Punisher First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #129 and How to Identify It

Punisher first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #129 (cover date February 1974), published by Marvel, by Gerry Conway, John Romita Sr., Ross Andru. The source puts it this way: "The Amazing Spider-Man #129 (February 1974) ... Created by Gerry Conway (writer) John Romita Sr. (artist) Ross Andru (artist)".

• Creative team / interior credits: the issue's interior credits list Gerry Conway as writer, Ross Andru as penciler, and Frank Giacoia and Dave Hunt as inkers.
• Story significance (co-first-appearance character): the issue is well known as the Punisher's first appearance — at the time he was portrayed as an antagonist of Spider-Man, though he would later become one of Marvel's most popular and successful characters.
• CGC confirms this issue as the first appearance: CGC's own coverage confirms this is his first appearance, in Amazing Spider-Man #129.

• Indicia: the small print on the first page or inside cover gives the issue number, date and publisher; reprints usually say so there.
• Cover price and barcode: a price or barcode format that did not exist in the year printed means a later edition.
• Paper and staples: decades-old newsprint is tan at the edges; bright white pages on an old date are a warning sign.
• Restoration: color touch, trimmed edges and married covers are common on expensive keys; a grading service can detect them.

Shoot the front cover flat, straight on, in even light, then the indicia page and the back cover. Include the top edge and staples in one frame. The app reads the title, issue number and cover and matches it against the checks above; the indicia photo settles most reprint questions.