Can you sell graphic novels that are damaged?
Yes. Damaged stock has its own buyers: people who repair and restore, people who want the material rather than the object, and people who want a cheaper one and do not mind a flaw. Nobody should be surprised when it arrives.
The damage buyers look for on graphic novels
These are the flaws that move graphic novels down the grades, and the ones a buyer will check first:
- Creased spines from reading
- Sun-faded covers
- Incomplete runs with gaps
- Widely reprinted titles still in print
Grading it honestly
Fair covers something heavily used, or with a described fault or missing part: around £2 to £14. For Parts covers something not working or incomplete, sold as seen: roughly £1 to £8. Grades are seller-declared and nobody inspects them for you, so grading up does not raise what you get — it produces a buyer who arrives expecting something else. All five grades explained.
Working out what you actually have
Establish the flaw properly rather than guessing at it:
- Check the printing number on the copyright page
- Photograph the spines directly
- List exactly which volumes you have
Photographing the flaw
Photograph the damage directly and in focus — it is the evidence that the rest of the description is honest:
- All volumes lined up with spines readable, in order
- The covers fanned out so the count is obvious
- One interior spread, showing print and page condition
- Any spine crease, corner bump, sticker or water mark
What to state in the listing
Alongside the flaw itself, buyers of damaged graphic novels want these confirmed:
- Series title, and exactly which volume numbers are included
- Publisher and edition, including omnibus or deluxe formats
- Whether the run is complete
- Condition of spines, covers and pages
Series, volume range and publisher: “[Series] Volumes 1-8, Complete Set, [Publisher]”. Volume numbers are the search. If the run is incomplete, say which volumes are included in the title rather than letting a buyer count them from a photograph.
What buyers will ask
Answer these in the listing rather than waiting to be asked:
List every number explicitly. Collectors are filling gaps in a run and a vague ‘several volumes’ guarantees a question or a lost sale.
Confirm against the published run, not just what you own. A set described as complete that stops mid-story is a genuine complaint.
Photograph them lined up. Spine creasing is the standard wear on graphic novels and buyers judge condition almost entirely from it.
Is it worth repairing first?
Only where it is cheap and visibly well done — a clumsy repair costs more than the flaw it hides. What lifts the price:
- Complete runs and omnibus editions
- First printings of sought-after titles
- Spines with no creasing or reading damage
- Out-of-print volumes
If the work would cost more than the gap between £8 and what sound ones fetch, sell them as they are damaged and let the buyer decide.
When to list it
Steady year round with a lift before Christmas. Complete runs of popular series sell within days; scattered single volumes are slow unless they fill a known gap.
Getting it to the buyer
Heavy for their size, so weigh before quoting. Pack flat in a rigid box with card between the covers and the box wall, because corner damage is what buyers grade on.
WishThrift does not process payments, arrange delivery or hold funds. Confirm the money has cleared before the item leaves your hands, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed.
Ready to list them? Free to list, no commission, and neither side pays a buyer-protection fee — create a free account, or read the full graphic novels selling guide if yours turns out to be sound.
Frequently asked questions
Can you sell damaged graphic novels?
Yes. Damaged graphic novels typically are worth £1 to £8 against £4 to £30 undamaged, and there is a real market in repair, restoration and craft stock. Creased spines from reading
Is it worth repairing first?
Only where the repair is cheap and visibly done well. What buyers pay for is complete runs and omnibus editions — a repair that draws attention to the flaw can leave you worse off.
How should I describe the damage?
Precisely, with a photograph of the flaw itself. List every number explicitly. Collectors are filling gaps in a run and a vague ‘several volumes’ guarantees a question or a lost sale. Vague wording is what produces the message asking for a refund.
See also: what graphic novels are worth by condition · how to sell graphic novels · condition grades explained · all broken & damaged guides · all selling guides.