WORKING ON INTERIOR COVERS AND PAGES
Brace the comic book for dent removal
When you’re working on dent removal or cleaning the interior pages of a comic book or cover, protecting the rest of the book is just as important as fixing the defect. You should never flatten a book to perform cleaning or dent removal on interior pages. You should always brace the comic book against a walled surface and protected with moisture barriers.
Using Moisture Barriers on Comic Books
Using protective moisture barriers mitigates further damage to a comic book during dent removal methods.
WHY YOU SHOULD NEVER FLATTEN A COMIC BOOK FOR DENT REMOVAL
• Paper is Fragile and Easily Damaged
Interior paper—especially in older comics—can be thin, brittle, or prone to staining. If you don’t isolate the page you’re working on, the pressure, moisture, or heat you apply could accidentally transfer to nearby pages, leaving dents, ripples, or discoloration in areas you didn’t mean to touch.
• Preventing Moisture Spread
When using methods like a damp cotton round, localized steam, or humidity, water can quickly spread through capillary action. If the rest of the book isn’t shielded, nearby pages can absorb this moisture and become wavy, cockled, or even stick together. Bracing with backer boards, SRP paper, moisture barriers, or window cut-outs ensures only the defected area gets treated.
• Protecting Structural Integrity
Comic spines, staples, and folds are under stress any time you open and hold a book open. Bracing the rest of the comic with protective barriers on the untouched side prevents spine roll, staple loosening, or the book shifting while you’re working. A stable base means you can apply precise pressure exactly where you want it.
• Avoiding Cross-Contamination
Cleaning involves friction—whether with Absorene putty, an eraser, or cotton pads. If you don’t isolate, bits of dirt, ink transfer, or cleaning residue can rub against clean areas of the page or adjacent pages. Shielding protects the unaffected parts of the book.
• Professional Results Depend on Control
A high-grade pressing or cleaning is all about precision. Grading companies like CGC look for uniformity. If a dent is removed but you caused rippling or gloss loss somewhere else, the book may not grade higher. Bracing ensures you only alter what you intend to fix.
USING MOISTURE BARRIERS AS A COMIC BOOK SHIELD
Protection from localized humidity
A protective moisture barrier in this context is simply a sheet of heavier paper (like 65 lb cardstock) inserted inside a magazine sized comic bag. Its job is to act as a shield—absorbing, deflecting, or slowing down humidity changes so that the comic itself isn’t directly exposed. The moisture barrier is also used as a protective outer shell when affixed to rest of book with giant sized paperclips. This maneuver will allow the page being treated to remain flat on the table surface.
Work divots and dents from the opposite side
Working dents and divots from the opposite side of a comic book cover or interior page allows the paper fibers to be lifted back into place rather than pushed flatter into the surface. By applying controlled pressure from the reverse side while the paper is relaxed, the indentation can rise naturally without stressing the ink layer, gloss, or surface texture. This approach minimizes the risk of burnishing, gloss disturbance, or color breaks and results in a more natural, undetectable correction than working directly on the visible surface.
Bracing for impact
Bracing the rest of the book while working out dents on a flat table is critical because it prevents surrounding pages and covers from shifting, flexing, or absorbing unintended pressure. Proper support isolates the defect area, allowing force to be applied precisely and evenly without creating new bends, spine stress, or secondary dents elsewhere in the book.
USING MOISTURE BARRIERS AS A COMIC BOOK SHIELD
1. GATHER SUPPLIES
2. INTERIOR STACKING LAYERS
2. INTERIOR STACKING LAYERS
1. Gather your supplies: A vertical walled surface, such as a humidity tank, light box, or a wall. SRP Paper, 4 giant paperclips, blue painter’s tape, one assembled magazine-sized backer board + bag, magazine-sized comic bags, and 65lb cardstock paper.
2. INTERIOR STACKING LAYERS
2. INTERIOR STACKING LAYERS
2. INTERIOR STACKING LAYERS
2. Begin by place a magazine sized backer board at the centerfold for spine support. Place the assembled magazine sized comic backer board + bag on table as a resting plane for book. Always have a sheet of SRP Paper and 65 lb cardstock paper underneath the current page being worked on.
3. CREATE TWO BARRIERS
2. INTERIOR STACKING LAYERS
3. CREATE TWO BARRIERS
3. Slide 1 sheet of 65 lb cardstock paper inside a magazine sized comic bag. Affix a small piece of blue painter’s tape to close flap. This is your protective moisture barrier. Make two barriers to this procedure.
4. GIANT PAPERCLIPS
5. SURROUND REST OF BOOK
3. CREATE TWO BARRIERS
4. While working on a single page, you must isolate the entire rest of book by securing one barrier on the outside of book and one barrier on the opposite page. Place giant paperclips on the outsides of both barriers with rest of book sandwiched between them.
5. SURROUND REST OF BOOK
5. SURROUND REST OF BOOK
5. SURROUND REST OF BOOK
5. Here is the other side of book to indicate how the paperclips are barriers are positioned.
6. SECURE WALLED SURFACE
5. SURROUND REST OF BOOK
5. SURROUND REST OF BOOK
6. The current page being worked on is resting flat on the assembled magazine sized backer board + comic bag as a base. Affix a small piece of blue painter’s tape to the vertical wall surface to prevent movement.
7. CUT OUT METHOD
9. APPLY TACK IRON
7. CUT OUT METHOD
7. For dent removal on brand new Modern Age comics with thin glossy interior paper, place a Cut Out backer on affected defect and apply light steam for localized humidity.
8. HOT SHOT
9. APPLY TACK IRON
7. CUT OUT METHOD
8. For dent removal on vintage comics with newspaper print paper stock or flat matte interior pages, place a Hot Shot directly on defect and hold with firm pressure for a few minutes.
9. APPLY TACK IRON
9. APPLY TACK IRON
10. ROLLER BALL BEARING
9. Apply heat with a tack iron for dent removal if required.
10. ROLLER BALL BEARING
12. SHIFT, REPEAT IF NEEDED
10. ROLLER BALL BEARING
10. Roll a ball bearing over divots, pebbling, and deep denting on interior pages if required.
11. RAKING A LIGHT SOURCE
12. SHIFT, REPEAT IF NEEDED
12. SHIFT, REPEAT IF NEEDED
11. Rake a light source over the page if you are having trouble locating small divots or dents.
12. SHIFT, REPEAT IF NEEDED
12. SHIFT, REPEAT IF NEEDED
12. SHIFT, REPEAT IF NEEDED
12. If deep divots or denting travel through the whole book, simply remove barriers, slide out the SRP Paper and 65 lb cardstock paper and move it to the next page. Repeat steps 4-11 until all pages have been worked on.
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