One of Bart Simpson’s many sidekicks in The Simpsons is ‘Comic Book Guy’ – an overweight, rude, middle aged man who is obsessed with all things comic. He is, of course, an exaggerated version of hardcore comic book fans. But don’t laugh too loudly. Serious collectors can and will pay a lot for rare collectables and memorabilia that you might have just lying around in your home.

A dusty figurine of Captain Kirk from the 80s? Half a dozen copies of the The Amazing Spider-man comics from 1962? A ticket stub from the first day that the original ‘Star Wars’ opened in 1977? You could be sitting on a gold mine!

• Selling Your ‘Junk’
• Collecting as investment
• Lord of The Rings v Star Wars
• What to Look Out For
• How Much Can You Make

From selling what looks like junk, to starting a potentially profitable collection yourself. Here’s how to get started:

The first way to make money from collecting action figures and comic books is to sell the ones you’ve got in your house to people who collect them. Old comics sell easily for between 10p – £10, so it’s not a bad way to make a few bob.

Look in your attic for things that have survived household junk purges. If you’re in your 30s or 40s, and you grew up during the 70s and 80s, there’s a very good chance you were caught up in the popular culture of that time – Star Wars, Star Trek, DC Comics or Marvel Comics. Any movie, comic or sports paraphernalia from this period that is in good condition, is gold dust for collectors.

It’s not just about American comics – there is a decent market in Britain for classic comics like Beano and Judge Dredd.

Pack rats who are incapable of throwing anything away will be glad to know that there is demand for almost anything, from action figures to football ticket stubs to World War II toys. While we’ll focus on the comic book/pop culture segment for this article, do please do some online research using these sites if you think you could be sitting on something valuable.

You can sell items you discover on eBay, Amazon or on various forums and specialised sites online. These are your best bets for getting the truest value of your collectable, as opposed to being ripped off at a car boot sale or at a second-hand shop.

For comic books, Atomic Avenue lets you list your comics for free (they only take a small commission when you actually make a sale). To list on Atomic Avenue you do need a piece of software called ComicBase. It’s free to download here and makes the whole process much easier.

If this is a bit intimidating ComicLink, offers auction and direct sales services as well, no downloads necessary.

ActionFigure and ToyNews have two of the most popular forums for discussing action figures. This is a good place to pick up the buzz on the latest news. Plus there are also sections where you can advertise your items for sale. The members are friendly and you can pick up a lot of helpful advice on listing and pricing as well.

If you are listing on Amazon or eBay (which have a wider audience), look for similar products and their pricings to get a general idea of what your item is worth. Read on below for info on how to determine how valuable your item is. Plus take a look at our Guide to Selling on eBay and the eBay Blog for more general tips.

No matter where you’re selling (including at second-hand shops or comic book stores), doing your research beforehand is the key.

The general rule of thumb is that ‘rare = valuable’ is not always the case when it comes to action figures and comic books. There’s a fine line between being relatively rare and yet not in demand. So always do your research, and stick to the three rules of comic book and action figure selling:

• Rarity
• Condition
• Popularity

Generally, the older an item is, the rarer it is, and hence more valuable.

For example, a 30th July 1938 first edition of Beano (pretty old and not many around) recently sold for £7,500. The world’s most valuable comic is Action Comics #1 (June 1938), estimated to be worth a massive $470,000.

The longer ago the item was produced, the fewer are likely to have survived. Also, in comics, many central characters would have been introduced in early editions, making them even more valuable.

For example, the very first issue of The Fantastic Four was published in 1961, introducing the key characters Mister Fantastic, Human Torch, Invisible Girl and The Thing. In an upcoming auction, The Fantastic Four #1 (Nov 1961) is expected to fetch between $60,000 and $80,000.

Print runs are another factor. Print runs are batches of copies printed of a certain title, and thus we get first editions, second editions, reprints or reissues. Black Panther #23 (Oct 2000) is a fairly new modern comic, but due to its low print run, it is extremely hard to find. This means its value is much higher than a comic that has had thousands of issues printed.

You’d be surprised what sells, so don’t just chuck something out in your spring cleaning just because you think it’s rubbish.

When it comes to comic books, misprints, recalled editions, promotional issues and special features are usually rare, and so are higher in value.

