The Comic Doctor

Comic Book Pressing & Cleaning

A Bit About Colour Touch & What To Do

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The Headache of Colour Touch

You finally decide to take the plunge and purchase that key comic book you have been eyeing for months.  You buy it and quickly contact your go-to comic book presser (The Comic Doctor, right?) to have the comic cleaned and pressed prior to having it graded.   A while later, you receive a call from said presser with the bad news:  Your comic book has color touch on it.  A severe headache ensues.

Look, finding out one of your prized comic books has color touch on it isn’t the end of the world.  In many cases, the color touch can be removed, and sometimes, without affecting the comic book’s current grade – at least not by too much!

Colour Touch Is Sneaky

Color touch is a sneaky little bugger that can sometimes evade even the best of eyes, in fact, I have cracked CGC universal blue label comics, worked on them and re-submitted them only to receive a color touched classification.  This happened recently with a client’s Hulk 141.  The comic was a 9.0 universal blue label.  After cleaning and pressing the comic book, I re-submitted it and it came back with a 9.6 purple label indicating “small amount of colour touch on cover”.  I didn’t detect it and nor did the original CGC graders.

It’s Been Around a Long Time

Color touch has been a part of comic collecting for decades.  If a perfectly fine book had a little bit of color break along the spine or elsewhere, a marker went a long way in making the comic look that much better.  Due to the ease of such a fix, it was common practice by amateur and pro restorers both. Since the advent of third-party grading companies, however, a spot light has now been shone on color touched books, with many a collectors and dealers reeling in disbelief when one or more of their comic books end up with a restored label due to color touch.

What to Do

What can be done? As mentioned above, color touched books can sometimes be “fixed”.  Most pressers, comic book restorers and even the collector him/herself can remove the color touch. The job can be daunting if the color touch is extensive. If the color touch in minimal, it can usually be scraped, wiped or washed off quite easily.  In these cases, I am happy to do it for clients as I work on the books (for a nominal fee).   If the comic book has extensive color touch I usually refer clients to CCS (CGC’s in-house restoration shop) or other resto removal experts to do the job.  CCS does have the right to refuse working on certain books which happens quite often.  If the color touch is extensive, the comic book could be ripped apart in an attempt to “clean it up”.  In such cases, CCS will also pass on the job.

The Best Mode of Defense Against Color Touch

  1. Buy graded comic books. While the odd color touched comic will sneak by a grader (as outlined above), I am confident that doesn’t happen very often.
  2. If you are buying raw books, look for spine ticks that should break color but don’t.  Where white creases should appear, they instead are either darker or slightly lighter than the actual ink surrounding it.
  3. Open the cover and inspect the spine beside the splash page and the last page.  If markers are used to correct color breaking spine ticks, the marker’s ink will often “bleed through” to the inside. This is very obvious.

    Colour Touch
    Color Touch “Bleed Through”
  4. Lift the book and tilt it with light hitting it.  On an angle, you should be able to detect missing gloss.  Examine these areas a little closer for color touch.
  5. Use a black light.  Black lights are not perfect but can sometimes help to detect color touch.  Black lights are great at highlighting foreign substances on covers, like glue, paint, organic matter, etc.  Best in a pitch dark room.

    Color Touch
    Portable Black Light
  6. Use a USB ready microscope and zoom in on suspected areas.  These new microscopes are inexpensive and hook up quick to desktops and even cell phones.

    Digital Microscope
  7. Buyer beware.  I can tell you from experience that most dealers and even collectors do not spend much time examining their books for color touch, or any restoration…there is only so much time in the day, after all.  If a comic has been worked on, it is pretty obvious.  But those books with minor color touch are the ones that need more attention from potential buyers.

Moving Forward

Keep collecting, and if you are unsure if one or more of your comics has been restored, feel free to pop by my shop and I would be happy to give you my opinion.  And, if you need to have your comics cleaned, pressed and/ or graded, be sure to contact the Comic Doctor.

