LowGradeBronze

My instinct is 8.5 to 9.0 with the spine stresses keeping it back. Lovely copy of a sought after book! If that was yours from new, you certainly take good care of your comics!

Super clean copy. Only the slight defects along bottom of front cover keep it out of the 9s for me. I' m going 8.5 to 9.0 hope it meets your expectations when it arrives!

That's the one where Bats is glad he put on some thermal undies especially for the comics code authority....

That's just transfer of ink, or dirt. Depends what its been stacked next to.

Back in 1983 or 84 in my student days, I sold my entire John Byrne X-Men collection to pay for my motorcycle insurance. I needed £68. They were all genuine 9+ grades (many were proper 9.6 and 9.8) and I could never afford them now. (Although I have bought a few early ones like 108 and 111 very recently in mid to low grade. His early stuff is best, before he became Marvel's drawing machine.)

ASM 101 1992 facsimile edition is a good example. Over on MCS there are a number of CGC 9.8 copies up for grabs. And they have a 1992 Marvel Millstone Edition of ASM 129 CGC 9.6 for an eye watering $749 on consignment. (Consignment prices are frankly ridiculous in many cases!) Just seen a Batman 251 Facsimile Edition from 2019 on MCS too, it's a CGC 9.8 for $68.

Well here's my 2.5 copy which comes out for a read now and then. Got it in about 2016 in a three for £8 deal which included Bats 243 & 244 which were both around 4.0 or 4.5. I bet the guy regretted such an offer! I haven't minded though. Regarding the anatomical controversy: The Joker is bigger than a skyscraper....I'm not going to worry about his dodgy hip joint.

Pics would be good, but have you tried sniffing it at the centrefold? A lot can be deduced from the smell of a comicbook. Are there any other signs of age that might suggest it's mold rather than dirt, like foxing, rat chews etc that tell tales of where and how well the comic has been stored.

I would buy a repro cover for it but not attach it to the comic, just fold it around. At least it's complete then albeit non original. I certainly wouldn't hack it to pieces to trade individual pages!

And since the book came to you like that in the first place you haven't really lost anything, plus you can't blame yourself since you didn't add the rogue staple. I have a Millie the Model 154 in gorgeous condition but guess what? Only one staple. Its not keeping me awake at night.

I'd say that if they are books you like, then buy them by the bucket load while/if they are cheap! The hobby soon prices people out of the market once a title becomes 'hot' due to a Netflix show or similar. Welcome to the boards BTW.

3.5 to 3.5 for me. Still a nice book in any grade.

Pus one on that. At least you know you didn't put that ink there. You won't even be able to look at that book if you ruined it!

7.0 from me. What a handsome copy!

I'm at 7.0 on your 476. Check out Marshall Rogers use of textured board on Batso's cape! Great comic, nice grade!

Not another Hulk 181 to grade! Groan. Just kidding Rich. Welcome to the boards! I'm at 6.0 to 6.5 on your copy. Congrats on getting a good deal. Makes you feel even happier about a book knowing you didn't pay too much.

7.0 to 7.5 for me. These Byrne/Austin X Mens are a real high point in late 70s Marvel and Marvel more generally.

I'm at 4.5 on this copy. Nice clean example! This book will never stop being cool, err.... or is that hot?

A few spine stresses and a little bit of blunting on corners so I shall suggest a 7.0 to 7.5 Hope that gets you off to a start! Others will be along soon. Some of Brunner's best cosmic art in this issue!

Looks like a 5.5 to 6.0 to me because of the back cover. Presents very well from the front. So often a back cover is better than the front, luckily in this case, the other way round.

Is that 'wear' due to sticking to something while damp (another copy?) then removed, causing a pull/tear? I can see maybe a little waviness along the top edge of the F cover too, supporting that theory. I'm at 7.0 to 7.5 on account of the BC damage. 6.5 if it's been caused by water damage. Still has the eye appeal of a top grade book.

Up there in the nines for sure. A great start to the series.

The overpaying is across the hobby really, as the Bronze explosion is showing us. Many factors for this, but as my generation (approaching 60,) reach the age where disposable income is probably at a higher level than for any previous generation, (poss including the post war Baby Boomers,) that could have something to do with it. There's also the very real feeling that maybe its a 'last chance to buy' as new pedigree collections out there in the wild, waiting to be found and brought to market, must surely be getting scarce now. After all, it is 2021 and the GA ended more than six decades ago.

Before I ever had any Marvel's etc I did have The Penguin Book Of Comics. It covers comics from cave paintings through to pop art/culture through stage, screen, newspaper strips, you name it. That's where I first saw the Yellow Kid, Lil Abner, Tiger Tim etc all down the ages. Its a comics education and should be in schools today, such a good resource. This book is the source of my life long addiction.

I forgot all about my Canadian eBay win not that long ago, of Strange Tales 169 to 173 for 99c plus shipping. No bids (!) 8 minutes to go and I watched it count down to zero with just my bid. I think that was below FMV!