scburdet

The tanning is pretty significant if the images I found are accurate and then it depends on how harshly CGC treats a 70-year-old book with normal aging. It would be useful to check the staples for rust, and rust transfer on the inner pages since that's pretty common. The upper staple looks OK, but I can't see the bottom one. I don't have much experience setting a grade with tanning, but the overall appearance is in the 7.0±1.0 range. I would hesitate to give a more narrow assessment.

8.5±0.5 with C&P pending what the black marks are to the right of "CHILLERS"

Without boring everyone with the details, I ended up with several copies of this comic for reasons. This includes 2 graded copies from the first year of CGC's existence when I'm not sure anyone really knew what to expect with slabs. Anyway, I am trying to figure out what to do with the other copies, particularly if they're any better than the graded copies I already have. This one has some stray black ink on the top left corner that appears to be a printing defect. I have a 3rd raw copy of this book that was the first "big ticket" back issue I ever bought at my LCS in the early 90s. It's in the 7s, so no need to throw that one up too.

Without boring everyone with the details, I ended up with several copies of this comic for reasons. This includes 2 graded copies from the first year of CGC's existence when I'm not sure anyone really knew what to expect with slabs. Anyway, I am trying to figure out what to do with the other copies, particularly if they're any better than the graded copies I already have. This copy has some blue ink along the bottom edge that appears to be a printing defect not an ink transfer. The black at the bottom left edge is part of the printing along the bottom of the back cover. I look forward to someone telling me that those little black marks have a name that I've never heard before.

It looks to me like an oil transfer stain, something @zzutak recently educated me about. I will defer to those that have seen this in more than 1 comic to confirm this, but I don't think it's treated as harshly as a water stain. I'm going to say 7.5±0.5. I think this is a sharp looking copy and unless you paid a VF≤ price, you probably did OK.

IDK, maybe 0.5? I'm not experienced, but it seems like the curl would press out. I somewhat price in pressing when I give a range (which I didn't do this time).

7.5. I was headed higher until I got to the bottom edge and then I looked at a blowup, and there's enough wear all around the edge, I think you get nickel and dimed below 8.

7.5±0.5. If that's a light stain on the back cover, expect the lower end of that or a grade lower

4.5/5.0. Back cover needs pressing to max potential

Definitely have some of those (see my profile cover photo)

I promised (threatened?) to post some more Roy Thomas sword & sandal books that I might want to get signed the next time there's an opportunity. There was another copy of this book posted here a few weeks ago that reminded me it featured a Conan/Kull prototype. I guess this is a pretty important book given what Conan became in the 70s for Marvel. I looked around for better copies b/c of the tiny tear at the top of the front cover (above the B in CHAMBER), but I have only found listings for overpriced books no matter the grade. Anyhow, I am interested in what everyone thinks about the tear, especially since I have a graded magazine-sized comic as a frame of reference. The magazine tear is almost in the same spot (but it's a much larger small tear), and it also has some tearing at one staple.

Same as the other one, >9.2. I can't tell if it's the art or something else, but it looks like some unevenness to the left of Thor's cape. If it's not art, it does appear to be something that would press. Am I missing something on this series? The CA SoL are readily available in NM+ raw, so the $40 or so to C&P and grade seems steep unless you just love the book.

More of a commentary on MSHSW8 than refusal. I definitely had more high value books for him to choose from. Eventually, I'll probably get this one done (or signed w/C&P)

>9.2, no noticeable defects

I looked a bit at this issue separately the other day. What I observed: low grade books (<1 for sure, not sure about the cutoff) with something missing get a blue label that notes incomplete, higher grade books get a better grade but a green label. NG seems reserved for books without any cover, or a reproduction cover. I'm not positive about missing only the back cover. I didn't find any examples, but I'd guess blue with notes b/c the back cover is like a missing centerfold or other book parts often denoted as missing. At this low a grade, IDK if it matters what color the label is. The value would either be personal attachment or being an affordable way to complete a collection when the price of the book is otherwise prohibitive.

Hard No.

Qualified

Somebody still licking their wounds?

learned something. I might have heard about blank covers on Canadian comics at some point, but clearly I didn't retain it. You might get around 2.0 if the back can be cleaned up. Maybe pray for some leniency with the square binding gods since these covers detach pretty easily.

resolution on the full cover pictures is pretty low. The shots of individual corners are better. It would help to have all images being that resolution. I see what appears to be a pretty big chip out of the cover about the C in SPECTRE. The corner bend, some color rub and ticks along the spine. I'm wondering if that's a crease on the back cover or something else. I'm seeing maybe at 5.0/5.5 but not positive about what the images are showing me.

pics are a little blurry and the white on white is background is tough to see. Those spine ticks look pretty heavy and there's a decent corner bend on the back. Press for maybe a 6.5/7.0

is the back cover missing, or detached and completely blank for some reason? I think anything like that gets to a CGC 0.5 incomplete unless it's like a centerfold or something that's not really part of the comic. Maybe if it was a pristine book other than the back cover a green label with a different number. Without the cover issue it looks like maybe a 3.0/3.5 to me

I'd try the Grading and Restoration thread for pressing questions, especially with a specialty book like this. You want someone who does this regularly and I gather that most people here aren't doing pressing themselves.

Spine corners are imperfect. I see some minor color rubbing/wear along the bottom of the back cover. I'll go with 9.0/9.2 pending clarification on the crease/hair on the back. It looks a little like a printer's crease.

I am at 5.0, however, it looks like the staples might be pulled a bit and if the cover is/getting loose that might drag you down another grade.