Grading

Our Grading System

We use the commonly accepted grades for American comics, abbreviated thus from best to worst, and shown with their numeric ‘scale of ten’ equivalents:

We use the numeric system, so all our comics have a number after their description indicating their grade. We do not grade higher than 9.2+ as grades above 9.2 are highly subjective, so even a brand new comic in a protective sleeve with a backing board will get a 9.2+.

Grading is of course a subjective process, but we believe we grade tightly, accurately and fairly.

Books & Annuals

For books and UK annuals we do not use the comic grading system. These are graded As New, Very Good, Good, Used or Poor. Please use the photographs to help with the condition.

Guarantee

In the event of you not being satisfied with the condition of a purchased item, we offer a full money-back refund, providing the item is returned to us within 14 days in the same condition in which it was despatched. If you wish to return something, please contact us before sending so that we can give you details on the correct procedure. We want you to be happy with your purchases and have confidence in ordering from us again. Please note that this does not apply to 3rd party graded comics, CGC or CBCS, which are not returnable due to grading error since they are independently graded.

CGC/CBCS 3rd Party Grading

Since 2000, it’s been possible for enthusiasts to get their comics graded by a third party company. We sell comics from the top two grading companies CGC, Certified Guaranty Company, and CBCS, Comic Book Certification Service.

The process involves a check for restoration work, assigning a grade and encasing the comic in a sealed plastic slab with a certificate. The slab cannot be opened and the comic read without invalidating the grading certificate. The need for this arose, in some collectors’ opinions, with the advent of sales on eBay and other auction sites and the misrepresentation of grades by sellers who perhaps were inexperienced.

You will find a selection of slabbed comics among our listings, clearly identified. Whether you crack them open to read or store them away for a rainy day is, of course, entirely up to you !