Over the past few years comic book collecting has exploded as a hobby, with some buying for a love of the characters and a sense of nostalgia, while others are buying issues as key investments. And while there are plenty of places to shop online and in person, eBay comics have become incredibly popular thanks to the wide variety of inventory, flexible payment options and a large community of buyers and sellers.
That being said, eBay can also be a bit chaotic and it’s easy to overpay or get taken advantage of. To help you find what you’re looking for and ensure you’re getting the best price, we’ve put together this eBay comics buying guide. Following these simple guidelines can help save you time, effort and money when it comes to shopping online.
Table of Contents
- How to Find Comics on eBay
- How to Find Deals on eBay Comics
- Tips on Buying Comics on eBay
- Tips on Selling Comics on eBay
How to Find Comics on eBay
While you could simply go to the website and start poking around, there are a few built-in features within eBay that can streamline your search.
- eBay Comics Bookstore: This custom portal has been created by eBay specifically for users to easily buy comics. Here you can shop by era and category, and see some of the most recent books up for sale from reputable sellers.
- Shop By Era: Comic books are broken up into a variety of “ages” which you can search for directly on eBay. (For more information on the specific eras, see our blog What are the Comic Book Ages?). Specifically the ages that eBay breaks books down by are as follows:
- The Platinum Age (1897-1937)
- The Golden Age (1938-1955)
- The Silver Age (1956-1969)
- The Bronze Age (1970-1983)
- the Copper Age (1984-1991)
- The Modern Age (1992-Now)
- Keyword Search: Within the eBay Comics Bookstore portal you can also search directly by specific keywords. For example, “Hulk Comics” or even the name of a specific issue, writer, character or author. You can also click into “Search title and description” to expand your results. At any point you can also save a particular search and eBay will automatically notify you when it becomes available.
- Community: If you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for you can always visit the eBay comics community. Here you can ask questions, connect with dealers and other collectors and list what you’re looking for.
How to Find Deals on eBay Comics
As with with any commodity, a comic book is only worth what someone is willing to pay. What’s more, the comic book market can be extremely speculative, with prices rising and falling on a regular basis, which can make it difficult to determine just how much a comic is worth.
To ensure you’re getting the best possible deal, we recommend the following:
- Step 1: Determine the Grade
- Step 2: Check Recent Sales
- Step 3: Cross Reference Other Sources
Below, you can find more information on each of these three steps.
Step 1: Determine the Grade
One of the biggest factors in determining the price of a comic is the condition. This is also known as the “grade” of the book. A high grade comic can be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars more than a lower grade of the exact same issue.
Grade is a scale from 1-10 first pioneered in the now popular Overstreet Price Guide and based on original grading done for coins (hence the use of the word “mint” when referring to condition). While somewhat subjective, in general the 10 point grading system is as follows:
| Grade | Name | Description |
| 10 | GM (Gem Mint) | The highest grade assigned. The comic must have no evidence of any manufacturing or handling defects. |
| 9.9 | M (Mint) | The comic is nearly indistinguishable from a 10.0 but will have a very minor manufacturing defect. It will not have any evidence of handling defects. |
| 9.8 | NM/M (Near Mint/Mint) | A nearly perfect comic with negligible handling or manufacturing defects. |
| 9.6 | NM+ (Near Mint +) | A very well-preserved comic with several minor manufacturing or handling defects. |
| 9.4 | Near Mint (NM) | A very well-preserved comic with minor wear and small manufacturing or handling defects. |
| 9.2 | NM- (Near Mint Minus) | A very well-preserved comic with some wear and small manufacturing or handling defects. |
| 9.0 | VF/NM (Very Fine/Near Mint) | A very well-preserved comic with good eye appeal. There will be a number of minor handling and/or manufacturing defects. |
| 8.5 | VF+ (Very Fine Plus) | An attractive comic with a moderate defect or a number of small defects. |
| 8.0 | VF (Very Fine) | An attractive comic with a moderate defect or an accumulation of small defects. |
| 7.5 | VF- (Very Fine Minus) | An above-average comic with a moderate defect or an accumulation of small defects. |
| 7.0 | FN/VF (Vine/Very Fine) | An above-average comic with a major defect or an accumulation of small defects. |
| 6.5 | FN+ (Fine Plus) | An above-average comic with a major defect and some smaller defects, or a significant accumulation of small defects. |
| 6.0 | FN (Fine) | A slightly above-average comic with a major defect and some smaller defects, or a significant accumulation of small defects. |
| 5.5 | FN- (Fine Negative) | A slightly above-average comic with several moderate defects. |
| 5.0 | VG/FN (Very Good/Fine) | An average comic with several moderate defects. |
| 4.5 | VG+ (Very Good Plus) | A slightly below-average comic with multiple moderate defects. |
| 4.0 | VG (Very Good) | A below-average comic with multiple moderate defects. |
| 3.5 | VG- (Very Good Minus) | A below-average comic with several major defects or an accumulation of multiple moderate defects. |
| 3.0 | G/VG (Good/Very Good) | A comic that shows significant evidence of handling with several moderate-to-major defects. |
| 2.5 | G (Good) | A comic that shows extensive evidence of handling with multiple moderate-to-major defects. |
| 2.0 | G (Good) | A comic that shows extensive evidence of handling with numerous moderate-to-major defects. |
| 1.8 | G- (Good Minus) | A comic that shows extensive evidence of handling with numerous major defects. |
| 1.5 | FA/G (Fair/Good) | A comic that shows extensive evidence of handling with a heavy accumulation of major defects. |
| 1.0 | FA (Fair) | A very poorly handled comic with a heavy accumulation of major defects. |
| 0.5 | Poor | A heavily defaced comic with a number major defects. Some pieces will also be missing. |
It’s important to note that there are professional grading companies who review books and encapsulate them in large plastic protective cases commonly referred to as “slabs.” The most reputable among these grading companies is CGC (Certified Guaranty Company).
