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CapnDoug Administrator Posts: 151
4/13/2016
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ComicsPriceGuide has many comics in the database that you can proudly show off, look up or try to sell and while there are definitely gaps in the system, most comics are there if you know how to look. So, before you spend your valuable time typing out a missing issue, try using one of these tips to use the search function better.
Check the indicia for the proper title
Sometimes, a comic will have something different written on the cover than it's actual title. Take this one for example:
It's actually Amazing Spider-Man #434 with a fancy variant cover
http://comicspriceguide.com/collection/marvel/amazing-spider-man/434A/pbqybt
But when you check the indicia, you will see the actual title and number. Every comic will have an indicia somewhere inside, and while more recent issues have hidden it in strange places, like on the side of the news page, the vast majority of comics will have the indicia at the bottom of the first, second or last page. If you still aren't sure check out this link here for more information on the indicia:
http://www.comicconnect.com/load_page.php?page=faqtitle
There will be the occasional issue that doesn't match the indicia, but these are very rare, usually stemming from a title that changed part way through the run of the series, like Uncanny X-Men (more on that later)
Annuals, Giant-Sized and Trade Paperbacks
These can be tricky to find. If you type in "Batman Annual" in the title, you won't find what you are looking for. That's because annuals and other such issues are listed with their main series. Let's use Amazing Spider-Man again.
To get to the Annual or Giant Size issues, you just click on the appropriate button at the top (by the MS Paint arrows). If you want to try and search for the individual issue, jut search as normal, without the word annual.
Comics not published in the United States
Many great issues in all of our collections were published in countries around the world. Canadian Spider-Man one shots, UK editions of Fantastic Four, Spanish language reprints.... the list goes on. But for simplicity, the search function defaults to issues published in the United States only. So, if you can't find the issue you are looking for, try expanding your search to the entire world. Like this:
If you know what country the comic was published in, you can always choose it from the drop down menu, or you can choose "All Countries" and you'll see everything published around the world.
A few more tips
So you've tried all these and the issue still isn't coming up? First, try simplifying your search. Instead of typing in "THE Amazing Spider-Man" try just "Amazing Spider-Man" or "Amazing Spider Man." The database can have issues with little words, so sticking to the main words in the title usually yields better results. The same thing goes for punctuation.
Now, there are a few series that just don't fit with any rules. I mentioned "Uncanny X-Men" above, since the early issues were just called "X-Men." In the 70's the series was occasionally titled "Uncanny X-Men" but the change didn't become official until the early 80's. As a result, almost every guide puts the series together in a single run as opposed to splitting it up. CPG has chosen to list the early issues as Uncanny X-Men as opposed to X-Men. But if you search for X-Men #39, Uncanny X-Men #39 will come up as well, so you will get what you are looking for.
There are a few series that will still be confusing if you followed all these tips, though. Marvel Premiere, 1st Issue Special and others will usually be sorted out by checking the indicia, but there are other series that have strange indicia which will point you in the right direction, but not get you there. Like this one:
http://comicspriceguide.com/titles/dc-special-series/uox
The indicia for each issue will say what's on the cover. Issue #2 actually lists "The Original Swamp Thing Saga" in the indicia along side "DC Special Series #2." You can always try stripping words out of the title, but these strange exceptions can be really tricky. Fortunately, there are a lot of experienced collectors on the site that can help you find the issues that you are looking for. If the issue you posting is actually missing, usually someone will come along with a link to the issue or series that you are looking for. This forum would be the best place to ask for help:
http://comicspriceguide.com/forum/forum21-help-locating--identifying-comics.aspx
Hopefully this helps people find the issues they are looking for. Happy collecting!
edited by CapnDoug on 4/14/2016
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