Expert: Chris Brown - 12/13/2008

Question
Hello, I recently had a major spell of good luck and acquired an issue of Amazing Spider-Man #1.  I've been collecting for about 15 or 16 years and consider myself knowledgeable when it comes to comics but I'm torn as to this particular book.  The pages are in a VeryFine condition and the adds in the book are for the age of the book (one add actually says 1963 in it's advertisement).  I was told the book has a recreated cover on it but the question is, is the book a reprint with a recreated cover.  I know that Marvel reprinted issues with the original adds in the reprints (I believe it was Marvel Master Works).  How can I tell if my book is original and not a reprinted version with a recreated cover. The book doesn't have the newer paper stock for the pages and it also has that old comic smell to it, but I'm still questioning myself on it.  Please help if you can.

Answer
Hi Anthony

I'm not sure what you mean when you say the comic has a recreated cover.  Are you saying it is really a coverless copy?  Does it have indicia on the bottom of the first page?  If so, what does it list for the publication date?

It does sound suspicious that a coverless comic would have VF condition pages.  However, stranger things have happened.

Chris