Pgx Vs. Cgc

History

• For many years comic book collectors were without a standardized system for grading the value of their collectibles. In 2000, CGC stepped up to the plate to fill that void, and according to their website they have now graded over 1.5 million comic books. Recently, however, a competitor in the field of comic book authentication has arisen called PGX. CGC is still the industry leader, but many collectors have begun to see PGX as a viable option due to lower pricing and quality work.

Benefits

• The primary benefit of third-party comic book grading systems like CGC or PGX is that they take the uncertainty out of pricing collectibles. By standardizing the way comics are rated, these companies have taken the "guesswork out of the grading process for both collectors and dealers," according to PGX. This is especially true in regards to the increasing popularity of trading and selling comic books over the Internet. When you buy a comic certified by either CGC or PGX, you can be assured it has been approved by an expert. Another benefit is the process of "slabbing," or encasing of your comic book, which gives it a protective seal and ensures longevity.

Drawbacks

• There are some concerns, however, when it comes to the use of PGX or CGC. Some collectors view a uniform grading system as a way to manipulate market prices and inflate comic book values. While this is a monetary concern, the primary issue for comic book lovers is that once the comic is encased you can no longer read it. The seals are able to be safely broken, but the comic must then be re-evaluated.

Differences

• Both PGX and CGC adhere to very strict policies and procedures when they are evaluating the value of a comic book. Both companies employ experts in the field who rigorously examine each comic for flaws and then assign a grade based on standardized factors. The differences in the two include slightly different grading systems, costs and methods of submitting your comics. PGX is generally less expensive and allows you to directly submit a comic to them, as opposed to CGC who require you to submit the comic through a certified dealer.

Considerations

• When deciding on whether to have your comic books evaluated by CGC or PGX, there are a couple of things you may want to consider. Basically, it comes down to how serious of an investment you want to make in comic books. For the casual reader who simply enjoys to collect a few favorites, it may only be necessary to authenticate a few of your more expensive comics, or none at all. However, for the serious collector, services like CGC and PGX are invaluable for creating standardized systems that make the comic book market much easier to evaluate.