Comic Book Grading
Iconic Comics grading follows but is not solely based on the Overstreet Grading Guide. Please note that grading will always be an extremely subjective process and there will always be small differences in opinion. This is why most of our Silver or Bronzed aged comics won't receive a grade over a 9.2 Near Mint- grade unless it’s a slabbed professionally graded comic by CGC, CBCS, PGX or Halo.
Our pre-owned comics are attained through many sources and collectors. Generally we will be more conservative with our grading, except with those comics purchased through our experienced partners in the US, where we will generally grade at the same grade they have sold at. We also provide scans front and back of all our comics and provide our own grading notes to bring attention to these flaws to our important customers.
It is in our best interest to ensure the buyer is 100% aware of what state the comic book is in and they accept the grade which has been assigned to it.
In the rare case where the buyer may be in disagreement, at least they may form this opinion based on the scans and make their purchase based on their own grading opinion.
The comic book industry ten-point grading scale ranges from 10.0 (highest) down to 0.1 (lowest):
| Grade No. | Abbrev Grade | Grade Description |
| 10.0 | GM | Gem Mint |
| 9.9 | M | Mint |
| 9.8 | NM/M | Near Mint/Mint |
| 9.6 | NM+ | Near Mint+ |
| 9.4 | NM | Near Mint |
| 9.2 | NM- | Near Mint- |
| 9.0 | VF/NM | Very Fine/Near Mint |
| 8.5 | VF+ | Very Fine+ |
| 8.0 | VF | Very Fine |
| 7.5 | VF- | Very Fine- |
| 7.0 | FN/VF | Fine/Very Fine |
| 6.5 | FN+ | Fine+ |
| 6.0 | FN | Fine |
| 5.5 | FN- | Fine- |
| 5.0 | VG/FN | Very Good/Fine |
| 4.5 | VG+ | Very Good+ |
| 4.0 | VG | Very Good |
| 3.5 | VG- | Very Good- |
| 3.0 | GD/VG | Good/Very Good |
| 2.5 | GD+ | Good+ |
| 2.0 | GD | Good |
| 1.8 | GD- | Good- |
| 1.5 | FR/GD | Fair/Good |
| 1.0 | FR | Fair |
| 0.5 | PR | Poor |
| 0.3 | INC | Incomplete |
| 0.1 | INC | Incomplete |
To give perspective and relativity between each grade please follow the below chart ( Referenced from 'The Overstreet Guide to Grading Comics' By Robert M.Overstreet, Published by Gemstone). If you want a more comprehensive guide to grading we recommend you always have a copy of this book on hand.
Grading
10.0
9.6
9.2
9.0
8.5
8.0
7.5
7.0
6.5
6.0
5.5
5.0
4.5
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
Bindery/ Printing
only the slightest defects
only subtle, no tears on Silver Age and later, 1/8" on Golden Age
limited number of small defects
limited number of defects
very limited accumulation of minor defects
limited accumulation of minor defects
limited accumulation of minor defects
small accumulation of minor defects
small to moderate accumulation of minor defects
some accumulation of minor defects
moderate accumulation of defects
accumulation of defects
Does not affect grade
Does not affect grade
Does not affect grade
Does not affect grade
Does not affect grade
Does not affect grade
Does not affect grade
Does not affect grade
Does not affect grade
Cover Inks/Gloss
bright, high reflectivity
bright, high reflectivity
bright, slightest dimming of reflectivity
bright, slight diminished reflectivity
bright,moderate to high reflectivity
bright,moderate to high reflectivity
generally bright,with slight to moderate reflectivity
moderate reduction in reflectivity
moderate to major reduction in reflectivity
major reduction in reflectivity
major reduction in reflectivity
major to extreme reduction in reflectivity
major to extreme reduction in reflectivity
major to extreme reduction in reflectivity
major to extreme reduction in reflectivity
very low reflectivity
nearly no to no reflectivity
nearly no to no reflectivity
nearly no to no reflectivity
no reflectivity
Extreme fading
Cover Wear
flat,no wear,well centred
flat,no wear,well centred
flat,no wear, generally centred
almost flat,imperceptable wear
almost flat,minimal wear
relatively flat,minimal wear
mostly flat, with yellowing or tanning, minimal wear
Interior yellowing or tanning, minimal wear
minimal to minor wear
minor wear
minor wear with heightened yellowing or tanning
minor to moderate wear
moderate wear, may be loose
moderate to significant wear, may be loose
significant wear, may be loose or detached staple
