Why Original Inserts Matter in Zasshi

An original Zasshi is more than its cover and the chapters inside. Promotional cards, sticker sheets, access codes and small booklets were part of the issue readers brought home. For collectors, knowing what originally belonged in a Zasshi is the first step to understanding its completeness.

These extras were made to be used. Readers could peel out cards, use stickers, open sealed sections or send away application forms. Decades later, two copies of the same issue can contain the same manga chapters while differing considerably in what else survives inside.

What counts as an original insert?

Trading cards are the most familiar example, but Zasshi bonuses take several forms. Some are attached to a page or backing sheet; others sit inside a sealed pouch or booklet. Codes, postcards and applications also belong to the original package, even when they attract less attention than a famous card.

The bonus does not have to feature the manga you are collecting. Bleach’s debut in Weekly Shonen Jump 2001 issue 36/37 came with a Yu Gi Oh! card, Embodiment of Apophis, identified in Konami’s official database. Its connection to the issue matters even though it comes from another franchise.

Why the original attachment matters

An unpeeled card still on its original backing preserves a different state from a loose card placed beside the Zasshi. Likewise, an unopened pouch preserves its seal, while an opened pouch lets you assess the contents directly. A repaired or reattached insert may still contain the card, but its attachment has changed.

When a listing says “card included,” look for photographs showing how it is included. Check the backing, attachment points, seals and any tape or repairs. You can establish what is visible without asking a seller to peel a card or break a seal.

Completeness also extends beyond the main bonus. A CBCS 4.0 November 1996 CoroCoro record describes missing cards and a taped insert, with a separate note for a missing application on page 439. The application is another part of that copy’s condition story.

CoroCoro and the appeal of original Pokémon inserts

The November 1996 issue of CoroCoro Comic included glossy Pikachu and Jigglypuff promotional cards. In September 2026, Heritage sold a BGS 6.0 copy with the unpeeled Pokémon insert for $96,875 including buyer premium.

That auction illustrates the interest in a Zasshi preserved together with its original card insert. It brings manga and Pokémon collecting together in one object. The Zasshi, cards and attachment each deserve attention when evaluating a copy.

Read the notes alongside the grade

The grade summarizes condition; the notes can explain whether specific contents are missing, opened or repaired. For Bleach’s debut issue, a CBCS 6.5 record identifies a missing card, while a 4.5 describes a repaired insert with the card still present. A higher grade therefore does not automatically identify the more complete copy.

Our review of cached CBCS records found the following explicit losses. The figures count certificates with retrieved details, including empty notes, from a September 8, 2026 snapshot; details were collected between June and September. They are not counts of unique books or all surviving copies, and silence about an insert leaves its status unknown.

Issue	Contents identified as missing	Explicit losses / records checked
Bleach debut, WSJ 2001 36/37	Card or its insert	9 of 50, or 18%
Death Note debut, WSJ 2004 1	JumpLand digital code	5 of 55, or 9.1%
Vegeta debut, WSJ 1989 1/2, Shueisha only	Stickers or Famicom booklet, whole or part	12 of 58, or 20.7%
Romance Dawn V.2, WSJ 1996 41	Quiz booklet pages	1 of 56
CoroCoro May 2001	Hikaru Mew card	1 of 3

Bleach’s remaining detailed records comprise one repaired insert with the card present and 40 unknown card statuses. One record without retrieved details is excluded. The Mew sample contains only three certificates, so it is too small to describe overall rarity.

Four kinds of extras to look for

Death Note: the JumpLand access code

Weekly Shonen Jump 2004 issue 1 contains Death Note’s debut and a JumpLand access code insert. CBCS notes distinguish a missing code in a 5.5 copy from a broken seal with the card included in a 5.0. An opened insert can still retain its contents.

Two raw Yahoo Auctions copies closed in July 2026: ¥84,000 with the access card on July 18 and ¥89,100 without it on July 19. The included copy was 5.7% lower on displayed item totals before shipping. This is a useful reminder to evaluate the whole copy, including condition and other extras.

Vegeta: stickers and a Famicom booklet

Vegeta’s debut in Weekly Shonen Jump 1989 combined issue 1/2 includes sticker and booklet material. One CBCS 7.5 record describes a piece missing from the sticker sheet. Checking for partial loss is as useful as checking whether the sheet is there.

A CBCS 5.5 copy signed by Chris Sabat sold at Goldin in May 2026 for $3,965 including buyer premium, advertised with a sticker sheet, sealed Famicom booklet and other inserts. Its signature is another feature to consider alongside completeness.

Romance Dawn V.2: pages inside a quiz booklet

Weekly Shonen Jump 1996 issue 41 carries Romance Dawn V.2 and a Golden Secret Quiz Q&A booklet. A CBCS 3.0 record notes three missing booklet pages, showing why the cover or seal alone cannot tell the whole story.

An August 2026 Goldin sale of a Beckett 6.5 copy reached about $4,314 including buyer premium. The listing described the quiz booklet as sealed and also identified a survey insert and double gatefold.

Shining Mew: the original card pouch

May 2001 CoroCoro included Shining Mew, also called Hikaru Mew. Its original pouch is an important detail to inspect. A Mercari listing marked sold at ¥2,600,000, dated May 17, 2026 in our tracker, describes that pouch as completely unopened.

Of the three detailed CBCS records reviewed for this issue, one explicitly notes the Mew card missing and two leave its status unknown. Those notes help identify what to check on the copy in front of you.

Choosing a copy for your collection

Start with the issue’s original contents, then decide which details matter to you: a reading copy, a Zasshi with its bonus present, or an example retaining the original attachment and seal. Ask for clear photographs and read the full grader notes before comparing prices.

At West Blue, we saw prices rise sharply from March 2026 and later become steadier. We therefore look for comparisons from a similar market period as well as a similar grade and condition. Our manga price tracker can help you find those recorded examples.

About the figures: Sales illustrate individual copies of these issues, rather than verified sales of the CBCS certificates discussed. Condition, signatures, other contents and timing affect comparisons. Yahoo prices exclude shipping and the two Death Note listings have different tax treatment; Mercari displays tax and shipping included. Heritage and Goldin figures include buyer premium. The records do not establish a fixed value for an insert.

Photo: Heritage Auctions / HA.com. November 1996 issue; example copy.