10 Things to Look For When Buying/Grading Back Issues

When you go out to your local comic store and you're looking through the back issues (especially those $1 or 50 cent bins that I love so dearly).  It important to keep in mind that there's possibly a good reason that this particular issue is being practically given away.  Now for the most part the issues you find in there aren't anything special and there's millions of them in circulation and that all the reason there is....BUT if you find some rare exquisite gem hiding in a box of cheap comics you may want to take a second look!  Of course there's always the chance they threw it in there by accident and by the standards of the American Economic System, that tough for them and you just got a crazy cheap and wonderful issue, but chances are there is some sort of defect or problem with the issue even if you don't readily see one.

So here I have compiled a list of some key things to look for when you are stocking up on back issues for awesome prices.  These are also some great pointers if you are trying to learn about grading comics.  There is, of course, much more to it but follow some of these pointers and you'll be on your way.

1. Creases/Tears in  Cover and Pages - Obviously the easiest thing to look for is glaring rips in the pagesor cover, but also look a little closer for damages that might not be so prevalent.  I've seen people buy an issue that comes with a bag and board only to get home and take it out to find the large pieces of the back cover missing or pages that have been folded inside the comic for years, leaving a crease that will likely never go away.
2. Stains/Watermarks - Another, typically glaring, type of damage to look for is stains or water marks.  These are sometimes harder to find as they can show up anywhere on a perfectly clean page.  So if you casually flip through a book it can be easy to miss a spot where someone's drink or food may have spilled on the page really close to the spine on or the back 
3. Writing - This is honestly a new problem for me, but its happened more then once recently so it seem worth mentioning.  I have recently buy several older issues of original X-men and found that the cover has been written on (i.e. the title letters traced or filled in) or the inside has initials (marking ownership by someone who didn't care much about their comics condition.  I know to most of the people reading this, it seems like sacrilege to write on an issue, but it DOES happen so if you start buying cheap back issues in bulk like I did you should be watchful of it.
4. Loose/Missing Staples - This is just something that happens sometimes when comic are printed.  Either the staple misses or doesn't go in right or whatever, but occasionally you get an issue where one of the staples is only half in or missing completely.  A lot of times the rest of the comic is just fine and for the one or two times you are going to read it, just be a bit extra careful.
5. Missing Pages Cover - This sort goes along with tears and creases that I mentioned in the first item.  It really pays to take the time and look through an issue before you buy it (many local stores will allow you to look briefly through an issue to check for damage, NOT READ IT).  I've found entire pages or the back cover missing.  Easily avoidable and will save you MUCH frustration later.
6. Discoloration of Pages - This another one that simply happens over time.  You'll find this problem a lot when you buy older issues like the 60's or early 70's, as a book ages the pages begin to yellow a bit and the coloring fades.  Not really a big deal and most collector or graders know to expect it, so its just a matter of does it bother you.
7. Spine Wearing/Rolling - This can be caused by age, poor handling, or just bad printing, but sometimes you'll notice that the spine is severely creased, the top and bottom are worn and about to split, or even (in the case of many Annual issues, where the book isn't folded but glued with a real spine) that the "spine writing" is somehow more on the front then the side. A lot of times you'll find that the pages inside are in fine condition and then its a judgement call about how much M/NM condition really means to you.
8. Adhesives - This is right up there with writing on the book.  Sometimes you'll find little price stickers or colored dots or even, god forbid, scotch tape.  DON'T PANIC! Breathe.  Scotch tape is often a lifelong problem especially if its an older issue where the tape has been there for a long time but I often find that with prices stickers or colored dots that if you SLOWLY AND PATIENTLY peel them back, they remove just fine.
9. Corners/Edges - These isn't one specific things to look for here, just keep a general eye on the corners and edges of the issues you are buying.  Often you'll find the corners of issues or blunted, torn off or folded over while the edges are very prone to tiny nicks, or dents.  Most of the time these are very superficial damage
10. Deformed Copies of the Issue - Once again, this just happens.  When you print millions of copies of ANYTHING there is bound to be some mistakes and mechanical errors.  Often you'll find issues that are brand new (within a few weeks) in a cheap box of comics because a page has a piece that wasn't cut right or is folded  over and then was cut like that.  Could be anything, and often these issues were supposed to cost $3-$10.  So unless you are super OCD and need a perfect pristine copy of every issues, these are often a good deal if you just want storyline.

These are just a few things to look for when you are buying older back issues, especially if you are raiding the bargain bins.  If you are a serious collector then you have your books that are important and have to be perfect but you probably also have runs of books that you just want completed, that are maybe a bit less important and some of these tips will help you find the difference while you are shopping around.