inked Kirby in Yellow Claw #4 and did finished art over Kirby layouts on Nick Fury in Strange Tales #136-138, which I liked fine. I wasn't crazy about Byrne/Janson on Avengers #182 & 183 or Wolverine #17-23, but didn't mind the Lee/Janson combo on Punisher War Journal #11. I LOVE Severin on Kirby in that issue of Yellow Claw. Severin's style is all over it but it works wonderfully. It's a bit like Ditko over Kirby, two strong styles but working together.

I dunno, I think it would work...

When I was buying those issues off the racks, I didn't care for Janson's inks so much. I found them visually interesting but too dark, heavy and claustrophobic. But then in later years I came around to really appreciate and love them; I consider that part of the run the best art on the title.

Hard to say with much certainty with those photos, but I'd assume it's production related.

Avgrs 102 - 7.0 OW $10 Avgrs 153 - 6.5 OW $3 FF 136 - 6.0 CROW $4 Marvel Two in One 1 - 5.5 OW $20 Iron Man 99 - 8.0 OW $5 Defenders 19 - 6.5 OW $10 Cap America 209 - 8.0 OW $6

With those 4 blunted corners, impact ding ULC and all those spine tics I wouldn't call this higher than a 6.0, maybe even a 5.5 if in hand.

My guess would be it was a copy submitted to the Library of Parliament, for a purpose similar to Mandatory Deposit with the Library of Congress in the US: https://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/mandatory_deposit.html

When I attempt to add them to my blocked list, those IDs both come up as invalid for me.

It's also very tough to see the book with all the reflections in those photos.

I have no interest in going back and forth about this, and you've always seemed to be a fine guy here. I can pull out just as many feedback comments regarding my packing, which always get there safely and does not use packing tape to hold down the comics to the cardboard, but what would be the point?

Yup. It is not fun to receive a book in the mail and then have to spend 10 minutes analyzing the packing method in order to determine how to get it out safely and then struggling to do so.