204 COMICS GRADING GUIDE
Near Perfect (9.8 – 10.0)
Gem Mint (10.0) Flawless. No signs of wear, printing, or handling defects. The highest possible grade.
Mint (9.9) Almost perfect. Only the tiniest manufacturing defect allowed—no handling wear.
Near Mint/Mint (9.8) Sharp corners, clean cover, tight spine, and vibrant colors. May have a nearly invisible flaw under close inspection.
Excellent Condition (9.0 – 9.6)
Near Mint+ (9.6) Still looks amazing with a few tiny flaws—maybe a barely-there spine tick or light printing imperfection.
Mint (9.9) Almost perfect. Only the tiniest manufacturing defect allowed—no handling wear.
Near Mint/Mint (9.8) Sharp corners, clean cover, tight spine, and vibrant colors. May have a nearly invisible flaw under close inspection.
Excellent Condition (9.0 – 9.6)
Near Mint+ (9.6) Still looks amazing with a few tiny flaws—maybe a barely-there spine tick or light printing imperfection.
Near Mint (9.4) High eye appeal with minor signs of handling. Slight corner blunting or a small spine stress is okay.
Near Mint– (9.2) Very well preserved. Some subtle wear or discoloration might show under a bright light.
Very Fine/Near Mint (9.0) Attractive with very minor flaws like small stress lines, slight edge wear, or tiny color fading.
Very Fine (8.0 – 8.5)
Very Fine+ (8.5) Solid copy with strong presentation. A few minor imperfections, but nothing that breaks color.
Very Fine (8.0) Minimal wear with slightly dulled gloss. Tiny creases, a faint spine roll, or light staple discoloration are acceptable.
Fine (6.0 – 7.5)
Very Fine– to Fine/Very Fine (7.5 – 7.0) Still display-worthy but with more visible wear: slight creases, minor foxing, or a small spine split.
Fine+ (6.5) Well-loved but cared for. Could include mild cover wear, blunted corners, or a small tear.
Fine (6.0) Shows handling but intact and clean. Moderate creasing, possible spine roll, or staple rust.
Readable and Collectible (4.0 – 5.5)
Fine– to Very Good/Fine (5.5 – 5.0) Average condition with heavier wear: moderate spine stress, noticeable creases, or soiling.
Very Good+ (4.5) Slightly below average. May have a small chunk missing or some staining.
Very Good (4.0) Worn but complete. Creases, small tears, or cover dullness are common.
Well-Read (2.0 – 3.5)
Very Good– to Good/Very Good (3.5 – 3.0) Heavy wear throughout. Could be detached at one staple, or have a larger piece missing from the edge.
Good+ to Good (2.5 – 2.0) Definitely seen better days, but still readable. Expect tears, rusted staples, fading, and missing bits.
Rough Shape (0.5 – 1.8)
Good– to Fair/Good (1.8 – 1.5) Major damage and defects. Detached cover, heavy staining, or large pieces missing. Still readable.
Fair (1.0) Complete but barely hanging together. Might be missing parts of the cover or centerfold.
Poor (0.5) Extensively damaged and incomplete. A last-resort placeholder or restoration candidate.
Special Cases
Coverless Comics
Even without a cover, key issues can still hold value. We note these clearly in listings.
Restored Comics
We’ll always let you know if a book has had restoration work. Some collectors love them, some don’t—transparency is key.
We inspect each comic carefully and try to be conservative with our grades to exceed your expectations. If you ever have a question about a particular book, reach out—we love talking comics.