Can you even look at another Hulk 181????? 0

[Martin Sinescu]

Here's a Hulk 181 that just turned up from an original owner collection. My friend owns it and we're both in roughly the same place on the grade which is 6.0, maybe 6.5. He's thinking of a clean and press, but I don't know if it's going to help the actual grade (although it will get rid of a number of small wrinkles). The main flaws I see are a 1/4-3/8" small tear on the right edge (near Hulk's elbow), several color-breaking tics along the spine (as well as some spine curl), a small stain in the upper-right corner near the Comics Code seal, and tanning to the interior pages. There is an obvious bit of dirt on the "H" in "Hulk" that we're both wondering whether it would come off with a clean or not. I'm also thinking page quality is no better than Off-White. Just curious what others think on the grade and does this have a shot at a higher grade with the tear on the edge (doesn't go through to the interior) and cbc's along the spine? Thanks!

[Martin Sinescu]

[davet75]

Hi Martin, thanks for sharing your Hulk 181 with us!

In my opinion, the most significant defects are: cover tear near hulks elbow (looks about 1/4"), approximately 18 color breaking spine tics, the small triangle piece missing from the front cover bottom right corner and the interior pages (looks 1/4" or less), multiple small color breaking creases along the front edge of the cover, stains on the H and K, and the front cover upper left corner bump.

A clean and press will likely remove the spine roll and several cover (non-color breaking) dents and bends, and possibly the stains on the H and K.  However, the foxing (dark discoloration) on the back cover will not be removed at all by a non-restoration cleaning. 

Unfortunately, the small triangle piece missing from the front cover bottom right corner and the interior pages puts you no higher than a VG 4.5 according to Overstreet grading.  A pressing will improve the overall appearance but not the grade due to the missing pieces.

final grade: 4.5  

EDIT:  on further research, it looks like since the missing piece does not affect the story, it may not be as big a hit on the grade.  see the discussion on missing pieces:

 

revised final grade: 5.5 - 6.0

Edited August 13, 2018 by davet75

[FoggyNelson]

Agree with 4.5 

ha Hulk 181 is everywhere‼️‼️?‼️??❤️

[Lucky Baru]

4.0 - 4.5, with the value on that book I'd get it presses and slabbed

[The Lions Den]

A solid copy. I'm thinking 4.5 as it sits right now.

I'd get it cleaned and pressed to increase the eye appeal and hopefully the grade, too.

Good luck!  

 

[Ahsoka Tano Jedi Apprentice]

4.0

[Not A Clone]

4.5

[Martin Sinescu]

Thanks for the input, guys! Interesting that the consensus here is lower than what he and I thought. I was planning on picking it up from him, but we couldn't agree on a price, so I'm going to send it off to Joey for him to see how well a clean/press will help the presentation. Thanks again, I'll update once it makes the trip through Florida. 

[gadzukes]

My impression after looking at your photos and before I looked at any of the other grades in this thread was 5.0.

I'm going to say 4.5-5.0

There's enough dimples and pressable defects that you should go for the press before grading

Good Luck

[Not A Clone]

I think that's all of them. Every raw #181 has now passed through PGM right? 

[RedGiant]

5.0

[Pirate]

Get that sucker cleaned and pressed.  Looks like a ton of dirt on bc and maybe that smoot on the front can get removed.