It's a polarizing debate as old as the grading companies (which isn't that old): should you have your comics graded? Here's the basics of grading to help you form an opinion.

There are two major companies that grade comics: Certified Guaranty Company (CGC) and Comic Book Certification Service (CBCS). We'll save the which-one-is-better debate for a follow-up post.

DROPPING OFF OR SHIPPING OUT?

Here's how it works. You can either mail your comics to the grading company or hand them over in person at a convention, which I prefer because it saves on shipping time and costs. Certainly, comics do get lost, but I've always had good luck when it comes to getting my issues back. (Yes, I admit I have issues.) Once at the CGC or CBCS headquarters, the comics are carefully inspected by professional graders who then note any and all defects. Depending on the number and severity of the imperfections, the comic is given a grade to denote the condition of that particular issue. For more information on the grades, read my previous post, Collecting 101: Know Your Grades.

THE ALMIGHTY GRADE

Once your comic has been assigned a grade, it is then encapsulated (also called "slabbed") and given a colored label. The labels are there as a quick reference point for collectors to know if the book is complete, signed, etc. To help you understand the significance of the different labels, check out Collecting 101: The Label Cheat Sheet.

Once in the slab, your comic is now preserved and protected from wear, tear, and the elements. I have learned the hard way that these cases are not unbreakable, so you'll want to handle them with care. However, for general purposes, your comic is safe and secure inside the case.

 

 

 

 

THE COST

I've had a good many comics graded over the past couple of years, and the cost is the deciding factor in whether or not I get a comic slabbed. Price is relative, but for me the grading and shipping fees can be steep, which is why I'm selective about which issues I send off.

The grading prices vary depending on the age of the issue (as a general rule of thumb, the older the comic, the more expensive it is to have graded since the prices are tiered depending on the comic's age), what services you add (such as cleaning and pressing, neither of which is considered restoration), speed of grading (you can opt for fast track and have it back much quicker), and then shipping. By the time you add all that up, having your comics graded gets expensive.

 

WHAT TO SEND?

In my experience, between the shipping and CGC/CBCS fees, I've never had a comic graded for less than about $30-$40. One way you can save a few dollars is to send your comics in bulk. Of course, they all have to be from the same comic era and getting the same service (such as general grading or signature series or if they're being pressed) or they won't be shipped together. In the end, it gets to be a tricky process with lots of decisions to make that can run up the bill.

I only send key issues, and I research whether or not the grading will add any value to the comic. For instance, one of my favorite limited series is Batman Versus Predator from 1991. As much as I enjoy it, BVP isn't that collectible, and the grading/shipping fees would be more than the value of the comic, so I don't plan to have it graded. This is especially important if you're thinking of selling in the future since this is part of your overhead.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I love my slabbed comics.

The cases, especially those from CGC, look great, and I want to preserve any major key issues I own. Plus, it's fun to wait for them to come back from the grading company. It's like a mini Christmas for me. I try to guess what grade it will get and see how close I am, and I display some of my favorites.

In the end, it's a matter of personal opinion, and everyone collects what they want and the way they want.