UNDERSTANDING DEFECTS THAT CAN BE REMOVED FROM COMIC BOOKS

 Bends are smooth, curved distortions in a comic book where the paper has been flexed without forming a sharp crease. They are commonly caused by improper storage, stacking, or light handling pressure and typically do not break color, making them good candidates for correction through proper humidification and pressing. 

 A dent is a localized indentation in a comic book caused by pressure, impact, or contact with a hard object, such as another book’s corner or a foreign item inside a stack. Dents do not break color or tear paper fibers but disrupt surface flatness and are often correctable through controlled humidification and targeted pressing techniques. 

Some Modern Age comic books have digital codes featuring 1” stickers affixed to an insert page for redemption.  The sticker gets imprinted into 1" squares on back cover from improper pressing without insert protection.  This is removed by pressing.

 Soiling refers to surface-level dirt, grime, oils, or environmental residue that accumulates on a comic book over time through handling, storage, or exposure. It typically appears as gray or brown discoloration and, when addressed early with proper dry cleaning methods, can often be reduced or removed without damaging the paper. 

 A divot is a small, localized depression in the comic book paper, typically caused by impact, pressure from a hard object, or stacking against uneven surfaces. Divots do not break color or tear fibers, but they create a visible indentation that disrupts the surface flatness and can affect grade if not properly addressed. 

 A fold is a bend or crease in the comic book paper where the page has been sharply or partially doubled over, often from mishandling, storage pressure, or improper stacking. Folds may be non–color-breaking and potentially correctable through proper humidification and pressing, or color-breaking, which permanently damages the paper fibers and cannot be repaired. 

 A finger dent is a small, shallow indentation in a comic book caused by handling pressure from a finger or thumb, often along the cover or near the spine. These dents do not break color or tear fibers and are typically correctable through proper humidification and controlled pressing. 

 A removable fingerprint is a surface-level oil or residue left on a comic book from handling, typically visible under angled light or on dark covers. Because it sits on the surface and does not alter the paper fibers, it can often be safely reduced or removed with proper dry-cleaning techniques before pressing. 

 Flaring is a heat-related pressing defect where ink or gloss appears distorted, spread, or “flared” outward from its original edges, most often caused by excessive temperature, pressure, or insufficient cooling time during pressing. It permanently alters the surface finish and cannot be reversed once it occurs. 

 An indentation is a recessed impression in a comic book’s paper caused by pressure from a foreign object, stacking, or handling. Unlike creases, indentations typically do not break color or tear fibers, but they disrupt surface flatness and may be correctable through controlled humidification and proper pressing techniques. 

Lifting occurs when a comic book has cooled down too fast after heat pressing.  Another possibility is a crease on an outside corner that lifts after comic book pressing.   Oversaturation press can fix butterfly or lifting corers.

 A light stain is mild discoloration on a comic book caused by limited exposure to moisture, oils, or environmental residue. It typically affects the surface or upper paper fibers and, depending on the stain type, may be reduced or improved through careful damp cleaning before pressing. 

  A multi-cover defect occurs when a comic book has more than one cover attached, such as double covers or misaligned covers from the manufacturing process. While not damage in the traditional sense, multi-covers affect thickness, alignment, and pressing behavior and require special consideration during inspection and pressing to avoid shifting, wrinkling, or uneven results. 

 Pencil writing refers to graphite marks on a comic book, often from pricing, inventory notes, or handling during distribution. Because the marks sit on the surface and do not permanently alter the paper fibers, they can sometimes be safely reduced or removed with proper dry-cleaning techniques, depending on pressure and paper type. 

Rippling is a wave-like distortion in a comic book’s paper, typically caused by moisture exposure, uneven humidity, or improper drying. It disrupts surface flatness and, when the paper fibers remain intact, may be reduced through controlled humidification and careful pressing.

 A ridgeline is a raised linear impression along a comic book spine, often caused by pressing a very thin comic book with 65 lb cardstock paper underneath both covers.  In most cases, repressing the book without interior cardstock under covers can reduce ridgelines. 

Roller bumps are small, evenly spaced indentations typically found near the top or bottom edge of a comic book, caused by the printing press rollers during manufacturing. These defects are considered production-related and are generally not correctable through pressing, though they can still impact grading.

