comic care archiving. Long-term comic book storage without slabbing.

I'm not a fan of having my books slabbed or graded. I know some people use that as a storage method so this is an alternative. Nothing here is special information or techniques and I suspect most of you already do the exact same thing I present here. This video is intended for people new to the hobby who have never archived a book before.
If you want to sell your books and you don't actually like to read them, then having them graded and slabbed is probably your best bet. Clearly you would want to clean and press a book before you perform your archival storage. Using top loaders is an alternate method but that has disadvantages too. Toploader they are harder to store in a box (take up more space), they collect debris, They scratch very easily, you still have to bag and board them, and they dont look as good when presenting or handling. That said, I do use top loaders just for basic protection in some of my books that are more susceptible to damage, particularly as a short-term protection solution.
Presented in this video is one of my three copies of The Amazing Spider-man Vol. 1 Issue 3, the first appearance of doctor octopus and signed by Stan Lee. I probably had this signed in the early to mid 1980s. I can't remember exactly the date but I remember the signing very well!
I bought my supplies at www.ready-set-collect.com
I'm not sponsored by them and they have no idea I am giving them a shout out on this video. Their prices are seem reasonable and they have the archival sizes of bags and boards that I like (4mil - 7.5" Mylar). Honestly its just nice to give my money to someone thats not at Amazon or eBay once in a while. I dont know why you would, but I hope you enjoyed the video.
If you would like me to clean, press, and archive your books in this manner then please contact me here or on instagram at #atomicwebs
/ atomicwebs
#amazingspiderman. #ASM3. #comicbook #storage

[@bizarro999]

So pleased to hear the words "I'm a person who likes to read them, likes to handle them and smell them and touch them." It's an aspect of the hobby that seems lost to some of the newer collectors.

[@ImmaculateComics]

Thanks for the kind words, I feel the same way. Slabs are so sterile and cold. Ugh...

[@bizarro999]

@@ImmaculateComics when I started collecting in the 70s it was because of those very things. I don't have the same attachment to a slab of plastic. For me it doesn't matter anyway as I never sell.

[@ImmaculateComics]

@@bizarro999 same here. I bought my first comic book in 1979 when I was 8 years old. I still have it!

[@robertt9342]

It seems like the new "collectors" aren't really "collecting" or at least they aren't collecting books, just full size comic cards.

[@ImmaculateComics]

@@robertt9342 thats the best description of it I've ever heard in my life!

[@rlewis5696]

I’m happy to see that I’m not the only one who enjoys un-slabbed comics. Please make more of these kind of videos!

[@ImmaculateComics]

I will. Thanks for the support, my friend.

[@micahdante9]

InstaBlaster

[@jayhays8267]

I have been collecting comics for a long time and I do not own one single slabbed book. I surely appreciate slabbed books, but once you slab them they become a HUGE baseball card. Look at the cover, flip it over and look at the back... that's it. Comics are many things, the art work, the stories, but also a time machine. The stories reflect often a simpler time. The adds are like a time capsule, "Don't let them call you skinny!" with now just the opposite, with hundreds of diet plans to loose weight. Sea monkeys, X-Ray glasses, GRIT news papers, "You can make an extra $1.50 per DAY!" Can't have the joy of this with a book sealed in carbonite!

[@ImmaculateComics]

Im with you Jay. No slabs for me.

[@MrJmorrissey]

Thank for putting this video together. It’s great. I recently inherited some classic Silver Age books from my Uncle and was trying to decide what to do with them. He bought them when he was a kid in the 60’s and enjoyed reading them as well. Not the best condition for slabbing, but I want to take the utmost care with them. Your walk through, with some sort of “hard shell” option is likely how I’ll go. Also, I had that same Black Cat poster hanging from my ceiling all through high school. Awesome.

[@ImmaculateComics]

I’m glad to hear you are taking care of your uncles collection. That’s laudable, and I’m sure he’s appreciate your care. Preservation is important, certainly. Let me know if you need any tips!

[@ImmaculateComics]

Lol, I love that Joe Jusko black cat poster. I’ve had it since I was in high school too. About 34 years now! What a classic. I bought it at a place called Lazaar’s Bazaar in Eugene, Oregon on special order since my local comic shop didn’t sell posters at that time.

[@rhelscher]

I've been working on getting my Marvel Transformers series signed and want a way to store them better than just the typical bagged and boarded approach. Thank you for this video!

[@ImmaculateComics]

That is awesome!

