Understanding how condition affects comic book value is critical to my buying process. Comic book collectors and investors use a 10-point grading system to assign aesthetic and monetary value to a comic book. This grading system has evolved to bring consistency to the largely subjective task of evaluating a comic’s condition. An accurate grade requires a careful examination of a comic book that includes the front and rear covers, as well as the interior pages. Grading is, ultimately, a subjective endeavor that generates disagreement even among experienced collectors. If the subject interests you further, I suggest picking up a copy of the Official Overstreet Comic Book Grading Guide. The condition of your comics is a big part of selling comics without getting ripped off.
This isn’t intended to be a comprehensive guide to grading comic books. It’s just a general guide for how I approach condition when purchasing comic books and collections. As a buyer, I’m less concerned with a comic’s specific grade than my general impression of the book’s condition. I think in terms of ‘high grade’, ‘mid-grade’ and ‘low-grade’.
A comic book’s cover is always the first impression. I check for spine damage, condition of gloss, signs of wear, integrity of the corners, and the condition of the staples. The back cover can be a better indicator of condition it’s often white and able to revealing dirt and wear. Next I peruse the interior pages for stains, tears, tanning, and the general condition and color of the paper. Older books are almost always tanned by age, but brittle pages are a concern. Missing pages are of course a huge problem, but coupon cutouts and missing panels are also catastrophic to a comic book’s value.
A High-Grade Comic Book
This copy of Fantastic Four 75 was published in 1968 and still shows beautifully. You may see minor defects such as stress on the spine and slightly blunted corners, but overall it’s a gorgeous, highly collectable comic book. (And I love the awesome artwork by Jack Kirby!)
A Mid- to Lower-Grade Comic Book
It is normal for folks who aren’t familiar with comic book collecting to think their comics are in better shape than they are. Take this copy of Thor 240, which at a glance doesn’t look too bad. If you look closer, it’s easy to see that the spine and staples show plenty of wear. It’s dirty, covered with fingerprints, and the cover has lost its gloss. This comic is complete and readable, but an accumulation of defects puts it below the threshold of what I consider collectible. I will still buy it, but a comic in this condition is more difficult to resell. It’s therefore not a book I’ll pay much for. It makes a nice reader copy!
A Low-Grade Comic
This modern Namor comic is low grade and not collectible. It’s the victim of numerous defects, and while readable, it isn’t desirable by a collector.
Next Steps?
Contact me if you’ve got questions on grade or how condition affects comic book value. If you wish to have me evaluate your collection for sale, please reach out!