For sale today is the classic, rare, and out-of-print (oop) Barefoot Gen/Sanyusha english manga trade paperback (tpb)/graphic novel Barefoot Gen (Volume 1): A Cartoon History of Hiroshima, by Keji Nakazawa, published in 1976.
  • Cartoonist Keiji Nakazawa was 7-years-old and living in Hiroshima in the early days of August 1945 when the city was destroyed by an atomic bomb. Starting a few months before that event, the four volume saga of young Gen shows life in Japan after years of war and privations. 


I am not a comics grader, but I try to be as thorough as possible when assessing books for any flaws. I don't believe in using a number grade system - to me they are mostly utilized as a method to be ambiguous about exact condition and/or individual imperfections - but I do attempt to describe anything other than minor cover shelf-scuffing/scratching in detail. If a certain flaw discussed below does not mention that it affects inside pages, then it does not.


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This copy is in good overall condition especially for its age, with great/bright overall inside pages with minimal sings of natural yellowing to their peripherals (photo#12 example). It has a collection of signs of wear, although a majority are lighter and affecting its externals or corner-based for the few internal flaws.


**Photo#3:
-Spine edge: Crease spanning the edge near its middle from general opening/reading. 

**Photo#4: 
-Upper spine corner: Some scuffing/cover deterioration where it meets the front cover, small ding/resulting indents and a tiny tear where it meets back cover. 

**Photo#5: 
-Lower spine corner: Some scuffing/tiny cover deterioration patches where it meets each cover, 2 light indents on the nearby spine edge.

**Photo#6: 
-Front cover top edge: Small scuff near its middle, otherwise light levels of shelf-scuffing along it.
-Outer corner: Small cover deterioration around corner, goes thru 3 pages as a tiny deterioration. Tiny scuff at extreme corner that passes thru pages lightly.

**Photo#7:
-Front cover bottom edge: Small cover deterioration patch near spine corner, otherwise light shelf-scuffing/wear along edge. 
-Outer corner: ~4" crease around corner, shows on ~15 pages as a light ~1.5" indent, small crease/scuff/bend around extreme corner that goes lightly thru pages a tiny scuff. 

**Photo#8: 
-Back cover top edge: 2 small scuffs near its middle, otherwise light levels of shelf-scuffing along it.
-Outer corner: 2 tiny color breaks near corner. Light ~1" vertical indent around corner, and tiny scuff/bend at extreme corner that goes thru ~5 pages as a tiny indent.

**Photo#9:
-Back cover bottom edge: Light shelf-scuffing/wear along it.
-Outer corner: Tiny cover deterioration around corner, tiny scuff at pages' corner.

**Additionally: Front cover has a light ~2" vertical scratch near its center, and a few light scratches around it. Tiny mark near its upper half. Some light discoloration/shelf-scuffing around both upper corners, and the bottom outer corner. Page edge has some light shelf-scuffing along it. Back cover has a small/light crease/depression near its middle, and a tiny one near its bottom edge. 2 small color breaks on its spine edge, and a few tiny marks near its bottom edge. Some light shelf-scratching/scuffing around the cover, with some light discoloration around mainly its peripherals. Book has a light vertical curl/flex/bend towards its page edge.

**Internally: Spine adhesive has come apart at the book's middle (page#121-125), although all other pages themselves are all still bound together/attached. Page #231/232 has a light ~2" horizontal crease web adjacent its page edge near the upper corner. Book's last ~14 pages have a small stain around their bottom outer corners. Name/address of previous owner written in blue pen near top outer corner of first cover page. 

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I both buy to read as well as sell TPBs on here, so I understand how aggravating it is to receive a comic damaged in transit. I always pack books firmly between pieces of cardboard (among other materials/layers) via Gemini Comic mailers or bubble mailers depending on size; usually utilizing boxes for larger lots. If you have any questions or would like any additional photos, feel free to let me know. I'm always happy to combine shipping costs - either message me before completing purchase for a pre-payment price adjustment, or alternatively I can provide a refund afterwards. Thanks, and have an awesome day!