This hand-painted-cover collection of Garbage Pale Kids comics by artist Joe Simko (web, twitter, wiki), required extra-special framing care. The customer wanted to be able to view, while preserving the collector value of, these one-of-a-kind comics.
The comics could not be taken apart, nor could any adhesive touch them. Yet, they needed to float inside a 'well' of acid free matting, showing the edges of the comics, deep enough to keep the paint on the covers from coming into contact with the glazing material.
This eight opening black mat with a pink inner core is elevated above the acid free black backing about 3/16th inch, using acid-free foam core. The matting itself adding another 1/8th inch to the depth (see detail below). This allowed the comics to rest well below the glazing surface. Since no adhesives were allowed, they're attached with strips of acitate. These strips wrap around the body of the comics behind the covers so they're not visible, pass through the backing where they strips are adhered. The comics are displayed yet preserved in their original condition. A simple wide black frame with Optium Museum Acrylic glazing completes the presentation.