Examples of comic books I buy: Swamp Thing, Avengers, Spider-Man

Selling a comic book collection doesn’t have to be difficult. I pay cash for comics for my personal collection as well as for resale (Visit Comic Chaos on eBay). Comic Chaos is located in the Tucson area of southern Arizona, but I’ll travel throughout the American southwest to pick up collections that fit my purchasing criteria. For the right collection I’ll travel anywhere in the lower 48! l buy individual back issues or entire collections, and I don’t need to cherry pick just the good books. If you wish to sell your comics, please read on for details on what it is I’m looking for.

Which Comics Am I Most Interested in Buying?

Primarily I buy comic books published prior to 1990. This would certainly include Marvel & DC comics, but also publishers such as Gold Key, Dell, EC, and others. Think of comics with a cover price of 75 cents or less. If the cover price is more than 75 cents, it’s a recent book, and the vast majority of these are not in high demand. There are many exceptions, of course. Where modern comics are concerned, I focus on purchasing collectible key issues. Recent high demand books might include key first appearances of characters (e.g. Miles Morales in Ultimate Fallout #4), or titles that remain popular (The Walking Dead, Invincible, SAGA, Spawn). If you’re not sure, please ask.

A little more on modern books. With modern comics, my inventory plays a role in deciding what I’ll buy. All comics have value, but the reality of comic book reselling is that modern comics, with a few exceptions, are not valuable or highly collectible. In most cases it won’t make sense for me to purchase large collections containing comics that I can’t sell.

How Does Condition Affect Value?

When selling a comic book collection, condition is always key. I’m looking for comics in well-cared-for condition, or comics that have been read lightly and stored properly. Understanding how condition affects the value of your comic books can help you understand the prices I’m willing to offer. I’ve created a page that offers some rough guidelines to help you understand condition.

What About Graded Comics?

Professionally graded comic books are popular with investors and many collectors. Professional grading is intended to provide a means for establishing a more consistent fair market value for comics, as well as providing better archival protection over time. In addition, companies like CGC are well-equipped to determine whether or not a comic has been restored or otherwise tampered with.

Graded Comic Book

During the pandemic, a whole lot of contemporary comics were graded by speculators that probably shouldn’t have been. The secondary market is now overrun with these graded comics and they are becoming increasingly difficult to sell. Exceptions are certain high-value or rare graded comics that can command a significantly higher value at auction than their raw equivalents. Copies of Hulk 181 or Amazing Fantasy 15 would be good examples.

I apply roughly the same criteria to purchasing graded books as I do ungraded comics. That is to say, I’m primarily looking for older (pre-1980s) comics in good condition. That said, comic books published in the sixties and earlier can be in very low grade and still retain decent value.

For modern graded books (comics published in the nineties or later) they ideally should be graded 9.8 or better.

With a few exceptions I choose not to submit comics for professional grading. I love to be able to open and peruse and old comic! Many of these old books remain terrific reads, and the artwork can be spectacular! That said, I’m always happy to purchase your graded comics.

Are There Comics I Won’t Buy?

Yes. Here’s a short list of things I don’t collect or resell:

Besides Comic Books, What Else Do I Buy?

I’m also looking for original comic book artwork, pulp magazines (Shadow, Doc Savage), and fanzines.

How To Request A Quote For Your Comics

Please e-mail me at inquiries@comicchaos.shop or call/text 520.343.2362. I try to respond to inquiries as soon as I receive them. If you live in Southern Arizona we can meet in person, or arrange a Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime meeting. Sending photographs and lists are very helpful.

And don’t forget, I will travel for large / significant collections, so don’t let your distance from Tucson deter you.