Near Mint/Mint (NM/MT 9.8): A very nearly perfect comic in every way. Just as it came from the printer, regardless of age. Only the most subtle bindery or printing defects are allowed for this grade. Cover should be perfectly flat with no surface wear. Small arrival dates or a distributor's mark are acceptable in this grade. Cover inks are deeply rich and brilliant with exceptional gloss. Corners are sharp and edges are clean. Staples are tight and clean with no rust and are generally centered exactly on the edge of spine. Cover should also be well centered and firmly secured to interior pages. Paper is white, supple and very fresh.

Near Mint (NM 9.4): A near perfect comic book with only very minor imperfections such as a tiny corner crease or soft stress lines at spine or staples. Comic looks nearly perfect at first glance with possibly a few tiny color flecks, small bindery tears, tiny impact creases or a combination of these, where the overall eye appeal is just less than NM/MT. Cover is perfectly clean and flat with intensely brilliant colors and exceptional gloss. Spine is tight and flat with firm, clean staples. Corners are cut square and sharp with ever so slight blunting permitted. Interior paper is fresh and supple and can range from bright white to cream in shade. This is normally the highest grade in which someone can expect to find a Golden-Age or Silver-Age comic.

Very Fine (VF 8.0): An exceptional copy with outstanding eye appeal. Cover is relatively flat and clean with sharp, bright colors. Slight surface wear beginning to show, including minor stress creases at corners and staples. The spine could have a few stress lines but is still flat and tight. Cover corners can be slightly rounded and edges can show some light
wear. A light one inch corner crease is acceptable in this grade. Interior pages can range from yellow to light tan in shade. The highest grade usually found for Golden-Age and Silver-Age comics.

Fine (FN 6.0): An excellent, above average copy that shows moderate wear. Book is still relatively flat and clean with no major creasing, tears, color fading or other serious defects. Overall eye appeal is still quite good, but is reduced somewhat due to noticeable surface wear and an accumulation of multiple smaller defects, especially at spine and edges of cover. Several corner creases and small tears are allowed. Cover can be detached at one staple but must be noted. A FINE comic appears to have been read several times and to have been handled with moderate care. Interior paper can range from white to light tan but must still be supple. A comic in this
grade is highly collectible.

Very Good (VG 4.0): The average used comic book. A comic in this grade shows overall general wear such as a reading crease, rolled spine and color fading, but has not accumulated enough total defects to reduce the eye appeal to the point where it is no longer desirable. Creases, spine splits, light soiling, moisture stains and tears are all acceptable. Small pieces can be out at corners or edges. A name written on the cover, a store stamp, an arrival date or initialing have no effect in this grade. Cover and interior pages can have minor tears and folds and center-fold may be detached. Common bindery and printing defects do not affect this grade. Minor tape repair may be present, but must be noted. Interior pages may range from white to tan, but not brittle.