 Signatures are handwritten autographs applied to a comic book, typically by creators, artists, or writers. While they can add desirability or value, signatures are not a defect; however, they must be evaluated for authenticity, ink type, and placement, as certain inks can react to humidity, heat, or pressing if not properly accounted for during inspection. 

 A spine roll is a curvature or lean in the comic book where the spine shifts left or right, usually caused by improper storage, long-term stacking, or uneven pressure. It affects overall alignment and eye appeal and can often be improved through controlled humidification and careful pressing, provided the paper fibers are not compromised. 

 A spine bump is a localized impact mark along the spine, usually caused by dropping, shelving, or contact with another book’s corner. It may appear as a small dent or deformation and, if it does not break color or tear fibers, can sometimes be reduced through proper humidification and pressing. 

Stacking curl is a gradual curvature in a comic book caused by long-term horizontal stacking, where the weight of other books creates uneven pressure. It affects overall flatness and eye appeal and can often be corrected or improved through controlled humidification and proper pressing techniques.

 A staple push occurs when the staple is forced outward from internal pressure or impact, creating a visible bump or impression on the cover. It does not break color or tear paper fibers but disrupts surface flatness and may be reduced through controlled humidification and careful pressing, depending on severity. 

 Waviness is an uneven, undulating distortion in a comic book’s paper caused by moisture exposure, fluctuating humidity, or improper drying. While it does not usually break color or tear fibers, it disrupts surface flatness and may be reduced through controlled humidification and careful pressing when properly stabilized. 

 Wrinkles are small, irregular surface distortions in a comic book caused by minor moisture exposure, handling pressure, or compression. They typically do not break color or tear fibers and are often good candidates for improvement through proper humidification and pressing. 

 Finger bends are shallow, curved bends in a comic book caused by handling pressure from fingers, usually along the cover or near the spine. In grader notes, they are often described as “finger bends,” “light bends,” or “handling bends.” Because these bends do not break color or damage paper fibers, they are considered low-risk defects and are typically easy to remove during comic book pressing through proper humidification and controlled pressure, making them strong candidates for grade improvement. 

 Light bends are minor, non–color-breaking bends in a comic book caused by gentle handling, stacking, or brief pressure. In grader notes, they often appear as “light bends,” “small bends,” or “handling bends.” Because the paper fibers remain intact, these defects are easy to correct during comic book pressing using controlled humidification and even pressure, making them excellent candidates for improvement and higher grading potential. 

 Light bends are minor, non–color-breaking bends in a comic book caused by gentle handling, stacking, or brief pressure. In grader notes, they often appear as “light bends,” “small bends,” or “handling bends.” Because the paper fibers remain intact, these defects are easy to correct during comic book pressing using controlled humidification and even pressure, making them excellent candidates for improvement and higher grading potential. 

 Indents are shallow impressions in a comic book caused by pressure from handling, stacking, or contact with a small object. In grader notes, they may appear as “indents,” “light indents,” or “small impressions.” Because indents typically do not break color or damage paper fibers, they are often easy to reduce or eliminate during comic book pressing through proper humidification and controlled pressure, making them favorable defects to address for grade improvement. 

 Cracking a graded book that contains multiple unpressable defects in the grader notes—with only one minor, pressable issue such as light bends or a small bend—is inherently risky because the potential upside is limited while the downside is significant. Pressing can only address the pressable note; defects like color-breaking creases, tears, or chips will remain and continue to cap the grade. Once the slab is opened, the book is immediately exposed to handling risk (new finger bends, spine stress, edge wear), processing risk during humidification and pressing, and shipping risk when sending the raw book back to grading, where even minor transit pressure can introduce new defects. 

 There is also grader risk: graders may note additional flaws not previously recorded, interpret remaining defects more harshly, or apply stricter standards on resubmission, potentially resulting in the same grade—or a lower one—despite successful removal of the single pressable defect. Objectively, when unpressable defects dominate the notes, cracking the book often becomes a negative-risk proposition where the cost, exposure, and uncertainty outweigh the marginal chance of a meaningful grade bump.