scburdet

5.0/5.5

8.5/9.0

Please note the courtesy limit of 3 books/day stated in the forum guidelines

3.5

It would be quite helpful to have high res photos instead of screen shots, and I can't tell if some of the photos were taken with the book inside the bag. Bags hide a lot. You also need a full shot of the back that's well lit b/c polybag creasing is common in this book. The highlighted damage on that back edge/corner is enough to make for a max 9.0 if one is being optimistic, but we really need better data to make an "accurate" guess

It's a bit of misconception that printing defects are ignored, but they are penalized less severely. Assuming this is some kind of "bonus" ink from the printing process, it would probably be treated like other ink-related printing defects. This defect isn't specifically spelled out in the guide book, but IMO is most closely related to "Ink Missing" as it's the opposite phenomenon. The book says 6.0-9.8 for Ink Missing with the usual ambiguous language about severity and effect on appearance being the determining factors. IMO this isn't the worst one could imagine, but it is very noticeable. I would guess if the book was otherwise perfect, this would land between 7.5-8.5. With this particular copy, I suspect the ink won't factor into the grade b/c of the creasing on the BRFC. I'd say 6.5/7.0 b/c that corner looks pretty creasy.

>9.2

The stain will kill you. I'd think of 8.0/8.5 as the optimistic outcome. Usually, they're hard or impossible to remove and the CGC policy is not forgiving. It's a little lucky it's not prominent on the front, b/c then I'd say it wouldn't be a grading candidate.

my back of the envelope calculation is that creators typically get $20-40/signature for CGC SSs. Up to $60-70 for the biggest names. I've got no problem putting $$$ in creator pockets, especially some of the older ones who I don't think were compensated appropriately for their IP that made, and often continues to make, the publishers profit, I can certainly see a creator taking issue with signing for $5 so someone can sell their comic for significantly more than it would have unsigned.

That explains a lot of the signed fanzines and other outside the mainstream books I see for sale. I've been scrounging around for something that everyone doesn't get him to sign for an upcoming opportunity. So far, I have a Spyman #1, but a lot of the rest I can find don't look like great options (dirty or have a significant/noticeable defect).

Turned out really nice. I was shocked it came back that high, but not complaining!

Always the default plan

Yip. I've got a 9.6 "manufactured without staples" green label. This one is a little weird b/c there is a staple, it just didn't get into a lot of the wraps. I've got to see down with it and carefully examine. I also wish standard magazine boards were tall enough to back the entire book for these kind of UK books. I've got 5 books now that the top hangs over the board by ½"

missing pieces would cap this at 3.0 if one was optimistic. 2.0/2.5 likely with other issues

From an April 2022 signing at a Steranko exhibit in Toledo. FOOM is just missing a PLOOG on the reverse. Seems unlikely to happen.

Finger shadow. I meant to point that out in the original post and forgot. I think this happens a lot when you're old.

So there are 5 copies of part II of the Tomb of Dracula 10 reprint on the census, presumably b/c it is the one with the original cover art. Having looked at a limited number of these magazine-sized UK reprints, I can't understate how cheaply these were made. I sincerely hope it was meant as a big FU to our former oppressors 🇺🇸 My (assumed) production related notes on this copy: The top edge has some unevenness in the blue color along the top edge. There aren't a ton of copes out there to compare with, but this seems like a pretty consistent feature of the book. I think it was intended to be a solid blue, but my best guess is that the red ink from the title box was applied in a way that it mixed with the other inks. The TRFC is like a little brown box (this was the only reason I hesitated buying this), but in-hand I'm pretty sure it's an extension of the same ink issue. There's clearly gloss all along the top and no evidence of staining on the reverse of the page. The bottom staple is not attached to the centerfold, however, I'm not sure it ever was attached b/c I don't see staple holes. I don't want to mess with it too much b/c the paper is so thin and the spine fold isn't helping that

I collected for many years without being aware of these UK editions. They're quite neat but perhaps less aesthetically appealing b/c of the B&W interiors. There are no copies of this book on the census, which is interesting b/c this is part I of the Tomb of Dracula 10 reprint, so it's the "1st" appearance of Blade. Like many of these UK editions, the America comic is split between 2 (or more) issues. 2nd part of Blade post forthcoming. Most obvious defect is a staple that was bent either when being added at the printer or somehow later. I lean a bit to the former b/c of the lack of damage to the spine paper, but who really knows.

I too have questions about the (suspected) added staples. It does not appear they are poking through the back, so it's looks like they're manufacturing staples that are horribly offset from where they should be on the spine. Are there staples/staple holes on the spine itself? FWIW by CGC standards, extra staples only lower the grade to 5.0-7.0. The level of creasing is consistent with a 4.0/4.5 book, so even if they staples are added, it is not what will set the upper limit. All this presumes there is no other structural damage like a split spine, which would be a more impactful defect than the creases.

It looks to me like it was manufactured with 1 staple, so this might get a Qualified label. The book is a little unclear in this regard. A book missing both staples graded 4.0 or above does get a Qualified label. Either way, it won't impact the grade. I see a couple of color breaking creases & a few small pieces out. The bindery tear shouldn't impact the grade, but it doesn't look great. 6.0 max

Around 7.

It looks like there's a mismatched photo here (iron man). Can you check that all the photos are from the book in question?

around 6.0 for me. I think the foxing will be the tipping point. By CGC standards this has some manufacturing defects that should deduct from the grade from something with the creases or foxing.