When you buy comics online, condition is everything. Nothing is worse than opening a package expecting a crisp copy, only to find unmentioned spine stresses, color breaking, or blunt corners.
Unless otherwise noted, we consider all new releases as Near Mint. For raw back issues, we evaluate inventory using standard CovrPrice condition tiers. We grade conservatively so that when your books arrive, they meet or exceed your expectations every single time.
Here is a straightforward breakdown of how we evaluate and grade raw back issues:
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Near Mint (NM) | 9.0+
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What to expect: A well-preserved, sharp copy. Cover gloss is high, colors are bright, and the spine is tight. Minimal manufacturing stress or tiny corner dings might be present, but the book presents near-flawlessly.
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Very Fine (VF) | 7.0 – 8.5
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What to expect: An attractive, high-grade book with minor handling wear. May show small spine stresses, slight corner wear, or minor cover scuffing. Overall, a very clean copy for any collection.
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Fine (FN) | 5.0 – 6.5
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What to expect: An above-average copy showing moderate wear. Might include minor color-breaking spine stress, light creasing along edges, or subtle surface wear, but the cover remains complete and structurally sound.
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Very Good (VG) | 3.0 – 4.5
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What to expect: A complete reading copy showing obvious handling and storage wear. Expect moderate creasing, slight spine roll, or cover dulling. No missing pages or structural damage that hinders reading.
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Good (GD) | 1.5 – 2.5
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What to expect: A heavily read copy with substantial wear. May have heavy creasing, minor spine splits, or cover wear, but all interior pages and story content remain completely intact.
Important Disclaimer
Please note that these definitions serve strictly as a guide for our internal assessment of raw inventory. We do not guarantee that any comic will register at any specific numeric grade if submitted for third-party professional grading. This guide helps set consistent expectations, but grading remains subjective.
Our Packaging Commitment
Every single back issue we ship—regardless of grade—is inspected, bagged and boarded, and secured in sturdy, crush-resistant mailers with corrugated padding so your books arrive in the exact condition described.
Have a question about a specific back issue in stock? Reach out to us anytime before placing your order—we’re always happy to provide additional details on raw inventory.