ADVICE: How to store and archive Comic books

I figured I'd make this post because there are people who maybe aren't sure how to store their books for a long period of time, this method is if you're like me and you want to keep the books for years to come. It's fairly easy to do to be honest, bear in mind that this does cost a little extra money and will take time to arrange every now and then (if you enjoy organising everything), and if you want to go the whole hog - you can create a spreadsheet with all your comics on!

So, first things first, the things you need are very simple. You need a box to keep them all in, you are often able to get them in two different sizes; long and short. Long boxes are able to hold anything up to around 300 books, whereas the short box is able to hold around half that amount, 150 books. The next couple of things are vital for storage for long periods; bags and boards.

Bags and boards are fairly simple for the most part, you just need to make sure you get the correct size. ComiCare (who I get my bags/boards from) offer a "current" sizing which will fit all comicbooks currently available from Marvel and other companies. If you are considering collecting issues from Gold/Silver/Bronze ages then you need to make sure you get the correct size of bag and board. 

Some people also suggest Mylar bags, Mylar bags are really for long term archival which if you're interested in keeping your books for a long period of time and have the cash to spend on it then go ahead - but they are very expensive! Mylar will, however, shear off the front of a book if you're not careful, so if you do decide that Mylar is for you then please be careful!

There is some argument as to when you should replace sleeves and boards, as the acid in the bags/boards/book can cause the whites of the book to turn a creamy colour. However, Polyethylene (the material ComiCare use) is generally very good for five to ten years of archiving provided it is virgin material (material that hasn't been made from recycled material). 

When placing the book and board into the bag, make sure the shiny side is facing towards the front, and the matte side is towards the back, then place the comicbook against the shiny side. Then fold the flap over, with the flap you can either fold it inside the bag and create a crease along it, or you can get some tape and tape it. However many people across the internet will scorn me for saying that, purely because tape doesn't actually serve any purpose in terms of protection and deteriorates far faster than the bag and board. These are what my books end up looking like:

Finally, you can then put them into the box, always keep them vertically and not horizontally in the box. Keeping the lid closed when the books are not being looked at and enjoyed. Just make sure you don't over cram the books and make them night on impossible to get out because that may cause damage to the books. 

You can find ComiCare items from Forbidden Planet

I do not represent Forbidden Planet in any way, I am merely an affiliate