How To Handle Your Comic Books

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For those of us who have collected comics for a long time, the following guidelines may seem obvious. For collectors new to the hobby, however, these points may just save a precious comic book from being damaged.

1. Avoid rolling the comic, as you would a newspaper.

2. When handling a comic, do so gently. Avoid holding it tightly.

3. Always handle the comic flat in the palm of your hand, and turn the pages carefully, allowing each page fall down gently on its own. In doing so, you avoid placing any pressure on the comic book or its spine.

4. Comic stores tend to organize their comics standing up in comic boxes or bins. When perusing these comics, avoid bending the top of the comics down over the previous books. If you bend the spines while searching for a particular comic book, you will damage the spines for the next customer who comes along. That being said, a previous customer could very well damage the spines of comics you want to purchase. Always handle comics with care and respect.

5. When enjoying trade paperbacks or graphic novels, simply cradle the spine of the comic book and open it just enough to read. Avoid opening the book completely and “cracking” the spine, and never grasp the comic by its covers and read in the air, doing so will surely cause dents on the covers and the pages.

6. If paperbacks or graphic novels have been stored in extremely cold weather, let the books acclimatize to room temperature before opening it to read. Opening a “frozen book” could cause the spine to crack. If the glue on the spine becomes very brittle due to t e cold, the cover may even pop off.

7. Avoid “dog ears”, that is, don’t bend the corners of the pages to place mark where you last read. Invest in a book mark.

8. Eating while reading is a bad habit, especially around valuable comic books. If crumbs fall into your book, this could stain your comics or cause impressions when/if your comics are stored. If you handle food while reading, you may also actually transfer oils from the food you eating directly to your comic books.

9. Always keep your hands clean. We naturally excrete oils and these are easily transferred to your comic books, especially if they are being held tightly.

clark kent, washing hands, handling comic books

10. As outlined in an earlier post, be sure to store your comics in a cool dark area. Using comic bags and boards is also strongly recommended. Storing your comics upright is also suggested;

Comic Book Storage Box, long box
The trusted comic book long box (made from card board). Will keep harmful UV rays away from your comic books.

there are a variety of comic boxes to choose from. Mylars and Mylites are the preferred choice of comic sleeve. These are museum grade and while they may cost a little more, the will last a lifetime. WARNING: Be careful when using the stiff Mylar bags, comics can be damaged when inserting them, take your time.

11. Avoid storing your cardboard comic boxes directly on the basement floor, especially if it is concrete. Use a palette of some kind or shelves to keep the boxes off the floor. Over time, boxes may absorb moisture from the concrete and even the carpet. Moisture + comics is a no no.

12. Again, this was mentioned in an earlier post, but avoid exposing your comic books to direct sunlight, and even bright artificial light.

13. Don’t write on your comic books or colour in black and white areas! It is not a colouring book. Also, be careful not to write on paper with a comic book beneath your work – this will cause impressions on the comic book cover and although this sort of damage can be minimized with a good press, often times the impression is still faintly visible.

14. Do not cut coupons out of your comic books…especially back issues…most of those offers have expired. 🙂

 

handling comic books, mego advert
Darn the Mego Corp! They tempted kids all around the world to cut out their order forms and purchase their action figures! I wonder how many comics were ruined because of Mego!

How to Effectively Display Slabbed Comic Books

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To Display or Not to Display

Most of us have invested lots of time and money to grade and slab your favorite comic books, and now they are stored away in a comic box at the back of a closet in your home.For some, this truth is a travesty.

CGC, Slabbed Comic Book Box, pgx, cbcs
Most slabbed comic books are stored in these.

Many collectors, on the other hand, prefer to display their slabbed comic books in dynamic ways in and around their homes. This article will provide images and information about of a few of these.  Before I move forward, be warned that choosing to display your books could potentially damage them. The UV light that is produced by natural light and even some artificial light sources can hurt your comic books. The plastic cases used by all of the grading companies are not UV resistant. This being said, there is a product I will examine towards the end of this article that may help with this.

