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collectibleshop Posts: 3088
3/25/2018
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Here's some search tips I've learned over the years here.
Watch CPG's How To youtube videos. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3eOHtGDGIs0GGohUDuypf3TlQM2aupdo
To find stuff here when you can't:
As noted in the one of the 'read this before you post' threads, look inside the cover for the indicia/publishing info for the supposed correct title, year, and issue and if a reprint or not. This doesn't guarantee CPG will have it listed that way or that anyone else will either, but it will often help. Also google stuff before you post, use a text search and an image search if needed, that may often help you find the correct title to search for on CPG.
Use fewer keywords. Many times a cover will incorporate the STORY name, and that's not part of the real title, so go with what should be the 'normal' name/title and scroll down the results to find the right year for the series and go from there. You may have to get down to one word sometimes, I've had to, but eventually the 1 you're looking for will show in the results.
Check the spelling--look at the cover of the comic. Spectre vs Specter, Sabretooth vs Sabertooth etc..
Some covers have a title/character name on 2 lines, but it's really one word, so try both versions.
Drop little words and punctuation symbols like 'the, and, &, or, vs., / ' and colons.
Drop using the hyphens and try it as one word and two words.
Titles with numbers may be spelled out, and not be numerals, so something with '10' in the title may be on CPG as 'Ten', and numbers like '40,000' (like Warhammer 40,000 series) may be listed as '40K'.
Marvel UK titles may not have UK on the cover, so try 'UK' in the country menu for some of those. Same with Canadian, Australian and others published in countries other than the US, so use 'All Countries' in the drop down if necessary.
Some titles are just the banner title above the 'big' title, like with Marvel Feature, Marvel Comics Presents, DC Special Series, DC Comics Presents, etc. etc., so again, check the indicia or try the top banner title.
UPDATE ON THE SEARCH FORM FILTERS INFO: There are now more filter choices in the search form's dropdown menu under 'Comic Type', so you can choose the 'type' (hardcover/softcover, trade paperback, ashcan etc.) and usually get more direct results. This filter menu only shows on the main site pages, not on the forum search form.
UPDATE Oct 25, 2025: Annuals, Facsimiles, Wizard ACE, Image Firsts, Dollar Comics, FCBD (Free Comic Book Day) issues are moved to their own titles and labeled, and the tabs for them on the regular series have been removed. So now you can search 'Joe Blow Annual #1' or Wizard ACE X-Men etc. on the search form to find those issue more directly. More specifics here: https://comicspriceguide.com/forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=20388 .
Most Marvel Graphic Novels and many DC Graphic Novels are under THAT 'title' (Marvel Graphic Novel, DC Graphic Novel), not under the story/characters name on the cover. Same with Marvel Treasury Edition and the DC treasuries/All New Collectors and Limited Collectors Edition, etc., that's where the indicia info comes in handy if you have the comic available.
On the menu along the top of the site, under Price Guide, they have a drop down menu with other ways to filter searches. You can find store exclusive variants faster, IF they have them listed, and search by Story Arc, but that's an ongoing project and tons of listings don't have story details input yet. Also search/look by newest comics added, etc.. Some stuff like Value Changes you can only see a little with a free account.
Sometimes if you can't find a title, try searching with the Publisher search box, if you know the right name and spelling of the publisher. Check the indicia if you own the comic. When the publisher comes up, click their name and the titles will load, and then you can click the alphabet menu to find the title, but beware some that start with 'The' may not be under T, they may be under the second word in the title.
If you know the UPC/barcode number, you can put just that in the TITLE search field, with or without spaces/dashes, and including the 5 numbers on top of the UPC code too (if it has them), and IF that number is in the database, it should come up. That may help most with variants that you're not sure which series/volume they may be under.
Plenty of other info sites to find correct names/titles/variants and pics etc., like:
THE PUBLISHER'S SITE, if still around, they tend to have the info.
comics.org
comicvine.gamespot.com
leagueofcomicgeeks.com
DC Comics Database on Wikia.com: http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page
Marvel Comics Database on Wikia.com: http://marvel.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page
Other companies have wikis too.
Mike's Amazing World of Comics, mikesamazingworld.com , for major publishers. It has regular databases for covers, publishing chronology, and reprints, and the Newsstand page lets you search for specific months/years to see all the comics that were published that month. Due to Mike's passing the site may not have the newest comics listed for a few months.
that ought to help you find most things here. some stuff just ain't listed yet of course, even if old.
have fun..
edited by collectibleshop on 5/13/2026
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