SubZero Comics

Why should you sell your comics or collectibles to us?

If you want to sell your comic books locally (or sell your toys and games) without the worry of scams or any other issues that come with selling your comics online, then we are the best solution.

We offer very competitive prices and always pay cash (many others places will not pay cash for comics). We also have a passion for comic books, that many others do not. Most other comic book buyers will want you to sell your comic books to them only because they want to make a profit. There is no love for the hobby (we've spoken to many sellers who have never even read a comic in their life). We buy comic books because we love the hobby as well and are still collectors.

We also give you fair, honest, and most importantly free appraisals for your comics if you're just looking for advice. Most other places want to buy comics and offer no sort of free advice or an appraisal. We can give you an appraisal on anything related to comic books free of charge.

Other comic book buyers will only buy books from the 1970s and older, but we buy all comics! This includes books from the 80s, 90s, and 2000s (yes we buy new comics)! In most cases, we also travel to you and pay you cash on the spot for your comics, toys, games, or collectibles.

Most other comic book stores have very little knowledge about what people are selling and will pay you pennies for something that is worth $1 or $10,000. This is what we feel greatly separates us from others. We have been lifelong collectors of comics and toys (yes, we keep a lot of what we buy), and we still actively play video games. This love for hobbies allows us to have an advantage in terms of knowledge that sets us apart.

Have a collection of comics, toys, or video games that you have come across and don't know if it is worth selling? Just call or email us to ask. In most cases, no collection of comics, video games, or toys is too small or big for us. We have been buying comics for years and try our best to buy all collections.

Many people in the past have sold to us because they value our honesty, courtesy, and straightforwardness.

SubZero Comics has noticed that some people become overwhelmed when trying to sell their comics or other collectibles and sometimes they may need help. They might ask "how can I sell my comics quickly and get a fair price?" If this is the case with you, give us a call. We'll help you with any information you need, free of charge and hassle-free.

Where do we travel?

SubZero Comics covers most of the USA and can travel to almost any state, depending on the size of the comic collection. We can be anywhere in the northeast very quickly (usually within a day).

If you're located outside of the northeast, then don't worry, we have comic, toy, and video game buyers all over the country and can have someone come to you within a few days. Not sure if we would be interested in traveling to you? Give us a call. We might be interested! We buy comic book collections of all sizes and values.

Have a collection of old comic books and feel overwhelmed?

Give us a call, and we can give a fair, friendly, and most importantly FREE appraisal and tell you exactly what you should be able to get for your comic collection.

Have any questions or interested in selling your comics or collectibles? Call or text us toll-free, anytime, 7 days a week (973) 931-1471 or email subzerocomics@gmail.com

Our Latest Comic Book Purchase

Recently we were emailed by a very friendly gentleman (yes, we respect your privacy and won't ever post your name on our website) located in the upstate NY area who wanted to sell comics and toys. After a few emails and pictures, we decided it would be best if we were to make an offer on his collectibles in person. He collected mostly DC-related comic books, toys, and statues with a small amount of Marvel as well. He wanted to sell all of his comics, toys, and games (board games) in one shot. The comic books he was selling were mostly from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. They were kept in good condition.

He knew the value of his statues and toys, but he did not know the value of the comic books he was selling. We were able to give him a fair comic book appraisal based on grade. The books were mostly low-value, but we were fair in our assessment. Most of them were complete sets and so we paid based on the value of the comic runs (ex: Infinity Gauntlet #s 1-6). The comic seller was pleased with our honesty and how we pay cash for comics (no checks or PayPal).

While looking through his books, we noticed a great-looking Flash Comics 67 from the Golden Age and put that aside. That book was the one that clearly stood out when assessing the collection (great cover). We put a grade on the book of VG+ and were able to check for any kinds of restoration or major issues, and we noticed none. A deal for the comic was made separately from the others, so the seller would get the maximum amount from his comic book collection. We later sent the comic for CGC grading and our grade turned out to be accurate.

This story can be used as an example when selling your comic books. We pay cash for comics, which was much easier than dealing with shady forms of payment (ex: check). We also provide free appraisals, so the buyer could have completely declined, but we provided a honest approach and he was happy to get cash for comics on the spot. We are also local comic buyers, so this made it easier, since we were able to meet with the buyer within a a few days (we work with your schedule, of course). If you want to sell comics, toys or video games, please be sure to give us a call (973) 931-1471 or email subzerocomics@gmail.com

Does Genre Matter in Regards to the Value of Your Comic Books?

You might be wondering how important genre is when selling your comic books. A basic answer to this is: genre is extremely important to comics. A superhero comic book from the early 1960s has much more potential of being valuable when compared to a Classics Illustrated comic (we consider Classics Illustrated comics to be more history/literature books with pictures and not really comics in the same sense).

Here is a quick and easy-to-understand guide on all of the comic book genres and how each stands in terms of value.

Cartoon Comics

This is one of the most common genres for old comic books. Many people who are trying to sell comic books (at least old comics), will usually have a good amount of these. Some of the titles include Four Color Comics, Walt Disney Comics and Stories, Uncle Scrooge, New Funnies, Archie Comics, and many more.

