What a fair price looks like
Condition on WishThrift is described by the seller against five grades, and nobody inspects them on your behalf — so the description and the photographs are what you are buying on.
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £60 (~$80) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £51 (~$68) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £39 (~$52) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £27 (~$36) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £15 (~$20) | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Sterling guide ranges with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). Sellers set their own asking price; these are a starting point for judging an offer. All five grades explained.
The checklist before you pay
Damp, which spreads to whatever you shelve beside it and cannot be reversed. Then edition — a later printing described loosely as a first.
Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether comic books is worth what is being asked:
- Spine ticks and colour-breaking creases
- Sun-faded covers and browning newsprint
- Water staining, which is immediately visible
- Later printings sold as firsts
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Key issues with first appearances or major events
- Flat covers with sharp spines and no colour breaks
- Professionally graded and slabbed copies
- Complete runs sold together
Common faults and fakes
Book-club editions and later printings sold as firsts, usually without intent. The copyright page settles it.
Ask for a photograph of the copyright page and the spine, and ask directly whether there is any musty smell. An honest seller will say.
WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or grade anything, and no marketplace check replaces your own. If a seller will not answer a direct question about condition or origin, that is the answer.
Questions to ask the seller
These are the three that get asked most often about comic books, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Check the indicia page. Later printings of key issues are worth a fraction of firsts and buyers verify immediately.
Photograph the spine directly. Spine ticks and colour breaks are the primary grading factor and buyers assess them first.
Check before listing. Selling a key issue inside a job lot is the most costly mistake in this category.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Check the indicia inside for the printing and date
- Examine the spine under angled light for ticks
- Search sold listings for that issue in comparable condition
Photographs to ask for
If the listing does not already show these, ask — a seller who has the item will send them in minutes:
- The front cover straight on, no glare, filling the frame
- The spine, showing any ticks or colour breaks
- The indicia page with issue and printing details
- The corners and staples, plus any tear, stain or writing
Details to confirm before you commit
- Title, issue number, publisher, year and printing
- Whether it is a key issue, and why
- Condition graded on spine, corners, staples and page colour
- Whether it is graded and slabbed, and by whom
Live comic books listings
Nothing matching is listed at the moment. Browse books for what is live now, or everything on the site — stock changes daily and new listings are free to post, so it is worth checking back.
When to buy
Steady collector demand, with spikes around film and television adaptations of the relevant characters. Key issues sell quickly; common back issues move slowly in bulk.
Prices move against that cycle for a buyer: the cheapest time to buy is when sellers are listing most, not when demand peaks.
Paying and collecting safely
WishThrift does not process payments, hold funds or offer buyer protection — you agree the price and the method with the seller directly, which is what keeps the platform free on both sides. Meet somewhere public where you can, inspect before you pay, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed. Be wary of any seller who wants to move the conversation elsewhere before you have agreed anything.
Selling one instead?
If you already have comic books sitting unused, it is free to list and there is no commission — the price you agree is the amount you keep. Read how to sell comic books for what to photograph and how to price, or what comic books are worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for used comic books?
Around £2 to £39 in good condition, more for barely-used examples and less for anything with a described fault. Compare against the seller’s photographs rather than the grade alone.
How do I check comic books before buying?
Ask for a photograph of the copyright page and the spine, and ask directly whether there is any musty smell. An honest seller will say.
Is buying comic books second hand safe?
Yes, with the ordinary care any private sale needs. WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or hold funds, so inspect before you pay where you can, meet somewhere public, and keep the conversation on the site. Damp, which spreads to whatever you shelve beside it and cannot be reversed. Then edition — a later printing described loosely as a first.
See also: all buying guides · comic books value guide · selling comic books · Books · condition grades.