You may have rare and valuable comic books in your possession and not even know it! Are they junk…? Or maybe they’re worth thousands of dollars! So… how do you know what your comic books are worth? Keep reading to learn how to look up the current market value of your comic book, and what factors to take into account when estimating a comic book’s value.

How to Look Up Comic Book Values

Use Mavin.io, a price guide for comic book values. It uses recently sold data to calculate what your comic book would currently sell for online. You can even pick a few comps (comparable items just like yours) to get a custom price estimate of what your comic book is worth. Here’s how you do it:

1

Start with a Few Details

Start by entering a few details about the comic book:

• Enter the Title
  Example: The Amazing Spider-Man
• Enter the Issue Number
  Example: The Amazing Spider-Man #53
• Optional – Enter the Year
  Example: The Amazing Spider-Man #53 1967

2

Add or Remove Details

If you get a lot of search results that don’t match your comic book, you’ll want to add some details to narrow it down. Usually, adding the Year is enough to remove reprinted versions and give you an accurate price estimate.

You can also remove results NOT like your book by using the negative sign before the keyword you want to filter out. Adding -CGC and -CBCS to your search will remove professionally graded comic books from the estimated value calculation.

Try it out → The Amazing Spider-Man #53 1967 -CGC

3

Choose Comparables

You can narrow it down even further by using the checkboxes to pick comic books that are exactly like yours. Click on the pictures to examine comic books that might be a match, then use the checkboxes to select those matches. This gives you the average value based on the comparables you picked.

Most Valuable Comic Books

The most valuable comic books tend to be the ones that include the first appearance of a popular character. For example, Action Comics #1 (the first appearance of Superman), Detective Comics #27 (the first appearance of Batman), and Amazing Fantasy #15 (the first appearance of Spider-Man). The first issue of a popular comic book series can also be quite valuable. For example, Fantastic Four #1, X-Men #1, and Avengers #1. These comics often fetch high prices due to their historical significance, rarity, and enduring popularity among collectors.

Factors That Impact a Comic Book’s Value

Comic books values are determined by several factors that include:

1. Rarity: The scarcity of a comic book plays a significant role in its value. If a particular issue has a limited print run or is difficult to find, its value tends to increase.
2. Demand: The popularity of a comic book can greatly affect its value. First appearances of iconic characters, key storylines, or significant events in comic book history often attract high demand and, consequently, higher prices. Demand changes over time. If a comic book character is adapted for other media like movies or TV shows, the demand for the original comic books can spike, driving up the value.
3. Condition: The condition of a comic book is crucial in determining its value. Comics in better condition, such as those without creases, tears, stains, or discoloration, are more valuable. Graded comics from professional grading companies, such as CGC or CBCS, provide a standardized assessment of condition, will sell for higher prices compared to an ungraded comic book.
4. Historical Significance: Comic books that have had a lasting impact on the industry or introduced groundbreaking concepts may hold higher value due to their historical significance.
5. Special Copies: Special editions, limited print runs, variant covers, or rare editions can contribute to a comic book’s value. These unique versions often appeal to collectors seeking specific versions of a comic.

Keep in mind, market prices fluctuate. The popularity of a comic book and the preferences of collectors change over time. To look up the current market value of your comic books, use a comic book valuation website like Mavin.io.