When I was a kid, protecting comic books was the furthest thing from my mind. It is a self-defeating mindset to have if you love comic books. Comic books depreciate in physical and potential investment value due to exposure to the elements. You should be aware of every option available when it comes to comic book sleeves. They’re the bare minimum in protection for comics.
All of your comic books should be in mylar comic book sleeves with acid-free backing boards to protect them.
To stress this point, let’s talk about what comic book sleeves are and why you need them.
Then, I will list seven more comic book sleeves you can buy to protect your comics.
What are Comic Book Sleeves? Why Do You Need Them?
Comic book sleeves are made of translucent plastic, and they resemble Manila envelopes in appearance. You slide the comic book into the sleeve. Some comic book sleeves have a strip of adhesive on the back of it that a flap for extra protection
There are two types of comic sleeves that you can get depending on your budget.
Polypropylene and polyethylene are are cheap plastics used for protecting comics. Polyethylene is more flexible and durable that polyproprylene. So while these comic book sleeves are affordable, they are not the best to buy for the long-term unless they are acid-free.
Mylar comic book sleeves are made of a higher-quality plastic that is more durable and protective of comic books. Mylar sleeves made with 3% calcium carbonate will buttress the destructive effects of lignan and natural gases that organically release in sleeved comic books.
Lignin – Destroyer of Paper
Comic books are usually made of cheap quality paper, ink, colors, and iron staples. Newspaper, magazine paper, comic books, and books are made from wood pulp. Wood pulp contains a natural biological acid called lignin.
Lignin is released on the molecular level and breaks down the paper fiber. When paper is exposed to sunlight, oxygen, and the elements, it deteriorates, fades, yellows, and literally disintegrates.
It could take 50 to 80 years, but a comic could completely turn into dust if left unprotected. But it only takes a few years for unprotected comic books to fade or yellow aesthetically.
Here are seven more comic book sleeves you should buy to protect your comic book collection.
1. TitanShield Resealable Comic Book Bags (150 Count)
TitanShield is a trusted name in comic book protection products. These resealable comic book bags are made from polypropylene and are acid-free too. The manufactuer claims that you will pay less than 7 cents per sleeve.
This product is optimal for use with Bronze and Modern Age comic books. So, you should only use comic books from the 1970s to the Modern Age with these products. The manufacturer states you will get 50% more comic book sleeves per purchase than most competitors.
You can get 150 sleeves for $14. Buy them now at Amazon.
2. TitanShield Golden Age Re-Sealable Comic Book Bags (150 Count)
These acid-free TitanShield comic book sleeves are for Golden Age comic books. The dimensions of Golden Age comics are larger than modern comics.
The manufactuer suggests that you only insert Golden Age comic books from 1943 to the mid-1960s into these sleeves.
Get 150 sleeves for $13.99 at Amazon now.
3. CheckOutStore Crystal Clear Silver Age Comic Book Bags (100 count)
This is a budget comic sleeve product that you can use for less valuable comic books. Not every comic book needs the grading or slabbing treatment. The manufacturer claims that this product is acid-free. This product is optimal for use with Silver Age comics only.
These are high-quality and acid-free comic book sleeves made from polypropylene. They are waterproof if they are completely sealed. This product is optimal for use with Modern Age comic books.
Get 100 sleeves for $17 at Amazon now.
4. Collector Essentials 100 Comic Book Bags for Current and Modern Comic Books
This product comes with 100 comic book sleeves made of acid-free polyethylene. Each sleeve has a thickness of 3 mil, while most of the other sleeves on this list have a thickness of 2 mil.
The manufacturer states the sleeves are made doubly thick to prevent splitting at the seams or wrinkling. This product is optimal for use with Modern Age comic books. The manufacturer proudly states that this product is made in the U.S.A.
These sleeves have non-resealable flaps.
Get a 100-pack for $12.95 at Amazon.
5. Gemini Resealable Comic Book Bags (100 Count)
Gemini is reputable brand with comic collectors. This product comes with 100 acid-free polyproprylene comic sleeves. The sleeves also have resealable flaps for extra protection. The manufacturer recommends that you only use Silver Age comics with this product.
Get 100 sleeves for $10 now at Amazon.
6. Collectible Supplies Resealable Comic Book Bags (100 pack)
These comic book sleeves are made of acid-free polypropylene. This product is optimal for use with Modern Age comic books. And they all feature resealable flaps measuring 1.5 inches. You get 100 sleeves with each purchase.
Here are the product’s dimensions: 6 7/8″ x 10 1/2″ inches.
Get a 100-pack for $10.95 now at Amazon.
7. BCW Treasury Comic Bags (100 Count)
Treasury comic books are oversize comic books from DC and Marvel that were very popular in the 1970s and 1980s. These were large, magazine-size comic books. So, this product would only be valuable to collectors who own a lot of valuable treasury comics.
Here are the dimensions of the sleeves: 10.5 x 13.5 Inches.
The sleeves are made of acid-free and archival quality polyproprylene. If you seal this product properly it should last for decades or longer. All of these sleeves have a resealable flap.
Buy 100 sleeves now at Amazon for $20.99.
Comic Sleeve Protection
It is not enough to just get comic sleeves. You should put acid-free backing boards into each sleeve before inserting a comic book. I began as a collector, only using comic book sleeves as a hobbyist. So, if you’re only a hobbyist, it is not an issue.
If you collect comics as a collectibles investor, then make sure you include backing boards with your purchase of sleeves.
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