scburdet

Lucky for me, I bought this >20 years ago. I was more interested in having the original version of the Marvel Tales book I had growing up than the death of Gwen Stacy key. I remember thinking it was an expensive then, but now it would seem like a bargain (if I could remember what I paid). The spot has a texture to it, but it has resisted my patented "rub it lightly with a fingernail" technique, which has been surprisingly effective at removing "stuff" on books that are decades old.

Another. Type "stain" into the search bar, and use the drop down option to choose This Forum (otherwise you get a bunch of other stuff)

Here's one.

I would go with 3.0±0.5, but I would be more surprised if it went on the high end of this range instead of the low

We've discussed water damage/stains. You can probably do a search w/in this forum to find some good discussions. The search tools work pretty well. From a CGC perspective, you would get hammered on this book. I see several stains on the front and back. I would expect 5.5±0.5. Other grading schemes may be more lenient, but CGC really hates stains.

I certainly don't see the bend, nor any other defects (≥9.4). If it was mine, I would be tempted to roll the dice just b/c it is so nice and a MJs. Not a key issue, but it does seem like MJs, especially higher grades get a bump in selling price even if they're not in the highest possible grade. I'd also be tempted to do a sign and grade with Gerry Conway. That's probably a break even proposition in terms of investment, but it wouldn't surprise me if a signed slabbed MJs at this grade is a one-of-a-kind comic. I find that kind of thing intriguing.

pressing may help some of the issues, but the middle spine tick seems significant enough that it won't go away completely. That top edge on the back looks rough too, and maybe some color-breaking minor edge wear on the front. My best case scenario is a 9.0 and it could go lower b/c standards for moderns are strict. C&P + grading is going to run $41 (non-fast track, which will take >300 days) , plus shipping. Return shipping is $20 by FedEx plus whatever it takes to get it there. There's a CGC 9.2 newsstand for sale right now on ebay for ~$65 including shipping. Just my 2¢

At one point I had this one out thinking about a Gerry Conway signature/grading despite there being some obvious creases, ticks and so forth. The yellow does a decent job hiding a lot, and it's a significant book. Then I noticed whatever that is near SM's inner thigh, and decided not to. No idea what that could be? I guess it must be some kind of spill, it just doesn't look like other similar defects I've encountered. Trying to figure out what the floor is for this one, plus people here seem to like Spider-Man books

I think you can be comfortable sending it. The back looks like it has some light creases or impressions. These could be pressable. I do see some kind of discoloration on the bottom right corner of the front and if that's staining, you could get dinged. Fortunately, it's quite a small spot. I assume the TATTOOZ is in the packet? You can check by shining a light behind it. They green tag if it's missing, unfortunately. The presence/absence of the TATTOOZ impacts pressing too. Mine was C&Pd by the authorized dealer who sends in my CGC orders, so I know that care has to be taken to prevent damaging the book when pressing with an intact packet. Most notably, you can't use as much heat b/c it melts the adhesive and can gum up the pages. Reducing heat also means you can't press creases out as effectively. IMO, this makes a solid case for CGC dispensing with considering the TATOOZ essential to having a Universal label. I'll go with 8.0 as is with potential of 9.0 with pressing (pending IDing what the discoloration is)

comparing the images to my copy (there's a lot going on), it looks to me like there are a couple of stress marks on the spine, it seems safe to expect a 9.0/9.2

Cleaning will likely help more than pressing. The latter might get out some superficial creases and make the book present better. I'm going to say 5.0±0.5. I think the tears and the reader's crease are going to hold this down. I'd almost guess lower, except it's a square bound and generally looks much nicer than a lot of VGs

My untrained eye says pressing will making that crunch look better, but it won't disappear. Upper limit is probably an ≤8.0. I see a recent ebay sale for an 8.5 of $40, which is less than the cost of grading+pressing. Is this the UK edition? The back is different than all the copies I can find.

Thanks, it's actually this one that I don't have: https://www.ebay.com/itm/265777226742 Granted, the titles of these books are stupidly similar. I stopped looking for a while b/c I balked at >$100 for something that essentially is a reprint of the regular Marvel books, which I have. And you have to have a giant long box to store them, which will never be filled.

I would lean no. The highest sale I can find is ~$100 for a 4.0. There's also a 6.0 for not much more. This looks no better than a 3.5 IMO. If you were doing your own C&P, you might make a small profit with a graded vs. raw. Not that you have to sell, but it's at least how I think about whether it's worth grading. I want the purchase price + grading expenses to be at least equal to the FMV (exception is if having a signing/grading gives me a collectable I just want regardless of grade/value). I am pro-encapsulation for protection, but IDK if this is a big enough key as opposed to HoS92 (which I don't own)

If pressed, maybe a 7.0. I'd be worried about that back outer edge knocking it down at least another 0.5 though

It's come to my attention that there's another comic publisher. BC...GC....something like that. Anyway, in the 1970s that company put out some knock-off Man-Thing comics, and I located a copy of the first solo series at some point. I keep it separate from the Marvel comics to keep it from contaminating my good collection.

7.5 is where I was headed too. Grime removal will obviously help. I see two little dings below the bottom staple, so that probably set the upper bound after C&P

Definitely needs pressed. I can see what looks like a light reader's creases and some creasing along the other side. I give this a post C&P of 8.0±0.5. There are some small tears, with the one on the back cover at the top being the most impactful.

I'll PM my mailing address.

I've wanted to post this one for a while, but just too many other books that are more relevant to the current collecting trends. Unless I'm forgetting a character, this is the only major monster character to never get a solo book from Marvel. I know that I wasn't born yet, but if they'd asked me, I would have demanded Living Mummy comic. Also, I can't seem to find any significant team-up with LM and Moon Knight. I'm not sure there's even a book with both characters. The two Egyptian themed characters in the MCU can't have one meeting in 47 years? Who runs that place?

I would go 7.0±0.5, but I am not factoring in the ink mark inside. I'm not sure if that will count as a specific deduction or if an internal ink mark would be consistent with the other cumulative defects that are obvious on the cover. I have a book with a similar number spine ticks that came back as a 7.0 and perhaps the light creasing in my book will be equivalent to the small amount of color rub around the staples. These black covers are a PITA for just highlighting every little defect. Graders don't even have to work hard if they get a book with a black cover. There should be a discount on grading fees.

I'm on a laptop and I don't really see the tears. I'll take your word that they're there. I'm going to go with 8.5 as well based on my experience with this book. Spider-man books seem to get a bump if you listen to folks who hang out here. Mine looked quite a bit worse raw and came back at 7.5, which was at least 0.5 higher than I dared dream, and I convinced myself I should be happy with a 6.0 or 6.5.

I have a Marvel Comics Special Edition #2 (Empire Strikes Back) from my youth that is nearly destroyed. I wouldn't mind replacing it, and have been shopping for another oversize book for a *long* time b/c they only seem to show up for sale looking like the spend an hour on a freeway. I think these were specifically meant for younger children, so they understandably didn't survive as often.

5.0±0.5

This one isn't as nice as the other IMO. Some foxing/discoloration in the white around the edge of the front cover. Bottom right corner on the back has some color bleed or something similar. I'll give this a 7.5. Again, these oversized are had to grade as there isn't the volume or independent company grading them.