How to make money in retirement with comic books

How to make money in retirement with comic books

by | Mar 9, 2023

Vincent Zurzolo, president of ComicConnect.com, the world’s premier online comic marketplace and auctioneer, is putting a call out to the baby boomers: if you kept your comic books, you may very well be sitting on a nice nest egg. 

He acknowledges that today’s 70-year-olds were tweens or teens during what is known as the Silver Age of Comics (1956-1969), meaning, if they held onto any titles from that time, they may very well have some big cash just sitting in the attic. 

We’ve combined the best of what he found along with his own expert tips on what to do if you’re ready to find out if you have cash in the attic. 

Comic Books in the Attic? You Might Have Cash in the Attic, Too

Comic Books in the Attic? You Might Have Cash in the Attic, Too

Vincent Zurzolo tells the story of how, a few years ago, he received a call from a man who had found his old comic collection tucked away in a corner of his parents’ barn. The man shipped them to Vincent who discovered incredible titles like Captain America, Wonder Woman, Human Torch and Green Lantern.

Vincent told the man he could pay him 18 – to which the man agreed with no hesitation and seemed pretty pleased. But when Vincent asked who to make the check for $18k out to, this man was pretty surprised. 

“Eighteen thousand?” he said. “I thought you meant $1,800!” I was happy to make his day.

“He was one of the lucky ones. How many times have I heard, “If only my mom hadn’t thrown out my comics, I’d be a millionaire”?”

Vincent acknowledges that he’s still finding original owner collections held onto by seniors who are finally downsizing and cashing in on their childhood treasures. The Silver Age of Comics saw a boom in Marvel Comics titles such as:

  • Amazing Spider-Man #1 (1963)
  • Amazing Fantasy #15, the first appearance of Spidey (1962)
  • Fantastic Four #1 (1963)
  • X-Men #1 (1963)
  • Avengers #1 (1963)
  • Journey Into Mystery #83, the first appearance of Thor (1962)
  • Tales of Suspense #39, the first appearance of Iron Man (1962)

Meaning that baby boomers with any of those titles (in good condition) can see a return of tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars. 

“Although superheroes dominate the collectible comic book market, non-superhero titles, such as Archie, Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse and Little Lulu, are finding traction as well. Many are from the Golden Age of comics (1938-1956), but some from the Silver Age and even later are growing in popularity. Many of these early issues from the 1940s are worth five and six figures.”

If you’re ready to find out whether you have “cash in the attic,” here are some of Vincent’s expert tips:

How to sell comic books to make real money in retirement? Vincent has the expert tips for you!

Vincent outlined some expert tips to help you make money in retirement with comic books! It’s a great way to maximize your funds in retirement, while also clearing out some space in your home. 

  • Condition is everything

The comic book grading system goes from .05 (poor) to 10 (mint). It’s hard to get any value out of a book that’s less than a 6.0, which means “fine.” The difference between a 6.0 and an 8.5 (very fine+) might be hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

If you have some particularly valuable titles in good shape, put them into acid-free mylar bags with a backing board ASAP!

  • Don’t just put your collection up on eBay!

eBay can be pretty hit and miss and, if you’re only sticking to what you know, you might miss some golden opportunities. Do a little online research, look at actual sales prices, pick out the potentially most valuable titles and have them graded. Choose a professional grading service that will give you a quick turnaround for a reasonable price – don’t worry, ComicConnect has you covered there!

  • When choosing books to be graded?

Consider older comics that star characters appearing in their own movies or Disney+ series, the streaming home for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

  • Work with an established broker

For example, ComicConnect sells tens of millions of dollars worth of collectibles each year to top collectors and investors around the world. They also have four Guinness World Records for selling the most valuable comic. If you’re interested, that is 😉

How to use ComicConnect to make money in retirement selling comic books

ComicConnect’s mission is to offer vintage comic book buyers and sellers an easy-to-use alternative to consignment websites, auction houses and “feeBay”. It offers you, the user, control over setting the prices you receive for the sale of your item. It aims to put money back into your pocket, with no exorbitant sellers’ fees to take a cut from your sale. 

It’s a better model for buying and selling comics, providing state-of-the-art technology and a reputable transaction environment backed by years of experience. The staff are always ready to provide guidance to collectors and to answer any and all questions you may have about getting started and their team of graders has over 100 years of experience combined. 

They’ll look at every possible way to maximize the value of your collection. From third party grading and certification, to restoration removal and pressing are explored for every item. Their appraisers leave no stone unturned in order to put the most amount of money in the seller’s pocket. 

What does this mean for you?

If you are a consignor you can be confident that ComicConnect will achieve exceptional results for your quality consignments. To consign, or just get some information about consigning with ComicConnect, just send the list of your collection to support@comicconnect.com or give them a call at 888.779.7377 or for international customers call at 001.212.895.3999

ComicConnect offers services in:

  • Free appraisals to determine the value of your collection 
  • Comic book grading with low cost, quick turnaround and professional grading
  • Estate services – no estate is too big or too small!

“The prices realized were far more than my wildest expectations. The team blew me away with the amount of personalized attention, advertising and promotion they gave the event. They kept me informed every step of the way. When considering where and how to sell my collection I had considered a number of options and am very confident I made the right decision. Decades of experience, relationships with big spenders and a fantastic website made all the difference. I wholeheartedly recommend ComicConnect to anyone who wants to bring their collection to market and have every confidence they are the very best in the business.” – Robyn

Vincent notes that the best part of combing your collection for potential golden nuggets is the opportunity you’ll get to go down memory lane and remember why you loved these comic books when you were a kid – and that’s priceless.

And he’s not wrong!

Considering the money that can be made from the same comic books that you’ve hoarded since childhood, it’s definitely worth scouring your attic to see how you can earn money in retirement simply from your love of comics!
If you’re interested in learning more about fun and creative ways to earn money in retirement, explore our full blog page here. We have a number of how-to’s to help you make retirement one of the best chapters of your life.