Nilo2

I’d say 3.0 for the grade. Unfortunately, the cover damage along with the interior issues will keep the book below a 4.0. Still worth slabbing (IMHO). Thanks for sharing.

5.5 - 6.0 for me. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you all for weighing in with your thoughts. @marvelmaniac, I sent the book in as a walk through with press which should take about a month (according to their posted lead-times). Several people have commented on the possibility that the book may have been trimmed. I thought the same at first too but, after having the book in hand, I'm pretty certain that its a bindery offset. I'd be very happy with a 2.0. I just really didn't know what to make of the split first wrap. I'll be sure to post the result and images as soon as I get the book back from CGC. Thanks again for the collective wisdom!

Your better off sending the unwitnessed books to that other place for verification. I know its not the same thing but certainly better than a green/yellow leprechaun label.

9.2

Really nice book. 8.5 at least.

5.5. Beautiful copy. Puts mine squarely in the shade...

5.0 super special on its own and even better with your back story. Congrats!

I sent this into CGC last month for grading. Should be back soon. The books a solid lower grade copy with one caveat: the first wrap is split down the spine with both the first and last pages loose in the book....... Any guess on the grade I'll be getting back? The pieces of tape and residue were successfully removed prior to submission (sorry no pictures).

I'd say 4.0 but a beautiful copy nonetheless. It'll look like a million bucks slabbed! Congrats!!

Looks like the cover was reattached to the book with that extra top staple. With all the other damage I would say 1.0 - 1.5 at best. Hey, its still an ASM 129 and it sounds like you picked it up for free so Cheers!

5.5 seems right to me. Congrats on the purchase. Great book!

7.5 Nice book!

Thanks for all the feedback, the book is packed up and will be shipping out to CGC this week for a Claremont SS, clean & press. I’ll post the results as soon as the book is back. Hopefully it won’t be 12 months from now!….🙄

My two cents:.....7.5 with a really good clean/press (and a reasonable grader) .

+1

Any other collectors out their willing to offer an opinion?

Another good point @gregwynn. My answer to your question would be a resounding NO! If this book were to come back with a further grade drop I would need a sedative....

I've seen books with a cover offset grade out to a 9.8 before. These (cover offset & interior page feeder tears) are all manufacturing bindery defects which a believe are permissible up to 9.8.

Those tears at the bottom of the interior pages are quite common. and wont affect the overall grade of the book. From what I can see, I would put your book at a 9.6. I wouldn't wager a guess as to weather its a 9.8 candidate without having the book in my hands, but it might be. Very nice. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks @StillOnly25Cents. Your advise is well taken. Regarding the Chris Claremont sig., I had read that he was actually an uncredited collaborator to Len Wein. In fact, gocollect lists him as part of the writing talent on the book. I believe the story goes that Claremont came up with the idea of severing Krakoa's magnetic fields and having it launch into space. I'll include a link to the article below. In any case, I have other books that I'm sending in for Claremont's signature and I'll give this one a little more thought (including the pressing advise). Thanks again for weighing in. Much appreciated! https://www.cbr.com/x-men-giant-size-chris-claremont-secret-assist/

Hi All, Reaching out for some help grading an X-Men 101 that I recently picked up on eBay. The book presents well and doesn't appear to have ever been pressed. The book is a Mark Jewelers variant which was a happy surprise since it wasn't advertised as such. The only 2 major issues are some noticeable color bleeding through to the front and back covers from the interior pages. I've been told that this is pretty common on books of this vintage but its the first time that I've seen it. The other (bigger) flaw is a less than half inch tear along the outer edge of the back cover and the last 4 interior pages.... The tear is clean and difficult to see with the book closed but its there. Any ideas what this might grade out to with a press? Thinking of sending it in to CGC for Chris Claremont's signature. Thank you in advance for the collective wisdom.

Thank you all for the feedback, In response to @revatsuggestion, I am posting more detailed images of my book along with the graders notes. This book was originally graded as an 8.0 back in 2000 when CGC was in its infancy. I had the book cleaned and pressed a couple of years ago and the book came back a 7.5😡... Honestly not sure why since it presents MUCH better than before. Grader notes indicate a "light water stain on the right top of the back cover" but honestly I cant see it and I've tried hard... Please let me know what you think. I am leaning towards submitting the book for a signature and having it pressed. Thank you all again for the great feedback! CGC Grader Notes: light creasing to coverlight scuffing to coverlight water stain right top of back cover

Does anyone know how common (or uncommon) grade bumps/drops are when re-submitting a slabbed book for a signature? I'm thinking about sending in my GSXM #1 for a Claremont signature and I'm hoping that, with a press, the book might get a bump. Any thoughts or opinions would be appreciated. Thanks!

I just picked up this copy of ASM 134. I think this is one of the most underrated Bronze Age Spidey keys around. It’s got a bonafide 1st appearance (Tarantula), a key plot twist (Harry discover’s PP’s Spider-Man) and the 2nd appearance of some guy called the Punisher! Always thought the cover was pretty cool too! Anyways, you can still pick nice copies up for around $75. I think it’s a real sleeper and a steel. Anyone agree?