Congrats! You're here because you have a comic collection you care about. Now you want the stories to be protected and enjoyed for years to come…
The comic community is full of lovely people and their wisdom, but there are so few resources for new readers! In just a skim of our blog, you'll have a sense of what you need to protect your comic books and keep them in great condition.
First of all, comic protection isn't at all about setting your collection in a dark corner and avoiding contact. These are stories meant to be read and loved! We want to give you the resources to protect in a way that enhances the enjoyment of your collection!
TLDR (Too Long, Didn't Read)
- Sunlight, heat, humidity, acid, and pests are your comic's enemies
- Bag & board the comics you care about
- Match your bag size to the comic era (Current, Silver Age, Golden Age)
- Store in a cool spot out of direct sunlight or humidity
- Use a frame or sentry holder for enhanced protection & display
- Consider storage boxes for long-term protection
- Clean & dry hands before handling
- Don't open a comic past 90 degrees
- Grade your most valuable comics
Chapter 1: Collection Danger Strikes! What Damages Comic Books?
So, what damages comics? They're a lot like people:
- Direct sunlight
- Heat
- Humidity
- Acid and chemicals
- Human-contact (oops)
- Pests
How lovely that any room anywhere contains all these things! Sunlight fades the colors, heat accelerates aging, humidity molds the pages, acid screws up all of the above, and pests think they are food. The world is trying to take us down!
Chapter 2: The Bag and Her Sidekick… Board. Comic Book Bags and Boards Explained.
So what's the best start to protecting your favorite comics? The most essential protection is a simple bag and board duo.
Bags are protective comic book sleeves. You simply slip your comic in, and let the protective bag keep your collection in its ideal condition. They're your comic's safe haven against the damaging forces out there. Each bag is designed to perfectly fit one comic, and they're transparent so you can enjoy the cover all the same.
Boards are rigid slabs that go behind your comic inside the bag. The board provides the comic's structure, preventing any bends or creases. Without it, your comic may develop permanent folds.
If your comic was lonely and needed friends, the bag would be a hug, and the board would be a trust fall. If your comic was a burrito, the bag would be the tortilla and the board would be the foil. You get it. That's the power of friendship.
When deciding which bag & board you want, you have the choices of size and material.
Bag&Board Size is based on a comic release date:
~1985-today? "Current/Modern" size is for you.
~1956-84? "Silver Age" size is for you.
~1938-55? "Golden Age" size is for you.
Bag Material:
- PP (or Polypropylene for n#rds!): The standard for comic protection. Affordable and most-used by collectors and shops. If you're looking for a no-brainer, this is the one!
- OPP (Oriented Polypropylene): It just wants to mog Polypropylene a little. Provides a stronger material and clearer look. Also, it's shiny aesthetic accentuates your comic's cover. If you want a slight but reassuring upgrade, try OPP!
- BoPET: The deluxe version. BoPET is used in museums and important historical archives. It's the ultimate choice for protection, looks, and longevity. Known for their exceptional shine and clarity, these bags are often used for dealers' wall books, important holy grails, and any comic deserving of premium protection. If you want the best of the best, you find it here!
Board Material:
Double check that the boards you use are coated and buffered. This serves to protect your comic from aging!
Make sure the side of the board that touches your comic is the coated side– it'll be smoother and glossy!
Chapter 3: Storage! Where Will Our Hero Go?!?!?!?! How to store a comic book collection.
So now you have your bag and board duo. But where do you keep your comics?
The location: Comics are happiest in a cool-to-mild-temp (65-70° F) out of direct sunlight. This is because extreme temperatures age and devalue comics. They also don't like to be too humid or too dry.
Avoid garages, basements, or attics because comics want to be loved and looked at (plus these places can have extreme temperatures, moisture, and pests). A shelf out of the sun, mild-temp closet, or bedroom are usually great options. If you'd be happy with the weather of a room, the comic probably would be too.
Storage: So you want to keep your comics tucked away! Remember that your standard cardboard or plastic boxes are not serving here. They could create excess moisture, chemical exposure, or give the comics too much room to fold around. It's best to use a comic book storage box designed specifically for the job. That way, all comics fit snug and you know the materials are safe. Remember to always bag&board before moving comics into storage.
These boxes ensure your comics remain upright too. Stacking comics flat is a no-no!
Going to a convention? Sharing with friends? Another great thing about storage boxes is how simple they make moving or carrying your collection!
When using storage boxes another fantastic tool is storage dividers. These are tiny but mighty slits you can put between groups of comics in your storage box. It's a great way to stay all cute 'n organized!
Chapter 4: Every Hero Yearns To Read… How to Read Comics Without Damaging Them.
You love your comics because of the stories inside! But you want to make sure reading doesn't equate to damaging. Some general handling rules are a super power:
- Clean and dry your hands before touching comics. No need for gloves.
- Place a board underneath your comic. That way it's not exposed to anything beneath it that's damaging.
- Keep the comic on a flat surface! Picking it up can make it bend and fold.
- If you do take the comic off its flat surface, grab the board underneath as well. While reading, hold the board behind the comic. That way it keeps its support.
- When opening the book, carefully peel up the top end. Don't go for the side or bottom, that's a quick way to rip or bend! It's better to not use your thumb, the other 4 fingers are so much better at being delicate!
- Do not open the book all the way up. A 180° spreading of the pages can cause creases. Instead, delicately hold the left page up at a careful (preferably less than 90°) angle that doesn't cause stress to the comic spine.
Chapter 5: A World Beyond The Bag & Board! The Best Way to Display and Protect Comics.
Bags and Boards are a great base, but some other types of holders are available for a more premium display and protection.
Sentry Comic Holders: Think of them like a sturdy, heavy duty version of the comic bag. Or a clear, comic-sized shell. They are used to hold bagged&boarded comics while providing added rigidty and protection. Looking for a protection upgrade? Care more about displaying? Sentry holders are your new best friend.
Magnetic Frame Holder: The final boss. The holy grail. Magnetic frame holders provide the ultimate protection, visibility, and display options. They're powerful enclosures which open up via magnets from the front so you can easily access the book (very fancy!). A wall-hanging tab and crystal-clear visibility make them display favorites. Holders have it all… ease of readability, powerful protection, beautiful display!
Chapter 6: I Wish To Be Fancy and Bountiful! How to Send Comics in for Grading.
Let's say you have a rare comic and you want to preserve its value. With grading, you send in your comic to a service like CGC, they assess its condition (between 0.5 to 10), and send it back in a protective case. Grading your comic is the way to increase and preserve its resell value, but it's often a costly process. Only grade your most precious comics.
When you send comics in for grading, always tuck the comic into a bag&board first. Using a comic-specific mailer is also a wise step. These help to prevent any bending and other damages. You can put the comic-specific mailer inside a larger box. Then secure with lots of bubble wrap so there's no excess room for the comics to move around. Happy grading!
Chapter 7: You Make A Lovely Protagonist! Gear Up!
We hope you feel informed and ready to keep your collection happy and healthy! Most of the products we mentioned are available at our comic website. When you're ready to make a decision, we're here to provide the highest standard of quality and enduring affordability!
Our Selection:
Bags (Current; Silver; Golden)
Boards (Current; Silver; Golden)
Storage Boxes
Storage Dividers
Sentry Holders
Magnetic Frame Holders
Comic Book Mailers