Loved the video!💕 Just started my comic book collection and found Toon Haven. They offer a huge variety of digital comics for every genre, and lifetime updates too!😍
You need to store your comics front to back!!!! If you leave them all front facing in a box for a few years, you'll open a box and they will will all be sitting in there diagonally with spine rolls and spine indentations!!!!! Double bag all your comics front to back and they will stay perfectly flat.
Another commenter has mentioned storing front to back, which they've found to be beneficial. I haven't had problems with spine rolls or indentations with the way I currently store books, but I pack them in pretty tight and I make sure the backboards are always larger than the books themselves. I never thought about double bagging - sounds pricey but worth it for more valuable books?
When that comic boom happened in '21, I re-bagged/boarded my early 80's collection (that I hadn't really looked at for decades). Most were in poly (which I didn't know had a lifespan!). Purchased mylites and halfbacks in bulk direct from E Gerber which was way cheaper than buying by the 50-100's. I had to wait a few months for them at that time but I think it was something like 75% off from buying smaller quantities.
I wish I had known about bulk buying supplies earlier, that would have saved me a lot of cash! Mylites are really the way to go. Even though poly bags have gotten a lot better, the waviness will still happen after a little while
Great video for the most part I've used bags unlimited boxes, boards,and bags and i try to use storage shelving to stack my boxes 2 high to cut down weight stress on boxes or I'll get supplies from my LCS......
I like using spreadsheets too. I use Excel online and include Publisher, Titlle, Issue #, Cover, Release date, cover price, price I paid, date i purchased, source/store, era/universe, read/not read.
My storage materials: Bags - Comic Pro Line OPP Silver/Regular - These are clearer, thicker and less wavy than BCW bags Boards - Comic Pro Line 28pt - That extra 4pts feels much sturdier than standard 24pt boards Tape - Avery 5428 Multi-Use Labels - these are 1"x3/4" and come in packs of 1000 Boxes - Gemini Thick Grip Short Box - thick walls, very sturdy and the grips are close to the lids making them easier to carry
I'm going to have to look into those Avery multi-use labels. Do they peel off nicely in case they come in contact with the comic book? As well, do you get them from Amazon or at an office supply store? Thanks for watching!
@@raph-retro-comics I order them from Amazon but they are probably also at Office Depot or Staples. They are less sticky than standard scotch tape, but they are sticky enough to keep the flap down.
Just bought 1000 bags and boards for $107 from the company u mentioned in your vid over a week ago.Those corrugated plastic boxes look almost the size for magazine type boxes. I have 2 long boxes of 1940's comics and have had the same problems with boxes with fitting .I won't purchase the resealable bags since I have seen most of them are thin .
Those bulk deals they have are very hard to beat! I need to make another order soon. For Golden Age books I had to make my own custom short boxes. I do plan on making a detailed video on how I make mine at some point!
I have that Warlock run, in double😁, and triplecate😬. Same thing with Strange Tales 178 - 181, and Starlins Captain Marvel run. I can't help myself. 👍✌
I think there is something in the collector gene that makes us this way. I love Jim Starlin's stuff, particularly his run on Dreadstar in the 1980s. Thanks for watching!
I'm old-school - short boxes only, corrugated cardboard. For gold/silver Mylites, I started with Gerber boxes, then moved to Diamond magazine boxes.They are useful to store my magazines, hardcover and soft trades too!
One great addition to my bagging workflow was to get a weighted refillable scotch tape dispenser from the office supply store. This lets me tear off a piece of tape with one hand while holding the bagged comic in my other hand. This really saves a lot of time if you have a lot of bagging to do. It also produces less waste since you can buy just the tape refill rolls instead of the ones with the built-in plastic dispenser.
Absolutely! I mean, you have editors for that right? Even with that, I remember the series fondly, especially with all the mini profiles of all the super-heroes at the end of each issue. Thanks for watching!
Hey Raph. Just found your channel recently. Love your content. Quick question in the Comic Pro Line Mylar bags. You said you by the silver age size. Do you buy the Silver/Regular or just the Silver size? I like the idea of having a one size fits all solution. Thanks!