Cartoon comics were published more in 1930 thru the 1960s and eventually they would see a decline. They would not completely end. Titles such as Simpsons Comics (which just recently ended), Adventure Time, and many others became popular among collectors over recent years.

Unfortunately, older cartoon comics are not very desirable due to many characters not being as popular today (ex: Woody Woodpecker). If you have a collection of cartoon comics, be sure to call us for an assessment.

Archie Comics 19

Western Comics

Western comics rose to fame towards the end of the 1940s and were popular in the 1950s and 1960s. Some of the titles include Tim Holt, Gene Autry, Lone Ranger, and more. Western comic books experienced a decline when the movies started to do the same.

In the 1970s thru the 1990s, western books such as Jonah Hex sold, but eventually, even those were canceled (Jonah Hex rarely appears in comics today).

Many people will try to sell comics that are western, but unfortunately, western books are not valuable. If you want to sell western comics, then please note that they will most likely be difficult to sell, as many who collected westerns in the 1950s, are now older and do not collect anymore.

Jonah Hex 1

Horror Comics

Horror comic books gained popularity starting in the late 1940s and have really been popular since then. The genre has changed a good amount over the years, but there has always been a fanbase. Some popular early horror titles include Tales from the Crypt, Marvel Tales, Strange Tales, and many more.

Some popular horror titles from the 1970s were Marvel Chillers, Dead of Night, Where Monsters Dwell, and Adventure into Fear. In the modern era titles such as The Walking Dead kept the genre very popular.

If you're looking to sell horror comic books, be sure to understand that age is important. If it is an older horror comic then it might be valuable. Also, know that the title is important when selling horror comics. If you have questions or want to sell comics from this genre, be sure to contact us.

Giant-Size Creatures 1

Comics Based on TV, movies, and other media

Comic books based on TV, movies, and other media have been printed since almost the beginning of the medium. A popular title that printed TV-related comics was Four Color as well as companies such as Gold Key (Star Trek, etc).

Today comics based on TV, and movies are still printed, but they are not as popular as they once were.

If you are selling old comic books from the TV, film, or movie genre, please note that most of these have little value, and are not the most desirable among collectors. This is because the genre focuses on older movies and TV, most of which are not popular with the younger generation of readers.

Power Rangers 1

Superhero Comics

The most well-known genre of comic books is definitely superheroes. Most people, young or old, have heard of at least one major superhero. Titles include Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, X-Men, and thousands more.

When selling your comic books, this genre will likely be your best bet for value. Superhero comics (namely Marvel and DC) are most likely to be worth money in comparison to the other genres. However, this does not mean that if you have these comics, that it's guaranteed money.

It is likely that if you have newer superhero comics, then they won't be worth too much (email us if you're overwhelmed). If you have old comics to sell, that are from this genre (the 1970s and older), then there is a chance that the comic is valuable. If you're not sure how to assess or sell your comics, be sure to call or email us for advice.

Fantastic Four 56

Are Older Comics More Valuable?

So you might be wondering when selling your comics. Are older comics worth more? This one has an easy answer. Yes. Older comics are worth more on average. HOWEVER. You must consider what we wrote above as well.

If a comic book is old AND it is a superhero comic (the name of the hero matters too) that is in good condition, then there is a good chance that the comic is worth more than a few dollars. However, this is still not guaranteed.

The next question you might have is: "what qualifies as old in comics?" Think of it the simplistic way. Anything from the 1930s-1960s is considered the be old and worth more. While 70s comics aren't considered extremely old, many are starting to classify them as such.

If you have anything after the 1970s, then chances are that it is not worth as much, because it is considered modern. A modern comic from the 1980s and 1990s might not be worth much unless you have an issue of significance.

You might think that comics from the 1960s are worth a good amount, but please remember this is not always the case. If you own a comic that has no significance then it will likely be worth less than a significant comic from the 1980s or 1990s. See the comics we have provided for an example of this.

If you would like to sell your comic books and have older comic books, then it can be difficult to assess if the book has value, because the content is what matters. If you're selling comics from the modern age, then it is likely that the books aren't going to be worth much, but there may still be books of significance that can have value (compare it to looking for a needle in a haystack).

Fantastic Four 59 published in 1967 is valued at about $100 in higher grades (most copies you will find are not high grade and go for $15-20)

Batman 608 (2nd print) published in 2002 is a $250 comic book in higher grades

Which Companies are Most Likely to Have the Most Valuable Comics?

Aside from grading (which we have provided a guide for here). The final question you need to ask yourself when selling your comic books is "does manufacturer matter when selling your comics online or offline? Again, this is a relatively simple answer. It does matter when you take average values into account.

If you have comic books from the 1930s thru the 1950s, then the manufacturer may not be as significant in regards to value (a DC comic and a Fox Features comic from the early 1950s both have value). However, if you have a comic that was published later than that, then it will matter much more.

In the 1960s, it started to become clear that there would be 2 major comic book manufacturers: Marvel and DC. Many companies that were around from before that (Dell, Gold Key, Harvey), would go out of business within the next few decades, and new companies such as Valiant, Dark Horse, and Image would emerge in the 80s and 90s.