[@Fenimore.Cassidy]

I'm like yourself and many others - I still like to read my books. I've been fortunate enough to begin doing this again as I have recently pulled my entire collection out and have been re-boarding and bagging them. Handling them and smelling them has certainly brought back fond memories as I remember my father sneaking my Green Arrow and Batman comics into his workshop to read when I was asleep. And while some still have a faint odor of cigarette smoke, I can't say that I really mind. Looking forward to trying out this method of the clear backing board, mylar, and MIP paper, although I can't seem to find a link to the MIP paper other than eBay or Amazon.

[@GreatBowlsAfire]

Rick, you are hands down the best resource on this topic on youtube. thanks for all this great info, you rock! have a great new year~ 👍

[@ImmaculateComics]

And you are now my favorite viewer, lol! Thanks so much!

[@mikeschroeder9152]

I like the microchamber paper and 4 mil mylar. I have alot of low grade Journey into mystery and it's all I use for them.

[@otakutourguide]

OMG that grail book signed by Stan is so amazing 👏 that is the ultimate book I want outside of a Superman 1 or Action Comics 1.

[@ImmaculateComics]

I’ve met Stan Several times and a few times there was no line!

[@macorourke2222]

Totally awesomeness Brother. Thanks for sharing Your passion and adventures. I love to read My comics as well. I usually get reader copies. So I can enjoy them. Also that's My price point. 😀👍♥️🇺🇸🇨🇦♥️💯💯

[@ImmaculateComics]

That's awesome. Nice to hear from you my friend!@!!

[@archangel0891]

I need those clear backer boards👍🏻1st doc ock is peachy Rick👌🏻

[@ImmaculateComics]

I can make you some and I think someone else it probably selling them too!

[@wheeljack0]

Love your videos. Working my way through them

[@ImmaculateComics]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@rlewis5696]

I enjoyed that video very much. I’d like to see more vid’s of this nature... I do a version of your method. I haven’t used micro fibre paper yet...but I will

[@ImmaculateComics]

Awesome, thank you!

[@joedent3323]

Your channel is great. Very interesting. Thanks for the good work. "LiL'JpD."

[@ImmaculateComics]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@chengdu1959]

Great content as usual, thanks for the video

[@ImmaculateComics]

You're welcome, I appreciate the kind words!

[@spaceviking4966]

I’m with you, never get slabs.

[@ImmaculateComics]

👊🏻

[@stangotigerfists]

I rebagged my small collection with new polybags once, and within a few years they were foggy. Last time I ever bought polybags. Mylar only.

[@ImmaculateComics]

i hear you man. about ten years ago I about an entire pallet of poly bags and backing boards that I thought would last me the rest of my life. I think it was 220 lb of material when I ordered it. Now that I have rebagged and reboarded all of my comics twice since then, I am out of that material. I'm like you, sticking with Mylar, getting away from paper boards (or using the archival 56pt or 80pt boards only) and using the microencapsulation paper for anything older than 1992. Its too much work to keep everything up once you get more than 5,000-6,000 books and I know many people who have a lot more books than that! At some point I may have to face the ugly truth that I have too many comic books (nah)!!!!

[@robertt9342]

Getting back into collecting, I made the decision to get Mylites/Mylar and the halfback boards to avoid going with poly bags and dealing with the hassle of deteriorating bags. Any thing of low value I go with Mylites+ or MYlites 2

[@itcamefromthenerdcave1669]

LOL...Rick: If storage space is a concern, then collecting comic books might not be your game." Me: Hold my beer..." Once heard someone say, "Collecting is just organized hoarding." They aren't wrong!

[@ImmaculateComics]

Ha! You aren’t wrong!

[@miguelrivera7639]

Thank you I also enjoy my comic books and I have been thinking of putting my signed issues in mylite bags but now instead of full back boards I'm going to put them in clear back boards to really make them more appealing thank you it looks great if you have anymore recommendations please let me know thanks .

[@ImmaculateComics]

Of course! I will start selling arcylic board on my online website once I get a few legal issues settled and my laser cutter is up and running again!

[@stanlee5465]

I'm surprised that there don't seem to be very many products available to 'slab' book yourself? The only options I've seen are the comicskins or the ugw magnetic clear plastic shells, but neither seems to have very good distribution, so international shipping is crazy...

[@ImmaculateComics]

I have access to a laser cutter. It wouldn't be difficult to make "slabs" from acrylic that way.

[@teflonron835]

Wow ! Great tip 👍

[@ImmaculateComics]

Glad you liked it!

[@potentialhotcomics2716]

You should try... Ultra pro one touch comic holder & ultra pro conic Preserver

[@ImmaculateComics]

I will!