Hello, glad you're enjoying my content! I buy just the Silver Age size. For backboards, I've found the matching Silver Age size to be a bit too snug, and I use Silver/Regular, which is one size smaller. I've found those work better, and you can double up on them as well for your higher end books. Hope this helps!
I've heard good things about CLZ Comics as a good app for managing your collection. You can also try GoCollect which has a free and a paid version. I've used GoCollect and it's okay, but with a lot of these apps, they do require a fair amount of time investment, which is why I prefer just to use Google Sheets. It's about as basic as it gets, but it's fine for what I need. Thanks for watching!
Thank you! love the content, i just posted a youtube of my childhood collection, i need to organize them because as you can see from my youtube video, they arent in the best condition haha definitely were a kept in heat :(
For tape, I really liked the BCW bags that had the strip on the board side so the flap itself didn't have tape on it. So when I started moving to Mylar, I now use double sided 3m scotch tape. Put it on the board side of the bag first as a strip across that way when opening it stays on that side. So when you go to pull comics out of their bags, the flap doesn't actually have tape on it, makes it a lot easier to avoid that tape hitting your comic book. Also 100% agree on the environment being #1 point. So much drama and fights have occurred over this bag or that bag but almost always any example of a comic book getting damaged or fading or whatnot, has nothing to do with the bag/board. I've seen people blame poly bags for the colors bleeding onto their boards after a year or so... and they live in the south of USA, filming the video in 90 degree days with a window open in the background and a fan blowing. Sorry dude... it isn't the bag, it is the heat and humidity.
I never thought about using double sided tape on the board side. Does it stick well enough so it doesn't move the flap side? That's something I should consider as it can be a hassle removing the tape from the flap for mylar books often as I like to play it safe. Cool, dry and dark is the way to go! Thanks for watching!
@@raph-retro-comics Yeah, you can put the strip basically the full width of the board and since you put it on the board side first you can rub it down to make sure it is sticking really well. Then when you fold over the flap it'll stick pretty well and not move around and should be easy enough to open without taking the tape with it. Definitely worth a shot, even if it doesn't work as well as you'd hoped can always go back to not using it. :D
It's interesting that they did that with the 2nd Mile High collection. I've seen those certificates before on a variety of Silver Age and Bronze Age comic books. Nice book!
I am interested in your opinion about alternating the way your comics face to try to prevent pressing on the spine. I've recently seen several videos that suggest that method. I enjoyed your video. Thank you
I'm honestly not a fan of this, but I do see value in putting your comic books this way. I like to browse my comic books so I can see each individual issue, so I would rather not have the hassle of flipping them around. That being said, for long boxes, you can fit more comic books securely, and space always seems to be an issue. With good backboards the spine pressing may not be an issue. Thanks for watching and commenting!
@@raph-retro-comics One thing I notice if doing using this method is having to continually flip them when adding new purchases. That is a pain. My temporary solution is turning all of the odd number issues facing front and turning all even number issues to face away. Sure you will have a few facing the same direction but for example what are the odds that you have 20 even number books in a row? Storing this way helps when I add a new back or current issue I won't have to flip dozens or hundreds of books. I welcome any suggestions but will utilize this method until I see a better way to turn the books.
@@cmaples That's a good system, that way you have a good idea of what is there. I should do that with my series that have long runs, that way I can also fit a few more issues in ;-)
I'm curious, do you know if the Avery Dots will pull off the cover if they stick to them? Or are they as good as painters/masking tape? As well, I wonder if how well they work with mylar bags? Thanks for the suggestion!
@@raph-retro-comics funny you ask. I had one grab the cover, just yesterday. Nothing happened. The cover looked good as new. I use two to hold down a Mylar bag flap. I’ve learned if you press them down, they do fine.
Great tips! I was just thinking of picking up some of the plastic boxes from Comic Pro line, but haven't seen anyone use them, so this was super helpful. Moving to all short boxes too. Helps my back. lol
They're quite good with the modifications I made, and they also go on sale every once in a while. Although they come in other colours, I'd stick with the white ones as the grey/blacks ones have fold lines that make the boxes look a little weird (personal preference). Thanks for watching!
