Quality Guarantee
Wicked Comic Books Quality Guarantee
At Wicked Comic Books, we know collectors care about condition. Every book we sell is handled, screened, packed, and shipped with collector-grade care.
Our goal is simple: when you order from us, you should feel confident that your book arrives as a high-grade collectible, not as a tossed-in-the-mail comic.
Our Grade Guarantee
Unless otherwise stated in the listing, Wicked Comic Books guarantees the following condition standards:
| Product Type | Guaranteed Minimum Condition | Collector Grade Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Wicked Comic Books releases | 9.2 or better | Near Mint- or better |
| Limited Edition Exclusives | 9.4 or better | Near Mint or better |
| Premium foil, metal, specialty, or ultra-limited editions | 9.4 or better unless otherwise stated | Near Mint or better |
This means we do not guarantee a flawless 10.0 book. We guarantee a high-grade collectible copy that meets or exceeds the condition standard listed above.
Raw comics can have small manufacturing, printing, binding, or handling imperfections and still qualify as high-grade collectibles.
What 9.2 or Better Means
A 9.2 condition comic is considered Near Mint-. This is still a high-grade collectible copy.
A 9.2 book may have a small number of minor allowable defects, such as:
| Allowable at 9.2 | Not Acceptable Under Our Guarantee |
|---|---|
| Minor spine ticks | Major spine splits |
| Light corner wear | Torn corners |
| Small non-distracting handling marks | Heavy creases |
| Minor bindery or printing flaws | Water damage |
| Slight edge wear | Major staining |
| Small production imperfections | Missing pages or cutouts |
| Light surface wear visible under close inspection | Detached cover |
For our standard releases, 9.2 or better is our minimum guarantee unless the listing clearly states otherwise.
What 9.4 or Better Means
A 9.4 condition comic is considered Near Mint. This is the standard we use for our Limited Edition Exclusives.
A 9.4 book should present very cleanly and may only show minor, limited imperfections.
| Allowable at 9.4 | Not Acceptable Under Our Guarantee |
|---|---|
| Very minor spine stress | Large color-breaking spine stress |
| Tiny corner touch | Noticeable corner bends |
| Small bindery or manufacturing defect | Major cover wrinkle |
| Very light handling mark | Scratches, dents, or stains that distract from display |
| Clean cover presentation | Any defect that makes the book appear mishandled |
For Wicked Comic Books Limited Edition Exclusives, 9.4 or better is our minimum guarantee unless otherwise stated.
What 9.6 Means
A 9.6 condition comic is considered Near Mint+. These copies are exceptionally clean, but even a 9.6 may still have one or more tiny manufacturing or handling imperfections.
A 9.6 is not the same thing as perfect. It is a very high-grade book with strong eye appeal and only very minor allowable defects.
Important Note About Raw Comic Grading
Our books are sold raw unless specifically listed as graded or slabbed.
That means our condition guarantee is based on careful in-house screening and industry-standard comic grading expectations. We do not claim that every raw book will receive the exact same grade from CGC, CBCS, or any other third-party grading company.
Third-party grading is subjective, and final assigned grades can vary depending on the grader, pressing, lighting, handling, shipping, and manufacturing factors.
Our promise is that we screen our books honestly, pack them carefully, and stand behind the condition standard we advertise.
Printing and Manufacturing Defects
Some minor defects can happen during printing, cutting, folding, binding, or shipping from the printer before the books ever reach us.
These may include:
| Common Production Issue | Covered Under Guarantee? |
|---|---|
| Tiny bindery ticks | Usually acceptable if minor |
| Slight edge roughness from cutting | Usually acceptable if minor |
| Small printing variation | Usually acceptable |
| Slight staple alignment variation | Usually acceptable |
| Major ink rub, heavy denting, or crushed corners | Not acceptable |
| Water damage, tearing, or missing pages | Not acceptable |
We screen books before shipment, but minor production-level imperfections can still fall within high-grade standards.
How We Protect Your Books
Every collectible comic is packed with care before it leaves Wicked Comic Books.
Our standard collector handling includes:
| Protection Step | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Condition screening | Books are checked before shipment |
| Mylar protection | Books are placed in collector-grade Mylar when included with the item |
| Backing support | Books are supported to help reduce bending |
| COA included when applicable | Limited editions include a Certificate of Authenticity when stated |
| Secure packing | Orders are packed to reduce movement in transit |
We take packaging seriously because these books are collectibles, not throwaway items.
Shipping Damage
Once a package is handed to the carrier, some handling is outside of our control. That said, we still want customers to feel taken care of.
If your package arrives with obvious carrier damage, please contact us as soon as possible with photos of:
| Needed Photo | Why We Need It |
|---|---|
| Outer package | Shows carrier handling damage |
| Shipping label | Confirms the order |
| Damaged area of the book | Shows the issue clearly |
| Full front and back cover | Helps us review the overall condition |
We review issues case by case and will work toward a fair resolution when a book arrives below our stated condition guarantee.
What Is Not Covered
Our guarantee does not cover every possible situation.
The following are generally not covered:
| Situation | Reason |
|---|---|
| Buyer handling damage after delivery | We cannot verify condition after the item is opened and handled |
| Damage from improper storage | Heat, moisture, pressure, or stacking can damage comics |
| Third-party grading disagreement | Raw condition estimates are not a guaranteed CGC/CBCS result |
| Minor allowable defects within the stated grade range | High-grade does not mean flawless |
| Opened, bent, pressed, or altered books after delivery | Condition can change after handling |
Buyer-Friendly Summary
We guarantee that our standard comics are high-grade collector copies, generally 9.2 or better.
We guarantee that our Limited Edition Exclusives are held to an even higher standard, generally 9.4 or better.
We do not promise perfect 10.0 books, but we do promise honest screening, careful handling, strong packaging, and a collector-first approach.
When you buy from Wicked Comic Books, you are buying a limited collectible from a seller that understands condition matters.