Grading Policy

We grade every raw comic against the industry-standard Overstreet scale. Grading is inherently a judgment call, so when a book falls between two grades, we lean toward the more conservative number rather than the generous one.

Unless a listing specifically says Graded or Slabbed (CGC/CBCS), the book is a raw copy that our team graded by eye using the scale below.

Grading Scale

Near Mint (NM) / NM- — 9.2 to 9.8

Our top grade for a raw book: flat, fresh, and vibrant, with sharp corners throughout.

• Cover: Flat with a high gloss, no creases, fading, or writing.
• Spine: Tight and flat with no rolls or stress lines.
• Pages: White to off-white, supple, and securely attached at the staples.

Very Fine (VF) / VF- — 7.5 to 9.0

A well-cared-for copy with only minor handling or manufacturing quirks, still plenty of eye appeal.

• Cover: Slight loss of gloss; at most a couple of small stress lines or tiny corner dings.
• Spine: Nearly flat, possibly with a few faint stress lines that barely break the color.
• Pages: Cream to off-white, firmly attached.

Fine (FN) — 5.5 to 7.0

An above-average copy that's clearly been read but was still handled carefully.

• Cover: Possible minor dirt buildup, some gloss loss, and small creases that don't stand out.
• Spine: May show a slight roll or some cumulative stress lines.
• Pages: Might be a touch yellowed or tanned at the edges.

Very Good (VG) — 3.5 to 5.0

A typical well-loved copy that's been read more than once, showing real wear but still fully intact.

• Cover: Moderate creasing, dimples, or scuffing, and possibly light store stamping or writing.
• Spine: Mild roll, minor splitting at the top or bottom, or loose staples.
• Pages: Yellowed or tan, but not brittle.

Good (GD) — 1.8 to 3.0

A heavily worn but complete copy — all pages and covers present, even if rough looking.

• Cover: Heavy creasing, noticeable scuffing, staining, or a small missing piece (under 1/4 inch).
• Spine: Significant roll or substantial splitting.
• Pages: Tan to brown, clearly well-read.

Fair (FR) / Poor (PR) — 0.5 to 1.5

Our lowest grade, reserved mostly for rare or historically significant key issues. These copies are heavily worn, stained, or damaged, though the story pages are generally still readable unless we note otherwise.

Common Questions

Do your comics ship bagged and boarded? Always — every raw comic goes out in an archival-safe bag with a fresh backing board.

What condition are new releases in? New weekly issues typically arrive at NM- (9.2) or better. That said, small printing blemishes, minor corner dings from distribution boxes, or the occasional ink rub can happen before a book ever reaches us.