Comic Book Grading

At Comic Buying Center, we follow a detailed comic book grading scale to ensure accuracy and consistency in evaluating comics. With over 40 years of experience in the industry, we provide transparent and reliable assessments for comic book collectors. Comic grading is an essential process for anyone looking to buy or sell comics, and we are here to guide you through it.

Comic Grading Scale

When it comes to grading comic books, we use two main grading scales to assess the condition of each comic:

• The Basic Comic Grading Scale: Includes seven grades, ranging from NM (Near Mint) to PR (Poor).
• The Ten-Point Comic Grading Scale: A more precise system with 23 grades, from 9.8 (Mint) to 0.5 (Poor).

We also work with trusted comic grading services like CGC comic grading, PSA comic grading, and PGX comic grading to provide additional certification and accuracy for premium comics.

Why Comic Grading Matters

Comic book grading not only helps determine a comic’s condition but also significantly impacts its market value. Comics graded by reputable services like CGC comic grading or PSA comic grading often have a higher resale value due to the trust and recognition these certifications provide.

Whether you’re interested in CGC comic grading, PSA comic grading, or PGX comic grading, understanding the comic grading scale is essential to evaluating comics accurately and making informed buying or selling decisions.

The Comic Book Grading Process

The grading of comic books involves several steps, including:

1. Visual Inspection: Evaluating the comic’s overall appearance, including the cover, pages, and binding.
2. Defect Identification: Assessing minor imperfections, like bends, creases, and spine stress.
3. Grade Assignment: Using the comic grading scale to determine the comic’s grade, whether it’s NM, VF, or any other.

New Release Comics

Newly published comics may have slight imperfections that reduce their grade below Near Mint, even when they are fresh from the distributor. Unless otherwise noted, our “new” comics fall within the Near Mint to Fine range, as publishers consider these to be undamaged and sellable.

If an entire print run of a specific comic experiences common production defects, such as printing issues, we will inform buyers that these comics are likely to fall into the VF to FN range.

Publishers’ standards for what they consider “damaged” comics are typically much lower than the expectations of grade-sensitive collectors. Common issues with new comics that can lower their grade include spine ticks, minor dents, or the use of lightweight paper stock that makes the cover more prone to defects.

Basic Grading Scale

• NM (Near Mint): Covers all grades from 9.2 to 9.8 (with occasional 9.0).
• VF (Very Fine): Covers grades from 7.5 to 9.0 (with occasional 7.0).
• FN (Fine): Covers grades from 5.5 to 7.0 (with occasional 5.0).
• VG (Very Good): Covers grades from 3.5 to 5.0 (with occasional 3.0).
• GD (Good): Covers grades from 1.8 to 3.0.
• FR (Fair): Covers grades 1.0 to 1.5.
• PR (Poor): Corresponds to a grade of 0.5.

Ten-Point Grading Scale

• 10.0 GM (Gem Mint, slabbed comics only)
• 9.9 M (Mint, slabbed comics only)
• 9.8 NM/M (Near Mint/Mint)
• 9.6 NM+ (Near Mint+)
• 9.4 NM (Near Mint)
• 9.2 NM- (Near Mint-)
• 9.0 VF/NM (Very Fine/Near Mint)
• 8.5 VF+ (Very Fine+)
• 8.0 VF (Very Fine)
• 7.5 VF- (Very Fine-)
• 7.0 FN/VF (Fine/Very Fine)
• 6.5 FN+ (Fine+)
• 6.0 FN (Fine)
• 5.5 FN- (Fine-)
• 5.0 VG/FN (Very Good/Fine)
• 4.5 VG+ (Very Good+)
• 4.0 VG (Very Good)
• 3.5 VG- (Very Good-)
• 3.0 GD/VG (Good/Very Good)
• 2.5 GD+ (Good+)
• 2.0 GD (Good)
• 1.8 GD- (Good-)
• 1.5 FR/GD (Fair/Good)
• 1.0 FR (Fair)
• 0.5 PR (Poor)

Grading Process for Raw and Slabbed Comics

CGC comic grading, PSA comic grading, and PGX comic grading use the same comic book grading scale as we do but encapsulate the graded comic in a protective case. This ensures the comic’s value is preserved and it can be easily identified and resold. Slabbed comics typically have higher resale values.

Grading and Returns

While rare, if you receive a comic that you believe has been misgraded, please reach out to us at info@comicbuyingcenter.com or call 888-88-COMIC. We are committed to resolving any issues to your satisfaction.

If you purchase a CGC, CBCS, or PGX-graded comic, please carefully review the high-resolution cover images provided before buying. By purchasing a third-party graded comic, you acknowledge the grade assigned by the certification service and accept that we are not responsible for discrepancies in the grading process.