Introduce a problem, fail to solve it, and then resolve the problem with a surprise to create an instant plot. Many atlas and marvel comics have chipping along the trimmed edges marvel chipping, which reduces the number of surviving high grade copies even more. Some basic descriptive terms are used by booksellers to communicate book condition. Some of the most important and rare comic books to be published in the golden age appeared as part of allamerican comics full article. This is the equivalent of mint condition in numismatics. Slabbing refers to the preservation method that some people do after a comic book is graded where the comic will be encased in hard plastic in order to keep it in the same condition. Only very minute printing and bindery defects or the most barely noticeable handling defects present. Only very minute printing and bindery defects or the.
As new means that the book is in the state that it should have been in when it left the. Oct 02, 2017 knowing your comic books condition is very useful. There are grades in between these basic grades such as finevery fine, but we want this to be a general easytofollow comic grading guide for the. The discussion of the various systems of comicbook production has been put together from numerous pieces of evidence, including but not limited to comicsindustry lore, statements by comics creators, letter columns, and the analysis of production materials, including scripts, original art, coloring guides, and color separations. It is very rare especially in older comic books pre1990 to discover a comic in either mint or gem mint condition. These are just a few examples that highlight the gross disparity between 9. Books in this condition pre1980 are virtually nonexistent. Aaron albert, a collector of and an expert on comic books, has studied, taught, and written about the comic book genre for more than 20 years.
It is very rare, especially in older vintage comic books, to discover a comic in these grades as they are virtually nonexistent. This discoloration can be worsened by the storage condition of the comic. Even then, for an older comic to be in the very fine category it needs to. While we cannot guarantee that a book graded twice will receive the same grade. A spine split of up to 23 the length of the book, a missing back cover provided the front cover is still attached, severe water damage or residue damage, mold, and paper deterioration due to oxidation. You can think of the grade of a comic book like a grade on a report card. This is intended to be a basic guide so that you have a general idea of the. The slightest bindery defects andor printing flaws may be seen only upon very close inspection. Just remember that grading is the overall condition of the book. Find the value of your comic books using our comic price guide articles below. When considering the purchase of a book for your collection, the condition and, if applicable, the dust jacket are the most important factors affecting the value. Donate comic books from the platinum age, golden age, silver age, bronze age, or modern age to charity and take back some closet space.
The tax deduction rewards far outweigh having to sell the comic book collection yourself, and the proceeds benefit families in need across america. While most comics in this grade will have almost no value, a coverless copy of a key book may command very high prices. A comic book in fr condition may have nonstory elements such as coupons, ad pages, or marvel value stamps cut or torn out of the book. A high grade, like an a or mint, is good, while a low grade, like an f or poor, is bad. The same as tan to offwhite, but the center of the pages are darker. How to determine your comic books condition sparkle city. Because this margin is unsupported by the interior pages it is more susceptible to damage. I use a template provided by comic experience, but there are plenty of options for you if you want to choose another. An examination of life and work of comic book artist eli katz. Record prices are upgraded immediately for bigticket items, and over. Yes, im no expert at the comic book grading scale, i wouldnt know a 9. Comic book condition examples for eightyeye samurai 300.
Truly mint condition comics, even from as recently as the 1980s, are very hard to come by. An extremely exceptional comic with only very minute printing or bindery defects. In really nice condition, any issue of this rare comic book series is worth good money. A comic book is a magazine that contains stories told in pictures. If exceptional in other areas, could have six of the following at least three must be 116 or less in size and the remaining must be must be 18 in size or less, small spine stress, slight corner blunting, miniscule tear, miniscule color flake. Comic book grading examples grading comic books is both an art and a science. Science fiction, fantasy, and adventure comics are usually very desirable as well. The term grade is used to describe what condition a comic book is in. Who is the the closet human in real life to achieve peak human condition like in comics. Comic book condition examples of what im willing to buy spoilers.
As new means that the book is in the state that it should have been in when it left the publisher. Ill keep adding to this list as i get new submissions from my blog and twitter special thanks to cattlebattle for my favorite quote so far list items. As longtime users of nostomania know, the value of a comic depends strongly on grade. Each article includes the historical record price achieved for each book at auction, and the minimum yours is worth if youve found one. Comic book definition of comic book by merriamwebster. A floppy is a generalized term for a short floppy comic. Determining a comic books condition is very subjective and more of an art than a science. Almost all comics are the result of a character who wants something but is unable to get itfrom villains trying to rule the world and heroes trying to save it to a young girl looking to figure out her complex political environment persepolis. Mar 25, 2018 comic book condition examples of what im willing to buy spoilers. There are several more comic books out there that can maximize your profits if found in the right condition. The cover has no visible wear, and the dust jacket if applicable is included for hard covers. This is the typical condition of a nice newstand mint comic book. A high grade, like an a or mint, is good, while a low grade. Comic book definition and meaning collins english dictionary.
Overcover condition common in 1950s comic books where the cover extends approximately one sixteenth of an inch beyond the interior pages. The best possible existing condition of a comic book. This is why its important to have a firm handle on grading comics. While the overstreet comic book price guide helps you learn about comic values, this third book in our new how to line teaches you the importance of condition a factor that is often the key to real collectability and how to grade accurately the overstreet guide to grading comics includes. The worlds largest collectibles auctioneer comic books, vintage comics, original and. How to determine your comic books condition sparkle. You have your characters, and they have a problem the joker is on the loose, the avengers broke up, scott pilgrim got dumped. It pays to become familiar with the basic descriptive terms used by used and rare booksellers to communicate.