Faulty editions can also still fetch a good price. But be wary of the difference between a flaw in the condition of the comic, and a flaw within the comic itself. A flaw in the condition means the book is tattered, mildewed or torn, making it less valuable. But a flaw within the comic could be a misprint in the title, eg Fatman instead of Batman, and might mean the item is worth more.

For action figures, the same applies. The condition of the toy itself should be good, but look out for manufacturing boo-boos – e.g. If the face is the wrong colour, or the label on the packaging is wrong.

An item may not be particularly rare, but could increase in popularity because of a number of factors:

• A surge of interest generated by a new movie
• Death or retirement of actor

For example, the Spider-man comics and merchandise enjoyed an increase in popularity after the release of the recent blockbuster movies.

In a less direct way, endorsements in popular media can also boost the profile of merchandising and comics. This was certainly true of the Kevin Smith View Askew Universe movies which feature discussions of comic books and sci-fi movies. They brought awareness of collector culture to a whole new generation, boosting sales.

The death of key actors can also affect the price of action figures and comics. For example, the death of Heath Ledger has already pushed up the price of the Joker merchandise. You may even have bought a Joker action figure for your child for Christmas. Keep it safe and well: there’s a very good chance you may be cackling in glee in a few years time.

So think before you throw away things because they are no longer in fashion. Fashion is cyclical – you never know when it will be back in.

Collectors value condition almost as much as rarity. So if your item is terribly defaced or unrecognisable, it’s not going to fetch much.

‘Mint’ condition comics have “complete flatness, bright colours, glossy covers, sharply cut corners, no rust on staples and supple, white paper.” The closer your comic comes to this standard, the more value it has.

It’s almost impossible to find a comic in mint condition, as many people bought their comics to be read and swapped. But, if your comic has its pages intact, clear script and its paper clean, it will be worth much more than a dog-eared copy.

Unfortunately, since the late 70s it’s been almost a given that your comic has to be in pristine condition to be worth anything at all.

If the casement on your action figure is in good condition it can boost the item’s resale value. The packaging (also referred to as the bubble and card) is evaluated for flaws – look out for dents, scratches, creases, rips, and overall appearance. The figure itself is judged on things like paint wear, scratches, loose joints, or missing pieces.

The Action Figure Authority issues the recognised standards on action figure grading. The categories are split into the AFA Gold Standard, the AFA Silver Standard and the AFA Bronze Standard. See Toygrader for more information.

As with anything else, be careful of scams, false descriptions, non-delivery or non-payment. If you’re planning to be a serious collector/seller, always be scrupulous and always be completely honest about what you’re selling.

The negative feedback you get on sites like eBay can completely ruin your reputation, and there are sections on forums to warn about dodgy dealers. Word gets around, even on the web.

There is also money to be made by buying comics and action figures that are on sale now and selling them off in the future for big profits.

Obviously, you should derive some pleasure from having a collection of your own. If you don’t, it’s more difficult to be in tune with what collectors will be wanting in the future and therefore to make as much profit.

So if you hate comic books and action figures, but thought you could count on them to make you a pretty penny in the future, you might be severely disappointed.

That being said, we do have a couple of tips for buying to sell in the future.

• Snap up limited runs or special print editions

Anything that is likely to become rare in the future will make you more cash – it’s a no-brainer. But a word of warning: with mass production of comics and action figures nowadays, a ‘limited run,’ ‘special edition’ or ‘extra features’ means pretty much nothing. Manufacturers are seeking to maximise profits NOW, which means selling as many copies as they can.

Be that as it may, it’s a good bet to get your hands on first editions, limited runs or ‘specials’, just on the off-chance. Reprints or re-issues have value of their own, and as we may have mentioned before, second issues of comic books are harder to find than first editions.

• Film paraphenalia is a safe bet

It’s so difficult to tell what will become popular in 20 or 30 years’ time. A good safe bet is a popular film franchise. A recent example is Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter merchandise, which is readily available now, but will be sought after in the future. See Forbidden Planet and the NewLine shop for official LotR merchandise and HarryPotterShop for official Harry Potter merchandise.

As a quick taster, you can buy an Arwen Butterfly Brooch for $68.95, a 6-inch Gollum figure for $12.95 or a pewter 24-inch Limited Edition Aragorn statue for $995.95 (although unavailable outside the US). An 18-inch Harry Potter action figure with sound is $48, while a mini bust of Cho Chang goes for $49.95.

Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter vs Star Wars and Batman

Both LoTR and HP appear to have run their course as far as future films are concerned, and certainly in the case of LoTR, there will obviously be no more books from J.R.R. Tolkien (R.I.P.) to fuel more films.

Contrast that with the Star Wars and Batman franchises, which are only limited to the imagination of their creators, George Lucas and DC Comics. Future films would boost the popularity and value of the current merchandise among younger collectors in the future.

However, it could be argued that LoTR/HP merchandise would appreciate in value as time goes by, as both the Tolkien estate and J.K. Rowling keep a firm hold on their merchandising and commercialisation.

It could literally go both ways, which goes back to simply enjoying your collection for what it is, as well as seeing it as an investment to make you money.

• Keep your receipts

Where possible, keep your receipts or proof of purchase. In these days of cheap pirated knock-offs from China, it’s imperative that you have proof that what you bought is original.

• Go underground

Trawl internet forums and chatrooms to see what the underground buzz is. The Next Big Thing depends on the people, fans and consumers making it The Next Big Thing. Ride the wave and you may possibly see it pay off.

• Keep your stuff safe

Keep your things in mint condition. Serious collectors keep their collections in mylar covers in humidors under constant humidity and temperature. You don’t need to go that far, but bear in mind a dog-ear or a tear in a comic book could seriously decrease its value. The same goes for a leg missing on Superman or Wonder Woman. If you’re buying it as an investment, it makes sense to protect your products.

HOWEVER. Don’t go running back to the shop’s complaints department just because there is a misprint in your comic or a slight defect on your action figure. Collectors value these ‘flaws’. Remember it’s all about one-up-manship. If they can boast about having something that no one else has, they’re willing to pay good money for it.

Good looks aren’t everything

The hideous, puffing, overweight Jabba the Hutt from Star Wars could be worth more to collectors than a Han Solo.

This is because manufacturers know the attractive, exciting characters will be the more popular sellers so they make more of them.

They don’t make as many of the less attractive ones, so they are rarer and more valuable.

Don’t ignore the supporting characters

Sidekicks are less popular than main characters when the toys are originally made and so there are fewer manufactured. Again, this means they are rarer and more highly valued.

Alfred the butler could therefore potentially be worth more than his boss, Batman.

If you collect merchandise from the television series Xena Warrior Princess, leave Xena on the shelf and snap up Joxer, her geeky hanger-on. His drop kick might not be as spectacular but he’ll pack more of a punch as an investment.

For comic books, there may be spin-off storylines involving secondary characters which could prove to be very valuable in the future.

Guest Appearances

Look out for cross-over appearances, first appearances of a character, death of a character, guest stars, alter-egos and major events in comic books. You never know where future storylines will take you, but you will be kicking yourself if you throw away the issue where Superman’s son with Wonder Woman saves the world by killing his dad.

The same goes for action figures. Any special characters will be produced in smaller numbers and so will be worth more in the future. Snap them up whilst you can.

The characters need not necessarily appear in a ‘special edition’ as they will be valuable regardless. It is key to know your subject matter, so you can make a better guess as to what will sell in the future.

Get to know the ‘in-crowd’

Attend comic book and sci-fi conventions. This is not just to mingle with your peers and potential customers. If you can get your comic autographed by one of its creators, that piece’s value just went up. If you’re lucky enough to bump into Stan Lee and get an autograph off him, treasure it.

This market is a largely underground one, driven by fans and collectors. It still revolves around the internet, car boot sales and fan conventions, rather than huge auction houses and massive publicity.

The limited market means that you probably won’t be making a steady income from selling comics in the future, especially if what you have is a generic bog-standard print edition.

It works both ways though; the compulsive nature of the fandom means that certain prized items go for top dollar, and even casual collectors may be willing to pay for a relatively known piece.

• With a quick search on eBay, a 1985 Obi Wan Kenobi action figure is going for £2,450, while a 1940 Beano Annual is going for £3,495. The complete collection of Pokemon cards is a snip at £10,000. Makes you wonder doesn’t it?

• Popcorn Live – UK based online toy and collectable store.
• Toyzine – US based toys and collectables website
• Starstore – UK based site for action figures and TV memorabilia
• Overstreet – The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide is the leading authority on American comic book grading. It is published annually and available on Gemstone Publishing and Amazon.
• Hawkins Bazaar – UK based store with a unique and extensive range of unusual toys, gifts, gadgets and curiosities.