Comic Book Repair/Conservation - Weak Spine & Detached Staple Pt.1

Bought this Nick Fury #3, for $5 at my LCS. Has no bottom staple from print factory, and the top staple was detached. The spine has a few minor ticks, but was very weak and layed flat when opened, no spring left in it. But the color is great and minor surface wear.

Also a lightly color breaking crease top right corner measuring 7cm (2-3/4") and some top edge overhang wear, tan interior covers, 1st & last page light tan, the rest of the pages OW/WH (closer to WH), and all pages structurally solid.

If not for the detached cover and weak spine would be maybe in the solid 6.0-7.0 range.

I'm going to restore this comic for aesthetic purposes, and also to conserve and extend the life of a very nice reader copy for future budget collectors like myself.

I mean, they're not printing anymore of these so even the low grades need to be protected and cared for at all costs. Comics are contemporary American mythology, and Mark Twain level of importance to the lexicon of American literature.

...and Trade Paperabacks and digital copies JUST AREN'T THE SAME. Only PULP can capture the true magic of these stories. When printed on magazine stock they loose they're beauty, they're too sharp and the colors never look right.

I only draw the line at extreme leaf casting where 2/3 of the cover is replaced and the original missing art is reprinted or drawn onto a Detective #27 or something. That's a whole different level compared to some spine reinforcement, staple repair or minor color touch.

Just my 2cents

[DrRawBalls_TheDummy]

I’m also glad you told us you were watching a movie lol at first I was concerned & alarmed lol also great video brother.. just got back into collecting mad magazines & want to learn how to repair the older ones so thank you

[TheGyroBarqusShow]

Dude, most of these great paintings in museums were restored. I'm all for restoration.

[michaelbernard]

I can't believe you did this on camera for the first time ever! WHOA! What a set of 'nads!!! Congrats on a job well done and explained. Very helpful for the wannabe restorationist.

[westanna]

You need to upload more of your random tutorials. Great commentary by the way

[jeff]

Love it! Prissy collectors who act like comics shouldn't be touched by human hands and be kept in humidity controlled clean room laboratory type environments get irritating after while.

[Anthony-knows-little]

Great job. I wonder though - the grade will definitely take a hit. I wonder by how much...

[thebeardedwnder]

Any type of tape gives me the heebbie jeebies, but you rocked it, man. Has anyone tried mending rice paper to covers where they have detached and then sewed them on using very fine thread threw the original staple holes?

[coybi]

Take a shot every time this dude says "uuhhh"

[rlbink]

Fascinating restoration video. Those Roman War soldiers on the back cover ad though… I would have ordered them. Anybody know what scale they would have been in? 1/32, 1/72?

[comicjourney]

Really helpful video, thank you for making it

[ginob]

Nice job! I'm all about restoring and conserving. It's a tough learning curve. Do you have any videos of adding pieces to the cover? I've found PVA works best. Wheat paste and metylculuse wasn't strong enough. That's my next project, adding pieces to the cover

[adamspector]

It looks nice but have you considered using Filmoplast R? It dissolves into the paper therefore you can't see the tape. 🙂

[thegreyman]

Best of luck with your conservation efforts

[dkthief]

Great video. Have you done a repair on the centerfold where the paper is worn and is detached from the staple?

[robcook]

This videois 👌 would love to see your follow up video

[alfredthegreat]

Where do I get the tape and the white stick?

[KeOne]

is that a denzel washington movie in the background? lol

[TheJameslanglois]

Do you do repairs for people... I have a comic book that has a tear on back cover and needs to be repaired... Please let me know if you can do it and I will compensate you... Thanks...

[bullymaguire]

If I have a comic missing the back cover could I replace it with an identical one from a different book??

[riccisamurai]

i wanna see more of these. Good job. How did this book turn out when you put it back together?