In a move that’s sending ripples through the comic book and magazine collecting community, Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) is stepping up to the plate, ready to grade your prized paper treasures. Comic enthusiasts who’ve been cracking the CGC spine to get things graded have to adjust their bookmarks, as PSA has charted a timeline and detailed pricing for their new service launching on July 14. It’s almost like welcoming a surprise twist in a long-running comic series nobody saw coming.
For those collectors whose love for Modern-era comics—those stories spun and inked from 1975 to present day—runs deep, PSA promises to cradle those precious panels in pristine plastic cases for starting at $25.99 each. This coincides with a turnaround timeline as dependable as the regularity of monthly comic releases—they estimate a 20-business-day period for their Modern-age artistic adventures. True to its roots of ensuring only the finest conditioning for collectibles, PSA is also embarking on a mission to flatten more than just the proverbial learning curve. A pressing service is being unfurled at a friendly $11.99 starting fee, meant to smooth out the wrinkles in your paper-bound storied history. However, when combined with the grading service, the press will metaphorically stretch the time as well—the turnaround ballooning to double on entry-level tiers.
Though initially famed for its stringent standards in sports and trading card grading, PSA’s pivot into comics isn’t unprecedented. It’s akin to a superhero picking up a shield after having a long and respectful tenure wielding hammers and amulets. PSA’s venture into the paper world targets the rollercoaster of emotions in the hearts of collectors by directly challenging Certified Guaranty Company (CGC), the reigning overlord in the comic grading throne room. Indeed, every one of those golden grails—those top 10 most expensive comics ever sold—got their shiny numeric accolades courtesy of CGC’s seal of approval. PSA now runs into this fierce competition armed with not only tools but a mind map inspired by competitive pricing.
The PSA pricing tableau is anything but chaotic. Pricing wisdom borrowed from years assessing baseball cards and Pokemon treasures, the strategy is clear-cut: be competitive, perhaps even a touch more enticing than the knights of CGC. By crafting a financial blueprint that plays friendly with the wallets of collectors hungry for validation and sleepy after years of one-dominion grading, PSA readies to become the page-turner of the comic industry saga.
But this isn’t the first whisper of PSA in the stupefying world of illustrated adventures. Back in the not-so distant days of 2024, they softly announced their intent with prototype holders unveiled during the grand festivus of nerdom known as San Diego Comic-Con. The partnership? Marvel, aided by the sartorial stylings of the fashion chandeliers over at Kith. Amidst the parade of “Marvel Super Villains” sneakers, a select few were bestowed with exclusive comic variants, encased by PSA. One particular inky treasure, a 1-of-1 Venom-Spider-Man sketch variant, found itself punched up to an astronomical $30,000 bid on eBay—soundly setting the collectible cash registers singing with its sale.
As PSA takes those initial halting steps into comic fidelity, the lore of graded comics and magazines stands on edge. Will collectors find sanctuary in this new oasis, or will CGC, an entrenched hallmark of the industry, continue to cradle their precious? With PSA’s renowned pedigree offering a new path, the market keenly watches. This isn’t just another battle, it’s a reset, a shift, a fantastic origin tale for PSA that might just lead collectors to conjure new loyalties and alliances.
