UNDERSTANDING COMIC BOOK DEFECTS THAT CANNOT BE REMOVED

 Ballpoint pen ink is a permanent ink-based marking that penetrates deep into the paper fibers rather than sitting on the surface. Because the ink chemically bonds with the fibers, it cannot be safely removed through cleaning, and pressing has no effect on it. Any attempt to lift or dilute ballpoint ink risks spreading the ink, thinning the paper, or causing visible damage. This defect does count against grade, as it is considered a form of writing or defacement, and its permanence negates any practical reason to attempt cleaning or pressing to address it. 

 A bindery tear is a small tear or split in the paper caused during the original manufacturing and binding process, often near the spine or staple area. Because it involves actual fiber separation and missing structural integrity, it cannot be repaired through cleaning or pressing, which only affect surface flatness. Pressing may flatten surrounding areas but will not close or eliminate the tear. Bindery tears do count against grade, as they are physical damage to the paper, making them unpressable and not worth attempting to correct. 

 A blunted spine occurs when the sharp, square edge of the spine becomes rounded or flattened due to handling, shelving, or long-term storage pressure. This defect represents permanent compression and deformation of the paper fibers rather than a surface-level bend. Cleaning has no effect, and pressing cannot restore the original sharp spine geometry once the fibers have been crushed. A blunted spine does count against grade, as it affects structural definition and eye appeal, and it cannot be meaningfully improved through pressing. 

 Brittle pages are the result of advanced paper deterioration, typically caused by age, acidic paper stock, heat, or environmental exposure, where the paper fibers have lost flexibility and strength. Because the paper can crack, flake, or break under even minimal stress, cleaning, humidification, or pressing would risk catastrophic damage. For this reason, brittle pages cannot be safely treated or improved. Brittleness does count heavily against grade, and its severity generally negates any benefit of pressing, as preservation—not correction—is the only appropriate handling approach. 

 Chipping refers to small pieces of paper that have broken off along the edges or corners of a comic book, commonly seen on older books with aging or brittle paper. Because chipping involves missing material and broken fibers, it cannot be repaired through cleaning or pressing, which only affect surface flatness. Pressing will not replace lost paper and may increase the risk of further loss. Chipping does count against grade, as it represents permanent physical loss, making it an unpressable defect with no corrective upside. 

 A color break occurs when a crease or stress line fractures the ink layer, exposing the lighter paper beneath. Because the ink has physically split, neither cleaning nor pressing can restore the original color or continuity of the print. Pressing may flatten the crease, but the white line will remain visible. Color breaks do count against grade, as they represent permanent ink damage, and their presence eliminates any practical benefit of attempting correction through pressing. 

 Color rub is the loss or thinning of ink caused by friction or abrasion, often from contact with another surface, sliding in and out of bags, or improper storage. Because the ink has been physically worn away, cleaning cannot replace the missing pigment, and pressing has no effect on restoring color density. At best, pressing may improve nearby flatness, but the rubbed area will remain visible. Color rub does count against grade, as it is permanent ink loss, making it an unpressable defect that cannot be corrected or meaningfully improved. 

 A corner crunch is a severe impact defect where a corner has been sharply compressed, folded, or crushed, often resulting in layered creasing and broken paper fibers. While pressing may slightly improve overall flatness, the structural damage and fiber breakage prevent full correction. Cleaning has no effect, and aggressive pressing risks further damage. Corner crunches do count against grade, as they are considered major physical defects, and their severity generally negates any benefit of attempting pressing or cleaning. 

 A creaseline is a sharp linear fold in a comic book where the paper fibers have been stressed or broken, often from improper handling or folding. If the crease breaks color, the ink layer is permanently fractured and cannot be repaired through cleaning or pressing. Even when flattened, the line remains visible. Creaselines do count against grade, and color-breaking examples are considered unpressable, making pressing ineffective beyond minor cosmetic flattening. 

 A date stamp is a factory- or distributor-applied ink marking, typically found on covers or interior pages, used for inventory or return tracking during original distribution. The ink penetrates the paper fibers, making it permanent and not removable through cleaning, while pressing has no effect on ink-based markings. Date stamps do count against grade, as they are considered writing/defacement, and their permanence eliminates any practical benefit to attempting correction through cleaning or pressing. 

Detached refers to a cover or page that has completely separated from the comic book at the spine or staple area. This defect involves total fiber separation and loss of structural integrity, which cannot be corrected through cleaning or pressing. Pressing may worsen alignment or stress remaining attachment points. Detached components do count heavily against grade, and because the damage is structural and permanent, there is no justification for attempting pressing or cleaning.

 Edgewear is the rounding, fraying, or loss of paper along the outer edges of a comic book caused by repeated handling, shelving, or long-term storage. Because edgewear involves fiber breakdown and, in some cases, material loss, it cannot be reversed through cleaning or pressing, which only affect surface flatness. Edgewear does count against grade, as it reflects permanent wear to the book’s structure and eye appeal, making it an unpressable defect. 

