Grading Guide

Broke Skull Collectibles is a CGC Authorized Dealer. We buy, sell, and submit comics. We speak Overstreet when we describe raw books, and we let CGC speak when a book is in a slab. True Believers, that distinction matters.

What this page is (and is not)

This is how we talk about condition in our listings so you know what you are buying. It is not a grading service.

  • We do not assign numeric grades (9.8, 9.6, 9.4, and so on) to raw, unslabbed books.
  • A number on a CGC (or CBCS / PGX) label is that company’s grade, not ours.
  • A raw book described as “Near Mint” is an Overstreet-style condition call, not a promise that CGC will return a 9.4 or a 9.8.

If you need a third-party grade, we can walk you through submission as a CGC Authorized Dealer. We still will not pre-grade your raw book with a number.

Slabs vs. raw

Certified / slabbed

The holder is sealed. The grade, labels, and signatures on the slab are what they are. We photograph the front, back, and label. We do not crack slabs to “check the book.” If a listing says CGC 9.8, you are buying that certified copy, that label, that holder.

Raw

Bagged and boarded, described in Overstreet-style language below. Photos are part of the description — zoom in. Raw condition is our honest read of the copy in hand, not a prediction of what a grading company will do with it.

How we describe raw books

We use the same ladder collectors have used for decades. These are condition categories, not CGC numbers.

Mint (MT)

As close to the rack as a used book gets. Flat, glossy, sharp corners, no wear that we can see. White or off-white pages as noted. We use this sparingly. Most modern books that look perfect still live in Near Mint.

Near Mint (NM)

Tight, attractive, and collectible. Maybe a whisper of spine stress, a tiny corner tap, or a faint color-breaking tick that you will see in the photos. Reads and displays like a high-end copy. This is not a 9.8 guarantee.

Very Fine (VF)

A clean, solid copy with light wear: a little spine stress, minor corner wear, a small color break, or a modest reading crease. Still looks great on the shelf. Many well-kept back issues live here.

Fine (FN)

An honest, collectible reader-plus. Noticeable spine wear, some corner blunting, mild soiling, or a more obvious crease. Staples intact. The story is complete. You would not confuse it with NM.

Very Good (VG)

A real reader. Creases, rounded corners, spine roll or a loose centerfold, moderate discoloration, or a small piece out. Complete unless we say otherwise. Priced like it.

Good (GD)

Worn. Soiling, tears, writing, tape, or a missing coupon may be present — we will say so. Still a complete story unless the listing calls out missing pages.

Fair / Poor

Heavy damage, brittle paper, missing pieces, or restoration. We list these when the book is scarce, wanted for reading, or priced as a filler. Photos do the talking. If it is brittle, assume it needs careful handling.

Plus and minus

You will sometimes see NM−, VF/NM, or FN+. That is the usual Overstreet habit of splitting a category. It is still a range, not a CGC scale. When a defect would surprise you (water stain, remainder mark, subscription crease, writing on the cover, color touch), we call it out in the listing instead of hiding it in a plus sign.

Page quality, defects, and restoration

  • Pages: White, off-white, cream, or tan, as we see them under shop light. We are not a lab.
  • Defects: Spine ticks, corner creases, color-breaking folds, tears, writing, odors, rust, and warp get named when they matter.
  • Restoration: If we know a book is restored, we say so. If we do not know, we do not invent a clean bill of health. Grading companies can find work we cannot see.
  • Pressing: A press can relax a bend. It does not turn a VF into a secret NM, and we will not sell it that way.

Photos are part of the grade

Listings include images of the copy you are buying — not a stock file photo of a different print run. If the light or the scan leaves you unsure, email us before you check out. NERDS on a mission still means we would rather answer a question than win an argument after the mailer lands.

CGC submissions

As a CGC Authorized Dealer we can submit books for grading, signature series, and related services under CGC’s current rules, fees, and turnaround times. Those are CGC’s, not ours. We do not quote a number we think the book “should” get. If you want a pre-grade from a professional grading service, that is a different product than buying a raw book from this shop.

The short version

Slabbed books wear someone else’s number. Raw books wear our Overstreet-style words and our photos. Find Your Fandom, read the listing, and if you need a number on a label, we will help you submit — we will not stamp that number ourselves.

Questions about a specific copy? Use the contact page and include the product title. True Believers Unite — we actually read that mail.