How Comics Are Graded With Todd McFarlane & CGC! - That Collectibles Show

Today on That Collectibles Show, host Chris Killian sits down with comic book legend Todd McFarlane to talk about the crazy world of grading comics...how those comic books (and games, and any other collectible you can imagine) are graded...was goes into the rating....and just how much money a few decimals in either direction can mean for your favorite comic book!
So sit back and relax as Todd McFarlane and the people at CGC, the industry's biggest grading company, and find out if you are sitting on a gold mine of old comics and transformers toys, or just a well loved junk pile!
#cgc #toddmcfarlane #collectibles

[@eggplantcomics8336]

My takeaway is that the graders have really tiny over crowded desks. I enjoyed watching them manhandle books dangling off the work area as they grade.

[@DJRonnieG]

CGC has wonderful staff. One day I was checking out random boths on the convention floor (Retropalooza in Arlington), when I stumbled into to the GCC booth and ask "what are you selling?" The young men told me about CGC's services and at the behest of their boss (the young lady appeared to be the boss) I was given a grading sample in the of a MTG card in a "slab". That experience raised my awareness of the concept of grading and the industry thereof. If or when I decide to have items graded, I would not hesitate to reach out to CGC and I recommend you (the reader) consider doing the same.

[@TK_junction]

Fantastic!! Very fun elements with Todd’s signature story and history, and excellent perspective coming from CGC directly. Excellent piece. Thanks so much.

[@robphoenix1182]

This is a great video. Actual info on how they grade. Much appreciated!

[@kahnlives]

I swear I never noticed the slight defects on that batman cover until now😮

[@rancosteel]

The late great Joseph Barbera of Hanna Barbera invented the DNA pen in the 90's. A person's DNA would be mixed in the ink of a special pen. When the signature needed to be authenticated the signer had a handheld electronic reader that would recognize the DNA. I'm surprised it never took off.

[@verified893]

He signed a few books for me. No line and no charge at a local con. This was when I was 9. I'm now 40 years old and it's crazy to see where he has taken it.

[@k-cx7137]

The way the grader was handling those books gave me anxiety

[@jerryunderwood6130]

They actually have to touch the book and go through it to give a grade. In Matt's handling and the modern grader, I see no issues with their handling.

[@markserpa4511]

​@jerryunderwood6130 I remember seeing fingerprint stains on some kids comics they brought to school. I never brought them to school. And if I shared handling of each other's comics I'd definitely pull any fool who didn't have respect for them.

[@gregparks1785]

Great video! Todd seems like such a nice guy, it’s great hearing his stories.

[@ricbeau3761]

Thank you for the T. explanation 😊

[@Groglor]

Todd seems like a cool fun nice guy. Also im suprised to see the graders letting the comics flopping around in their hands and handling them with no gloves.

[@jerryunderwood6130]

You don't use gloves when grading. This allows the graders to feel for glue any surface additions on the book.

[@AndrewSunada]

This guy is literally printing money..."sometimes I just randomly decide to write my full name on it" instant higher price...

[@MadPunky]

Interviewer: "Do you ever think that someone can tamper with the cases and insert a higher grade label for a lower grade book?" Grader: "Impossible!"

[@crossbronxcollectibles9127]

Great video, do more of these!

[@Backtothehat]

Great vid! Thank you!!!❤️

[@Groglor]

Do they check if its the actual back on cartridges that it came with and not replaced? the stickers and backs are different depending on the game.

[@thatguy-jl4ni]

If only I knew anything about the industry when I met him and the spawn funnycar, when the 1st spawn came out. I would have loved to work with him. Totally dropped the ball on that one.

[@silveragesurfer_COMICS]

It's not a deal breaker, but it seems it may help if your name is Matt to be hired at CGC 😅. That guy Max squeezed in because someone thought he said his name was Matt 🤷‍♂️

[@keytothegate68]

I broke in cold sweat when Matt Nelson was grading X Man 1

[@daviclar867]

Please don't let the modern grader grade my books! That Batman #423 needed a press after that guy handled it the way he did!

[@jerryunderwood6130]

He handled it fine. It's not a golden age book falling apart w/brittle pages. The book is an 8.0, there's a lot more damage that existed prior to him ever touching it.

[@daviclar867]

@@jerryunderwood6130 regardless the grade he definitely caused some finger creasing with how he held it in his right hand taking his left hand off to point out some spine stress.

[@visualenergy1147]

​@@jerryunderwood6130 Why are you so motivated to defend the CGC racketeering? 9.9s and 10s grades only for special interests. 10s downgraded to 9.8 to control supply. Not to mention there is an extreme lack of consistency in grade standards.