 Erasure refers to areas where pencil marks were removed but left visible disturbance to the paper surface, such as thinning, roughness, gloss loss, or fiber disruption. While the original writing may be gone, the damage caused by friction permanently alters the paper and cannot be corrected through cleaning or pressing. Pressing will not restore lost fibers or surface texture. Erasure does count against grade, as it is considered paper damage, and once present, there is no practical benefit to attempting further correction. 

 An oily fingerprint is residue left by skin oils that has penetrated into the paper or ink layer, often appearing darker or glossy under angled light. Once the oils soak into the fibers, they cannot be safely removed through cleaning without risking discoloration, paper thinning, or ink disturbance, and pressing has no effect on the stain itself. Oily fingerprints do count against grade, as they are considered staining or surface contamination, making them unpressable once absorbed and not worth attempting to correct. 

 Grease pencil marks are wax- or oil-based markings that sit on and penetrate into the paper surface, commonly used for pricing or inventory notation. Unlike graphite, grease pencil does not fully lift cleanly and can smear, spread, or stain the paper when heat, pressure, or cleaning agents are applied. Cleaning risks embedding the wax deeper into the fibers, and pressing can permanently set the mark into the paper. Grease pencil does count against grade, as it is considered writing/defacement, and its chemical composition makes it an unpressable defect with no safe corrective path. 

 A heavy stain is deep, widespread discoloration caused by significant exposure to moisture, oils, rust, or other contaminants that have penetrated well into the paper fibers. At this stage, the fibers are chemically altered or permanently discolored, making safe removal impossible without thinning the paper, causing tide lines, or creating additional damage. Pressing may flatten the affected area but will not reduce the staining and can further set it. Heavy stains do count against grade, often substantially, and their severity generally eliminates any practical reason to attempt cleaning or pressing. 

 A miswrap is a manufacturing defect where the cover is improperly aligned or wrapped around the interior pages, often leaving uneven borders or shifted artwork. Because this is a production-related alignment issue and not a surface distortion, cleaning and pressing cannot correct it without disassembling the book, which is not acceptable. Pressing may improve flatness but will not realign the cover. Miswraps do count against grade, though they are typically noted as manufacturing defects, and their presence removes any practical benefit of pressing to address the issue. 

 A printer’s crease is a manufacturing defect created during the printing or folding process, resulting in a sharp crease that is present before the comic ever reaches distribution. Because the crease is formed at the production stage, it often includes compressed or broken paper fibers and, in many cases, ink disruption. Cleaning has no effect, and pressing cannot remove or erase the crease—at best it may slightly flatten surrounding areas while the line remains visible. Printer’s creases do count against grade as production defects, and their permanence makes pressing ineffective for correction. 

 Rust occurs when metal components, typically staples, oxidize due to moisture exposure, transferring corrosion and discoloration into the surrounding paper. Because rust chemically alters both the metal and the paper fibers, it cannot be removed through cleaning without causing thinning, tearing, or staining, and pressing has no effect on corrosion. Rust does count against grade, often significantly when staining is present, and its chemical permanence makes it an unpressable defect with no safe corrective option. 

 A spine split is a tear along the spine of a comic book, usually caused by stress from opening, handling, or long-term storage. It represents complete fiber separation and structural failure in a critical area of the book. Cleaning has no effect, and pressing cannot close or repair the split without causing further damage. Spine splits do count heavily against grade, and because the defect is structural and permanent, there is no practical reason to attempt pressing or cleaning. 

 A spine tick is a small stress line or crease along the spine, typically caused by handling, reading, or bending during opening. If the spine tick breaks color, the ink layer is fractured and the defect becomes permanent, making it unpressable; pressing may flatten the area, but the white line will remain visible. Color-breaking spine ticks do count against grade and cannot be corrected. Non–color-breaking spine ticks, by contrast, are often pressable, but once color is broken, there is no benefit to attempting cleaning or pressing for removal. 

 Stress lines are fine linear marks caused by repeated flexing, handling, or pressure, often appearing along the spine or fold areas. When stress lines break color, the ink layer is permanently fractured, making them unpressable; cleaning has no effect, and pressing may flatten the area but will not restore the color. Color-breaking stress lines do count against grade, as they represent permanent ink damage. Non–color-breaking stress lines may be pressable, but once color is broken, there is no practical benefit to attempting correction. 

 A tear is a rip in the paper where the fibers have separated, caused by handling, impact, or stress. Because a tear represents physical paper loss or separation, it cannot be repaired through cleaning or pressing, which only address surface flatness. Pressing may worsen the damage by stressing the tear further. Tears do count against grade, often significantly depending on size and location, and their structural nature makes them completely unpressable. 

 A tape pull occurs when adhesive tape is removed from a comic book and lifts ink, gloss, or paper fibers with it, leaving a rough, discolored, or paper-thin area behind. Because material has been physically removed, cleaning cannot restore the missing ink or fibers, and pressing has no effect beyond flattening surrounding areas. Tape pulls do count against grade, often heavily, as they represent permanent surface and fiber loss, making them entirely unpressable and not worth attempting to correct. 

 Distributor’s ink is the process of ink applied by distributors to stacks of new Silver Age and Bronze Age comics before shipping them to newsstands or retail stores. Distributors used this colored ink spray on the top edge of all comic book stacks to help identify which books were being distributed.  

