A Hidden Gold Mine?
Somewhere in your grandmother's attic could be a small fortune in the form of a superhero. If you have any comic books that come from specific time periods or collections and they are in good condition, there is a chance that those comic books could be worth good money. The trick is trying to figure out how much your comic books are worth. This article will help you figure out if your comic books can fetch you a good sum of money or if they would be better off lining the bottom of a bird cage.
Condition
Comic book appraisers (or graders) have a system that ranks the condition of the comic book with Mint being the top rating down to poor as the worst rating. Each rating puts a dollar amount on the value of a comic. Regardless of what issue or which superhero your new discovery features, condition is going to play an important part in determining your comic book's worth. In some cases, a small difference in comic book condition can be worth hundreds of dollars.
First, check out the cover. Older comic books will most likely lose some color on the cover. But a 1960s issue of Superman should have a red cape and not a pink one. That's usually a sign of sun or light damage. Also, obvious damage like pen marks, tears, water stains and a long fold down the middle of the cover can take away the value of a comic book.
If the cover looks good you should start checking out other areas that determine comic book value. The spine of the comic, where it is stapled, should be flat and not rolled. The staples should still look silver and not rusted. They should be stapled in a straight line. If you are buying new comic books and trying to keep them in at least near mint condition, look for these conditions since you have virtually no control over them.
Inside the comic book will also help determine value. Comics retain the most value if the pages are white and not yellowed. They should also be free from tears, pen marks and fading. The corners are also very important since they are very fragile.
First Appearance
Beyond the condition of the comic, its value can also be determined by timing and issue number. First appearances of popular characters are usually of higher value than other comics. Issue #1 of Action Comics, published in 1938, features Superman's first appearance. In 2003 that was worth over $350,000 for a near mint copy. Wolverine's first appearance was not in the X-Men series. It was in issue # 180 of The Incredible Hulk, published in 1974; but he was only on the last page. A perfect issue was worth over $800 in 2008. Yet his first full appearance, in issue #181, was worth up to $8,400.
Condition, timing and market demand all play a part in determining a comic book's value. If you think your current comics will be worth something some day, consider taking extra special care of them by storing your comics in places where they won't get damaged. In other words, keep them out of grandma's attic.