Really great and informative video for any collector. Your Bronze Age horror is absolutely beautiful my friend, thanks for sharing your tips and tricks!
@@raph-retro-comics of course! As you know my wild hunting is few and far between but even online hunting which I’m pretty good at, I don’t see them in that condition that often!
Finally, a comic tuber who talks clear and slowly. Good vid.
This might be my favorite comment so far! Thanks for watching!
Loved the video!💕 Just started my comic book collection and found Toon Haven. They offer a huge variety of digital comics for every genre, and lifetime updates too!😍
You need to store your comics front to back!!!! If you leave them all front facing in a box for a few years, you'll open a box and they will will all be sitting in there diagonally with spine rolls and spine indentations!!!!! Double bag all your comics front to back and they will stay perfectly flat.
Another commenter has mentioned storing front to back, which they've found to be beneficial. I haven't had problems with spine rolls or indentations with the way I currently store books, but I pack them in pretty tight and I make sure the backboards are always larger than the books themselves. I never thought about double bagging - sounds pricey but worth it for more valuable books?
Not enough videos on storage options.Thank you for this much needed video!
You're welcome! I felt there's a need for more of these types of videos, even if it may not seem as interesting. Thanks for watching!
When that comic boom happened in '21, I re-bagged/boarded my early 80's collection (that I hadn't really looked at for decades). Most were in poly (which I didn't know had a lifespan!). Purchased mylites and halfbacks in bulk direct from E Gerber which was way cheaper than buying by the 50-100's. I had to wait a few months for them at that time but I think it was something like 75% off from buying smaller quantities.
I wish I had known about bulk buying supplies earlier, that would have saved me a lot of cash! Mylites are really the way to go. Even though poly bags have gotten a lot better, the waviness will still happen after a little while
Great video for the most part I've used bags unlimited boxes, boards,and bags and i try to use storage shelving to stack my boxes 2 high to cut down weight stress on boxes or I'll get supplies from my LCS......
I like using spreadsheets too. I use Excel online and include Publisher, Titlle, Issue #, Cover, Release date, cover price, price I paid, date i purchased, source/store, era/universe, read/not read.
It's a simple and effective tool that's easy to customize. Having it online and accessible with my phone anywhere is very handy. Thanks for watching!
My storage materials:
Bags - Comic Pro Line OPP Silver/Regular - These are clearer, thicker and less wavy than BCW bags
Boards - Comic Pro Line 28pt - That extra 4pts feels much sturdier than standard 24pt boards
Tape - Avery 5428 Multi-Use Labels - these are 1"x3/4" and come in packs of 1000
Boxes - Gemini Thick Grip Short Box - thick walls, very sturdy and the grips are close to the lids making them easier to carry
I'm going to have to look into those Avery multi-use labels. Do they peel off nicely in case they come in contact with the comic book? As well, do you get them from Amazon or at an office supply store? Thanks for watching!
@@raph-retro-comics I order them from Amazon but they are probably also at Office Depot or Staples. They are less sticky than standard scotch tape, but they are sticky enough to keep the flap down.
Just bought 1000 bags and boards for $107 from the company u mentioned in your vid over a week ago.Those corrugated plastic boxes look almost the size for magazine type boxes. I have 2 long boxes of 1940's comics and have had the same problems with boxes with fitting .I won't purchase the resealable bags since I have seen most of them are thin .
Those bulk deals they have are very hard to beat! I need to make another order soon. For Golden Age books I had to make my own custom short boxes. I do plan on making a detailed video on how I make mine at some point!
I have that Warlock run, in double😁, and triplecate😬. Same thing with Strange Tales 178 - 181, and Starlins Captain Marvel run. I can't help myself. 👍✌
I think there is something in the collector gene that makes us this way. I love Jim Starlin's stuff, particularly his run on Dreadstar in the 1980s. Thanks for watching!