 

Acrylic Wall Mount

Slabbed Comic Books, cgc, cbcs, pgx
Wall mounts are easy to use and inexpensive.

The simplest and cheapest way to display your graded comic books is the use of a plastic wall mount.  These mounts are inexpensive and pretty simple to use.  This is one of the easiest ways to get your books out of the box and on to the wall. These mounts can also be used as holders that will securely keep your comic books upright on a shelf or display case. Keep in mind that slabbed cases are great looking on their own, so this technique can look quite sharp if executed correctly.

Custom Made Comic Book Frames

A comic store called Gweedo’s Comics in Utah sells handcrafted rustic wall frames and display cases for both raw and slabbed comic books. Gweedo’s also frames magazines, LP Records and even video game cartridges!  When ordering, options for stain colour and glass type (UV resistent/non-UV resistant) are offered. Check out their website for more details.

Slabbed Comic Books, cgc, pgx, cbcs
Display options from Gweedo’s

Another company out of Wyoming called The Collector’s Resource has created a number of very cool frames for both raw and graded comic books. The company website emphasizes the quality of their products, and there is much information explaining exactly what goes in to each and every frame they manufacture…pretty impressive. Comic book frames from Collector’s Resource are made in the USA and feature single wood sheet construction (no glue or seams),rounded edges,

slabbed comic books, cgc, pgx, cbcs
POD frames from The Collector’s Resource

a three-step sanding process and a pristine and durable Powder Coat Finish. The Collector’s Resource offers tons of different frame sizes and styles, including their new POD frame, tri-fold frames and even a Bat-Frame! Check out the Collector’s Source for yourself for more information.

 How to Thwart UV Light

Slabbed comic books, cgc, PGX
UV Resistant Film

If any of the above display methods appeal to you, be sure to take a look at The Collector’s Resource UV filtering film which can be applied directly to any slabbed comic book.  These museum grade adhesive sheets will actually block out 98% of these harmful rays, thus providing some degree of protection to your treasured comic books.  Again, I just want to stress that you may be putting your prized comic’s in harm’s way should you choose not to use a UV-resistant product like this.

Final Thoughts

There are many companies out there that manufacture and sell display frames and other products to help you effectively display your slabbed comic books, so be certain to visit the websites mentioned above, and do some research yourself. And please share your findings with us as well! Below I have included a few pictures of some very cool ways collectors have displayed their comic books.

…and remember, before you display your comic books, be sure they look their best – contact The Comic Doctor to find out how!

cgc, pgx, cbcs, comic books
Effective display using IKEA frames!
cgc, pgx, cbcs, comic books
The Collector’s Resource BATFRAME

 

CGC,PGX,CBCS, comic books
The Collector’s Resource Single POD Frame

 

cgc, pgx, cbcs, slabbed comic book
Wall mounts in action!
cgc, pgx, cbcs, comic books
Wall mounts can also be used as stands
cgc, pgx, cbcs, comic books, bowen statues
Display significant books with a corresponding statue – Brilliant!

Send me your displays and I will post them here… thanks for reading.

Ultimate Comic Book Protection

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Grade your Comic books for Ultimate Protection

In earlier posts I have discussed the best way to store your comic books. Acid free bags and boards are great, but for ultimate protection, having your prized comics graded is second to none. Thus far I have only ever used  Comics Guarantee LLC (CGC) for grading, as these books tend to fetch the highest return at resale, plus they were first on the scene to offer the service (since 2000).

Once a comic book is graded by CGC, two pieces of comic book extender sheets are inserted between the front page and cover and the back page and cover. The comic book is then sealed in a sleeve of Barex (a highly gas-impermeable plastic polymer). Next, the comic is placed in an inner well of a hard plastic holder, where it is cradled securely. The top portion of the tamper-evident holder is then sonically sealed to the bottom. This hard plastic case is often called a “slab” and the entire process known as “slabbing”.

