The Ultimate Guide to Comic Book Grading: What Does VG+ Mean?

If you've ever browsed pre-owned comics and wondered what VG+ actually means — or whether a Fine copy is better than a Very Fine — you're not alone. Comic book grading has its own language, and getting to grips with it is the single most useful skill a collector can develop. This guide explains the key grades, what to look for, and how to assess condition with confidence.

Why Grading Matters

Condition is everything in comic collecting. The difference between a Near Mint and a Very Good copy of the same issue can mean a significant difference in value — and more importantly, in reading and display quality. Understanding grades helps you buy with confidence, price your own collection accurately, and avoid overpaying for something that doesn't match its description.

Browse our current pre-owned stock at The Comic Stand, where every comic is individually assessed before listing.

The Standard Grading Scale

The comics industry uses a broadly agreed grading scale, popularised by CGC (Certified Guaranty Company) and widely adopted by dealers and collectors worldwide. Here's what each grade means in practice:

Mint (MT) / 9.9–10.0

Perfect in every way. Flat, bright, square corners, no defects of any kind. Essentially theoretical for pre-owned comics — if you see this grade on a raw (unslabbed) copy, treat it with scepticism.

Near Mint / Near Mint Minus (NM / NM-) / 9.4–9.8

The gold standard for pre-owned. A Near Mint comic looks almost unread — bright cover, flat spine, sharp corners with only the most minor imperfections. NM- allows for one or two very small flaws: a tiny corner blunt, a faint stress line on the spine. For most collectors, NM- is the sweet spot between quality and value.

Very Fine (VF / VF+) / 8.0–9.0

Still an excellent copy. A VF comic shows light signs of handling — minor spine stress lines, slightly blunted corners — but remains bright and flat with no major defects. VF+ sits just below NM- and is often indistinguishable to the casual eye. A great grade for reading copies and display.

Fine (FN / FN+) / 6.0–7.0

A Fine comic has been read but well cared for. Expect some spine stress, slightly more wear on corners, and possibly minor creasing. Cover gloss may be reduced. Still a solid, presentable copy — and often the most cost-effective grade for filling runs.

Very Good Plus (VG+) / 4.5

This is where most affordable pre-owned comics sit. A VG+ copy shows clear signs of reading and handling — noticeable spine stress, blunted corners, possible small creases — but remains complete and structurally sound. No missing pages, no major tears. For readers and budget collectors, VG+ offers excellent value.

Very Good (VG) / 4.0

Similar to VG+ but with slightly more wear. Spine may show rolling or multiple stress lines. Cover may have small soiling or minor staining. Still a complete, readable copy — just not one you'd frame.

Good (GD) / 2.0

Heavy wear throughout. Significant creasing, possible small tears, spine may be split at the staples. Complete but rough. Worth buying only for rare issues where condition is secondary to ownership, or for reading copies of key books.

Fair (FR) / 1.0 and Poor (PR) / 0.5

Heavily damaged — missing pages, large tears, water damage, heavy soiling. Generally only of interest for extremely rare issues or as filler copies.

Raw vs. Slabbed Comics

A raw comic is ungraded and unencapsulated — the vast majority of pre-owned comics you'll encounter. A slabbed comic has been professionally graded by a third-party service (most commonly CGC or CBCS) and sealed in a tamper-evident case with its grade printed on the label. Slabbed comics carry a premium but offer certainty — the grade is guaranteed. Raw comics rely on the seller's assessment, which is why understanding grading yourself is so valuable.

What to Physically Check

When assessing a raw comic in person, work through these checks systematically:

• Spine: Look for stress lines (white lines running along the spine from rolling or folding), splits at the staples, and spine rolls (where the spine curves rather than lying flat).
• Corners: Sharp corners indicate careful handling. Blunted, creased, or chipped corners are the most common grade-reducers.
• Cover: Check for creases, soiling, writing, price stickers (and sticker residue), and colour fading or brittleness on older books.
• Staples: Original staples should be rust-free and centred. Replaced staples or rust staining reduce grade significantly.
• Interior pages: Fan through the pages. Look for browning or brittleness (especially on pre-1980s newsprint), tears, missing pages, or writing.
• Centrefold: Check it's attached. A detached or missing centrefold drops a comic to Good or below regardless of cover condition.

Grading Older vs. Modern Comics

Pre-1980s comics were printed on newsprint that browns and becomes brittle over time — a process called tanning or brittleness. A Silver Age comic (1956–1970) in VG condition is a very different proposition to a modern VG: the paper quality, printing, and storage challenges are entirely different. When buying older books, always ask about page quality specifically — a bright cover can hide heavily tanned interiors.

Modern comics (post-1990s) use higher-quality paper and are far more stable, making high grades easier to find and maintain.

How to Store Your Comics

Grading is only half the battle — keeping your comics in good condition matters just as much. The basics:

• Bag and board every comic individually. Use acid-free boards and Mylar or polypropylene bags.
• Store upright in a box, not stacked flat — stacking causes spine stress over time.
• Keep away from direct sunlight, humidity, and temperature extremes. A cool, dry, dark environment is ideal.
• Handle by the edges, not the cover surface.

Try This

Ready to start or expand your collection? Browse our hand-picked pre-owned comics at The Comic Stand — from Marvel and DC to Image, Dark Horse, and beyond. Every copy is assessed before listing so you know what you're getting. And if vinyl is your other passion, The Vinyl Frontier is worth a look too — the same care goes into every record we stock. For the full range of pre-owned items across all formats, visit our Preowned section.