Non-archival quality tapes that have been used to repair comics will cause irreparable damage, they need to be removed. Tengu gummed tape may be used - trickier to apply but with a better result For a professional standard repair, Japanese tissue, like this It’s important to choose an acid free, archival quality repair tape for this purpose, standard self-adhesive tapes will cause irreparable damage and staining over time. Repairing tears will reduce the risk of them becoming worse as the paper ages and becomes weaker in storage. Small tears can be repaired using an archival acid free tape like this one. Repairs to your damaged comic books - and the evils of tape! The process of washing will also remove some of the acids that have accumulated in the paper making it last longer. Washing paper is generally a job for a trained conservator. Mould must be removed before storing your comics, any stains resulting from mould growth could be reduced by cleaning and washing the paper. If a comic has been damaged by mould and contains active mould growth, care should be taken when cleaning, mould can be hazardous to human health.The spine can be a magnet for any detritus from previous handling, dust, hair, fingernails, ewww! With a soft dusting brush which won’t damage the paper’s surface, gently clean away any debris making sure that the spines are all clean too.

Dust should also be cleaned from any exposed surfaces, like the pages edges and spine, as this can attract pests and support mould growth.

Using a paper cleaning pad like this one gently clean away any surface debris and oils. The oil from your fingers could eventually lead to staining in the paper and could attract dust.

Those innocent fingers that have flicked the pages will have left oil on the paper’s surface.

Contaminants on the paper can lead to damage over time, they may not be particularly visible at the moment or only seem minor, but it is best to clean them away before storage. You can view them here.Ĭleaning your comic collection - Store your comics, not dirt!Ĭomics that have been read or not stored properly previously will require cleaning before being stored properly. Cotton gloves can lead to a reduction in dexterity and therefore when handling thin papers, such as the papers of your comics, it’s best to use nitrile.

Clean your hands (as if we haven’t had enough of that advice!) and invest in some nitrile gloves, or finger cots to prevent oils from transferring from your skin to your comics.

Put your cup of coffee in another room until you’re finished! Same with any ink pens or other items that may spill or mark paper.

Set up a clean, dry, flat work surface, preferably white paper so you can see and remove any dirt or liquid that might otherwise make its way onto your comic books.

When you’re doing anything with your comics you need to set up your work/viewing area to prevent any damage, and you need to handle them with care. Most damage to comics is caused by handling, so how do you reduce the risks?īefore we do anything, let’s get some basics set out. Getting it wrong could lead to your collection being destroyed without you even realising. Like most things in life, a lot of unseen and valuable work is in the preparation, getting this right means your comic books will last longer and be better protected.

Part 1 - Preparation for storing your comic collection

> | View all Comic book storage products here There are established ways of storing collections, we’re going to discuss the pros and cons of all of the options available, why it’s important to get things right, and how to delay the self-destruct timer that is on each of your comics! It’s worth getting your comic book storage right and our complete guide is here to help! Comic books are set to self-destruct mode the moment they are made, storing them properly will help preserve them for years to come - but how do you do it, how can you be a comic book hero!? The value of some collections can easily run into £1000s, and some individual highly collectible rare editions can be worth the same on their own.

Upright blueprint storage box