Once the undisputed kingpin in the realm of sports and trading card grading, the Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) has ruffled the collectibles community’s feathers with an audacious move. They’ve decided to step into the comic book and magazine grading arena—a domain comfortably patrolled for years by Certified Guaranty Company (CGC). And if there’s anything collectors love more than their cherished collections, it’s a bit of healthy competition, especially when it brings better prices and services along with it.
Picture this: It’s July 14, and PSA’s eagerly anticipated grading service for comic books and magazines has officially taken off. Modern-era comic book aficionados (those who have a soft spot for anything penned post-1975) can sigh in relief as PSA’s new service offers a starting price of $25.99 per item, inclusive of a promised maximum 20-business-day turnaround. Let’s consider those elements: PSA is not just offering prices that tickle the budget-friendly bone but also committing to a turnaround timeline that won’t have collectors gnawing their nails down to the bone while waiting for their treasures to return.
But that’s not all. PSA isn’t just putting its best comic book graded foot forward; it’s also throwing in a pressing service—because who doesn’t need a little extra finesse and flair? For a starting price of $11.99, the pressing service promises to keep your prized paper as pristine as the day it was printed, albeit with a slightly extended waiting period. If you choose to avail of pressing, PSA advises that patience will indeed be a virtue, as this process could double your turnaround time at the introductory tier.
This leap into paper-based collectibles poses an intriguing challenge to CGC, which has reigned supreme, stamping grade percentages on titles such as Superman #1 and Detective Comics #27 for years. To further tantalize collectors, PSA hints that while its grading costs might mirror or even slightly undercut those of CGC, it’s not just a matter of dollars and cents. PSA seems to be betting that a reputation built atop trading card triumphs can seamlessly transition into tissue-thin paper treasures.
For comic book enthusiasts with their eyes peeled on rarity, unique offerings, and the all-important grade, this isn’t merely the entrance of another player onto the field; it’s a potential seismic shift with PSA here to disrupt the status quo. It’s worth noting, however, that PSA is no stranger to comic paraphernalia. Last year, during the dizzy excitement of San Diego Comic-Con 2024, PSA dipped its toes with a tantalizing teaser: a snug partnership between Marvel and trendy streetwear brand Kith. This collaboration yielded exclusive, limited-time comic variants tucked inside prototype PSA holders. These weren’t just any sneakers; they were part of Kith’s “Marvel Super Villains” line, which went on to achieve geekdom glory—a one-of-a-kind Venom-Spider-Man folly fetched a cool $30,000 on eBay earlier this year.
Now as the comic book world braces for this heavyweight encounter, the stakes have never been so graphically detailed. With PSA’s name attached to this new venture, the curiosity isn’t just about who will win the collectors’ hearts (and wallets) but how the entire hobby may evolve with this new entrant poised to shake things up.
Will CGC update its approach, keeping its crown snugly seated? Can PSA’s competitive strategy carve out a fan base who swear by their new grading system? For collectors, it’s an exciting chapter yet to unfold, and one all are eager to read through to the end, likely in mint condition.
