Collectors of comics and magazines can expect some fresh ink on grading options, as the golden sheen of PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) sets its sights on carving out a slice of this collector’s pie. Typically the undisputed king of grading sports and trading cards, PSA has now trained its magnifying glass on the comic book realm. Known to many as a sacred ground until now largely dominated by CGC (Certified Guaranty Company), the comic book market is gearing up for a new era in verification, authentication, and well… competition.
Just this week, PSA unveiled its comprehensive pricing model and estimated turnaround times for what promises to be a transformative foray into comic and magazine grading. The company’s services are slated to hit the market running on July 14, offering collectors an alternative that may make them think twice about their current grading loyalties.
For collectors and dealers cradling piles of Modern-era (1975 onwards) books, PSA is prepared to provide grading services starting at a neat $25.99 per item. These items come with a tidy estimated turnaround time of 20 business days, making the service an attractive proposition. Supplementing this grading service, PSA has also rolled out a pressing initiative for comics and magazines, a tender hands-on treatment starting at $11.99. With pressing involved, however, collectors should anticipate turnaround timelines to expand to nearly double their standard pace at the entry-level.
PSA’s entry into the comic and magazine arena is by no means a casual shot in the dark. Instead, it’s a strategic move designed to introduce some much-needed dynamism to a space where CGC’s iron grip has been stalwart. That PSA has arrived on the scene is perhaps already a loud announcement, but the firm’s clever undercutting vis-à-vis pricing nudges it up a notch. In many instances, PSA’s tiers are not only on par with, but might even seem light on the wallet compared to CGC, setting the battleground for hardback hustlers itching for a little more bang—certainly not for less—per buck.
PSA is anything but a stranger to comic book aficionados. The company’s prior incursion into nerd-dom came under wraps in 2024 amidst the hallowed halls of San Diego Comic-Con. Here, in one of nerd culture’s most anticipated annual pilgrimages, PSA got cozy with a collaboration boasting Marvel and fashion brand, Kith. The result? A limited edition “Marvel Super Villains” sneaker drop, alongside exclusive comic variants specially encapsulated by PSA. Perhaps the most memorable item of this creative endeavor was a rare 1-of-1 Venom-Spider-Man sketch variant, which found a gavel-bang-worthy home for a healthy $30,000 on eBay earlier this year.
Now that PSA is officially accepting submissions, analysts, collectors, and curious onlookers alike will be intently observing how hobbyists take to this newly minted contender. With PSA bringing its name recognition, considerable access points, and robust infrastructure to this new venture, the whispers from the back issues may grow louder. The narrative is not just one of pricing wars but also seeks answers to who can more innovatively provide protection and assurance to stories inked on paper.
After all, comics have held not only nostalgia but also burgeoning investment potentials over the years. They’re keepers of history and imagination wrapped in single editions that often find themselves caught in the whirlwind of appreciation or degradation based on the grader’s pen. As such, PSA’s journey into this previously closely guarded bastion of comic culture isn’t simply a business maneuver—it’s potentially the start of a newer chapter in how the tales of superheroes and villains are safeguarded.
As July unfolds, turning the pages will offer insights into how CGC responds to its newly arrived challenger and whether PSA can mine its successes in the sports and card industries to carve out an equal or greater legacy among comics. Collectors are poised for a thrilling narrative; though if these stories have taught us anything, it’s that every great villain needs a worthwhile nemesis—and here’s hoping that there’s room on the top shelf for more than one expert.