[@potentialhotcomics2716]

Here's a demo link kzbin.info/www/bejne/nafLqX-MjdB1q5Y

[@stevebines4484]

Thank you for another great lesson I never thought about the book rubbing on the sleeve . I just did my first CGC SLABBING back a lot of things I have learned since submitting 5hem but I am okay with the grades I did this to preserve what I like. Cleaning was something I did not even know about same with pressing now I do both and almost enjoy doing this as much as collecting. I hope you will check out my channel

[@ImmaculateComics]

Thanks Steve! I will check your your channel. I hope you are having fun!

[@chunkymilk]

could you say why you chose the wall-safe tape in particular please? i’ve heard about people using magic tape, painter’s tape or e.gerber’s double-sided archival tape too so it would be interesting to hear your reasoning.

[@ImmaculateComics]

Sure! It’s because when you do get an accidental tape stick on your book and peel the tape away, some of the tape adhesive is always left on the book itself with any tape, even if you can’t see it easily. The wall safe tape adhesive is soluble even in warm water and comes right off if you steam the book and then wipe it!

[@jayhays8267]

I put my $$ books in a mylite 2 then in a boarded polybag.

[@ImmaculateComics]

double protection!

[@briangmurray6367]

Greetings, the Mylar bag you demonstrated, was it a 4 mil bag as it really looked like a 2mil Mylite?

[@ImmaculateComics]

upon measuring with my micrometer you are correct. that one was 2mil. good eye!

[@marcusmuse4787]

cgc uses microchamber paper I was wondering if it really helps because I have a book that I used the paper on and the smell hasn't changed and its been a few months but hopefully it does work.

[@ImmaculateComics]

I wondered the same thing. I took a piece of it our of a slab that was 12 years old and scanned it with FTIR spectroscopy and Raman. That particular paper was no different than a brand new sheet. it had not absorbed anything that I could detect in 12 years from a golden age book that was very stinky.

[@LU3MC2003]

99% of my comics are stored in 4mil Mylar bags with 42mil acid free back boards. I do own over 100 books that are slabbed

[@ImmaculateComics]

You are a meticulous man!. Only about 1800 of my books are stored in the thicker mylar with the thicker backing boards. I got too lazy to go through them all. I don't prefer slabs at all but most of my books that are worth more than $10,000 are slabbed just so I can get the irreplaceable collectible insurance on them. I also store them off-site in a secure location, so it's almost like they don't exist to me!

[@Gameaddict2o9]

@7:24, Don't ever tap a comic book on any surface. That's just a big no no.

[@ImmaculateComics]

Thanks for the tip!

[@DrVonChilla]

It's very simple.....off-the-rack and into Mylar. Don't EVER pull the book from it's Mylar home, even after 40 years. It's called DVC, not CGC. My first Mylar-ed, DVC-ed books were at the end of Frank Miller's DD run in 1982. Hello?!? Is it just ME?!?!? This is NOT some revolutionary thing.....and if it IS considered "revolutionary", I'm one of the ORIGINAL revolutionary front. THE END 😄

[@Asian_Connection]

Can someone help answer this question? I have so much problem with CGC new slabs. 8 out of 10 books shipped gets damaged with the book sliding in the case. The damages varies from front cover separating from staples, dent corners, fold edges and crack spine. Does anyone have any recommendations on how to deal with this serious CGC slab defects? Sooner or later CGC is going to get a class action lawsuit for their defective case.

[@ImmaculateComics]

That sounds serious, I’ve never heard of that before. Can you share photos!? I hate slabs, myself and rarely use them.

[@Asian_Connection]

@@ImmaculateComics Can I share phots on KZbin Chat?

[@dolbow]

Also, have you tried the other clear boards: Comic Clear, Comic Skin, and Invisiboard from Bags Unlimited? I have previously bought the same comic pro line boards you're using and they seem quite sturdy, whereas the YT videos of the Comic Clear and Comic Skin suggest they are much more flexible, but they are half the cost. I can't find any comparisons - how clear they are, how rigid, and archival quality. Thanks!

[@ImmaculateComics]

Ive tried the comic skins and they are great, I love them. I have not tried invisiboard. Thanks for the suggestion! I should get a bunch of them and try some testing. I am cutting my own boards not from my own materials so it will be easier to do!

[@muursnorthwestamexem8581]

What’s the names fortress

[@jimstienbarger6388]

When you use the white backing boards what brand do you use? Great video

[@ImmaculateComics]

they are cut from a large sheet of SBS card stock from a local paper mill.

