My son Jackson graduated college recently and needs money for his expenses before his career gets underway. So I'm helping him sell off his comic book collection of over 10 years. There's lots of key issues that I'll be listing in the coming weeks/months (I'm a slow lister). Many of them were mylar bagged/boarded and framed for us to enjoy. Now that we're selling, I'm seeing these for the first time up close outside of their bag and surprised at their condition (in a good way). So please stay tuned and hopefully you like what you see. Oh, I almost forgot, please check out my slabbed sports cards while you're here because that's my thing. Enjoy!!!
Up for auction tonight is an original, complete and unrestored copy of Amazing Spiderman #51, 2nd appearance of Kingpin. Cover and art by John Romita Sr, script by Stan Lee, pencils by Romita, inks by Mike Esposito (as Mickey Demeo). Kingpin orders that JJJ be silenced for the negative publicity of Wilson Fisk's (kingpin) illegal activities...they actually kidnap him in graphic fashion, real bad-ass gangster stuff. Spiderman tries to save JJJ and goes toe to toe with KP but gets quite the bitchslappin' from one of his greatest foes ever...good stuff from Stan Lee & Co. I knew this issue was in good shape but didn't realize it was a higher grade. I would assess this comic to be a conservative Fine/Very Fine (7.0) and could even pull a CGC 7.5.
...And now for the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly...and the Good again...
Front Cover Not much bad here, color break alert top left corner in the green, minor breaks at both top and bottom staples, a few ticky breaks along top cover edge as well as along r-h edge, tiny ticky ones but.....full disclosure. A phantom corner crease top r-h corner but does 'not' break color. Corner wear top and bottom l-h corners is evident. The yellow 'S' in Spider-Man has a dark, indistinguishable smudge that 'may' have been writing of some sort (see pic). Spine shows faint color breaks and I mean faint (the most obvious is at the staples). Some small, random paper bends (see flash pics).
Back Cover Pretty clean and free of issues, most notably the small bite out of bottom cover; uniform tan oxidation across entire cover; some random minor paper bends; dinged lower r-h corner (this book was dropped, most likely by the kid who, in their haste to get home after their 12-cent purchase, was a little too overzealous pulling it out of their brown paper sack and dropping it onto their red and white tiled linoleum kitchen floor...whew!).
Pages Off-white to cream.
...and Now For the Good...
- This is a complete, original and unrestored copy that lays flat, has a firm, rigid spine and is tight at the staples.
- Overall, this comic has minimal color-breaks and evident wear. It passes the 'black cover test', maintaining the dark (or black) cover with minimal color-break.
- Rigid spine ensures easy reading (remember with gloved hands, place comic into cupped left hand with fingers extended to keep front cover and pages from flopping over...enjoy the story!!!).
- Lots of original gloss and vivid cover colors make this issue one to display (the way I do it is to board and mylar bag the issue, insert into cheap, (<$5) sturdy, black Ikea frames with, in this case, white or yellow background paper to make this issue pop; and finally attach to wall with command strips to save your wall).
- Pages are supple with striking vibrant color.
PLEASE READ I am (or was, anyway) an avid comic collector, not a grader. Any assessment I give is based mostly on the pictures I provide and there's many. I take the standard pics you're used to seeing and added ones with extra (flash) lighting to show off imperfections (and perfections) of the cover(s). I also include pics at the end showing obvious flaws. With older silver and bronze age comics, there are often too many color-breaks, creases or minor flaws to photo but I try to mention everything, pictured or not, in the description; Just know that my overall assessment and opinion is based on the accumulation of 'all' flaws pictured and described. But alas, I can miss something, it happens (even for me). Ultimately, you should thoroughly inspect the pics, use your zoom thoughtfully (always recommended) and judge for yourself before you bid. I always feel that the only surprise you should get is a pleasant one. And I will always provide additional pics if requested. That being said:
- NO STOCK IMAGES EVER All pics are of the actual comic listed; what you see is always what you get.
- Any questions or additional picture requests? Just message me. I'm so approachable.
- Please pay within 2-3 days of commitment to buy. If not, on the 3rd day, I will offer the comic to the second place finisher and if that fails? on the 4th day, the sale will be cancelled, the buyer blocked from future auctions, and the item will be relisted.
- No bids from PRIVATE ACCOUNTS or with a feedback rating less than 10. I take these auctions seriously, raising money for my kid, so I trust you feel the same way and are equally a serious bidder.
- Comic will contain two sheets of Micro Chamber interleaving paper (between front and back covers). That's what CGC uses...so do I.
- Comic will be mylar bagged, boarded and 'securely' sandwiched between cardboard sheets before loaded into a gemini mailer and shipped USPS Ground Advantage with appropriate insurance to cover your winning bid. This protects both of us and explains the higher cost of shipping (if it's >$20 it's the insurance).
UPDATE: JUST A NOTE TO INFORM YOU THAT I'M ALSO RUNNING AN AUCTION FOR AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #50 (1ST APP. OF KINGPIN AKA WILSON FISK) AND WILL COMBINE SHIPPING. IN OTHER WORDS, I WILL NOT CHARGE YOU ADDITIONAL SHIPPING FOR THIS COMIC IF YOU WIN BOTH ASM #50 & #51. YOU ONLY PAY SHIPPING COST OF $20 FOR BOTH. JUST WAIT TO PAY UNTIL I'VE INVOICED YOU FIRST (THAT MAKES IT EASIER FOR ME). AND THE SHIPPING COST IS HIGHER THAN OTHERS BECAUSE IT INCLUDES INSURANCE FOR TOTAL AMOUNT OF WINNING BID. THANKS AND GOOD NIGHT!!