[@JerryU1101]

@@visualenergy1147 I've met their staff in person, went to their Academy and they answered majority of my questions. I received my shipment of (25) books two days ago, (18) out of (25) books (9.8) w/o a prescreen. The other (7) books were (9.6). That's called consistency, whereas you're a random talking head on the internet who has had NO interaction with them personally and no history of working with them. See the difference?

[@TheeMcDonger]

I would love to be a grader. It is very interesting to see Matt grade a book. There is so much to take into account. Hes probably the top grader in the industry

[@Spawnzrkr]

I enjoyed this video so much! thank you for sharing.

[@kingsleychan]

I was hoping the whole time the question about whether or not cgc looks at the old labels, and respects the grade a previous cgc grader gave the item when regrading after a book has been signed. I've heard both sides, 1) they get the label and grade from there or 2) the graders don't see the old label and just regrade as if it's a new submission. Anyone know the true answer?

[@jerryunderwood6130]

Regrade as new submission. There's a risk for a lowered grade when getting a signature. Never happened to me, thankfully.

[@ezio666]

Now I think know why my Malibu Sun 13 is a 9.2…The handling seems a tad bit on the careless side to me…..I’m no expert…so what do I know…Although when the guy says you need to grade a thousand comics to get good at grading …..what about the first 100 to 500 grades they sent out before getting good?

[@noodle3384]

he damn near frisbeed that iron fist, ah 8.0 psh

[@bobotorganista476]

when he talks about pressing, it's not actually the pressing process because book is already in the slab

[@tmargosian]

This grading is pretty ridiculous when you consider the difference between a 3.5 and a 4.0 X-men 1 can be thousands of dollars but they just assign a grade based on a feeling. Also what’s up with all the rough handling especially of books that are worth thousands and thousands of dollars. Do better.

[@hectorrivera5416]

Either they cut the full check for the second guy or this just showed how inconsistent each grader is lol

[@JourneyJunkie294]

hahaha poor guy when get that book hahaha

[@raleighdentcompany]

How many books get sent in as a 9.8 or 9.6 and come back as a 9.0 after they handle it? My bet is a lot. I have a few 9.0s that should have definitely been higher. I've seen a few videos of peoples books coming back damaged from CGC. That mess scares the snot out of me.

[@terrellhoward4701]

I need a autograph Gunslinger Spawn issue 12 that I do have hopefully 🙏 I will be able to get my first cgc and autograph by McFarland hopefully I will not miss the next one

[@nublafiednubbie]

Jump in a DeLorean an Go Back in Time And Pick Up New Editions, Then Send Em in To CGC To Get 10 😂😅

[@nicolamendiaz5707]

Wait … wait that stack of Spawn 1’s, I hope he pulled that from under his bed. I hope he did not go back to the printer and is hoping to sell those as originals. WHAT THE HELL CGC?

[@icekingjn8195]

Why are they not wearing gloves?

[@CHAMPDOGZ]

this Dale grader is very ruff imo hes screwing alot of people over

[@ManiakGear]

It's an interesting concept and good practice in theory. Too bad it's a scam

[@Phil.Ritchie_]

Gave me anxiety watching them manhandle the raw books.

[@JoshHoodSucks]

Im not a marvel guy by any means but that iron fist cover is marvelous ha the contrast bewtwen the blue and logo wow

[@dragonball3166]

I notice white spot next Batman head never noticed moon red sucks Todd works with cgc they will never get money I have saw videos and pictures how cgc raised there prices and lost messed customers books, saw book grade by cgc the cgc label is blank no grade nothing on it but book is in case how does cgc mess that up

[@pepOnshow]

so they don't wear gloves to grade ? interesting so the book can be a 10 but due to the graders not wearing protective gloves or even hospital gloves maybe the reason why most of them get 9.8 hope they wash their hands tho.

[@tonybeltran3321]

The way this grader is handling some of these books I'm cringing as he's handling the books. No gloves? No mask? He looks like a spitter as he's talking. Thanks for the insight but not impressed with cgc.

[@visualenergy1147]

Why are you so motivated to defend the CGC racketeering? 9.9s and 10s grades only for special interests. 10s downgraded to 9.8 to control supply. Not to mention there is an extreme lack of consistency in grade standards. I'm holding a "9.6" Wolverine first Deadpool fight, right now.... its really like an 8.0. The spine is horrendous, how could this possibly be "NM." I contacted them to get grader training (prob why this video popped up) no more training. LOL CGC IS A RACKETT.

[@Quietstorm3333]

I see they dont use gloves when handling books 🤡

[@Quietstorm3333]

Also the words I guess coming from the main grader on a big book like that the difference between 4.0and 5.0 is huge glad I dont send in to grade its a scam

[@JoshHoodSucks]

Id be afraid of falling out of love with comics due to being associated with work or becoming obsessed with the quality of books I'd buy to read if i worked at a grading service