Comic books deliver nostalgia and fantasy along with profit, but condition is key. Understand the comic book grading system, and buy the best condition you can afford.

In January of 2006, an auction at the Heritage Auction Gallery in Dallas Texas topped its own record by $100,000.00 for the highest price ever realized for a comic book. Flash Comics #1 (DC 1940) brought a staggering $273,125.00; pretty decent appreciation for an item originally marketed to kids for ten cents!

With the release of Yellow Kid in 1897, the first comic strip published in book form as a collection, comic books have played their part in American childhood. From Betty and Veronica to Batman and Robin, almost every reading American over a certain age has had a relationship with comic books.

In our house, it was Superman and Archie, and later, Mad Magazine, which my big brother bought monthly as soon as it hit the news stand. When (and only when) he was finished the rest of us were free to wrestle for its possession. The rules were strict if unwritten-any reading material in the hands of an actual reader was off-limits. Readers were left undisturbed while perusing, but a comic book set down for a bathroom break was a comic book surrendered. Because our copies were wrestled over and carried into bathrooms they were tattered (not to mention unhygienic), and would never find a place in the libraries of the serious comic book collector.

Although it is true that condition is a major factor in the valuation of every collectible, it is probably the single most important aspect in the world of comic book collecting. This seems to make sense when you consider that there's not a lot of intrinsic value in 32 pieces of newsprint, a glossy cover and back, and a couple of staples. The grading system is stringent, and provides grading on ten levels, from Pristine Mint to Poor, although it seems to allow leeway for the nature of the item. Comic books are fragile, and subject to numerous enemies-moisture, sunlight, age, heat, insects and the very consumers that made them popular, kids, who wrestled them away from their siblings, carried them into the bathroom, and folded back the cover to re-read for the tenth time.

THE GRADING SYSTEM

PRISTINE MINT-comic must be in perfect condition on 2 levels-pristine in terms of damage from use, and completely lacking in manufacturing defects.

MINT - No manufacturing defects, and like new or newsstand condition

NEAR MINT- Unused condition with any flaws due to manufacturing process only

VERY FINE-Comics in this condition can show some wear from having been read. Some cover creases are permissible

FINE-As above, but with a little more wear. ABSOLUTELY no writing on cover or tape repairs.

VERY GOOD-Corners may be dog eared, cover may be soiled, center page may be loose.

GOOD- Heavily used comic with both covers. As above but with some tears.

In addition to the categories listed above, many dealers recognize half-steps, which are describes as G+, VG-, etc. According to The Comic Grader website (www.comicgrader.com), serious dealers are also in the process of considering a numerical system that may be adopted by the American Association of Comic Book Collectors (AACC). Robert Overstreet, author of the definitive price guide Overstreet Comic Book Companion: Identification and Price Guide (House of Collectibles Jan 2004) uses a numerical guide for his grading.

Of course, in addition to condition, availability plays a large part in determining value. Comics from the Golden Age (1930's-1950's) tend to have higher values due to rarity, and the fact that they are frequently of an age where beloved characters were introduced. Possibly the world's most valuable comic book is the Action Comic #1, in which Superman is introduced. Overstreet values this issue at $350,000. Only 100 or fewer copies are known to exist, and in marginal condition at best. A collector's offer to pay $1 million for an Action Comic #1 in mint condition has gone unfulfilled.

Not surprisingly, none of our comics survived our childhood. Even if our mother hadn't donated a bagful of 1950's & 60's vintage Superman and Archie Comics to a rummage sale, their value would be minimal based on having been tussled over, and worse. Still, I'd happily wrestle either of my brothers for the latest copy of Mad or an Archie Digest.

Resources: Comics the Beginning Collector, CeColini, Victor and Nubbin, John Mallard Press 1992