Most of us collected comic books as kids. As adults, we think back once again to a simpler time when our biggest worry was the release of the newest edition of the most popular comic. At the time, we collected comics mainly because we loved them.

Even as we spent my youth, however, our interests changed. We became adults and too grown up for comic books. We would still have a stack of old comics in the attic, though, or we may have sold them at a yard sale years ago.

Some adults, though, remained proud of the cartoon book collections, and many turned that collecting instinct to profit, buying, and selling comic books to supplement their income.

If you're a new comer to collecting for value, you might have some questions and concerns comicvine. This information will address the questions most commonly asked by new cartoon book collectors.

Just how do I grade my comic books?

You have two choices when it comes time for you to grade one. You may send it to the Comics Guaranty Company for grading, or you are able to grade the comic yourself.

The CGC will charge a fee for grading, and then seal your comic in a plastic sleeve. A CGC rating is the only purely objective means of grading and guarantees to a possible buyer that the cartoon does have a particular official rating.

However, since the CGC grading costs money, it's not worthwhile to own every comic graded that way. You can learn to grade the books yourself and for lower dollar value ones, this is the best way to go. Remember to be objective when grading your own personal comics, as you do not want to cheat a buyer inadvertently.

For those who are in under perfect condition, you should look carefully at each little bit of damage or wear to find out which grade the comic book should receive. Online guides or cartoon book collectors' magazines often have reference sheets to tell you the specifics of every grade.

It might be far better make use of a more capable collector initially, before you tend to be more familiar with the way the grading system works. He or she can show you examples of various comic grades.

How can I properly store my comic books to decrease wear and tear?

First, individually bag each one of these in Mylar. These storage bags can be found from any good cartoon book store. You will even want to use comic book boards to avoid bending or creasing.

Purchase these individually or in bulk at your comic book store. Remember to change out your boards every several years to avoid the breakdown of the board, which can have an adverse impact in your comic. Finally, you will be needing storage boxes.

Comic book storage boxes are available in long or short size. Long boxes are less expensive for the amount of money, if a comics must certanly be stored in tight quarters, short boxes provides you with more flexibility.

Remember to store your them in a climate controlled environment. Extremes of heat, cold, humidity, or dryness could have an adverse impact in your comic books.

So which ones should I buy?

The answer to that question really depends on your own personal interests. Did you have a well liked comic book character as a kid or have you got one now? Search for early editions of that character's comics or read the newest on which he or she is performing now.

If you see your book collection mostly as an investment, then you will want to carefully research and attempt to know industry before jumping in. Spend time on online auction sites, visit shops, and speak to other collectors.

Find out what is consistently hot, what's hot right now, and what the future trends expect you'll be. Give attention to collecting first editions, full sets, and vintage "finds."

My comic book collection is huge! How can I possibly keep up with what I have?

Many different tracking software is available nowadays to monitor your comic book collection. Sme programs are free; others charge a tiny fee. The complexity of the programs varies dramatically, from simple tracking forms to the capacity to generate multiple reports centered on numerous criteria.

Alternately, you can produce your own personal database or spreadsheet file using software that you already own. Any office software can track a comic book collection. Simply decide which information you wish to include and put up a new worksheet.

What should I know before I sell my comic book collection?

Make sure that each comic in your collection is individually graded, either by yourself or friend, or professionally through the Comics Guaranty Company (CGC). Any especially rare or valuable comics should truly be graded by the CGC ahead of sale, as the state rating will often increase the price you are able to receive.

Once every comic is graded, check the typical selling price for each comic. Decide whether to offer individually, in sets, or in bulk. Often you are able to receive a better price for low value comics by selling them in bulk or in a whole set, while particularly high-end comics may command the very best price alone.