In a move that’s stirring the pot among comic book aficionados and collectors alike, PSA, primarily known as the go-to entity for grading sports and trading cards, is now poised to dive headfirst into the colorful, nostalgia-filled realms of comic books and magazines. The company has quite literally penciled in all the details collectors were desperately after—submission costs, timeline expectations, and how these align with or disrupt existing norms—as it prepares to flip the comic grading industry page on July 14.
For those with a penchant for Modern-era comics, delight is on the horizon. PSA announces that grading submissions for titles published from 1975 onward start at a mere $25.99 per item, with the promising catch of a relatively brisk 20-business-day turnaround time. Knowing that patience is both a virtue and a key trait of the comic enthusiast archetype, PSA seems to have approached this with a plan as tightly wound as the pages of a graphic novel under a collector’s gaze.
But wait, there’s more intrigue to the plot: PSA, perhaps channeling their inner comic series spin-off mindset, is also launching a pressing service. This particular offering is designed to iron out those pesky wrinkles and creases of your beloved editions, restoring them to a level of flatness unseen since they first left the press. Priced modestly at $11.99, it’s an enticing option, albeit with the caveat that it doubles the turnaround time for basic submissions. It’s a sacrifice akin to waiting for a long-anticipated sequel; painful but presumably worth it in the pursuit of grade-point glory.
Of course, one cannot venture into Gotham, or in this case, the established comic grading market, without looming in the considerable shadow cast by the current caped crusader of comic certification, CGC. With the notable accolade of grading the top 10 most expensive comics ever sold under their belt, CGC represents a titanic force guarding its coveted empire. PSA’s strategic pricing appears to be crafting a narrative of its own, deliberately aligning, if not slightly undercutting, CGC’s price books to tempt and court the collectors prowling for premier yet pocket-friendly grading services.
This isn’t PSA’s first cameo appearance in a comic universe. The company stealthily ventured into this world back in 2024. Partnering with fashion powerhouse Kith and renowned marvineers at Marvel, they dreamt up a limited-run “Marvel Super Villains” sneaker series, which were cleverly bundled with special comic variants. Some of these comics were safeguarded in PSA holders. The peak of this escapade saw a unique Venom-Spider-Man sketch variant escalate to a dizzying height with a $30,000 eBay sale, signifying more than just a monetary value, but a confident set-up for their forthcoming main act.
As they boldly proclaim their readiness to accept submissions, the palpitating pulse of anticipation among collectors grows. After all, a giant like CGC hasn’t faced a new challenger of this magnitude in years. As PSA unfurls its collection of grading services before a watchful audience, questions linger like cliffhangers: How will this shake up the turf that CGC has so confidently claimed? What will it mean for the grading consistency and quality that collectors have come to depend on? Will the shiny PSA brand name be enough to allure the discerning comic connoisseur?
For now, the narrative continues to develop, with PSA’s entry penned as a potentially transformative chapter in the broader collector market saga. Whether it turns out to be a plot twist or merely an added page, only time and discerning collector scrutiny will tell.