Once a slabbed comic book is in hand, acid free mylar sleeves and storage boxes that fit such books are available. Keeping the books away from direct sunlight and in a room with little humidity and/or dampness is still all important.  I personally think that slabbed books look fantastic. Yes, you can’t read the comic book anymore, but one can certainly rest easy knowing that their prized comic book is safe from damage due to handling accidents. So many collectors have books valued in the thousands of dollars, I cannot imagine any of these enthusiasts not wanting to protect these highly valuable books.  That being said, slabbing really is intended for super high grade books,  books that are significant for one reason or another, and books that are already quite valuable.  Attempting to slab one’s entire collection, especially if the comics are not valuable, really is pointless.  Remember that grading a comic book isn’t cheap, especially when you take shipping & handling and potential up costs from the grading company into consideration.

CGC, Grading, comic pressing
Comic books graded and “slabbed” by CGC

Just to be clear, it is not my intention to solely endorse CGC, as there are other companies who also offer third party grading services. In other posts I have also mentioned Professional Grading Experts (PGX) and the Comic Book Certification Service (CBCS). Both of these companies have a broad customer base and they also encapsulate their books in a hard plastic shell.

If you are thinking about submitting your comic books for grading, why not improve their condition first. After all, a higher graded book is worth more.  Contact the Comic Doctor for more information.

Comic Book Tips – Dry Cleaning Your Comic Books

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Comic Book Dry Cleaning is a Must!

Paper Foxing, comic book defects, the comic doctor
“Foxing” is a reddish age-reated stain that can be found in older comic books

When comic book collectors approach me regarding the services I offer, they tend to focus primarily on my pressing service.  What I want to explore in this post is the dry cleaning service the Comic Doctor offers as well.  For comics that have not been stored properly over the years, a dry clean will work wonders.  Dry cleaning will remove dirt, grime and minor staining from comic books including led and wax pencil marks.  Dry cleaning will not remove foxing (age-related staining/ spotting), pen/ink stains or water stains.

Books that have been stored in damp areas often have a distinct smell and are grimy/ rough  to the touch.  This condition can be lessened greatly through dry cleaning.  If a book has mold and mildew staining (often green and/ or black), this sort of defect can only be corrected through restoration.

Dirty Comic Book
This sort of lead-like staining is reversible. Click on the image to get a better look.

Although many collectors change their bags and boards regularly, those that do not or have not may notice that dark staining has developed on the white areas of the cover – this condition is reversible.  Remember that the Comic Doctor includes a quick dry clean on all books that are received (if needed) for a press at no additional charge.  If a comic book is extremely dirty and requires extensive work, however, additional fees may be incurred.  See my pricing chart for more details.

While restorers will often use chemical washes to lighten pages and remove stains, the methods I employ are not invasive and  are not detectable by third-party grading companies like CGC.   In fact, CGC’s their own affiliate, CCS, likely uses similar methods when cleaning the books they service.  Aside from the tools involved,  the real trick to dry cleaning is patience.  Trying to get the job done quickly can result in areas being neglected, and worse, comic book damage.   In fact, the dry cleaning process is quite harmless, it is the actual handling of the book where potential damage can occur.  To ensure a comic book is not inadvertently damaged during the cleaning, maintaining an organized work space, and having tools within arms reach, is all important.

For more information about comic book dry cleaning, please look around this website or feel free to drop me an e-mail or give me a call.  Thank you!

Comic Book cleaning, the comic doctor
The back cover of X-Men 94 following 15 minutes of dry cleaning. Quite the difference.

 

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The Comic Doctor is located in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada.
You can also reach me by phone at 905-449-5680. The best time to call is after 3:30 pm.

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