The debate over graded vs raw comics at my first big con in Portland

I was at the Portland Comic Con back in 2019 and saw two guys almost get into a fistfight over whether grading comics is ruining the hobby or saving it. One side says a 9.8 slab takes all the fun out of reading and flipping through issues. The other side says grading protects your investment and keeps books from getting wrecked in a box. I started collecting around 2015 and always went raw until I dropped $40 on a key issue that had a spine split I missed. Now I'm stuck in the middle and keep going back and forth. Which side do you fall on and why?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_jessica3d ago

Heard a collector at my local shop say grading is just a tax on paranoia. That stuck with me because the price difference on some keys is crazy. I still go raw for reading copies and only slab something if I'm planning to sell it.

taylor.sean3d ago

Smart move. Only slab what you're flipping. Keeps costs down.

gavinb972d ago

Used to be hardcore raw only but after finding a hidden spine tick in a "NM" book I changed my mind. Now I slab anything valuable just to lock in the condition and sleep better at night.