Everyone has heard about that copy of Action Comics #1 that’s worth $440,000 or about that issue of Spawn #1 that someone bought and then resold for $1000 a month later. Those numbers may make it seem like you can make quite a bit of money in comic collecting, and you can, but you need to be smart about it. As with any investment, you’ll need to be in it for the long haul. Comic book collecting is one of the hobbies that make money over time but don’t expect to be able to buy a bunch of titles and then resell them for a quick profit. But if you enjoy comics and collecting, them, you can do quite well for yourself.
The two biggest things that affect the value of a comic book are rarity and condition. You’ll need to keep a close eye on both of those factors as you collect. One thing you’ll need to invest in is a good price guide. These are available at almost comic or book store, or can be purchased online. Comic book prices don’t change too rapidly, so if you can get a slightly out of date guide for cheaper, you’ll be able to save some money.
You need to be careful about the comics you purchase. Between 1985 and 1993, there was a boom in comic book publishing, with many companies printing up to ten million copies of each issue. Many issues were printed with flashy gimmicks, like hologram covers or other special attributes. Collectors bought many of these issues, but they are not currently valuable. Remember that an important element of value is rarity, and since so many of these issues are so common, they are not worth much. Think twice before buying a comic based solely on a gimmick, or the words “Collector’s Edition” or something like that printed on the cover.
The truly rare comics were either printed before 1980 or were printed in small runs. These comics can be worth quite a bit of money, but again, before purchasing, check your price guide to see if you are getting a good deal. Comics that are rare have a good chance of going up in value, because more will never be printed, and more buyers continue to appear.
Comic books can be in one of the following conditions: mint, near mint, fine, good, fair or poor. A comic book is only considered mint if it is in exactly the same condition that it was in when printed. Near mint is similar to mint, but there will be some wear. From there, the rankings get worse and worse. Most people will not want to buy a comic in fair or poor condition, unless it is a rare issue.
In order to preserve your comic books, you will need to take special measures. It is important to keep them away from moisture, sunlight, and heat. You’ll want to store them in individual polyethalyne, polypropylane or PET film bags. Be careful that you purchase bags that are labeled “archival safe”, because some types of plastics may actually damage the comic books during storage.
After you have individually bagged your comic books, you’ll want to store them in corrugated cardboard boxes. Make sure to place the boxes in a cool, dry place where sunlight cannot reach them. A closet is ideal for this, or a basement, as long as the basement is not damp. If you have no other options other than a damp basement, you can install a dehumidifier in the storage area.
There are many places where you can find comic books that you can resell. Your best bets are garage sales, estate sales and other places where people may not know the value of what they are selling. Another good idea is to find a few titles that you like that aren’t printed in large numbers, and buy a subscription to them. Then you will own something you enjoy, and since these titles are rare, they may increase in value over time.
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