Vince Platania, Jr. asked:


Everyone at one time or another had those old comic books lying around. Either from childhood, or they belonged to your parents or even grandparents. Or perhaps they were given to you from someone close who wanted to get rid of theirs. Most of the time they’re not worth much, just nice to have around for nostalgia’s sake. Other times you can find a real gem that you could keep and hold dear, or sell that puppy on Ebay or to a local retailer.
Regardless of where they came from or what one intends to do with them, those old comic books bring back a lot of memories and can be hard to let go of. But sometimes it’s necessary to do just that, either to lessen the clutter in your home, to make some quick cash, or to make room for more new ones! It’s still hard to let go of all those memories and cool stories you enjoyed so many years ago, but it can be worth it.

How do you know if they’re worth anything though? Well, if you’re not a regular comic reader, it’s a common misconception that they’re all worth at least as much as their cover price, and if they’re old they must be worth more. Sadly, that is almost never the case. Like anything else, comics depreciate with age, and with every tiny little crease they may have. They also lose value if the characters represented are no longer popular, or if the comics aren’t old enough. In fact, anything 1970s and up is probably not going to be worth a lot unless it’s a hot storyline, by a top creator, or features a first appearance by a very popular character.

One way you can find out if your old comic books are worth anything is to have them graded by the Certified Guaranty Company (CGC) which grades comics and places them in a plastic protective covering to further preserve them. They also give a seal and a document of authenticity and of course a rating. Graded comics generally sell for considerably larger amounts than the same comic in mint condition that is not graded. But grading comes at a price. For each comic you grade it cost you anywhere from $20 to $80 depending. While it will sell for more, it may still be hard to find a buyer, and you’re cutting your profit by the cost of the grading.

Ebay is a great way of getting rid of old comic books as well. Everyone uses Ebay these days, and you can set reserve prices, or open it all the way up. You can sell single issues or collections. And you can describe your items in intricate detail for the potential buyers. Tons of comics are sold on Ebay every day.

You could also just give them away to Salvation Army, the local library, or some kid down the street if you wish. They’re your comics, so do what you want with them. If you want to keep your old comic books around, but you want to protect them, go purchase some bags and boards from your local or favorite online comic shop and throw them in a box for storage. It’s your call.



RICHARD

Krystle Green asked:


In a tough economy, we find ourselves looking to make a buck. We act like superheroes trying to fight this volatile economy. Well, why not look to the superheroes themselves? Comic books make for a great investment. They are lucrative and can be worth a lot of money. However, investing in comic books may not bring a big payoff right away. It can take fifteen to twenty years for a comic book to be valuable. Who would’ve thought that a childhood pastime would make you some money, and at the same time you get to have fun while purchasing comic books that bring some joy into your life.

Comic books are rising in value because of the increased popularity of them. Hollywood producers are making recognizable comic books heroes the stars of their movies. For people who are not familiar with the characters, they soon find themselves becoming more interested in them. Or people are reminded of characters they loved as a kid after seeing movies such as Ironman, Wonderwoman, and Superman. They are inspired to buy the comics after watching the movie.

Investing in comic books requires some work and dedication from the collector. They keep their value when they are in good condition and stored properly. There is also researched involved. How popular is the comic, what is the initial cost, what is the current value, how rare is the comic? You also have to decide what type of collector you want to be. There are different types of ways to be an investor for comics.
Investors simply care about the bottom line. They don’t have an emotional side attached with the comics and look to see how much money they can make from selling the comics. Another form of the investor is the person out to make some quick cash. This comic collector buys and sells in bulk tying to make fast money. Usually they are selling the most popular comics, not rarities. The EBay investor is closely related to the person trying to make some fast cash. They auction off their comic books on EBay. Usually they read the comics first and then sell them to get money back, but of course at a higher rate. Unlike the other investors they enjoy reading the comics and have some emotional attachment. Excitement not only comes from the comic but also the auctioning off of the book. Another type of investor simply looking at the bottom line is the inheritor. There is no sentimental value for the comics that were passed on to them. They want to get rid of the comics, but at the same time make a profit.

On the other hand, there are the emotional types of investors. To these types of people, there is sentimental value to the comics and they invest, trade, and purchase comics with value. The reader has the comics for their traditional purpose, reading. They don’t care about preserving the comic and enjoy the superheroes come to life as they read through the colorful pages of a comic. A step down from the reader is the part time reader. They enjoy comics but pick up and leave the hobby when it suits them. Last but not least, are the obsessive collectors. They dream, live, and breathe comic books. They categorize their comics, preserve the comics, and are the go-to guys for comic information.

Investing in comics has its rewards. Those rewards come in the form of money, joy, or excitement. Which collector are you and will you invest in comic books?

 

 



DON

K asked:


I have 4 large boxes of comic books from the 1990s that I want to sell. How can I get the most value out of them? Should I sell them on eBay, to a comic store, or post an ad online or in the paper? Should I sell them individually, or in groups? Are the values listed in those comic book value guides accurate?

LES

Tyrone P asked:


I am trying to sell many of the comic books that I have online. I tried ebay but I didn’t get many bids for them. Is there any site that specializes in selling comic books online? Thanks.

HOUSTON

Mr. T asked:


I have an old collection of comic books and sports cards that I want to sell online. I probably would sell them on Ebay, but I wouldn’t know what to start the bidding price at. Any help would be a great. Thanks in advance!

BRADFORD

jennfrmny asked:


I want to sell my comic books I have different varieties can someone tell me a store downtown Manhattan New York Where I can Go About Selling Them Or a online store

I don’t want to sell them on ebay!!!

ROSS