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How to Maintain Comic Books

The hobby of comic book collecting goes back to when the first comic books appeared at newsstands in the 1930s. Collectors are driven by multiple reasons for collecting, principally nostalgia and the potential profit they can bring. Most older comics failed to survive the aging process because they were made of cheap newsprint paper and people generally stored them in basements and attics where the elements, such as light and humidity, disintegrated them. Now, comics are generally made on high-grade paper and collectors can preserve them with a number of different products available to the collector.

Things You'll Need

Mylar or Mylite bags
Adhesive tape
Acid-free comic boxes

Instructions

- 1
  Avoid handling the comic books you wish to maintain as much as possible; acid and residue in fingertips can stick to comics and potentially eat through them as they age.
- 2
  Use form-fitting Mylar or Mylite bags. Choose the right size for the comics you are protecting. Silver Age comics are a slightly larger size comic book than current comic books and graphic novels have been made in several different sizes. Carefully slide the comic into the bag without bending or creasing any of the pages or covers. Close the flap and seal with adhesive tape.
- 3
  Store in acid-free boxes. Lay them flat down on the bottom of the box, then lay another one on top with the spine of the comic book on the other side; do not store them standing up as this puts too much pressure on the edge of the spine of the cover. Cover the box with the lid.
- 4
  Store the comic book boxes in an area away from direct sunlight. The area should be warm, but not hot, and should have a humidity level around 50 percent. Store at least six inches above the ground to protect against any possible moisture damage.

Comic Book Collecting