PSA is preparing to enter the comic book and magazine grading market, and collectors now have a clear picture of what submission costs and timelines will look like. The company announced its official pricing tiers and turnaround estimates this week, with grading set to begin on July 14.
Grading for Modern-era books (1975 and later) will start at $25.99 per item with an estimated 20-business-day turnaround. PSA is also rolling out a pressing service for comics and magazines, starting at $11.99. For submissions that include pressing, collectors should expect turnaround times to roughly double at the entry-level tier.
Known primarily as the leading grader for sports and trading cards, PSA is expanding into a category long dominated by CGC. The move marks a significant challenge to CGC’s hold on the comic book market, especially given that all of the top 10 most expensive comics ever sold were graded by CGC.
PSA’s pricing structure suggests a strategic push to win over collectors. In many cases, the service tiers are on par with or slightly more affordable than CGC’s, setting the stage for some competition in a space that has seen relatively few changes in recent years.
This isn’t PSA’s first step into the comic book world. In 2024, the company quietly debuted prototype holders during San Diego Comic-Con as part of a Marvel collaboration with fashion brand Kith. The limited-run "Marvel Super Villains" sneakers came paired with exclusive comic variants—some of which were encapsulated by PSA. A 1-of-1 Venom-Spider-Man sketch variant from the drop sold for $30,000 on eBay earlier this year.
As PSA prepares to accept submissions, all eyes will be on how the hobby responds to a new option for grading comics and magazines—especially one with PSA’s name recognition and infrastructure behind it.