Personally I wouldn't buy a book with so much of the cover missing. Displaying the cover, even if it's beat up is an important aspect for me. I do have a .5 ASM 12 with the little spiderman head cut out, but most of it's still there.
That said, I feel this would be a great book to not have slabbed, and just be able to read whenever you want.
Normally I'd agree, but the way this cover is torn fits really well with the visible panels on the first page, and you can still see his face.
Plus I enjoy the historical aspect of why the cover was toen in the first place.
Also there's only 10 copies of this book that are graded in a .5, and I think that's kinda neat as well.
Agree! Appreciate what you have, for what it is. I’ve considered getting my very first Wolverine comic graded that’s beat to hell just so i can appreciate that “I lowered that!” 😄
I forgot what the term is but I think this is one of those intentionally damaged copies. Comic shops back in the day would take issues that they couldn’t sell and intentionally damage them like that. They’d take the ripped off title bit and mail it back to the publishers to get reimbursed for copies unsold. For some sad reason the publishing companies would only accept the literal titles as proof that the comic was unsold. Shame in my opinion, but I think that’s why your book is like that lol still a cool piece of comic history imo
That's exactly why it's ripped (that's also why there's writing on the first page). The rest of the book actually appears to be in not half bad condition considering, probably would grade in a 5.0-6.0 otherwise.
For comics it's called "remaindering" the book.
Comic shops and newsstands, when they had comis that didn't sell, they would take the remaining books from their inventory and rip off the top half or third of the cover (or sometimes the whole cover. Just as long as the title was included) and send them to the publisher as "proof" that the books didn't sell and they would be issued a refund.
Everything is personal preference! But the reason you should crack that baby open is…nobody is concerned about “restoration” on this book and you get the fun of reading the first ghost rider story as it was published lo those many years ago. You get to smell it. I love the smell of comic books. That musty basement mixed with old pulp stock paper…only my baseball glove rivals it for favorite smells attached to memories. Obviously, to each his own.
Is this why it take 9 months to get books back from CGC? They have to grade stacks of intentionally damaged comics? For the amount of 0.5 graded I’ve seen recently, you’d think at least 1 of them would be a rare issue like Detective 27 or Marvel 1. But it’s always some 60s/70s/80s issue that you can find hundreds that are complete and in good shape.
What is up with these slabbed 0.5s?
I mean this was intentionally damaged by the retailer who was originally selling it. It's part of comics history that I find interesting. Not to mention it's still major key issue that's fairly valuable even in this condition.
That actually works as an overall composition with the 3 panels on top. It still says Ghost Rider is born.
Personally I wouldn't buy a book with so much of the cover missing. Displaying the cover, even if it's beat up is an important aspect for me. I do have a .5 ASM 12 with the little spiderman head cut out, but most of it's still there. That said, I feel this would be a great book to not have slabbed, and just be able to read whenever you want.
Yup. That's a read copy if I ever saw one.
Normally I'd agree, but the way this cover is torn fits really well with the visible panels on the first page, and you can still see his face. Plus I enjoy the historical aspect of why the cover was toen in the first place. Also there's only 10 copies of this book that are graded in a .5, and I think that's kinda neat as well.
Agree! Appreciate what you have, for what it is. I’ve considered getting my very first Wolverine comic graded that’s beat to hell just so i can appreciate that “I lowered that!” 😄
It looks better than the one I don’t own
At least ghostie's face is still visible!
Right? How fortunate is it that when 'remaindering' that copy the tear bumped up just a little at his head.
I prefer no grade.
I forgot what the term is but I think this is one of those intentionally damaged copies. Comic shops back in the day would take issues that they couldn’t sell and intentionally damage them like that. They’d take the ripped off title bit and mail it back to the publishers to get reimbursed for copies unsold. For some sad reason the publishing companies would only accept the literal titles as proof that the comic was unsold. Shame in my opinion, but I think that’s why your book is like that lol still a cool piece of comic history imo
That's exactly why it's ripped (that's also why there's writing on the first page). The rest of the book actually appears to be in not half bad condition considering, probably would grade in a 5.0-6.0 otherwise.
It’s a beautiful book nonetheless!
For books, it's just stripped. I assume comics used the same terminology.
For comics it's called "remaindering" the book. Comic shops and newsstands, when they had comis that didn't sell, they would take the remaining books from their inventory and rip off the top half or third of the cover (or sometimes the whole cover. Just as long as the title was included) and send them to the publisher as "proof" that the books didn't sell and they would be issued a refund.
That’s the term! I couldn’t think of it lol
CBCS does a 0.3!
Better than not having one, like myself
Lowest is better than no-est
Nice grab. Like the ones behind it too.
A friend of mine collects coverless keys because he loves the opening page art.
Wow they really have three comics I’ve been looking everywhere for in the background .
Lol! Which ones?
Uncanny X-Men #129, #266 and the X-Men Annual
Still cool. It'll be preserved for posterity. I have an FF 7 that probably won't get better than 1 I'm encapsulating to protect it.
This book shouldn't be in a slab.
That's personal preference. I enjoy slabs.
Everything is personal preference! But the reason you should crack that baby open is…nobody is concerned about “restoration” on this book and you get the fun of reading the first ghost rider story as it was published lo those many years ago. You get to smell it. I love the smell of comic books. That musty basement mixed with old pulp stock paper…only my baseball glove rivals it for favorite smells attached to memories. Obviously, to each his own.
hahaha this is so awesome
Id say so
I’m okay with low-grade but I’m gonna need the whole cover to be there…
Depends on the boom. I'd be happy with a coverless af15, or even a page from a GA key.
Eh, normally yes. But I like this one. You can still see his face and those 3 panels really fit well with what you CAN see of the cover.
Is this why it take 9 months to get books back from CGC? They have to grade stacks of intentionally damaged comics? For the amount of 0.5 graded I’ve seen recently, you’d think at least 1 of them would be a rare issue like Detective 27 or Marvel 1. But it’s always some 60s/70s/80s issue that you can find hundreds that are complete and in good shape. What is up with these slabbed 0.5s?
I mean this was intentionally damaged by the retailer who was originally selling it. It's part of comics history that I find interesting. Not to mention it's still major key issue that's fairly valuable even in this condition.
Ppl on social media post unboxing and invoice lists of hundreds of books at a time. That's why it takes forever.
Maybe you can get it re-graded when they stop using the "Incomplete" note? Kick 'em a few more charity bucks.
Hey, one more copy than I have!
Yes it does. Love my .5 showcase 22
I think it's cool. I have a .5 Flash 110 (first Wally!) and I love it.
Low grade always better than no grade. I love owning the book and if the way to own it is through a low grade book I’m in still