comicwiz 13,370 posts Posted September 2, 2013 I had to look several times to see if what I was seeing was an optical illusion. However it does appear a very slight shift of the spine can be seen. I don't have any graphic design software installed on the PC I'm using to post this reply, but the area where you can notice this is just beneath the marquee with Thor's face, where it says Marvel Comics Group. There is a squiggly line that hugs just around the M in Marvel, and if you compare the 9.2 with the 9.6, you will notice that the bottom part of that squiggle line is gone. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
comicwiz 13,370 posts Posted September 2, 2013 Not a fan of MS Paint, but this is what I'm referring to Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlowUpTheMoon 38,583 posts Posted September 2, 2013 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
comicwiz 13,370 posts Posted September 2, 2013 Looking at those side-by-side like that, there also seems to be a pretty noticeable difference in the white space from the spine to the C in Comics and the G in Group. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
comicwiz 13,370 posts Posted September 2, 2013 Thanks BUTM. The first zoomed photo you provided cuts off the bottom part of the squiggle line I'm referring to. When I first noticed it in the 9.2 scan I wondered if it was an artifact of the scanner, but seeing it there in the second scan of the 9.2 (minus the bottom part) confirmed it was actually on the comic. The white space from the spine to the letters C and G is also pretty stark when they are put side-by-side. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
snitzer 3,073 posts Posted September 2, 2013 I had to look several times to see if what I was seeing was an optical illusion. However it does appear a very slight shift of the spine can be seen. I don't have any graphic design software installed on the PC I'm using to post this reply, but the area where you can notice this is just beneath the marquee with Thor's face, where it says Marvel Comics Group. There is a squiggly line that hugs just around the M in Marvel, and if you compare the 9.2 with the 9.6, you will notice that the bottom part of that squiggle line is gone. Totally agree on this point. I had the same reaction and wondered if it was possible that a slight alignment shift took place to the upper portion of the book only as the rest of the spine seems to have remained the same. What this doesn't explain though is the consistent fanning from end-to-end. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlowUpTheMoon 38,583 posts Posted September 2, 2013 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrWatson 42,380 posts Posted September 2, 2013 I don't think the spine was shifted. I think it was wet, had the hell pressed out of it, and shrunk. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zuckuss2003 4,350 posts Posted September 2, 2013 I don't think the spine was shifted. I think it was wet, had the hell pressed out of it, and shrunk. Sounds Awesome! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrWatson 42,380 posts Posted September 2, 2013 It is awesome. It just looks like mess. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gyro-1 2,424 posts Posted September 2, 2013 Interesting how the usual suspects in the gaming of the system continue to pop up in the middle of these kind of controversies. Like I've always said I don't have a problem with pressing but these examples are just plain ugly. agree totally Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
namisgr 39,231 posts Posted September 2, 2013 It's unfortunately happening with pedigree comics as well. From the CGC gallery: From the Pedigree auction: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stroszek 658 posts Posted September 2, 2013 It's unfortunately happening with pedigree comics as well. From the CGC gallery: From the Pedigree auction: If CGC gets back a Pedigree book it already graded and it looks different, isn't that kind of one hint that a book might have been pressed? As far as this whole "can't detect pressing" thing goes, and all that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrWatson 42,380 posts Posted September 2, 2013 It doesn't matter if the CGC can detect pressing or not. They have an in house pressing service, so it's a moot point. However, I do find it strange that this "procedure" hasn't made it's way into one of the "How to Spot Bad Pressing" infomercial emails propagated by the CSS. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
paperheart 18,196 posts Posted September 2, 2013 It's unfortunately happening with pedigree comics as well. From the CGC gallery: From the Pedigree auction: If CGC gets back a Pedigree book it already graded and it looks different, isn't that kind of one hint that a book might have been pressed? As far as this whole "can't detect pressing" thing goes, and all that. they can't detect pressing with certainty all the time is the issue. what are they supposed to do? have notes on the label: P- pressed, PP- possibly pressed, PPP- possibly pressed poorly Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stroszek 658 posts Posted September 2, 2013 It's unfortunately happening with pedigree comics as well. From the CGC gallery: From the Pedigree auction: If CGC gets back a Pedigree book it already graded and it looks different, isn't that kind of one hint that a book might have been pressed? As far as this whole "can't detect pressing" thing goes, and all that. they can't detect pressing with certainty all the time is the issue. what are they supposed to do? have notes on the label: P- pressed, PP- possibly pressed, PPP- possibly pressed poorly I don't know, but they sure PP'd on that nice Pedigree. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
namisgr 39,231 posts Posted September 2, 2013 Problem is, pressing has been leaving in its' wake a slew of fugly defects on books with high numerical grades. We're now seeing the face jobs and Costanza's and rogue staples, but other obvious defects have been overlooked by the graders for some time. Here's an example of how the moisture and heat made a White Mountain arrival date runny. There are many examples of this happening to White Mountains - not hideous like the face jobs and Costanza's, but still unattractive. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
paperheart 18,196 posts Posted September 2, 2013 It's unfortunately happening with pedigree comics as well. From the CGC gallery: From the Pedigree auction: If CGC gets back a Pedigree book it already graded and it looks different, isn't that kind of one hint that a book might have been pressed? As far as this whole "can't detect pressing" thing goes, and all that. they can't detect pressing with certainty all the time is the issue. what are they supposed to do? have notes on the label: P- pressed, PP- possibly pressed, PPP- possibly pressed poorly I don't know, but they sure PP'd on that nice Pedigree. - they sure did. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
asteroid-comix 11,346 posts Posted September 2, 2013 It's unfortunately happening with pedigree comics as well. From the CGC gallery: From the Pedigree auction: Didn't even get a grade bump. Given the front spine does not look like it moved, that book has got to be a pancake to have that much more of a page flare doesn't it? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
namisgr 39,231 posts Posted September 2, 2013 General consensus is that these are examples of significant cover shrinkage. Costanza's, as Blazingbob put it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