Great video! Very helpful! I've been so focused on the hunt and I definitely need to organize more. Have a great weekend 👍🏼👍🏼👊👊🎃🎃
It can be a daunting task, but it's well worth the effort! Thanks for watching!
I'm old-school - short boxes only, corrugated cardboard.
For gold/silver Mylites, I started with Gerber boxes, then moved to Diamond magazine boxes.They are useful to store my magazines, hardcover and soft trades too!
I should have noted that for hardcovers and trades I just use my bookcase, they are an important part of anyone's collection! Thanks for watching!
Edgar Church collection was from Colorado. Makes a big difference.
Yes! Very ideal environmental conditions for storing comic books. It's truly a peerless collection.
One great addition to my bagging workflow was to get a weighted refillable scotch tape dispenser from the office supply store. This lets me tear off a piece of tape with one hand while holding the bagged comic in my other hand. This really saves a lot of time if you have a lot of bagging to do. It also produces less waste since you can buy just the tape refill rolls instead of the ones with the built-in plastic dispenser.
Absolutely! I've had one of these for years and you can never go back once you have one.
New subscriber. Great tip and tricks. I did a review of contest of champions. Such a under rated series. Thanks for sharing.
It's a great series, could not have asked for a better comic book to be my first ever comic book. Thanks for watching!
Great video!
I love Contest of Champions, but it really, really bothered me that they messed up the team point total between issues. Huge continuity mistake!
Absolutely! I mean, you have editors for that right? Even with that, I remember the series fondly, especially with all the mini profiles of all the super-heroes at the end of each issue. Thanks for watching!
I used painters tape to close my comic book bags
Hey Raph. Just found your channel recently. Love your content. Quick question in the Comic Pro Line Mylar bags. You said you by the silver age size. Do you buy the Silver/Regular or just the Silver size? I like the idea of having a one size fits all solution. Thanks!
Hello, glad you're enjoying my content! I buy just the Silver Age size. For backboards, I've found the matching Silver Age size to be a bit too snug, and I use Silver/Regular, which is one size smaller. I've found those work better, and you can double up on them as well for your higher end books. Hope this helps!
@@raph-retro-comics thanks for the quick reply! Appreciate it 😊. That helps a lot.
Long boxes are a nightmare when it comes time to move. I moved away from long boxes a LOOOOONG time ago.
I'm surprised it's taken me this long to move to short boxes lol. Thanks for watching!
Great video. Thank you. Any suggestions on the apps you mentioned.
I've heard good things about CLZ Comics as a good app for managing your collection. You can also try GoCollect which has a free and a paid version. I've used GoCollect and it's okay, but with a lot of these apps, they do require a fair amount of time investment, which is why I prefer just to use Google Sheets. It's about as basic as it gets, but it's fine for what I need. Thanks for watching!
Thank you! love the content, i just posted a youtube of my childhood collection, i need to organize them because as you can see from my youtube video, they arent in the best condition haha definitely were a kept in heat :(
That's awesome! Hope it brings back some fond memories - it looks like they were well loved!
Thanks for the info Raph! Great Collection!
Thanks for the kind words and watching!
For tape, I really liked the BCW bags that had the strip on the board side so the flap itself didn't have tape on it. So when I started moving to Mylar, I now use double sided 3m scotch tape. Put it on the board side of the bag first as a strip across that way when opening it stays on that side. So when you go to pull comics out of their bags, the flap doesn't actually have tape on it, makes it a lot easier to avoid that tape hitting your comic book.
Also 100% agree on the environment being #1 point. So much drama and fights have occurred over this bag or that bag but almost always any example of a comic book getting damaged or fading or whatnot, has nothing to do with the bag/board. I've seen people blame poly bags for the colors bleeding onto their boards after a year or so... and they live in the south of USA, filming the video in 90 degree days with a window open in the background and a fan blowing. Sorry dude... it isn't the bag, it is the heat and humidity.
I never thought about using double sided tape on the board side. Does it stick well enough so it doesn't move the flap side? That's something I should consider as it can be a hassle removing the tape from the flap for mylar books often as I like to play it safe. Cool, dry and dark is the way to go! Thanks for watching!
