The Comic Doctor

Comic Book Pressing & Cleaning

Find a Reliable Comic Presser

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Find a Reliable Comic Presser

by E. Teeter, March 16, 2023

Comic book pressing has been around for decades, however, the practice has grown increasingly popular over the last several years.  As comic pressing is not considered restoration by CGC,  it is a great option before having  your more valuable comics  graded.  Especially if the end goal is to sell them.  Don’t just hand your comics over to just anyone.  It is important to find a reliable comic presser. Do your research and look for the traits outlined below.

Insurance

A reliable comic presser will have the proper insurance in place.   You want to make sure that your comics are in good hands in the event something unexpectedly goes wrong. Reassurance that you will be compensated will put a collectors mind at ease while their comics are being worked on.

The Comic Doctor is fully insured.  Check out more info about insurance here.

Professionalism

It is important to make sure that those you are dealing with operate their comic pressing business in a professional manner.  This includes replying cordially to emails and phone calls, handling products carefully/ mindfully and using the proper equipment to do the job right.  A reliable comic presser will do all of this.

Reviews

The beauty of the internet in today’s age is that you can find reviews for virtually any business. Do your research, read testimonials, and weigh your options before making your final decision.  Locating a reliable comic book presser is made a lot simpler with the power of Google at your disposal.

The Comic Doctor has been operating for well over 10 years.  Kevin and his team have pressed thousands and thousands of comics.  They have the CGC submission process down pat.  Visit the Comic Doctor’s testimonial page now to see what past clients have to say about their experience.    Also check out the Comic Doctor’s Google reviews.

Marketing Photos

A reliable comic presser will have a number of  before/after photos to share with prospective clients.  An accurate portfolio illustrating the results of past work done is essential.  This speaks volumes of the care and pride that the presser has in their work.

 

Ultimate Fallout 4 - Before and After

While saving money and trying to press comics yourself may seem like a good solution at first, it is important to consider why it may be best to hand your books off to a pro.
If you need your comics pressed and CGC graded,  contact the Comic Doctor and see for yourself why he is the right person for the job.  If you are looking for a reliable comic presser, look no further than the Comic Doctor team.

The Comic Doctor Reviewed

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Comic Book Doctor Testimonials

I love to receive testimonials from customers, because it reaffirms that I am doing something right.   Accolades for the work I do is always appreciated,  but it is even more gratifying to hear that I treated my customers right.  I pride myself on being friendly and honest. Prior to becoming a teacher, I worked in customer service for many years –  perhaps this is why I strive to make customers happy.  I answer my phone or return messages/ e-mails promptly;  I will always let customers know when their books arrive (if sending by mail); I will never perform work that is not needed…these are just some of the things I do when dealing with customers.

Comic Book Daily I was recently approached by Charlie Kim, a blogger for comicbookdaily.com, to press and clean a few of his downtrodden comic books.  Somewhat skeptical with the process, he dropped off his comics and I began to work on them.  The link below will take you  to the article he wrote following the work I did.  Give it a read and be certain to take a gander at the before and after shots he took as well.

Read the article here!

 

Comic Book Tips – Dry Cleaning Your Comic Books

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Comic Book Dry Cleaning is a Must!

Paper Foxing, comic book defects, the comic doctor
“Foxing” is a reddish age-reated stain that can be found in older comic books

When comic book collectors approach me regarding the services I offer, they tend to focus primarily on my pressing service.  What I want to explore in this post is the dry cleaning service the Comic Doctor offers as well.  For comics that have not been stored properly over the years, a dry clean will work wonders.  Dry cleaning will remove dirt, grime and minor staining from comic books including led and wax pencil marks.  Dry cleaning will not remove foxing (age-related staining/ spotting), pen/ink stains or water stains.

Books that have been stored in damp areas often have a distinct smell and are grimy/ rough  to the touch.  This condition can be lessened greatly through dry cleaning.  If a book has mold and mildew staining (often green and/ or black), this sort of defect can only be corrected through restoration.

Dirty Comic Book
This sort of lead-like staining is reversible. Click on the image to get a better look.

Although many collectors change their bags and boards regularly, those that do not or have not may notice that dark staining has developed on the white areas of the cover – this condition is reversible.  Remember that the Comic Doctor includes a quick dry clean on all books that are received (if needed) for a press at no additional charge.  If a comic book is extremely dirty and requires extensive work, however, additional fees may be incurred.  See my pricing chart for more details.

While restorers will often use chemical washes to lighten pages and remove stains, the methods I employ are not invasive and  are not detectable by third-party grading companies like CGC.   In fact, CGC’s their own affiliate, CCS, likely uses similar methods when cleaning the books they service.  Aside from the tools involved,  the real trick to dry cleaning is patience.  Trying to get the job done quickly can result in areas being neglected, and worse, comic book damage.   In fact, the dry cleaning process is quite harmless, it is the actual handling of the book where potential damage can occur.  To ensure a comic book is not inadvertently damaged during the cleaning, maintaining an organized work space, and having tools within arms reach, is all important.

For more information about comic book dry cleaning, please look around this website or feel free to drop me an e-mail or give me a call.  Thank you!

Comic Book cleaning, the comic doctor
The back cover of X-Men 94 following 15 minutes of dry cleaning. Quite the difference.

 

Connect with me!

The Comic Doctor is located in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada.
You can also reach me by phone at 905-449-5680. The best time to call is after 3:30 pm.

Latest From My Blog

CGC Submissions

Submitting to CGC

The Comic Doctor is an authorized CGC dealer and as such can submit comics on your behalf to CGC.    The following is important information regarding our submission service. Your books ship within two weeks of being pressed!   No waiting for large bulk … Read more