The world of comic book collecting is about to get a shake-up as Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) prepares to step onto the stage long dominated by the Certified Guaranty Company (CGC). This July, PSA will make its official foray into the comic book and magazine grading market, a move that has collectors buzzing and curious about how the newcomer will fit into a landscape where giants tread heavily.
Kicking off its services on July 14, PSA has announced its pricing tiers and turnaround timelines, giving collectors a clearer sense of what to expect. The company has set its sights on grading Modern-era books—those published from 1975 onwards—with an initial price starting at a palatable $25.99 per item. The promise is that this process will see a turnaround within a swift 20 business days, barring any unexpected hiccups.
In a twist designed to sweeten the deal for serious collectors, PSA is also introducing a pressing service. For an additional starting price of $11.99, comics and magazines can receive a spa treatment to ensure they are in the best condition before grading. However, those taking advantage of the pressing service should be patient, as this will extend the turnaround time, doubling it at the entry-level tier.
With CGC having graded all the top 10 most expensive comics ever sold, PSA’s entrance is nothing short of audacious. Yet, PSA is no wide-eyed novice in the sphere of collectible valuation. Its formidable reputation as a leading grader of sports and trading cards provides a robust foundation upon which it hopes to build its comic grading enterprise.
In casting their lot amongst comic enthusiasts, PSA is bringing not just competitive pricing but a strategic allure aimed at shifting collector loyalties. The pricing structure is being set to compete directly with CGC’s established rates, sometimes even edging them out with a more attractive cost for the same level of service. It’s a calculated gamble, one that banking on current market undersaturation—a market that, until now, hasn’t seen much in the way of new challengers in recent years.
PSA’s venture into comics isn’t entirely out of left field. The seeds of its comic book ambitions were planted back in 2024, when the company made waves at the San Diego Comic-Con. It was during this illustrious gathering that PSA debut its prototype holders in a collaboration with Marvel and the fashion brand Kith, sneaking into the visual catalog of comic aficionados. The pairing of “Marvel Super Villains” sneakers with exclusive comic variants, securely encapsulated by PSA, was but a whisper of their future plans, yet it caught the attention of those who were watching closely. One such item, a venomous Venom-Spider-Man sketch variant, was nabbed for an impressive $30,000 on eBay, a sign of the tight-knit marriage of rarity and value that PSA promises to deliver.
As PSA gears up to officially open the floodgates for comic book and magazine submissions, the anticipation among collectors and dealers is unmistakable. What makes this development even more electrifying is PSA’s long-established name recognition and robust logistical network. These assets position PSA as a formidable contender, potentially disrupting a field that has enjoyed relatively little upheaval under CGC’s reign.
How the collecting community responds to this new contender stepping into the ring remains to be seen, though it’s likely that many will test the waters—drawn by PSA’s reputation for detailed and reliable grading in other collectible markets. The acceptance rate of PSA’s new comic grading services could significantly shape the future of comic collecting, introducing fresh dynamics and possibly even adjusting the scales of comic book pricing and value perception.
The comic book market, intricate and rich with history, may find itself at the crossroads of tradition and innovation. PSA’s entrance could very well herald a new chapter, one in which options abound for the collector, and choice becomes as integral a part of the hobby as nostalgia and exclusivity. For those holding comics dear to their hearts, or for those who simply see the investment potential in ink on paper, this emerging competition between PSA and CGC might be the epic battle the comic world never knew it needed.