You might ask yourself are Image and Valiant comics worth anything? Sadly, most comics published by "independent manufacturers" (basically any that aren't Marvel or DC) from the 1980s and up are usually worth little to nothing. There are a few exceptions to the rule, but once again, we equate it to looking for a needle in a haystack (see examples).

Now to continue. Which comics are worth more on average: Marvel or DC? This has become clear in the last 5-10 years. Marvel is emerging as the victor in the fight for comic supremacy, and their books have a bigger chance of being worth more. This is mainly due to the popularity of their movies. Does this mean DC comics are worthless? Of course not. It just means that Marvel comics are more likely to have value. If you have questions about comic values, be sure to call or email us for free comic advice.

Carnage Mind Bomb 1 (Marvel) sells for about $75 in higher grades

Canto 1 from IDW (independent publisher) sells for $250 in higher grades

A Full Checklist On How to Sell Your Comic Books

Below you will find a full checklist on what to do (and not to do) when selling your comic books. This is done in an easy-to-understand checklist format. This can be used whether you want to sell your comics individually or as a whole. The list is in no particular order.

Check how old your comics are. Use our valuing guide on how to check the approximate age of your comic books.
Do a count on how many comics you have. A long comic box (25" long) holds 250-300 comics, while a short box (10" long) holds 125-150 books.
Check the condition of your comic books. Use our grading guide.
Check for titles of major characters (Spider-Man, X-Men, Batman, etc).
Check which companies are predominant in the collection (DC, Marvel, etc).
Create a list of some of the titles and issues you have (this is completely optional).
Look up local buyers online (DO NOT TAKE YOUR COMIC BOOKS TO THEIR STORES).
Look up online selling venues you like (eBay, HipComic, etc). This is if you're looking to sell comics individually.
Find a price guide if you want to price books individually (this process can be extremely tedious, so it is completely your choice). GoCollect is one of the easiest to use.
Organize your books by character. It is not necessary to put them in complete numerical order, but it would make things easier. This process can be tedious, so do it in any way you feel comfortable.
Try to separate old and new comics (1960s comics separate from the 1990s comics). This depends on how you organize. If you want to do it by character then this way might not work.
Go to your local shipping store or post office to look for shipping supplies. This only applies if you plan on selling your comics online.
This continues with number 12. If you plan to sell comics online, be sure to research shipping rates.
Look and see if you have any complete sets and runs (ex: issues 1-25 of a title).
Look for any covers that stand out to you. This sounds like an odd thing to look for but sometimes a cover that stands out could be valuable.
Look at our section on the most valuable comics to see if you have anything from there.
If you are looking to sell your comic collection as a whole, then be sure the buyer is willing to come to you.
Be prepared to lift boxes or have someone do it for you. If you sell them as a whole to one buyer, then it's expected that they do all the lifting.
Research fees from online selling platforms (ex: eBay, Heritage).
If you find any comics of value consider an auction house (Heritage, Comiclink). Please note that consignment fees are usually higher than selling it yourself.
Research tax laws and brackets.
If selling a comic collection as a whole, look up the buyer you are selling to online. Find any reviews on their business and maybe their online stores as well (be careful with fake reviews).
If you have lower-value books and want to maximize your profit, consider selling them at a flea market or a local convention. Please note this will take a good amount of time and labor. You might make sell $100-200 at a small show, but it will take hours of work.
Continuing from #23, consider how much labor you want to put into selling your comics. Sometimes the labor required isn't worth the time you have put into selling.
If you're moving and are not sure about taking your comic books with you, consider how much it will cost to move them.
If you're thinking of holding your comic books and leaning against selling, consider the space they take up (and if it costs money to store them). Then think is it worth the extra value they will gain over the time you hold them?
Some comic stores/buyers will tell you to mail comics to them and they will send you money via PayPal or mail. DO NOT DO THIS. We cannot stress this enough. There are only a few companies to trust when mailing your comics (Heritage, Comiclink, etc). DO NOT MAIL YOUR COMICS TO SOMEONE WITHOUT A THIRD PARTY INVOLVED (ex: eBay).
Think about how much you're looking to get. Now forget that number completely. This is because you shouldn't have expectations in regards to prices when selling a collection.
Look into grading comics if you feel like you have something of value.
To continue with #29. Research grading fees from places such as CGC and CBCS.
If you find your comics aren't worth anything then consider donating them to charity. Most will offer a tax receipt.
If you have comics that you find aren't valuable, then consider giving them away locally. We find giving out comics on Halloween to be a great way to encourage reading among youth. You should check if the comics are age-appropriate before giving them to anyone.
Before selling anything discuss it with your family and loved ones, to see where they stand. This should be obvious, but it is very important.
Consider buying some comic supplies to make it easier to sell your books. This includes comic boxes, bags, boards, etc. If you already have older boxes and bags, those work as well.
If you're ever in a bind and just need advice or a comic appraisal and just want to skip all this give us a call. We will give you a free appraisal on your comics, and provide any advice you might want. (973) 931-1471