@@raph-retro-comics Yeah, you can put the strip basically the full width of the board and since you put it on the board side first you can rub it down to make sure it is sticking really well. Then when you fold over the flap it'll stick pretty well and not move around and should be easy enough to open without taking the tape with it. Definitely worth a shot, even if it doesn't work as well as you'd hoped can always go back to not using it. :D
I got a Giant size Spiderman #5 from the Mile High collection in milar and certificate back in the 80's
It's interesting that they did that with the 2nd Mile High collection. I've seen those certificates before on a variety of Silver Age and Bronze Age comic books. Nice book!
I used to catch the $5 sales and 2 for 1 and such sales from Mile High after they got that mil book deal from NY. loaded up on early silver age v-nm
Great video and info! Just subbed 👍
Thanks for watching, much appreciated!
I am interested in your opinion about alternating the way your comics face to try to prevent pressing on the spine. I've recently seen several videos that suggest that method. I enjoyed your video. Thank you
I'm honestly not a fan of this, but I do see value in putting your comic books this way. I like to browse my comic books so I can see each individual issue, so I would rather not have the hassle of flipping them around. That being said, for long boxes, you can fit more comic books securely, and space always seems to be an issue. With good backboards the spine pressing may not be an issue. Thanks for watching and commenting!
@@raph-retro-comics One thing I notice if doing using this method is having to continually flip them when adding new purchases. That is a pain. My temporary solution is turning all of the odd number issues facing front and turning all even number issues to face away. Sure you will have a few facing the same direction but for example what are the odds that you have 20 even number books in a row? Storing this way helps when I add a new back or current issue I won't have to flip dozens or hundreds of books. I welcome any suggestions but will utilize this method until I see a better way to turn the books.
@@cmaples That's a good system, that way you have a good idea of what is there. I should do that with my series that have long runs, that way I can also fit a few more issues in ;-)
Great show guys, thank you
Thank you for watching!
A well done video from a true comic book collector. Just subbed.
Thanks for subbing! My goal is just to people more interested in comic books, especially older ones!
@@raph-retro-comics Older? Yeah, that would be me.
Thanks for sharing this, truly excellent content!
Amazing advice. I wish I'd seen this 25 years ago, would have prevented a lot of mistakes. Lot's of great content in Raph's channel!
wow, great video. thanks so much
Great video, appreciate you sharing it!
Cool tips thanks again my friend we need more videos on how to take care of your comics
Thanks for watching! I hope you find some of this information useful!
Avery Dots are a good choice to tape the bag shut.
I'm curious, do you know if the Avery Dots will pull off the cover if they stick to them? Or are they as good as painters/masking tape? As well, I wonder if how well they work with mylar bags? Thanks for the suggestion!
@@raph-retro-comics funny you ask. I had one grab the cover, just yesterday. Nothing happened. The cover looked good as new. I use two to hold down a Mylar bag flap. I’ve learned if you press them down, they do fine.
Great tips! I was just thinking of picking up some of the plastic boxes from Comic Pro line, but haven't seen anyone use them, so this was super helpful. Moving to all short boxes too. Helps my back. lol
They're quite good with the modifications I made, and they also go on sale every once in a while. Although they come in other colours, I'd stick with the white ones as the grey/blacks ones have fold lines that make the boxes look a little weird (personal preference). Thanks for watching!
@@raph-retro-comics Thanks!
Thanks a ton, this was super helpful!
Really great and informative video for any collector. Your Bronze Age horror is absolutely beautiful my friend, thanks for sharing your tips and tricks!
Thanks for watching Brandon! The Bronze age horror stuff is harder to come by in the wild now, but it's always fun looking for it.
@@raph-retro-comics of course! As you know my wild hunting is few and far between but even online hunting which I’m pretty good at, I don’t see them in that condition that often!
Can't wait to start my collection
ill definitely try that, thanks!
Great info will be watching you always
Great video, I love your storage solutions 🎉
Thanks for watching!