Fantastic Four #52 (Marvel, 7/1966) 1st Appearance Black Panther, FN 6.0

$

350

THE ITEM:
Fantastic Four #52 published by Marvel Comics Group with a cover date of July, 1966.
SIGNIFICANCE:
This issue features the 1st appearance of Black Panther (T'Challa) who hunts (and nearly defeats) the Fantastic Four in his native Wakanda. With scripting by Smilin' Stan Lee, pencils by Jolly Jack Kirby and an ink assist by Gentleman Joe Sinnott this dazzling adventure yarn first introduces the Black Panther as adversary but sets up his origin story as told in the following issue #53. Given the recent popularity of BP and his upcoming film this comic is sure to skyrocket in value and remains an excellent read as told by the Masters of the Marvel Universe.
CONDITION:
Our copy of Fantastic Four #52 is in wonderful condition with tight staples, no creasing, splits or tears, and off-white to cream colored interior pages. The staples and binding are still tight and the interior is complete with great colors and sharp text and image clarity save for a couple of pages which show a subtle lessening of clarity. The cover shows some minor wear along the top edge with a single 1/4" split in the top center. The spine shows some stress marks (see photo 1) and the top and bottom of the spine have been lightly bumped but these defects have not lessened the integrity of the paper itself. Cover colors have lost some of their reflectivity but the colors are still pleasing and the image is vivid. The back cover is in off-white condition with a date stamp (photo 2 - "April 14th, 1966") and some slight foxing along the spine and around the outer edges. This copy is overall in very satisfactory condition for the avid reader and could be seen as a potential investment for those who would seek to have it "slabbed". Given these subtle denigrations due to age our grade is Fine 6.0.
The Kult Kitschen specializes in selling comics that vary widely from well-worn and loved “Readers” copies to Mint copies that were taken directly from the shop and immediately placed into our archives. Our grading system is very strict and it’s consistency is ensured by the usage of a single professional grader who handles all of our books. While other professional entities such as the CGC can often have wildly inconsistent appraisals due to their relatively large staff our small “mom and pop” operation is lovingly overseen by a comics pro with over 30 years in the business and a passion for everything funny book-related. Please note: comic book grading is always “eye-of-the-beholder” and your grading on a particular item may not be the same as ours so please ask questions and inspect our scans and photos thoroughly!
HOW THE ITEM IS REPRESENTED:
All of the comics sold by the fine folks at The Kult Kitschen have been scanned via a Canon PIXMA MG7720 scanner against an acid-free Ultra-Pro Silver Age backing board. No digital enhancements or photoshopping has been done to the original RAW image so that the buyer will know the exact color and contrast quality of the product as well as a fully accurate representation of the potential defects the book may have. Any noticeable defects will also be listed in the CONDITION section (see above) so that you will be sure to receive as much information as possible to make an informed decision as whether to purchase or pass. We know full well that many of our comics will be obtained as an investment opportunity and we are more than happy to contribute any additional information to a prospective buyer. The more you know the happier you will be with your final decision to obtain our items and pleasing our customers is always of tantamount importance to us at The Kult Kitschen!
STORAGE HISTORY:
All of the comics sold through The Kult Kitschen have been stored in a climate-controlled subterranean archive free from moisture, sunlight, dust, smoke and pets. While we cannot confirm how some of these items were stored before they were obtained by us any defects such as moisture damage or color-loss due to sunlight etc. will be listed in the item’s CONDITION section (above). Please know that roughly 50% of the items we sell have been taken directly from the “new” shelves of comic shops and/or the archives of other serious collectors - the other half are items that we have purchased for the sheer love of reading comics. None of our comics have denigrated from the condition in which they were when first obtained by us. We love ALL of these books and have strived to keep them in the best possible shape for future owners.
PACKING AND SHIPPING INFORMATION:
All single Modern Age comic books sold by The Kult Kitschen with a value of less than $50 (irrespective of shipping and handling fees) will be packed in a brand-new Ultra-Pro 2 millimeter archival-safe and acid-free polypropylene comic bag. Single Silver and Golden Age books (or modern books which are valued over $50) will be packed inside a Mylite archival bag, the industry standard for long-term storage of highly-valued books which is used by such notable entities as the Library of Congress. Each bagged comic is then sandwiched between two archival-safe and acid-free backing boards to ensure corner integrity during the shipping process. To further safeguard the wrapped comics they are then placed in a large (9.5” x 14.5”) Poly Bubble mailer envelope which is then sealed and folded shut around the edges to prevent the comics from bouncing around inside the packaging. Books with a sale value of more than $25 (before S&H) will be insured through the shipping entity and will be clearly marked “Handle with Care / DO NOT BEND”!
Comic book “lots” are likewise bagged and boarded for their protection and will be shipped inside a sturdy cardboard box to ensure their integrity during the shipping process. Lots will also be insured to their actual sale price and clearly marked “Handle with Care”!
All of our single comics will ship via USPS as First-Class items (lots ship via USPS Standard Ground) and come with tracking information which will be provided to the seller immediately upon the shipment of said item. Sold items are guaranteed to ship within 2-business days (often less) except in the case of federal and state holidays which may conflict with the operating hours of our carriers.
We do offer combined shipping on multiple auctions and these will likewise ship via USPS. Please notify us immediately if you are bidding on multiple items so that we may prepare a final invoice which will reflect the actual shipping cost of all the items to be sent. 
ALL SALES ARE FINAL:
All purchases made through The Kult Kitschen will be considered final so please be sure to carefully read the item specifics listed above and pay close attention to the scans we have provided. Prospective buyers are encouraged to ask any additional questions that they may have and will receive a response ASAP. We at The Kult Kitschen strive for 100% transparency so that our customers will be satisfied with their purchase and feel secure in our services for any and all future transactions through us.
In the off chance that your item has received any damage during the shipping process we will ask you to provide photographic evidence of the distressed packaging and item immediately upon receipt of said item before returning it to our offices for consideration of a refund. Please know that we will work diligently to ensure your overall satisfaction with your item(s), even at a personal loss. All that we ask is that the issue be fully documented and communicated to us in a timely manner so that we may work with the shipping entity to attempt covering the potential loss on our end.
A LITTLE ABOUT THE KULT KITSCHEN…
Comic books have been a lifelong passion of ours here at The Kitschen and we take the distribution of our funny books very seriously - not just as a means to make a little money from our fanaticism but also as a way of ensuring the longevity of the medium we hold so dear. While we acknowledge that some of our sales will be made to investors who will be reselling these books we are content in the knowledge that the grand majority of our comics will eventually find their way into the loving and appreciative hands of people just like us - fans who will pore over every panel and “geek out” over the contents within (which is why we would never personally “slab” a comic book)! While we have been selling comics professionally for over 30 years (via retail, conventions, online, etc.) it should be noted that we are first and foremost fans and all of our items come directly from our own personal archives. While parting with our books is a bittersweet experience (somewhat like relinquishing an old friend) much of the profit we derive from our sales go right back into completing our own wish-lists and solidifying our personal collections. Excelsior, true believers, and long may this grand medium live!