Many of us collected comic books as kids. As adults, we think back to a simpler time when our biggest worry was the release of the latest edition of our favorite comic. At the time, we collected comics simply because we loved them.

As we grew up, however, our interests changed. We became adults and too grown up for comic books. We might still have a stack of old comics in the attic, though, or we may have sold them at a yard sale years ago.

Some adults, though, remained proud of their comic book collections, and many turned that collecting instinct to profit, buying, and selling comic books to supplement their income.

If you are new to collecting for value, you may have some questions and concerns. This article will address the questions most commonly asked by new comic book collectors.

How do I grade my comic books?

You have two choices when it comes time to grade a comic book. You may send the comic book to the Comics Guaranty Company for grading, or you can grade the comic yourself.

The CGC will charge a fee for grading, and then seal your comic in a plastic sleeve. A CGC rating is the only purely objective means of grading and guarantees to a potential buyer that your comic does have a certain official rating.

However, since the CGC grading costs money, it is not worthwhile to have every comic graded that way. You can learn to grade comic books yourself and for lower dollar value comic books, this is the way to go. Remember to be objective when grading your own comics, as you do not want to cheat a buyer inadvertently.

For comic books that are in less than perfect condition, you will need to look carefully at each bit of damage or wear to determine which grade the comic book should receive. Online guides or comic book collectors’ magazines often have reference sheets to tell you the specifics of each grade.

It may be best to work with a more experienced collector initially, until you are more familiar with how the grading system works. He or she can show you examples of various comic grades.

How can I properly store my comic books to decrease wear and tear?

First, individually bag each comic book in Mylar. These storage bags are available from any good comic book store. You will also want to use comic book boards to prevent bending or creasing.

Purchase these individually or in bulk at your comic book store. Remember to change out your boards every few years to prevent the breakdown of the board, which can have a negative impact on your comic. Finally, you will need storage boxes.

Comic book storage boxes are available in long or short size. Long boxes are better value for the money, but if your comics must be stored in tight quarters, short boxes will give you more flexibility.

Remember to store your comic books in a climate controlled environment. Extremes of heat, cold, humidity, or dryness could have a negative impact on your comic books.

So what comic books should I buy?

The answer to that question really depends on your personal interests. Did you have a favorite comic book character as a kid or do you have one now? Seek out early editions of that character’s comics or read the latest on what he or she is doing now.

If you see your comic book collection mostly as an investment, then you will want to carefully research and attempt to understand the market before jumping in. Spend time on online auction sites, visit comic book shops, and talk to other collectors.

Find out what is consistently hot, what is hot right now, and what the future trends expect to be. Focus on collecting first editions, full sets, and vintage “finds.”

My comic book collection is huge! How can I possibly keep up with what I have?

A variety of tracking software is now available to monitor your comic book collection. Some programs are free; others charge a small fee. The complexity of the programs varies dramatically, from simple tracking forms to the ability to generate multiple reports based on many different criteria.

Alternately, you can create your own database or spreadsheet file using software that you already own. Any office software can track a comic book collection. Simply decide which information you want to include and set up a new worksheet.

What should I know before I sell my comic book collection?

Be sure that each comic in your collection is individually graded, either by yourself or friend, or professionally through the Comics Guaranty Company (CGC). Any especially rare or valuable comics should definitely be graded by the CGC prior to sale, as the official rating will often increase the price you can receive.

Once every comic is graded, check the average selling price for each comic. Decide whether to sell individually, in sets, or in bulk. Often you can receive a better price for low value comics by selling them in bulk or in a complete set, while particularly high-end comics may command the best price alone.

About the Author:

Everything you want to know about comic books is at your fingertips from Mike Selvon’s portal where a free gift awaits you. Visit us and leave a comment at our cartoons blog.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Comic Book Collector Questions

What is the name of the comic with the cartoon cat who was laying on the ladies black clothes?

It is called “_____ the cat”. I just can’t remember the cat’s name. The few that i remember are the one with the cat lying on the ladies lap when she is wearing black clothes and its purring. The tagline said something about the cat is happiest when its on black clothes…. and another one is with the goldfish asking if the cat is going to kill/eat him over and over again and the cat kept saying no and getting irritated then finally said yes.

Felix the cat come to mind but I am not sure if he’s the cat you want.

Comic Cartoon is a post from: Buy Comic Books

Comic book collecting was once the realm of children who only cared about comic book prices as buyers. They weren’t selling or trying to get the best deal. Comic book prices affected whether they could get comic books that week, and how many they could get.

Comic book prices were printed on the items they wanted and were therefore static. If they wanted a 25-cent cartoon book, they had to come up with a quarter with which to buy it.

Back then, there were no cartoon book collection supplies or cartoon book collecting bloggers. Collectors were pretty much on their own. They made their choices according to what they liked.

Then they grew up. Comic book prices went up. But they also discovered that many people were getting rid of their old collections and that they were able to buy books that they had always wanted.

Savvy collectors who were getting rid of their books reasoned that people would be willing to pay good money for books they really wanted. A new kind of cartoon book market was born.

As this market evolves and becomes more complicated, collectors have begun to trade more than cartoon books; they have begun trading information.

Whole businesses have grown up around selling cartoon book collection supplies and cartoon book collecting bloggers are out there filling the Internet with all kinds of information.

There is an infinite number of variables that cause comic book prices to go up or down. Of course, it can all be filed under the law of supply and demand, but so many things affect demand that it takes an expert just to make an educated guess. And cartoon book collecting bloggers don’t have to have any special credentials to dispense information.

All they have to be is convincing. So if you are searching for the best way to handle collecting, buying and selling, or the best cartoon book collection supplies to buy, it’s best to look at a lot of sources, to cross reference, and to look very skeptically at what people say.

If you are a beginning collector, decide on the comic book collection supplies that you will need to start your collection. If you plan on buying and selling comic books, for instance, keep a system of the ones you buy and sell.

Also, buy a cartoon book price guide so you can keep up with the latest trends in the industry. With enough research, you will be able to tell experts from beginners in the cartoon book field.

Comic book collecting was once a simple and fun pastime that was meant for kids. In the last few decades, though, it has become a way to make money because of their increasing value over the years.

Comic book prices have increased as a result of their potential. But cartoon book collecting can still be fun. If had a collection as a kid, you can find the comic book prices on the market and sell them if you’d like.

Or, if you’d rather, just learn more about the industry so you know what kind of precious commodities you have in your possession. With the wide selection of cartoon book collection supplies and comic book collection bloggers, there is an entirely new aspect to the entire industry.

About the Author:

Everything you want to know about comic books is at your fingertips from Mike Selvon’s portal. A free gift awaits you along with a lot more information about comic book prices. Visit us and leave a comment at our cartoons blog.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Comic Book Prices Only Part of Your Hobby

Comic Cartoons is a post from: Buy Comic Books