Torpedo Comics

FREE SHIPPING ON ALL DOMESTIC ORDERS OF $15.00 OR MORE !!! AN ADDITIONAL 900 TITLES ADDED DECEMBER 5TH !!! ALL MONOLITH & VAULT COMICS ARE VF QUALITY OR BETTER !!!

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TOP QUESTIONS ASKED

TORPEDO COMICS GRADING STANDARDS

COMICS WITHIN THE “MONOLITH”

SPECIFIC GRADING EXPLANATION

WHAT'S THE CONDITION OF A BOOK THAT FALLS BETWEEN VF 8.0 and NM- 9.2?

COMICS FROM THE “VAULT” SECTION

GENERAL QUESTIONS REGARDING OUR GRADING

WHO ARE YOU?

I LOOKED AT TORPEDOCOMICS.COM BUT ONLY SAW A COUPLE OF THOUSAND TITLES, WHERE ARE THE REST?

IF I PLACE AN ORDER, HOW LONG WILL I HAVE TO WAIT TO RECEIVE MY MERCHANDISE?

HOW GOOD IS YOUR PACKING? AND WILL MY BOOKS GET TO ME IN THE CONDITION PURCHASED?

IF MY ITEMS ARE DAMAGED WHEN CAN I GET IT, CAN I SEND IT BACK?

WHAT IF THE PRODUCT I RECEIVE IS NOT AS GOOD AS I THINK IT IS?

WHAT SYSTEM OF GRADING DO YOU USE?

I'M NOT REALLY GOOD AT COMPUTER STUFF, IS YOUR SEARCH ENGINE EASY TO USE?

HOW DO I KNOW THAT YOU WILL HAVE WHAT I WANT SO THAT I DON'T RECEIVE E-MAILS TELLING ME THAT CERTAIN ISSUES ARE OUT OF STOCK?

HEY! I REALLY LOVE YOUR $0.99 CENT BOOKS, BUT SOME OF THE ISSUES I WANT ARE $2.00 EACH OR EVEN $5.00, WHY IS THERE A DIFFERENCE IN PRICE ON CERTAIN BOOKS?

I SEE THAT YOU HAVE LOADS OF COMICS FOR SALE, BUT WHAT ELSE ARE YOU GOING TO OFFER?

INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING INFO

ANSWERS

TORPEDO COMICS GRADING STANDARDS

If you are at this section after reading our FAQ section, then please go ahead and read what is perhaps the most important part of ANY comic book retailing operation – THE GRADING!

COMICS WITHIN THE “MONOLITH”

We at TORPEDO COMICS have decided upon the VF 8.0 through NM- 9.2 grading range as an appropriate grade for comics within the Monolith section of our website. Some may infer that this is our budget-priced books section, but at $0.99 cents each, our comics will still fall between the VF to NM- condition. Thus even though you may be purchasing a $0.99 cent comic, you can feel secure that when you open your package and take a look at the books, they will be in VF to NM- condition.

SPECIFIC GRADING EXPLANATION

We at TORPEDO COMICS utilize the OVERSTREET grading system, just as most if not all comic book dealers and collectors adhere to around the world. IF YOU DO NOT LIKE THE OVERSTREET GRADING STYLE, then please do not order from us.

WHAT'S THE CONDITION OF A BOOK THAT FALLS BETWEEN VF 8.0 and NM- 9.2?

To begin with, one must realize that MOST of the books within the Monolith section of our website are going to be classified as "Modern", as apposed to those of the 1970’s (Bronze Age), 1960’s (Silver Age) or the 1930’s-40’s (Golden Age), thus the books will have been published from 1980/81 to present. With that said, one must understand the difference between a VF copy of Batman #1 and a VF copy of Batman #432. A VF copy of Batman #1 is going to have numerous flaws in it due to the age of the book, and thus, its condition in that grade will be unacceptable for a book published in the 1980’s or 1990’s. Therefore our copy of Batman #432 will have been checked by our graders to be within the VF through NM- grade (please note that we do not have time to pull out higher grade books, so you may get a full NM copy, even though we only promise up to the NM- 9.2 grade.)

Let’s take a look at the VF grade. This is perhaps the most common condition of comics found at comic store back issue bins. They look clean, have no tears or obvious stains or writing on them, but after closer inspection THEY WILL HAVE FLAWS. We at TORPEDO COMICS allow for a maximum of three creases along the spine, or small “dings”, or abrasions on the corners of the book. If the book looks beautiful but has a significant corner abrasion (probably from being dropped) the book still grades as a VF. Some collectors think that a NM/M 9.8 book that gets “dinged” on one of the corners brings the grade down to a VF- condition; if you are one of those collectors, I suggest not purchasing from the Monolith section, but rather take a look at our Mint section where we stock our CGC books.

Okay, back to the VF grade. The back of the comic CAN have some scuffing, or minor discoloration and the paper can be tan. We at TORPEDO COMICS allow dark tan books to be sold within the Monolith as long as the rest of the book looks great – no dings or major creases. This means that a great-looking book can have a darker tan appearance than the VF book that has been graded down due to abrasions or major creases. Most of the books within the Monolith from 1980-83 do have tan or slightly darker tan paper – hey, those books are getting old, and finding pure white to off-white pages on those books is getting harder every year.

