How to Shop for Used Comic Books

Back issues are comic books that are not new or not on this month's sales rack. Being smart about buying them can save you some money.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Credit Cards And Loans
• Comic Book Boxes
• Acid-free Comic Board Backings
• Wizard Magazines
• Overstreet Price Guides
• Advance Previews Comic Catalogs
• Back Comic Book Issues
• Clear Page Protectors

1. Know what you want to buy. This will make it easier to price the book, and you'll have a general idea of what it should cost. Good sources are "Wizard Magazine" and the "Overstreet Price Guide."

2. Know the price range for the condition of the title you want. If the book is much less expensive than what your price guide says, than either the seller doesn't know what he's selling, or it's not in the condition you want.

3. Buy locally, through mail order, online or at comic book conventions.

4. Shop around. Although most comic book shops price the same, they'll have special sales where they'll discount their books for tremendous amounts. Comic book conventions are known for good deals.

5. Buy your books and preserve them. Back issue values are dependent on condition, so take care of yours.

Tips & Warnings

• Most comic book shops don't mind your looking through a back issue to check condition, but they will insist on opening and pulling out the book themselves to avoid any damage you may cause.
• Usually, but not always, people at yard sales don't know the value of the comics they're selling, and you can make a killer discovery. Look into the history of Mile High Comics for the best example of this kind of serendipity.