You may also see graded and slabbed books from CBCS (Comic Book Certification Services) and PGX Comics. These two companies, however, do not have the same reputation as CGC and as such their grades comics are often worth significantly less. For example, a 9.6 CGC comic may be worth several hundred dollars more than an identical 9.6 comic graded by PGX.
Books that are not graded and considered to be “raw” copies and as such are worth considerably than a book that is graded and slabbed. Grading can be more of an art than a science, and does require some practice and skill. So remember: just because an eBay seller says a raw book is a 9.6 doesn’t actually make it so. Be sure to ask questions and look at the accompanying photos so you can make your own assessment when determining a grade.
Step 2: Look at Recent Sales
One of the ideal ways to determine if a particular eBay comic is priced fairly is to look at recent sales.
To do that, on eBay search for the specific title and issue you want to get the price for. Then look under “Show only” from the main navigation and choose “Sold items” and “Completed items”. You’ll then see all recent sales for that issue, with the price highlighted in green. Look through these results (you can sort by price or by date sold) to get a general sense of how much your issue might be worth.
Sales prices can vary over time, so in some cases you may to look at an overall average. Also be aware of the additional costs in shipping.
One additional thing to be aware of when looking at comic books is the difference between Direct and Newsstand issues. Direct refers to comics that were sent to speciality comic book shops (and can be identified by the image in the bottom left-hand corner, which is usually a logo of Spider-Man’s head, but may also feature custom images by the cover artist). Newsstand refers to issues that were sold from traditional magazine shops, grocery stores, convenience stores and other retailers. These can be identified by the bar code that appears in the bottom left hand side.
Even though both a Direct and a Newsstand comic can have the exact same grade, collectors tend to value the Newsstand versions more highly. In some cases, this can mean hundreds of additional dollars for a book, even if it has the exact same grade. So bear this in mind when looking at recent eBay sales.
Step 3: Cross Reference with Other Sources
In addition to looking at recent eBay sales, there are a few other resources you can use to determine whether or not a particular comic is priced fairly.
- GPAnalysis (GPA): One of the best resources around, GPA contains current sales data directly from eBay. The tool does require a paid subscription, but is well worth the cost for anyone seriously considering buying and seller more expensive eBay comics.
- GoCollect Comics: This is a fantastic website to turn to that will show you how much any given issue may be worth and includes sales from eBay and other sources.
- Comics Price Guide: CPG is another great option for finding out recent sales, allowing you to easily check by specific issues and get a good sense of the overall price.
Remember that prices for comics can be fluid and books that are hot one day to cool off quickly the next. Ideally you’ll want to look at more than just one source to get a fair sense of the price before you buy it on eBay. This is particularly important for older and more valuable comics.
Tips on Buying Comics on eBay
- Do Your Research: Before making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you’re buying and how much it’s actually worth (see above for How to Find Deals on eBay Comics). Remember that the price of a comic can be subjective, so a little research goes a long way.
- Read the Description: Be sure to carefully read the description of each comic. This is particularly important for eBay comics in which even minor defects on a book could impact the price. Make sure you know exactly what you’re getting before you hit the Buy Now button. If there isn’t much of a description, reach out to the seller.