Please be aware that some of the books published (specifically by Marvel Comics) in the early 1990’s suffer from what appears to be water-damaged, or crinkled pages. These books were not water-damaged, but came off the printer in that condition. Titles like the Guardians of the Galaxy and Quasar seem to really suffer from this problem. Thus, if you receive a book with the aforementioned 'problem' please remember THIS SECTION and do not return the books because of water damage.

Okay, so now we know and have a better idea of what a nice VF book looks like; you can use the OVERSTREET definitions to guide you as to what constitutes a VF+, VF/NM or NM- book.

COMICS FROM THE “VAULT” SECTION

Many books contained within the Vault section are "Modern" books and hence, fall into the same condition requirement as the Monolith (VF 8.0 to NM- 9.2). However, many other books within this section will be from the Silver or Bronze Age and therefore, the grading will have to be more specific. Older books, like Amazing Spider-Man #144, will have two grades available for you, a VF 8.0 to NM- 9.2 grade and the NM 9.4 grade. Each book will be priced accordingly. Higher graded books will most likely be found at the Mint section where we have our CGC books.

GENERAL QUESTIONS REGARDING OUR GRADING

Please remember that some of the staff hired at TORPEDO COMICS (as graders) are 20+ year veterans of the comic hobby and business. We have been selling for years at conventions where, if a grading mistake was made on a book, the situation and solution would have been dealt with right then and there on a person-to-person basis. We have a VERY COMPLICATED and labor intensive system of grading, but we are only human and sometimes mistakes can happen. In the event of a mistake, or what you perceive to be a mistake occurring, please e-mail us with the details and we will sort the problem out.

Many of the employees working here at TORPEDO COMICS are collectors themselves, and they know the collectors' mindsets, specifically regarding comics, and have strived to make the grading process here as good as they could possibly make it be.

WHO ARE YOU?

TORPEDO COMICS may seem to have simply “burst out of thin air,” but let me assure you, the basic employee structure of the TORPEDO COMICS of today has been busy within the comic book retailing arena for over ten years. The “idea” that is TORPEDO COMICS was born out of hundreds of hours of research, questions and experience from various areas of the comic book business. Only after being 100% sure that we could offer something bold and new to the world of comic book collecting did we proceed with our rather grandiose plans. What do I mean by grandiose plans? Well, one of the first things we had to accomplish before we could take ourselves seriously was amass over 10 million books. We also had to find a great location to store all of these books, and then we had to hire a talented and enthusiastic group of employees to unpack/sort/grade and prepare these books for sale.

I LOOKED AT TORPEDOCOMICS.COM BUT ONLY SAW A COUPLE OF THOUSAND TITLES, WHERE ARE THE REST?

TORPEDOCOMICS.COM is what you would call “work in progress.” By the time we go up on the net, we only expect to have A-B, with maybe C fully inventoried and ready to sell. Remember, we have over 10 million books in our warehouse, and it’s taking us some time in sorting these many books.

IF I PLACE AN ORDER, HOW LONG WILL I HAVE TO WAIT TO RECEIVE MY MERCHANDISE?

This question depends on the method of shipping you request. What we can tell you is that ALL orders will be processed the day in which they are received. Basically, we expect to have your order out of the door in 24 hours (unless you choose an expedited shipping method).

HOW GOOD IS YOUR PACKING? AND WILL MY BOOKS GET TO ME IN THE CONDITION PURCHASED?

One of the first things we did at TORPEDO COMICS was hire a “Master” packer: someone who already had extensive prior experience in the preparation and sending out a variety of different-sized boxes. This skilled individual had nearly 2000 sales on eBay with a 100% positive feedback. By applying that expertise, our staff here at TORPEDO COMICS knows how to pack books, toys, and other collectibles in a safe manner.

In regards to the second question, all we can say is that we physically aren't with the package as it travels across the country or world, so we cannot know how the actual shipping company is handling your specific box. All we can do is pack the box to withstand a reasonable amount of damage, or wear and tear, and the rest is up to the shipping company.

IF MY ITEMS ARE DAMAGED WHEN CAN I GET IT, CAN I SEND IT BACK?

We expect there to be some damages when it comes to packages going around the country or world – it’s inevitable. However, we will be packing our product in such a way that a certain amount of “heavy-handedness” will be taken into account. If you discover that your purchase is damaged as soon as you open your package, please take the time to examine the outside of the box to determine if the box has been crushed or dented in any way. After doing so, you can then promptly email us and explain your problem or situation, and we will take each case into consideration before offering either a refund or exchange.

WHAT IF THE PRODUCT I RECEIVE IS NOT AS GOOD AS I THINK IT IS?

If by chance you receive something that you think is misgraded (comic book) or broken (in the case of toys), then please email us immediately at info@torpedocomics.com and let us know what the problem is. Sometimes mistakes occur, and if we are at fault on something, we will move Heaven and Earth to get the situation resolved.