For this reason, high grade copies are extremely rare. Minimum prices are for complete, but poor condition books. For example, fine very fine or abbreviated fnvf denotes that book. A condition where the left edge of the comic book curls toward the front or back, caused by folding back each page to the back as the comic was read, rolling it for carrying around, or sometimes by being stored flat and stacked with other comics. Comic book definition is a magazine containing sequences of comic strips usually hyphenated in attributive use. Due to the nature of paper, discoloration is expected over time.
Lets show you some examples, so you can understand what your books. The term run can refer to multiple things in big 2 comics. Since 1970, the name overstreet has symbolized a vast knowledge of american comic books. An analysis of there not being a point in beating around the bush. The more you grade, the more effective a grader you will become. Comic book grading learn the scale and how to apply it. In addition to the physical condition of a comic, value is determined by its rarity and marketability. It is very rare, especially in older vintage comic books, to discover a comic in. A guide to book conditions the hobbit first edition by j.
Prices on these rare golden age comics can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand depending on the condition. While the overstreet comic book price guide helps you learn about comic values, this third book in our new how to line teaches you the importance of condition a factor that is often the key to real collectability and how to grade accurately. Paper exhibits moderate to severe brittleness where the comic book literally falls apart when examined. As comic book sales continued to drop during the 1950s, production values were lowered resulting in cheaply printed comics. Tolkien when considering the purchase of a book for your collection, the condition and, if applicable, the dust jacket are the most important factors affecting the value. List of terms for comics studies by andrei molotiu.
They were adopted by the bookselling community and are still in use today. A floppy comic is also known as an american comic book. A comic book in fr condition may have nonstory elements such as coupons. Over guide when a comic book is priced at a value over guide list. The overstreet guide to grading comics latest edition. Some examples are amazing mystery funnies, funny pages, planet, mystery in space, strange adventures, space detective, and a galaxy of. Just keep in mind to communicate clearly with your artist and letterer, here are some guidelines to follow. Is there writing on it, are there tears or discoloration. Graphic novel is a term whose definition is hard to pin down, but usually refers to selfcontained, booklength form.
Comic is complete with cover and all pages attached. Now that i had all my ducks in a row, i once again started writing. Beware if any older comic book is graded above this mark. The book is new, unread, and unused in perfect condition with no missing or damaged pages. There is no industry standard for a comic book script. The best grade a comic book can achieve with this page quality is 7. Examples of comic characters include batman, captain america, nightwing. A spine split of up to 23 the length of the book, a missing back cover provided the front cover is still attached, severe water damage or residue damage. Writing a graphic novel or comic book script when i first started writing a comic book script, i must admit i put the cart before the horse. Writing a graphic novel or comic book script meraki. The best possible existing condition of that comic book.
I had created a plotdriven story without knowledge about character arc, theme, or a threeact structure. Graphic novel is a term whose definition is hard to pin down, but usually refers to selfcontained, book length form. Here are some tips and guidelines to help you through the process. An exceptional example of a given book the best ever seen. This might be a little late for the folks interested in participating in the sequentially ever after contest, but then, theres still time to submit a script, and that is, of course, an acceptable entry. They refer to it as a slab as the comic starts resemble a plastic brick after the process. Its necessary to know if the way youre storing it is appropriate.
This is intended to be a basic guide so that you have a general idea of the grade of your books for pricing purposes. Therefore being able to correctly determine the grade of a comic is an important skill for buyers and sellers alike. Mar 25, 2020 create round, flawed, and exciting characters. Characters drive plots in almost all great movies, comics, and books. Comic book grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a. Each page is a loving tribute to a comic book that sikoryak loves or respects sikoryak hasnt just thrown the text at random pictures. This is an exceptional example of a given book the best ever seen. A comic must be relatively complete to be successfully restored. Sell my comic books presents a basic guide to comic book grading. Practicing grading with books of various conditions will help you to better see the nuances between, for example, fine and very fine. Its necessary to determine an accurate appraisal value. Although the grading of books is not a precise science, collectors should familiarize themselves with these terms. The set of terms below were proposed in 1949 by ab bookmans weekly.
Determining a comic book s condition is very subjective and more of an art than a science. Types of damage that place a comic in fr range include. How do you know if a comic book is very fine condition. An example would be, you have a book that is without doubt a nm 9. For example, a couple of pieces of tape were used to hold on the cover, a dab of dads wood glue was. The overall look is as if it has never been handled or released for purchase. A book in poor condition will be worth far less than the same book in fine condition. Comic book condition examples for eightyeye samurai 300 sub.
Similar to light tan to offwhite pages, but the edges of the pages are darker. Comics kept in damp environments like basements often degrade faster. It can refer to an issue, but it usually refers to a standalone story comic run. Dark colored pages that exhibit a uniform tint from edges to middle. Some would have its use restricted only to longform narratives, while at the other extreme are people who use it as a synonym for comics or comic book. Preventative restoration, widely used and accepted by collectors, consists of nonadditive restoration on a book with one or two major defects. It becomes more difficult when you have a higher grade book with only one significant defect that would lower the grade, lower to what is the question. Knowing your comic book s condition is very useful.