'The Avengers' #11 (1964) marks the second appearance of Kang the Conqueror, just 3 months on from debuting in #8, as he sends a 'Spider-Man robot against the team. The real amazing Spider-Man also appears in the final pages. Jack Kirby provides the classic cover, with the story inside coming from Stan Lee and Don Heck. t has been in my collection since 1976.
This is a good solid copy, flat and tight, with all pages secure to staples which show no sign of rust. Pages are off-white, crisp and supple. They protrude slightly beyond the edge of the cover as result of the printing process, and not because of any spine-roll. The front cover still has good colour and reflectivity, and retains strong eye-appeal because it lacks any significant defect to detract from the artwork. The book is a US cents copy, distributed to the UK by Thorpe & Porter at a time when they would stamp the book with the UK pence price, and that stamp can be been discreetly placed top right, beneath the book number and to right of the text announcing Spider-Man's appearance. The back cover is also quite clean, but turned cream.
Against these positive factors must be weighed the common defects of a second-hand (at least) book, apparent when one takes time to study carefully. There are numerous spine-stresses (some of over a cm) with hairline colour-breaks, and light to moderate handling wear visible when tilting the book toward a light source (which might be improved by pressing).
Worthy of specific note, there is
* a flattened crease-line which runs at an acute angle from within 2 cm of the bottom right corner to about a third the way up the cover, with an almost imperceptible colour-break.
* in that same area, there is a small stain spot on Captain America's right groin, darkening the area and removing reflectivity within the spot.
* at the base of the spine, there is a 6 mm split, which has a teeny bit of tape (3-4 mm wide) around it.
* in Giant-Man's foot, there is a teensy 2 mm tear.
These are all defects which are very easily missed if the book is not carefully examined, but which must be taken into account for the grade.
I would say that this copy easily exceeds Overstreet criteria for a VG (4.0), and would, I think, hit VG+/4.5. Obviously, this is just my own honest assessment and hopefully the information and pictures enable you to arrive at your own estimation. Feel free to ask any questions.
This comic will be dispatched backed and bagged, well protected in a sturdy bookmailer - and not a card backed A4 or bubble-wrap envelope, as some sellers use - to see that it reaches you in the same condition it leaves me!
I've been collecting comics for over 50 years. In that time I've upgraded much of my collection, resulting in extra copies of many issues. In addition, there are series' I have collected which I don't feel the need to take to the grave! I am therefore seeking to reduce the size of my collection by selling off my duplicates and items no longer of interest. As a continuing collector myself, I really want buyers to be happy with their purchase, whatever condition it is in, and I always try to grade carefully, using Overstreet criteria. I try to provide sufficient descriptive detail and images for you to know what you are buying, but, if you are unhappy, you may return your purchase for a full refund.