Greetings!

I’m here to tell you how to prep your comic books for comicons like San Diego Comicon or MegaCon or even the big New York Comicon as well!  Here we go:

First you need a few tools:

• Mylite2 and Fullback (or BCW. Do not use Ultra Pro.)
• exacto knife or surgical steel cutting tool
• sharpie black marker
• skinny 1″ blue painter’s tape from the hardware store
• 6″ x 9″ small bamboo cutting board from a kitchen department store area

 

Now you will need to place the fullback inside the mylite2 and slide the cutting board inside the bag/board:

Cut a hole where you want the signature to go:

Slide the cutting board out of the bag/board. Place skinny blue painter’s tape around the window you cut.

Double wrap the corners with 1″ pieces of skinny blue painter’s tape:

When placing blue painter’s tape at the top corners, be sure to place the tape below the flap line so it doesn’t get stuck when the grader is trying to remove the comic!

Write on the window box who you want to sign the comic book. In this example, Stan “The man” Lee:

When you slide the comic book in the bag/board, be sure to watch the bottom of the window against the bottom edge of your comic book:

On the opposite side, type or write on the backer board your name, address, phone number, email address. Seal the bag/board with only 1 peice of skinny blue painters tape for easy removal for the grader.  Tape or write your details sheet to the backer board that is slid inside the mylite2.

In the space provided below, write the year, title, publisher, and name of the comic book along with issue number. Write who you want to sign the book, and instruct what services you want provide. This includes any additional instructions, and fast pass, yellow label authorized signature witness, pressing, etc.

You have now finished prepping your book.
Good luck!

Of course, there are other artists, and other creators. Sometimes I feel the placement is just as important. This is how I prep all my J Scott Campbell books for his sweet Amazing Spider-man variants:

Stan Lee is getting older, and I’ve been told by some he needs more room to see where he signs. I frequently have asked for Stan Lee’s signature right on top of the THOR or SPIDER-MAN logos here:

One thing to mind is if you have tape overlapping the sides, protect the book behind it! It might not even be your book!

So use an extra piece of tape and wrap that bad boy all the way around the sides so there is NO TAPE STICKINESS on the opposite site of your book:

Sketch covers. What if you want a sketch? Or, better yet: What if you have like 5 people you want to sign your book? Make a BIG WINDOW!

There are drawbacks, however. If you make the window too big it can bend outwards and defeat the purpose of protecting the edges of your book. Try not to make it too big. If so, double tape it with overlapping strips:

 

I’ve been given some sneak peeks at some books from my convention facilitator, Matt Saltzman from Trinity Comics Convention Facilitator Services. Check them out, look! This gives you an idea what they look like before getting sent off for grading with CBCS and CGC:

 

That should cover it! If you have any questions email me and I can refine the guide!

Thank you

KaptainMyke