How to Grade Comic Books

Last updated on 2023-01-11
By Nicole

Summary: The market value of comic books is partly determined by a grading process. This grading process details the exact condition and completeness of a comic, allowing the seller to get an idea of how much it is worth. While there is a certain amount of subjec

Books - how to articles from wikiHowBooksGet comfortable and curl up with your favorite book—and wikiHow's Books category! These tutorials will help you become a great reader. They also guide you in determining the book's genre, how to quote a book and other useful information. You don't have to stop there! Give a book to a friend as a gift, and share the joy of reading with them!How to grade comic books

A grading system is a key factor in determining the market value for comic books. The grading process determines the condition of the comic and gives the seller an estimate of its value. A careful amateur can assign a fairly accurate grade, although there's a lot of subjectiveness to the process.

Part 1:
The Spine and CoverRead the article

Look for cover damage. The cover is what you will first see when grading comic books. You should take a good close look at the cover, perhaps with a magnifying lens. Note any damage or omissions.
- The book's surface or shape is affected by bends, folds or dents, but not the color.
- Coackling is a bubble effect that occurs on the cover due to printing errors
- Creases are more serious folds which remove ink and cause distortions to the coloring.
- Tears
- Water damage or moisture, as well as "foxing", (bacterial and fungal growths on paper).
- Lack of gloss or fading (partial exposure, dust, or air, resulting in uneven or unintended fading).
- Particularly if the skin oil is used, fingerprints can cause discoloration.
- Chew (rodent damage)
- Covers that are ruined by writing or any other means.
Take note of any attempts to fix the book. You should look for signs of glue, tape, or any other attempt to fix the book. They can have a detrimental effect on the book's value.
- Not only are more complicated restorations of comic books often not visible to amateur graders, but they can have an adverse effect on the book's value if they are noticed by potential buyers.
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Take a look at the spine. The spine is equally as important, but less obvious than the front cover. Pay attention to the spine and take note of anything that is not right.
- Small creases or folds (less than 1/4 inch) that run perpendicularly to the spine are called Spine Stress/Binery Tears.
- Spine roll is a curve of the left side of a comic towards the front or back. It's caused by folding each page back as the comic was being read.
- A spine break is when there has been a complete tear in the spine (usually several pages). This can be found close to staples.
- A spine split is a smooth, uniform separation of the fold at the fold. It's usually just above or below a staple.
Examine the staples. You should also inspect the staples. You must ensure that no staples have been lost and that they are in perfect condition.
- You should look for "popped" and "rusty" signs on your staples. Popped staples are when one side or more of the cover is torn next to the staple but the paper underneath the staple holds it in place. It is possible for this condition to lead to the loss of a staple.
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Part 2:
Assessment of page qualityDownload Article

You can count the pages. After you have had a chance to carefully examine the cover of the book, open it to inspect the contents. To avoid contact with skin oils, it is highly recommended that you use tweezer for collectible books. Count the pages first.
- You must ensure that there aren't any missing pages within the comic book. ^{Missing pages can severely affect a comic book's value.}
Take note of any pages that are missing. It is not uncommon for older comics to have the pages in the middle, and sometimes the other pages too, become separated from the staples.
- Take note of the number pages or "wraps" that are missing, whether they're fully detached or not.
Check for any damage on the pages. Paper stored incorrectly may also cause damage. You should be aware of the following common issues with pages:
- Tears or creases (such as with clipped coupons),
- Tape, glue or any other method to fix pages
- Writers or any other material to be added to the pages
- Water damage can often cause stiffness and rippling.
- Staple Migration is a condition where the rust caused by staples stain the paper.
Verify paper integrity Comics printed today are on higher quality paper, which can withstand aging quite well. This isn't the case with older comics. The paper quality may have suffered some from age.
- You should look out for discoloration and brittleness. The paper may become yellowed or brownish, especially in comics that were published before 1980.
- In very old comics there is a certain degree of discoloration that can be expected. However, the more the merrier.
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Part 3 of the 3:
Assignment of a GradeDownload Article