WHAT SYSTEM OF GRADING DO YOU USE?

Please see our FAQ section regarding grading definitions.

I'M NOT REALLY GOOD AT COMPUTER STUFF, IS YOUR SEARCH ENGINE EASY TO USE?

Okay, what you may not know is that we have spent YEARS creating a search engine that is equal to the power of our site. One quick look at the eleven different search criterias we showcase on the initial search page should tell you that we at TORPEDO COMICS are serious about collecting, and at the same time, we also know that you want an easily accessible system. Thus, we understand the collector's mentality.

We knew what we had to create a superior search engine in order to allow collectors and casual “lurkers” to locate what they need quickly and easily. We knew (still know) how hard the task would be (still is) to compile and enter such huge volumes of information into our database so that the search engine we created could be used to full effect. What do I mean? Let’s use another example. Say you are an ardent fan of Doctor Octopus - you have been ever since the second movie, and let's say that you want to start a comic collection from scratch featuring good old Doc Ock. All you have to do is type in Dr. Octopus, or Doctor Octopus into our search engine and then press enter. Within seconds you will see a list of every comic book we currently have in stock that features Doctor Octopus either as the main villain or a guest appearance! You also have the option to alter your search by price or by year! What more can we do?!!

With all that being said, we are attempting to make our database as perfect as humanly possible, so to begin with, some information may not be complete, so please bear with us, as we say, our database will be as perfect as HUMANLY possible. After all is said and done, the mission of the TORPEDO COMICS search engine is to allow the user to find whatever they need quickly and easily, without having to work out exactly what’s going on. That means alphabetical and numerical results that are pleasing to the eye.

HOW DO I KNOW THAT YOU WILL HAVE WHAT I WANT SO THAT I DON'T RECEIVE E-MAILS TELLING ME THAT CERTAIN ISSUES ARE OUT OF STOCK?

This is a really IMPORTANT question for us and we have spent hundreds of hours working out a way in which the above scenario will not occur. The worst thing that can happen is for an enthusiastic customer to be let down by the “system,” as we call it. Please understand that accidents can happen and on odd occasions, our stock totals may not be correct due to a dropped pallet of books, or even a dropped pack of books that damages the product to such a level that the books cannot be sent out – that’s life! It happens, but we at TORPEDO COMICS will be striving every day to make sure that the inventory totals that are accessible to our customers are correct in the warehouse.

HEY! I REALLY LOVE YOUR $0.99 CENT BOOKS, BUT SOME OF THE ISSUES I WANT ARE $2.00 EACH OR EVEN $5.00, WHY IS THERE A DIFFERENCE IN PRICE ON CERTAIN BOOKS?

Let’s be truthful here. The difference between the prices you see in the various price guides to those of “real” prices that comics are bought and sold on the secondary market for can be huge. After purchasing over 10 million books over the last two years, comprising mostly of warehouse finds, comic shop closeouts and even private “speculator” collections, we have gained vast amounts of knowledge regarding what books are common compared to those books that are hard to find. When you add that knowledge to our purchasers (seasoned dealers with 20-30+ years of buying experience) knowledge, then you begin to understand that we at TORPEDO COMICS know what books are common or not. Thus, if we have a few hundred copies of Guardians of the Galaxy #25 and we have seen many in the various collections we have purchased, we know that we can price that book at $0.99 cents. Even though the guide price is higher, we KNOW that in this particular case, the book is not that hard to restock. Okay, that being said, what about a book like Action Comics #775, a true scarce modern book. We know that this book does not come around much, in fact out of the 10 million or so books that have come into our warehouse, we have seen less than 10 copies. That means that if those books are offered to us, we can expect to pay a little more for those books – thus the difference in price.

I SEE THAT YOU HAVE LOADS OF COMICS FOR SALE, BUT WHAT ELSE ARE YOU GOING TO OFFER?

At this time, we have spent a huge amount of time preparing our comic book inventory for sale. This obviously means that we have spent less time on the other facets of the business, like toys, original art and miscellaneous collectible merchandise. We will be offering a much larger selection of products every month, so please keep checking TORPEDOCOMICS.COM on a frequent basis. Within a year or so, you will begin to see vast quantities of all sorts of pop culture items – we are not restricted to comics alone.

INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING INFO
Please be aware that we are currently using the USPS for international mail. This method is the most cost effective, however there are a few disadvantages. The US mail does not allow us to TRACK your package, thus, as soon as the package arrives in the country the order was placed, we have no way of knowing 1. where is the package, 2. did it arrive. Due to this fact, we can not be held responsible for orders getting lost. We are sorry about this, but if this is not an option for you, I would suggest FED EX International Economy. The shipping cost will be higher, however using this method will be the most "safe" option you can use. We can track the package and CONFIRM that the package arrived. A friendly tip - if you have ordered an expensive item, we would suggest using the FED EX option. Remember if you paid a large amount of money for an item and then you chose the US mail to deliver it for you and the package gets lost, there WILL BE NO REFUND. If FED EX looses the package you WILL BE REFUNDED THE FULL AMOUNT. Fed Ex international shipping options coming soon.