Collecting & care

Probably some are worth a few dollars, and a small share may be worth more. Look for first issues, first appearances of famous characters, older books in good condition, and any with a price on the cover above a few dollars. Check sold listings for each one before you sell or throw away a box.

Identify the exact issue, publisher, year and condition, then look up recent sold listings for matching copies. Price guides such as Overstreet and database sites like GoCollect and CovrPrice give ranges. Asking prices alone are unreliable, since the final price paid is what sets the market.

A key issue is one collectors treat as especially important, usually a character’s first appearance, an origin story, a first issue or a major event. Demand for these issues is higher than for the rest of a run, though prices move with film and television news as well as scarcity.

Grading, by services such as CGC, seals a comic in a case with a numbered condition grade, which can raise buyer confidence. It costs a fee and takes time, so it usually only makes sense for comics already worth a meaningful amount, or ones you plan to sell or hold long term.

Manufacturer listings for BCW cardboard short boxes give a capacity of roughly 150 to 175 current or Silver Age comics, bagged and boarded. Capacity varies with the comic’s size and thickness, so treat it as a guide, and see our storage guide for sizes and supplies.

Keep each comic in an acid-free bag with a backing board, stand them upright in a box without cramming them, and store the box somewhere cool, dry and dark. Avoid attics, garages and damp basements, where heat and humidity damage paper.