Sell key issue comics, graded comics and collections
A small number of comics often drives most of a collection's interest. First appearances, origin stories, and graded slabs are looked at one issue at a time, while runs and long boxes are looked at as a lot. This page explains how to find the keys in your boxes and how to send them.
Short answer: Send a list or photos of any key issues, graded slab labels, a shelf or long box photo, and your era and publishers to (858) 247-2017 or use the form below. We tell you what looks like a fit and make one offer after we review the books. In Southern California we can meet in person, and elsewhere we use prepaid mail-in.
What is a key issue comic?
A key issue is a book that matters to collectors because of what happens in it. Keys are the main reason one collection is looked at differently from another.
First appearances
The first time a character, team, or villain shows up, such as the debut of a major hero or a popular supporting character.
Origin stories
The issue that tells how a character got powers or a team formed.
Major story events
Deaths, big turning points, and crossover starts that readers still talk about.
Variants and low print runs
Newsstand editions, retailer incentive covers, and low print variants. Photograph the cover and the barcode area.
Not every first appearance is a big one. Tell us the title and issue number and we will look it up with you.
How do I find the keys in my boxes?
- Sort by publisher, then by title and issue number, with the oldest books first
- Look at any books from the 1930s through the 1970s first, since those eras are looked at book by book
- Search your titles and issue numbers for first appearance notes, and keep a short list of anything that comes up
- Pull out books with tape, pieces missing, or heavy writing and photograph them honestly
- Put sticky notes on keys and photograph them, then show the rest as shelf or box photos
Graded comics: CGC, CBCS and PGX
A graded comic is sealed in a plastic case with a label showing the grade. Graded comics are easy to identify but still looked at one at a time.
- Photograph the front, the back, and the label so the grade and certificate number are readable
- Check that the case is not cracked and the label looks right. A case that looks resealed or cracked can change what is possible
- A signature series label means the signature was witnessed, and that matters
- A book with a grading receipt but not yet returned is a different conversation, so tell us
Should I get my comics graded before selling?
- Grading is most useful for high value keys with sharp spines and clean covers
- Common books and mid grade back issues often do not gain enough to cover the cost and time
- A book with tape, restoration, or heavy wear is usually better sold as it is
- If you are not sure, send photos first and ask for an honest view before you submit anything
How should I store and send long boxes?
- Bag and board every book if you can, and keep long boxes upright with the spine edges lined up
- Do not tape, press, or repair comics. It lowers what a buyer will accept
- Keep comics away from damp rooms, garages with leaks, and direct sun
- For moderns from the last twenty years, send a box photo and a list of anything you know to be notable
What we look at
- Key issues, first appearances, and origin stories
- Graded comics from CGC, CBCS, and PGX
- Golden, Silver, and Bronze Age books in any condition
- Runs of a title and bagged and boarded long boxes
- Graphic novels, omnibuses, and a full estate collection
What is usually not a fit
- Water damaged, moldy, or smoke smelling comics
- Coverless or heavily taped books in bulk
- Magazines and newspapers that are not comics
- Reprints presented as originals
Careful notes on selling comics
- Do not clean, tape, or press any comic.
- Keep keys out of direct sun and off the floor.
- Be wary of anyone who offers an unusually high price by message before seeing the books.
What photos should I send?
Good photos get a faster and more honest answer. Natural light and a plain background are enough.
- A photo of each key issue's cover and the page with the printed issue number
- Graded slabs front and back with the label readable
- A shelf or long box photo showing the spines
- Any damage, tape, writing, or missing pieces
- A short list of titles, eras, and publishers
How an offer works
We make one offer for the whole lot after we see the items. You are free to say no.
Step 1
You send what you have
Photos and a few details are enough: what it is, roughly how many, and what condition. A form, a text, or a call all work.
Step 2
We tell you if it is a fit
We reply with whether we buy it and whether we can come to you or you should mail it in. If it is not a fit, we say so.
Step 3
We look at the items, then make one offer
We do not quote a price from photos. Once we have seen the items, you get one offer for the lot, and we can explain what drove it.
Step 4
You decide
Say yes and we complete the sale. Say no and you owe nothing.
What moves an offer
- Which exact items, titles, or models are in the lot
- Condition and completeness, such as boxes, manuals, and all the parts
- Whether it works, if it is a device or a console
- What similar items are selling for right now
Who you are dealing with
DeKlutterNow is a small business based in Oceanside, California. You can ask questions before you send anything: text (858) 247-2017 or email hello@deklutternow.com.
Get an offer
Send your comics for a review
The more you tell us, the faster we can say whether it is a fit and what happens next. We do not quote a price from a form. Final offers come after we look at the items. You can also text photos to (858) 247-2017.
What to send
- • One photo of everything together, then close ups of the best pieces
- • Titles, brands, model numbers, or marks like 14K or 925 when you can read them
- • Boxes, manuals, papers, or graded labels if you have them
- • Anything that is broken, missing, or not working, so we can price it honestly
- • Your city and zip so we know if we can come to you
What we do not buy
- • Water damaged, moldy or smoke smelling comics
- • Coverless, taped or heavily written on books in bulk
- • Magazines and newspapers that are not comics
- • Reprints sold as originals
Not sure? Send it anyway and we will tell you. See the full list.
Questions sellers ask
- Do you buy comic book collections?
- Yes. Send photos of a shelf or long box, a list of keys, and your era and publishers. We make one offer after we review the books.
- What if I have only a few key issues?
- That is fine. Send photos of those books and we tell you honestly whether it is worth a visit or better handled another way.
- Do you buy CGC graded comics?
- Yes. Send front and back photos and the label with the certificate number readable.
- Should I bag and board my comics before selling?
- If you can, yes. It protects the books and makes review easier. If not, tell us and we will still look.
- How do I know if a comic is a key issue?
- Check the title and issue number against first appearance and story notes online, and send those books first. We can also look with you.
- Do you buy modern comics?
- Often along with older books. Most modern books are common, so key moderns, variants, and graded copies are looked at first.
- Do you buy graphic novels and omnibuses?
- Yes, when they are in good condition. Mention the titles and whether they are hardcover.
- Can I mail in comics?
- Yes. Outside Southern California we use prepaid mail-in and explain how to ship keys and boxes safely.
Keep reading
- Sell comics for cash in Southern California
- Guide: are my comics worth selling
- Sell comics in San Diego
- Sell comics in Los Angeles
- Sell comics in Long Beach
- Prepaid mail-in
Questions before you send anything? Text DeKlutterNow at (858) 247-2017.