General definitions and terms

This thread will consist of general definitions used in the comic market place. To start with, heres the definitions on grades, what to look for and the CGC equivilant to each.

Guide to Comic Grades

MINT: (abbreviated M, MT), This is the perfect book. Its cover has full luster, with edges sharp and pages like new. There are no signs of wear or aging. It is not imperfectly printed or off-center. "Mint" means just what it says. CGC grade, 10.0

NEAR MINT: (abbreviated NM), This is a nearly perfect comic book. Its cover shows barely perceptible signs of wear. Its spine is tight, and its cover has only minor loss of luster and only minor printing defects. Some discoloration is acceptable in older comics- as are signs of aging. CGC grade, 9.4

VERY FINE: (abbreviated VF),This is a nice comic book with beginning signs of wear. There can be slight creases and wrinkles at the staples, but it is a flat, clean issue with definite signs of being read a few times. There is some lose of the original gloss, but it is in general an attractive comic book. CGC grade, 8.0

FINE (abbreviated F, FN), This comic books cover is worn but flat and clean with no defacement. There is usually no cover writing or tape repair. Stress lines around the staples and more rounded corners are permitted.It is a good looking issue at first glance. CGC grade, 6.0

VERY GOOD (abbreviated VG, VGD), Most of the original gloss is gone from this well-read issue. There are minor markings, discoloration, and/or heavier stress lines around the staples and spine. The cover may have minor tears and/or corner creasing and spine-roling is permissible. CGC grade 4.0

GOOD (abbreviated G, GD), This is a very worn comic book with nothing missing. Creases, minor tears, rolled spine, and cover flaking are permissible. Older Golden Age comic books often come in this condition CGC grade 2.0

FAIR (abbreviated FA, FR) This comic book has multiple problems but is structurally intact. Copies may have a soiuled, slightly damaged cover, a badly rolled spine, cover flaking, corners gone, and tears. Tape may be present and is always considered a defect. CGC grade, 1.0

POOR (abbreviated P, PR) This issue is damaged and generally considered unsuitable for collecting. While the issue may still contain some readable stories, major defects get in the way. Copies may be in the process of disintergrating and may do so with even light handleing. CGC grade 0.5

Guide to defects

This is the general guide to defects you will encounter when your buying comics.

Stamped arrival date and off-center covers and stapling: Minor defects. Some will not call the comic mint, some will

Writing Defacing Cover: Marking can include filling in light areas or childish scribbling. Usually no better then Good condition.

Clipped Coupons: A square or rectangular piece deliberately removed from the front or back cover or one of the interior pages. No better than Fair condition.

Subscription Creases: Comic books sent by mail were often folded down the middle, leaving a permanent crease. Definitly no better than Very Good, probably no better than Good.

Water Damage: Varies from simple page warping to staining. No better than Fair.

Missing pages and other material: Ask before taking a comic book out of the bag, but most sellers should allow you to carefully flip through a comic book. Look for such items as clipped coupons from interior pages, scribbling on interior pages, a missing center section, or suck lost extra material as in trading cards or 3-D glasses.

Rusty Staples: Caused by dampness during storage, rust stains around staples may be minor, or more apparent. No better than Very Good.

Chunks Missing: Sizable pieces missing from the front or back of the covers. No better than Fair.

Multiple folds and wrinkles: No better than Fair

Stains: Can vary widely, depending on cause. These look like dirt, but food, grease, and the like also stain. No better than Good.

Tape: You should never use any type of tape or rubber cement to repair damaged comics. The materials age very badly and with cause staining if removed. Use of tape for repairs puts books in the Fair condition at best.

Rolled Spines: Cause by folding back each page while reading, rather than opening the flat isue. Repeated folding permanetly bends the spine. It MAY be corrected, but the issue is no better thasn Very Good.

Golden Age of Comics 1938-1950

This age of comics is the beginning of comics as we know them today. There is some debate as to when this age "officially" started, but most consider it starting with Action Comics #1, the first appearance of Superman, and the beginning of the "superhero" as we know it. Superman, Batman and Robin, Wonder Woman, and even Captain America are some of the heroes introduced during this time.

Comics in this age are the largest of comics, with varying sizes up to 7 1/2" X 10 1/4." Golden Age comics are more similar to what we think of today as a magazine.


Silver Age of Comics 1956-1970

The Silver Age of comics came after the Golden Age of Comics began slowing down after WWII. Between 1950 and 1956, more and more publishers moved from traditional "Superhero" stories, and into the Crime and Horror comics that had become so popular. After juvenile delinquency was blamed on these types of comics, the Comic Code Authority was introduced, and publishers were essentially forced to steer away from those stories back to more "friendly" super hero books. The first appearance of the "New" Flash in Showcase #4 in 1956 is considered the beginning of the Silver Age of Comic Books.

The Silver Age ushered in Marvel Comics' heyday, with the first appearances of Spider-Man, The Fantastic Four, Daredevil, and many others.

Comics in this period were slightly smaller in size, usually 6 3/4" x 10 3/4."


Bronze Age of Comics 1970-1985

The Bronze Age is a somewhat informal age, that is used to describe the era in comics collecting in which stories began to take a more darker turn as they did in the early 1950's. Titles like Tomb of Dracula were introduced during this period. Even some of the mainstream heroes developed darker story plots, like Iron Man and alcoholism, and Green Arrow's sidekick, Speedy, becoming a heroin addict.

Comics in this era are similar in size to those in the Silver Age.

Modern Age of Comics 1985-Present

The Modern Age of comics is the current state of the industry. Size has been standardized to 6 5/8" x 10 1/4."

This era has also introduced a plethora of new publishers, many beginning in the early 1990's with creator-friendly publishers like Image and Valiant. Today there are dozens of "mainstream" publishers, and thousands of titles and characters. This era has also been responsible for the end of the Comics Code Authority, with publishers becoming self-policing, with a rating system similar to those found on video games and movies. There has never been as broad of a selection of comics as there is today, nor as much accessibility to them. Online retailers and auction houses have made it incredibly easy for the collector to find nearly everything they could possibly want.

And the new digital age of comics provides a completely new medium with which to follow your favorite heroes and stories. Just download them onto your iPad, or Tablet, or even Droid or iPhone, and read comics anywhere you like.

When collecting comics, be sure to find supplies that correspond to the particular age you are collecting. A Silver Age comic won't fit in a Modern size bag and board!!