"Before a comic book's true value can be assessed, its condition or state of preservation must be determined.  In all comic books, the better the condition the more desirable and valuable the book.  Comic books in MINT condition will bring several times the price of the same book in POOR condition.  Therefore it is very important to be able to properly grade your books.  Comics should be graded from the inside out, so the following comic book areas should be examined before assigning a final grade.

Check inside pages, inside spine and covers and outside spine and covers for any tears, markings, brittleness, tape, soiling, chunks out or other defects that would affect the grade.  After all the above steps have been taken, then the reader can begin to consider an overall grade for his or her book.  The grading of a comic book is done by simply looking at the book and describing its condition, which may range from absolutely perfect condition MINT to extremely worn, dirty, and torn POOR.

Numerous variables influence the evaluation of a comic book's condition and all must be considered in the final evaluation.  Although the grade of a comic book is based upon an accumulation of defects, some defects may be more extreme for a particular grade as long as other acceptable listed defects are almost non-existent.  As grading is the most subjective aspect of determining a comic's value, it is very important that the grader be careful not to allow wishful thinking to influence what the eyes see.  It is also very important to realize that older comics in MINT condition are extremely scarce and are rarely advertised for sale; most of the higher grade comics advertised range from VERY FINE to NEAR MINT."

~ Robert Overstreet