scburdet

This came from a mid-grade run of self-titled Thor (126-2XX) I got 20ish years ago. I got ~20 lower grade JIMs thrown in. This is one of them. Obviously, a piece missing puts the grade in a very specific range, but always useful to have unbiased opinions on the actual grade. If the piece wasn't missing, this would be a pretty nice copy.

4.5/5.0. I would be closer to the 5.0 without the yellowing around the back spine

You *might* get in the 8.0-9.0 range with that tear. It looks to me like there's some darkness along the top center of the back cover. I can't tell what that is. If it's a shadow, no problem. If it's discoloration, I think that would lower it several grades.

Post ebay searching, I was pretty sure you didn't get it a day after it sold. I suspect you got a good deal.

I have 0 credibility in grading GAs. There are scratches? around the C in COMICS that aren't in other photos I've found of this book. I can't quite tell if the spine is split at the top, or just worn a bit. I could see this getting a 6.5/7.0 if that's not a spine split. 4.5/5.0 if it is split that far down. Again, take my opinion for the price you paid for it. There are boardies who are way better at these old books. It's in remarkable condition for a comics that's pushing 90.

I think 7.0±0.5. I probably wouldn't slab this unless there was a personal reason. As alluded to above, I wouldn't grade any non-keys unless they were in guaranteed ≥9.4 condition. According to gocollect, FMV for low 9s is still <$100. There are a few CGCs in NM condition on ebay right now (overpriced) like a 9.2 for $150 (with the "Make Offer" option). Fees for grading, shipping & possible pressing don't quite add up to the ask price for the 9.2, but it's getting close enough I would buy, not grade, if I wanted a nice copy of this in my graded collection. I do enjoy this little Beast run. There's some interesting history of how this was part of Marvel's movement away from the CCA's ban on certain types of stories in comics.

Really wanted to say 6.0 b/c it's so nice looking. I think 5.5 is more probable, but I won't be mad if it gets that 6.0.

4ish. I like this book a lot.

Use my ASM16 as a comp. The miswrap is similar, mine slightly less going by the UPC symbol location, and I'd argue the corners & spine are cleaner on my book. I think mine graded too low, but they don't consult the owner before slapping a 9.0 on something. Yours is a newsstand, so maybe a tad of leniency, but I'd say 9.0 as above with an outside chance at 9.2.

Not sure I would predict a 9.6 on this one, I'd be more at 9.4 as the ceiling. The two outer corners look like they're a little less than sharp and there's that spine indention you highlight. With a cardstock cover, not much is going to make that better I'd guess. I don't see any newsstand 9.6s online with that kind of corner defect (I found a 9.4), so it's a roll of the dice.

Square bound books are harder to press as I've been told. My guess is the location of the waviness is going to increase the challenge b/c the issue is not wanting to crush the binding, which is pretty delicate. I think the technique is to put some kind of space at the binding to protect it. I think 5.0 as is, a 7.0 as the upper limit if all pressable defects disappeared.

The tanning is the biggest issue unfortunately. 4.5±0.5. Otherwise a great looking book.

6.5/7.0 pressed, although I'm not 100% that the back corner crunch won't still be an issue. Depends on how good the presser is, and a little luck.

4.0. The heavy spine wear alone, maybe 4.5, but then there are the other creases, so I'd drop it one more grade.

More or less a different spin on my thinking. I agree with @Cool_Comics that this is a good use of green. Although, for example, double covers are blue, but no staples & multiple covers are both types of production errors that lead to a comic that deviates from normal. Both these examples are different from, for example, a cutout MVS, which someone did intentionally post-purchase. I guess to oversimplify my thinking, I wouldn't put a green label on a book with cutouts and treat it as damage that affects the grade. Let's not even start on TATTOOZ removal

that's non-trivial tanning. I thing the absolute ceiling is 7.0 just b/c CGC seems to be coming down hard on these kind of defects.

I'm fairly certain this set me back ≤$20 (not adjusted for 22ish years of inflation) b/c I didn't have the $ to spend more on a comic. It's a great cover along with Silver Surfer 16 & Sub-Mariner 8. IDK if there's another one of these Bucema face-off covers with the black background, but they're all great.

Concur on tanning, which is just one of those defects CGC seems committed to penalizing heavily. 7s seems about the best you can hope for.

Swamp thing is the only DC character I like I'm missing this one and House of Secrets 92. Nothing big.

It's got a decent miswrap (that creates the illusion of spine tick from the reverse image at the top staple), which would depend on how they're treating that on any given day. Beyond that, the back cover is the issue. I think pressing might improve that outer edge. If those corner creases were on the front, I'd say 7.0. On the reverse, I think it's comparable to 7.5s I've received. Maybe an 8.0 with luck. Otherwise, I'd day 7.5 that presents higher.

Just posting an update since I got this one graded. Spot on with your information. I feel like the green label is being used for too many purposes. I certainly don't feel like it's a "label of death" for a comic that was manufactured without staples as opposed to what one might think about an unverified signature or cutout. @Qalyar @theCapraAegagrus @seanfingh

I don't think this one will reach the grading threshold, but I came across it recently and it's kind of an interesting example of a subscription crease. I'd say the photos make it look more apparent than it does in hand, and I find it remarkable that the black cover looks as good as it does. The hard crease is on the back. I remember finding this, either in a clearance bin or on the wall with a low $ circa 2000 and feeling fortunate to add it collection for a few bucks.

same as the other one, the browns spots are going to keep this lower, 4.0/4.5. Lucky the front cover still looks nice since it's a cool book. Would display well

the discoloration is going to kill you on this one. 4.0/4.5 maybe lower. Not 100% on how hard they would hit the oxidation on those internal pages.

I've got a Captain Britain 8 (8.0) that might be a little more dinged up, so with that as a comp, 7.5/8.0 unless those inner pages are yellowing. It looks not white, but IDK what it's supposed to look like.