significant wear, loose, may be detached at one staple
significant wear, loose, or detached at staple
significant wear, may be detached
considerable wear, may be detached
may be detached
detached with chunks missing
Cover Creases
none allowed
almost imperceptable indents allowed
1/16-1/8" bend, with no colour break
1/8" bend, with no colour break
1/8-1/4" bend, with no colour break
1/4" bend, with no colour break
1/4-1/2" bend, with very slight colour break
minor creases allowed
minor accumualtion of creases
minor to moderate creases
minor to moderate creases with slight dimpling
minor to moderate creases and dimples
minor to moderate accumulation of creases or dimples
accumulation of creases or dimples
moderate accumulation of creases or dimples
book length creases, minor dimples
book length creases, minor dimples
book length creases, minor to moderate dimples
creases, tears and folds
creases, tears and folds
extreme creases, ragged edges
Soiling, Staining
none allowed
none allowed
very slight foxing
very minor foxing
very minor foxing
minor foxing
minor foxing
minor foxing
slight discolouration, staining or foxing
minor discolouration, staining or foxing
minor accumulation of discolouration, staining or foxing
minor to moderate discolouration, staining or foxing
moderate accumulation of discolouration, fading, foxing, even minor soiling
some discolouration, fading, foxing, even minor soiling
accumulation of discolouration, fading, foxing, even minor soiling
accumulation of discolouration, fading, foxing, even minor to mod soiling
accumulation of discolouration, fading, foxing, mod soiling
discolouration, fading, foxing, mod soiling
generally present
present
extreme soiling, staining and discolouration
Date/Stamps
none allowed
Inconspicuous dates/initials allowed
small inconspicuous, dates/initials allowed
several dates/initials allowed
several dates/initials allowed
dates, initials, store stamps allowed
dates, initials, store stamps allowed
dates, initials, store stamps allowed
dates, initials, store stamps allowed
dates, initials, store stamps allowed
dates, initials, store stamps allowed
dates, initials, store stamps allowed
Does not affect grade
Does not affect grade
Does not affect grade
Does not affect grade
Does not affect grade
Does not affect grade
Does not affect grade
Does not affect grade
Does not affect grade
Spine Roll
tight/flat, no roll
tight/flat, no roll
tight/flat, no roll
tight/flat, no roll
almost completely flat, no roll
almost completely flat
nearly flat
slightest roll allowed
slight to minor roll allowed
minor roll allowed
minor roll allowed
minor to moderate roll
minor to moderate roll
moderate roll
moderate roll
moderate roll likely
moderate roll likely
roll likely
roll common
roll more common
extreme roll
Spine Split
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
very minor colour break allowed
minor colour break allowed
minor to moderate colour break allowed
moderate colour break allowed
up to 1/8" split or severe colour break allowed
up to 1/4" split or severe colour break allowed
up to 1/4-1/2" split or severe colour break allowed
up to 1/2" split or severe colour break allowed
1/2 to 1" split
Up to 1" split
Up to 1" split with possible colour break
Up to 1-1/2" split
Up to 1-1/2" split with accumulation of colour breaks
Up 2" split
Up 2" and 2/3 split
Up to 2/3 split
extreme raggingor completely split
Staples
original, centred, clean
original, centred, slight discolouration
some discolouration
some discolouration
some discolouration
some discolouration
some discolouration
some discolouration
some discolouration
minor discolouration
some discolouration
minor discolouration
minor to major discolouration
discoloured
discoloured, one may be missing or replaced
rusted or replaced
rusted or replaced
degraded, replaced or missing
degraded, replaced or missing
may be missing
missing or extremely rusted, discoloured
Staple Tears
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
only slightest allowed
only slightest allowed
very slight tears allowed
accumulation of slight tears allowed
slight tears allowed
slight to minor tears allowed
minor tears allowed
minor tears allowed
slight accumulation of minor tears
accumulation of minor tears
minor to moderate tears
minor to moderate tears