A "Mint" grade is a good choice. The grade of comics is based on both descriptive and numerical categories. A grade of "mint", or even "near mint" might be given to a comic that is flawlessly or almost flawlessly in condition. The condition is for comics that are perfectly flat and have supple paper, glossy covers, and show no wear.
- There are two types of "Mint" grades: "Perfect/Gem Mint (10.0), and "Mint (9.9). This is a comic that has no discernable flaws. One book rated 10.0 is perfect in all aspects. A 10.0 book is absolutely perfect in every way.
- Near Mint+/Mint grades are "Near Mint/Mint” (9.8) or "Near Mint+” (9.6). These are comics with the smallest wear. Acceptable defects include a few stress marks and slight discoloration. These are considered perfect by most people, though the skilled eye might notice small imperfections.
- Comics with minimal stress and discoloration are called "Near Mint" (9.4) or "Near Mint-” (9.2). Both the spine and cover of comics are flat. Although the cover might have some surface wear, colors remain bright. The standard condition for a book that is sold in a comic shop is a 9.4 Near Mint. This is also known as "new condition". A 9.2 is a very minimal wear. It usually indicates a small stress mark (noncolor breaking), or similar marks.
Consider whether the item might be worthy of a "Fine." A well-preserved comic that is not "minty" but still looks good is usually referred to as either "Fine" (or "Very Fine"). These comics have been enjoyed and read, with some care. These comics may be slightly discolored, but the pages and cover should be intact and glossy.
- Grades such as "Very Fine/Near Mint", (9.0), 8.5, "Very Fine+", (8.0), "Very Fine-", (7.5), allow for wear because they are typically only read a handful of times. Some stress lines can be accepted. The cover may show some signs of wear but should retain its original shine.
- The "Fine" grades are "Fine/Very Good" (7.0), 6.5, 6.0 and 5.5. These are comics that have a lot of stress lines and wrinkles. This grade also allows for a low amount of missing or small tears, typically ranging from 1/8 to 1/4 inches (around 3.1 to 6.3mm in length).
Consider whether the item might be worthy of a "Good Grade" rating. The grade of "Good" falls below "Fine". It is a bit misleading, since a grade of good is not particularly high, but is more average. These comics have been loved by many readers. Books in such a condition should be readable and intact.
- The "Very Good/Fine", "Very Good+", "5.0", "Very Good+", (4.5), and "Very Good- " (3.5) are all examples of "Very Good" grades. This grade describes a comic with all pages intact, but that is noticeably wrinkled, rolled and scuffed. The size of missing pieces can vary from 1/4 inch to 1/2 inches (roughly 6.3 to 12.5mm).
- Good grades are "Good/Very Good", "Good+", "2.5", "Good" and "Good-" respectively. This grade is for comics in a slightly worse state than "Very Good". There may be some pieces missing from the cover and general wear to the pages. It is acceptable to have a moderate spine split. However, the comic retains all its pages.
A "Fair" grade is a good choice. Unattractive and mutilated comics are called "Fair". There may be missing pages that can make it more difficult for readers to understand the story (e.g. You may have clipped coupons which were cut into panels that are on the reverse of the page.
- The Fair grades are "Fair/Good", 1.5, and "Fair", 1.0. This grade describes comics in disarray and worn. They still have most pages and covers, despite their disarray. They may have some fading, soiled, or brittle issues.
If necessary, give a grade of "Poor" (or "Incomplete") Comics labelled "Poor" are very damaged. These comics may have damaged pages, missing pieces, ripped, or stained covers. Comics that are missing pages or covers are called "incomplete".
- Comic books missing pages or 1/3 of their covers are called "Poor" (0.5) Other materials, such as glue and paint can cause the comic to become brittle or defaced.
- While some people won't grade comics without their covers, others will give comics with incomplete covers a score of between 0.1 to 0.3.
Consider professional grading. You may want to have your comic graded by professionals if it is very rare. You can speak with confidence about its condition, including pricing negotiations.
- Professional grading is highly recommended if you intend to seal a comic (or "slabbed") professionally. This will prevent potential buyers from opening the comic to assess its contents.
- The Certified Guarantee Company (CGC), and the Professional Grading Experts(PGX) were two examples of professional graders.
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