 Eventually, the pages on Copper Age and Modern Age comics were preprinted with colored tabs during the manufacturing process. If any unsold books were returned, the ink helps identify and verify books were legally purchased and now being returned. The ink can vary in size and scope and may cover a small area or extend across entire edge.  

Return ink is the process of ink applied by retailers to mark unsold comic books that were sent back to the distributor. This process reflects a practice that no longer takes place due to publication and distribution changes in the industry from over a period of 60+ years. Grading companies are somewhat lenient to return ink as long as the ink is not excessive or obtrusive. Excessive bleed-through and staining that affects a comic book’s overall eye appeal will lower demand, considering there are better examples of the same book to be found elsewhere. 

 Spine stress lines noted by graders, especially when described as color-breaking, are permanent defects caused by repeated flexing or handling along the spine. Once the ink layer is fractured, pressing can only flatten the area; it cannot restore lost color or eliminate the visible line. Because these defects count against grade and cannot be corrected, cracking a slab solely to address spine stress lines offers no upside and introduces additional handling, shipping, and grading risk. When reviewing grader notes, spine stress lines are a clear indicator to avoid pressing attempts unless they are explicitly noted as non–color-breaking. 

 Multiple creases noted by graders indicate repeated or severe paper deformation, often involving broken fibers and color breaks across different areas of the book. While pressing may slightly improve overall flatness, it cannot eliminate color-breaking creases or restore damaged fibers. These defects count against grade and are typically permanent, making the likelihood of meaningful improvement low. Cracking a graded book to address multiple creases exposes it to unnecessary handling, shipping, and re-grading risk with minimal upside, and should generally be avoided. 

  A “crunch” noted in grader notes refers to severe compression damage, usually at a corner or edge, where the paper has been sharply crushed and the fibers are broken. While pressing may slightly reduce overall thickness, it cannot repair the internal fiber damage or restore the original shape. Crunch defects count heavily against grade and are considered permanent. Cracking a graded book to address a crunch introduces significant handling and shipping risk with virtually no chance of meaningful improvement, making it a clear defect to avoid when evaluating press potential. 

 A gloss smear is surface damage where the original cover gloss has been disturbed, dragged, or redistributed, often from improper pressing, excessive heat, friction, or contact with another surface while the gloss layer was soft. Because the gloss layer itself has been altered, cleaning cannot restore it, and additional pressing will not correct the smear and may worsen it. Gloss smears count against grade as permanent surface damage. Cracking a graded book to address a gloss smear carries no corrective upside and introduces unnecessary handling, shipping, and re-grading risk, making it a defect that should be avoided when reviewing grader notes for press potential. 

 Grader notes indicating a fraying spine combined with a small piece out describe permanent structural damage along the spine where paper fibers are worn and material is missing. Because the fibers are broken and paper has been lost, cleaning and pressing cannot correct or conceal the damage. These defects count heavily against grade, and pressing will not restore spine integrity or replace missing material. Cracking a graded book in this condition exposes it to handling, shipping, and re-grading risk with no realistic chance of improvement, making it a clear defect profile to avoid when evaluating press potential. 

 This combination of notes signals limited upside with compounded risk. While a simple indent may be pressable on its own, the presence of an ink smear and color-breaking fingerprints changes the calculus. Ink smears indicate disturbed or redistributed ink that cannot be corrected through cleaning or pressing, and color-breaking fingerprints represent permanent ink damage where oils and pressure have fractured the ink layer. These defects count against grade and are irreversible. Cracking a graded book to chase removal of a single pressable indent exposes the book to handling, shipping, and re-grading risk, while the uncorrectable ink defects will continue to cap the grade. Objectively, this is a poor press candidate where the downside outweighs any marginal potential gain. 

 Erasure refers to areas where pencil marks were removed but left visible disturbance to the paper surface, such as thinning, roughness, gloss loss, or fiber disruption. While the original writing may be gone, the damage caused by friction permanently alters the paper and cannot be corrected through cleaning or pressing. Pressing will not restore lost fibers or surface texture. Erasure does count against grade, as it is considered paper damage, and once present, there is no practical benefit to attempting further correction. 

 Stains noted by graders indicate discoloration that has penetrated into the paper fibers, typically from moisture, oils, rust, or environmental exposure. Unlike surface soiling, true stains cannot be removed through cleaning, and pressing has no effect on discoloration—heat and pressure may actually set the stain further. Because stains count against grade and are considered permanent, cracking a graded book to address a stain offers little to no upside while introducing handling, shipping, and re-grading risk. When reading grader notes, any mention of staining is a strong signal to avoid pressing attempts. 

 A tape pull noted in grader notes indicates that adhesive tape was removed and lifted ink, gloss, or paper fibers from the surface. Because material has been permanently removed, cleaning cannot restore the missing ink or fibers, and pressing has no effect beyond flattening surrounding areas. Tape pulls count heavily against grade and are irreversible. Cracking a graded book to address a tape pull offers no corrective upside and only introduces handling, shipping, and re-grading risk, making it a defect that should be avoided when evaluating press potential.