minor to moderate tears
moderate tears
moderate tears
tears are common
accumulation of tears
extensive tears
Rust Migration
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
slight migration allowed
slight migration allowed
slight to minor migration allowed
minor migration allowed
minor migration allowed
minor migration allowed
minor to moderate migration allowed
some migration allowed
some migration allowed
some migration allowed
some migration allowed
may have migration
may have migration
may have migration
extreme migration
Stress Lines
none allowed
none allowed
Almost no lines
very minor accumulation of nearly imperceptable lines
accumulation of very minor lines
very minor to minor lines
a few minor lines
small accumulation of light lines
accumulation of minor slight lines
accumulation of minor lines
accumulation of minor lines
accumulation of minor lines
minor accumulation of lines
minor to moderate lines
minor to moderate lines
moderate lines
moderate lines
lines are common
lines are common
lines are common
many lines
Corners
sharp,sqare,no creases
almost sharp,one imperceptible blunted corner allowed
very slight blunting, no creases
no creases
no creases, very minute wear allowed
minute wear allowed
slight wear, blunting or abrading allowed
may be blunting or abraded
may be blunting or abraded
blunting or abrasion more common
blunting or abrasion more common
blunting or abrasion increasingly common
blunting or abrasion increasingly common
blunting or abraded corners
blunting or abraded corners
blunting or abraded may be slightly rounded
blunting, abraded or slightly rounded
rounded corners are more common
rounded corners are very common
accumulation of lines
rounded or absent
Centrefold
firmly secure
firmly secure
secure
secure
mostly secure
mostly secure
mostly secure
mostly secure
slightly loose
loose not detached
loose not detached
loose not detached
loose or detached at one staple
loose or detached at one staple
loose or detached at one staple
loose or detached at one staple
loose or detached
loose or detached
loose or detached
may be missing
may be missing
Interior Tears
none allowed
slightest tears allowed
slight tears allowed
very minor tears allowed
very minor tears in margin allowed
minor tears in margin allowed
minor tears in margin allowed
minor tears in margin allowed
minor tears in margin allowed
minor tears in margin allowed
minor tears
minor tears
minor throughout book
minor to moderate tears
minor to moderate tears
minor to moderate tears
moderate tears
moderate tears
tears are common
accumulation of tears
extensive tears
Paper Quality/ Colour
white,supple,fresh
off-white,supple,fresh
cream to off-white,supple,fresh
cream to off-white,supple
cream ,supple
tan to cream,supple
tan to cream,supple
tan to cream, not brown
tan to cream, not brown
brown to tan, supple not brittle
brown to tan, supple not brittle
brown to tan, supple not brittle
brown to tan, supple not brittle
brown not brittle
brown not brittle
brown not brittle
brown not brittle
brown not brittle
brown, edges show brittleness
brown, edges show brittleness
moderate to severe brittleness
Acid odor
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
may have faintest odour
very minor odour
minor odour
minor odour
minor to moderate odour
minor to moderate odour
moderate odour
odour present
odour present
extreme odour
Missing Pieces
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
may have faintest odour
very minor odour
minor odour
minor odour
minor to moderate odour
minor to moderate odour
moderate odour
odour present
odour present
extreme odour
Amateur Repairs
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
very minor repair on otherwise high grade
minor repair on otherwise high grade
minor repair on otherwise high grade
may be present
may be present
common in silver age and older
increasingly common in silver age and older
more common
extensive repairs
Coupon Cut
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
none allowed
coupon may be cut
coupon(s) may be cut
Readability
preserved
preserved
preserved
preserved
preserved
preserved
preserved
preserved
preserved
preserved
preserved
preserved
preserved
preserved
preserved
preserved
preserved
preserved
preserved
generally preserved to difficulty
multiple pages missing