[@jimstienbarger6388]

@@ImmaculateComics Thank you

[@richieannarelli5714]

What would you grade your ASM number three at what page in the book is that era made thank you

[@ImmaculateComics]

Its one of the early pages on the bottom right hand corner. The book it in my safe and difficult to get to right now to check. Its low grade, probably 1.8-20

[@justinadams6523]

Comic clear is kinda new. Clear backing 6.75x10.5 for current. .88mm thickness idk what that is as pt. Question to you will that fit into a current bag? I’m new to all this. Also the plastic backing do that mean I don’t have to change it out every few years? If so that would be great. Just looking for help

[@ImmaculateComics]

yeahif you use the right material you will *never* have to change it out within your lifetime!

[@justinadams6523]

@@ImmaculateComics so if I did mylite Mylar and this clear backing from comic clear I should be good? What sizes should I do for a tight fit?

[@Asian_Connection]

I can't stop watching your videos. I have a question. Can I use 3% calcium carbonate buffer paper as the chamber paper?

[@ImmaculateComics]

Well I’m flattered! Yeah you certainly can use that paper, in fact it’s a great idea!

[@dolbow]

Thanks for posting - so, in the end, are you saying the mylar should be 1/4 or 1/2 larger than the pro line clear board? (I saw the text bubble says 1/2 inch, so 7" clear board and 7 1/2" bag but then I think right after that you said you're starting over with a 7 1/4" bag.

[@ImmaculateComics]

I forget now, but when I get home I will remeasure!

[@b4r0n5a84n]

I just got a CGC 9.8 Something is Killing the Children #1 and there are 3 tiny but obvious color-breaking ticks on the spine. Case is new, perfect and has NOT been tampered with or opened, but it is so obviously NOT a 9.8. I've looked at other copies for sale in a 9.6 that appear to be in far better condition. My problem is: do I re-submit it and lose the grade, or keep it in the CGC holder knowing that the case is obviously wrong?

[@ImmaculateComics]

Well, it depends on what you want to do with the book. If you want to sell it then you just disclose that you think CGC made an error and it probably a 9.4 or 9.2 in your own estimation. If you want to keep it for yourself then If you want to read the book then you remove it from the case and you do your own archival storage. Otherwise, just leave it in the case and enjoy owning it. To me, it sounds like the conflict in grade versus appearance will always bother you. It certainly would bother me. If it were me I would remove it from the case and possibly demand a refund from CGC. I hope that helps.

[@b4r0n5a84n]

@@ImmaculateComics Thanks for the reply. It gives me a different perspective for sure. I plan on hanging onto it and I've got another copy for reading. But, you're right, this will always bother me about it, lol.

[@rogerpruitt2097]

Great video. Just wondering if you have personally tested the acidity of those clear boards? Also, could they become acidic over time?

[@ImmaculateComics]

Hi Roger, Thats an interesting question and I have not done that. acidity usually makes the most sense for aqueous liquids and sometime for porous media with a huge surface area that also absorbs moisture (like paper). In that sense it can have some water in it and then you can chop it up and then extract that water and thereby measure the pH with a junction electrode. The basic definition of pH makes less sense for plastics but it doesn't mean that it couldn't be inferred somehow. I suppose I could chop one up in a grinder and soak it in water. Now you've got me thinking!

[@rogerpruitt2097]

@@ImmaculateComics Glad to make you think! Haha.

[@BrooklynAvenue]

You don't have to bag and board top loaders.

[@ImmaculateComics]

I had a Spider-Man cover get stuck in the corner of a top loader once. One corner tore off when I removed it from the top loader. This was only once and it was a long time ago, but I’ve since always at bagged the comics I have placed in toploaders for long term storage .

[@alexfilma16]

Is it worth getting toploaders for comics just for added protection?

[@ImmaculateComics]

Probably not. There are better options if the book is worth more money or is more fragile. But that’s just my humble opinion

[@johnburnett6489]

​@@ImmaculateComics7:20

[@chrisw1449]

how long does it last before you have to change the comic book out for another one?

[@ImmaculateComics]

im not really sure, at least 11 years

[@chrisw1449]

@@ImmaculateComics It's my first time trying store comics book that I want to keep for a long time

[@jasonredden8080]

Rick, is there a way to restore the color of a cover that has sun fading?

[@ImmaculateComics]

well my official answer is "no" but with a caveat that I do not recommend. If you can dissolve and remove just the outer layer of the faded ink, you can sometime make the book look like new again. But I fail at this about half the time.

[@rstet1]

Too many parts. Sounds too complicated.