How To Value A Comic Book

Wondering how much one of your comic books is valued at? Great! The good news is that valuing a single comic book is very similar to valuing an entire comic book collection except it’s a lot simpler and easier.

Unlike with valuing an entire comic book collection — where you not only need to take into account the value of each individual comic book but you also have to think about how, when and where it’s being sold — valuing a single comic book is straightforward. The value of a single comic book is based on that comic book’s merits, plain and simple.

What determines a comic book’s value?

What Age The Comic Book Is From

Comic books are classified into chronological ages. They are in general–

Golden Age (1938 – 1956)

Silver Age (1956 – 1970)

Bronze Age (1970 – 1985)

Modern Age (1985 – Present Day)

Each comic book age has a distinct tone and feel, and in turn have their own inherent values.

The Condition Of The Comic Book

The condition of a comic book are generally broken down as:

NM Near Mint

VF Very Fine

FN Fine

VG Very Good

GD Good

FR Fair

PR Poor

The less wear-and-tear on a comic book will yield a higher condition, so be sure to store your comic books properly!

The Historical Significance Of The Comic Book

If a comic book contains the first appearance of a major character or a well-known plot twist in a beloved story, that comic will have a higher perceived value and will yield a higher price in almost any setting.

The Rarity Of The Comic Book

The rarity of a comic book is usually a combination of the age of the comic book and the condition. For instance, the older a comic book is, the less similar versions will be in circulation. But if an old comic book is also in very good or near mint condition, then it would be considered rare since in general, comic books deteriorate with age unless stored properly and kept very good care of.

If you ask around about valuing of a comic book, eventually you will be suggested to consult a price guide such as Overstreet, but in our experience, published price guides cannot keep up quickly enough with market trends, and the certainly don’t take into account any particular buyer or seller’s circumstances, interests or needs.

When all is said and done, the value of a comic book is simply what a willing buyer would pay for is, so the most important part is to know the basics above, and sell your comic book in the right outlet for your particular circumstance. You can also always get a professional appraisal from Sparkle City Comics, and if we are interested in buying it, we will pay cash on the spot! So please fill out our contact form or call us at 800-743-9205!