scburdet

5.5±0.5 for the creasing/wear along the spine after C&P. Whatever that crud is on the back is going to be a tough sell to get any higher. If it is removed by cleaning, I could see a 6.0

The picture is cropped a little tight, but it looks like the back top left corner is clipped off somehow. The smaller stain on the front right cover is the other issue. I was thinking around 5.5±0.5, but I also seem to always come in too low on GA books so that that FWIW

I looked at the census. There are over 17K copies in 9.6 or 9.8 between Universal and Signature. There are other books from that era that are submitted more often (New Mutants 98), but it looks to me like this one has the largest number of high grade copies. I think @grendelbo's more unambiguous suggestion of buying makes more sense given these numbers. There are just too many copies out there to expect an investment of >$120 that's not going to come back as a 9.8 to make any sense.

I'm at 7.5±0.5 too, but 8.0 is a stretch. I was closer to 8.0 until I noticed that discoloration on the back. I think that's the difference between the 7s and a step up. Not my favorite Steranko cover, but still a great one.

I missed that b/c I was gawking at the rest of the book. subtract 0.5-1.0 from my guess. It kind of looks like a scuff, but it wouldn't surprise me if graders at CGC just called it spine stress or creasing. Without examining it directly, it's hard to tell exactly what it might be. You can send it to me, and I promise I'll send it back when I'm done 🤞

I am in the "do not open" camp. If I paid FMV for a 9.4 and got that many spine tics and that corner, I would be upset. This looks more like at 8.0 at best. I'd personally drop it another 2.0 points for the Stan Lee signature placement. Plenty of good surface area, including the black leg right underneath where the signature is, and it's signed right on top of Spider-Man's face. I generally don't worry about where an artist is going to sign a book, less confident with the writers.

The true value was the reading as a kid, not the graded copy now. You got way more than $1 worth of enjoyment. I'd want to consult with someone who does pressing as this is pretty wrinkled. I've seen some pretty miraculous transformations. Just looking at the unpressable defects. Mostly the tears and creases around the edges of the back cover, I think the ceiling here is 6.5/7.0. You could go down from there if pressing wasn't effective at flattening out that paper, or the color is broken in other places that's less obvious right now. It's a valuable enough book that even a mid-grade copy is worth grading. If it's your childhood book, the nostalgia will increase the personal value. If Liefeld or some creator did a signing, this is the find of book I wouldn't hesitate to submit for those personal reasons.

It's not clear that the pressing can make that one big spine tic disappear. I can't quite tell if there's a color break or not. I think 9.0/9.2 is the ceiling with pressing. TM signed 9.4s are selling for around $200, so I don't think you lose anything. You'd break even if you didn't pay a lot of the raw copy. It comes down to if it's worth it to you if it's something you want in your PC. There are also likely to be a lot more signed copies floating around after the TM event. This book is not in short supply.

very nice. I think 8.0/8.5. I can't quite get to 9.0 with the bottom left front corner, but other than that, no complaints.

There's enough creasing along the spine, especially the back to drop this to 6.5±0.5. I don't think this gets to a 7.0. I also have mine set aside as a possible TM signature book. The problem for both of us here is the price point of the TM signature. $120 plus shipping and pressing if you went that way is pretty steep. If it's a collectible you want, go for it. It will be cool, and TM doesn't do a ton of events from what I've seen. There aren't a ton of recent sales for comps, but I'd guestimate a 7.0 is about the break even point to get your investment back if you sold it in the current market after getting it signed and graded.

Your light is making everything look very yellow. At least, I think it's the light. B/c I now that cover is white. I see just a bit of sun shadow or dust shadow on the back cover. outside edge toward the upper left, the top edge on the right. Assuming the comic is actually white and it's just those 2 things, I'd say 8.5±0.5. Without the shadow, I could see 9.0ish. depending on what the discoloration is, a cleaner might be able to get it off. Love this cover. It just missed the cut for a Steranko, and I kind of regret not sending it.

3.0±0.5. The back cover looks pretty rough. I'd get an experienced c&per to take a look and see if something can be done about that back cover

7.0±0.5. Several spine creases that break color. The one corner has that crease. Maybe some pressing so it will lie flatter.. I'd hope for the higher end b/c it's early silver, near GA so maybe some grade inflation. The level of defects in a newer book would be 7.0 or a bit lower.

@AhsokaTano Jedi Apprentice it's like the American price comic, but is more polite, says "eh" a lot, and has an affinity for poutine. I'm giving this one a 7.5±0.5. I'm thinking that black on the reverse is color transfer. Can't see any other reason there'd be black ink back there.

8.0±0.5. Press out the spine indentions to maximize grade

I'm a 9.0/9.2 if pressed too, as those spine creases are pretty easy to spot. I have some 9.2s with similar tics

7.5 as is, it looks like you could press it up to 8.0/8.5 b/c there are a lot of dings, but most don't break color

Maybe. Maybe not. I would doubt anyone's ability to see the difference between a 9.6 & 9.8 in photos. Even in hand, it could be hard to tell the difference. "Finger bends" are a thing CGC will note and I've got a graded book or 2 in hand where I can't see what finger bends they're talking about. I think the same book could be graded on 10 different days and come back either 9.6 or 9.8 depending on who was working that day and when they saw the book. Maybe an occasional 9.4 if a particular grader was having a good/bad day. With that kind of uncertainty, I am no fan of expecting or paying for 9.8s. Roll the dice, maybe you get a 9.8 sometimes, but be happy with a 9.6 or even a 9.4.

I see some light vertical "color breaking" lines on the front cover, but these look like printing defects. I can't tell what that line is on the bottom left of the back cover. A crease? A manufacturers crease? I'd want to make sure to know what that is before sending it for grading. Overall appearance, especially with a black cover, I think 8.5±0.5. I would bet on the over if the defects listed are production related.

IDK if you've tried to press yet. Those spine creases don't look to break color and may look better flattened. That corner crease on the back is your issue. I think the ceiling is 8.5 and if those minor defects can't be improved, maybe down to 8.0. Beautiful book though. My favorite cover from that series by far.

I think this is going to get dinged harder b/c it's a "new" comic. 8.0/8.5

9.2±0.2. Thinking 9.0 more likely than 9.4 in that range.

5.5±0.5. Colors on this copy look sharp. Unfortunate to have those color breaking creases.

{empty CGC holder GIF}

maybe a little light spine rolling? Don't see much else. ≥9.2 with a press