- Don’t Forget About Shipping: One often overlooked aspect of a price is the shipping. In fact, many buyers deliberately lower the price of a comic book and increase the estimated cost of shipping, making it appears as though you’re getting a deal. If a comic is particularly expensive, you should also make sure the seller provides insurance and tracking before shipping the book.
- Ask Questions: When in doubt, ask questions. You can do this in eBay by clicking the “Ask seller a question” link under the seller’s profile. Key questions you want to ask are about the condition of the comic, estimated grade and shipping. If a seller is reluctant to answer your questions or concerns, you probably should look elsewhere.
- Only Pay Via eBay: Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay are not covered by eBay protection programs and could lead to you being scammed. Never pay for your comic using instant cash wire transfer services (such as Western Union or MoneyGram). You may also want to consider using PayPal, which connects with eBay and also offers additional protection on purchases.
- Research your seller: Look into each seller’s Feedback rating (a score from 1 to 5 stars). Also be sure to look at how many total transactions they’ve completed and pay particularly close to attention to recent sales. If a buyer has a poor rating and negative feedback, you should probably shop elsewhere.
- Check the Return policy: Most top eBay comic sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Be sure to note these before you make your purchase. When in doubt ask the seller directly about their return policy.
- Ask for Pictures: With eBay comics in particular, a picture is worth a thousand words (especially given that even a minor defect can significantly impact the price). Note that many larger eBay comic retailers often post generic stock photos, rather than the real thing. If you’re not sure, you should ask for additional. Ideally each comic listing should include images of the front cover, back cover and several interior pages. It should also include close ups of all four corners, the spine and any defects.
Tips On Selling Comics on eBay
Selling comics on eBay can also be extremely lucrative and there are in fact retailers who make a decent living doing this. That being said, there are a few things to consider before jumping into things. (For more detailed information, see our guide How to List Comics on eBay).
- Identify any Key issues: Comics that are particularly valuable and sought after are known as “keys.” These include first appearances from characters, the first issue of a series or an important storyline. In some cases, a book that had little to no interest can suddenly spike and become a valuable key due to a tie-in to a current or upcoming film or television series. (For more information, see our blog What is a Key Issue Comic Book?)
- Determine the Grade of Your Comics: As noted earlier, it’s important to determine the grade and condition of any books you wish to sell. This is critical in helping you determine the price of your comics before listing them on eBay.
- Estimate the Value of Your Comics: Once you have a good sense of the overall grade, you should then begin to determine how much they’re worth. To do this look at recent sales on eBay and cross reference these against other sources (such as GPA and GoCollect). You should also review other similar books that are listed to get a sense of competition.
- Take Quality Photos: Be sure to take a variety of photos using your smartphone or a decent camera. A common mistake among sellers is to use just a single photo of the front of the book, but this may be offputting to potential buyers who want to get a close look at a comic before pulling the trigger. Ideally take a photo of the front cover, back cover, spine, four corners and a few interior pages. Be sure to also take close up photos of any defects or issues.
- Add detailed descriptions: Fill out your description but take the time to add as much information as possible. Don’t use abbreviations (i.e. “ASM” instead of “Amazing Spider-Man”) and be sure you’re spelling your titles correctly (i.e. “X-Men” not “Xmen”) so it’s more likely to be served up by eBay’s search engine. Also be sure to note any defects, damage or issues.
- Time it with news: If a particular superhero is in the news because of an upcoming movie or television project, then your book may go up in value. For example, the Savage She Hulk #1 (the first appearance of the character) saw a massive bump in interest when Disney+ announced a new TV show. If possible time your listing to meet this demand.
- Set lower starting bids with a good reserve price: eBay allows you to set a starting bid and a reserve price. If you set the starting bid too high, you may discourage people from ever bidding in the first place, so start low and aim high.
- Communicate: Be sure to be respond quickly to any questions from potential buyers. This can help build trust and lead to a quicker sale if the buyer knows they’re speaking with a reputable individual. Also remember that reviews are key, so be sure to provide a positive experience so you end up getting a decent review score.
- Packaging: If you do end up selling a book make sure that you take the time to use solid packaging and that the book is shipped in a way that protects its from any damage.
- Follow-up: After a sale you may want to reach out to the buyer to ensure they’re happy with their purchase. This can lead to both future sales and positive reviews, allowing you to build more visibility in the eBay comic community.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it. Our guide to buying and selling eBay comics. As we’ve discussed, eBay can be an amazing place to find this back issues, but it can also be a bit risky. Taking a few precautions and knowing what you’re getting into can ensure you have a positive experience.
Do you buy and sell comics on eBay? What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below!
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Be sure to check out our Comic Book Speculation & Investing Guide.
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